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If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This: Stories Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,002 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Heralding the arrival of a stunning new voice in American fiction, Robin Black’s If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This takes readers into the minds and hearts of people navigating the unsettling transitions that life presents to us all. Written with maturity and insight, and in beautiful, clear-eyed prose, these stories plumb the depths of love, loss, and hope. A father struggles to forge an independent identity as his blind daughter prepares for college. A mother comes to terms with her adult daughter’s infidelity, even as she keeps a disturbing secret of her own. An artist mourns the end of a romance while painting a dying man’s portrait. An accident on a trip to Italy and an unexpected connection with a stranger cause a woman to question her lifelong assumptions about herself. Brilliant, hopeful, and fearlessly honest, If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This illuminates the truths of human relationships, truths we come to recognize in these characters and in ourselves.
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"This book made me angry because they are short stories. I wanted to live in each of the worlds a lot longer than permitted but suffice to say, the stories are no more and it's time to move on and celebrate the author Robin Black."
— Donniemarsh (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Best Book for Fiction
If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This Listener Reviews
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" A fantastic book. The stories are impeccably crafted, deep, and intense. The language is pyrotechnic. These stories are for pondering and admiring and reading again. "
— Kowloon, 2/17/2014 -
" What drew me to this book was the title, and it remains my ONLY favorite thing about the book. "
— Doneen, 2/14/2014 -
" Excellent but serious short stories "
— Jessie, 2/14/2014 -
" Want a piece of this sociopathic passive anger? Then arm yourself with a blunt Stanley knife and put on a REM dirge "
— Bettie, 1/30/2014 -
" Loved this collection of short stories. Beautiful writing about people and emotions and life. I felt like all the stories were about someone that I might know. "
— Nancy, 1/21/2014 -
" A simply fantastic collection of short stories, all of which read like very short novels. I was inspired by how much meaning could be conveyed in just a few pages. "
— Carol, 1/19/2014 -
" Loved the title story, and the first half of the book. The remaining stories held less luster for me. Still, she has great command of character and mood. I hope she writes a full-length novel. "
— Drew, 1/19/2014 -
" Won this book for participating in #Fridayreads on Twitter. :) "
— Dina, 1/15/2014 -
" Well written short stories, but very dark. "
— Pam, 1/15/2014 -
" Absolutely brilliant so far...as good as Alice Munro...short story genius. "
— Jennifer, 1/1/2014 -
" Sad short stories, a little reminicent of Amy Bloom "
— Liz, 12/3/2013 -
" Unusually good short story collection. Clever and witty. "
— Laurie, 11/28/2013 -
" Gets to it. "
— Todd, 11/20/2013 -
" I am just not a short story type of girl. Some if the stories were pretty good, while others felt like a waste of time. I never could get too invested in this book. "
— Madeline, 7/16/2013 -
" Stories of loss that were definite downers. I loved them! "
— Aramis, 5/25/2013 -
" Great stories, although all tragic to some degree. "
— Jennifer, 5/20/2013 -
" Short stories, but I found fairly hard to follow at times, I might have missed the deeper meaning though... "
— Roulla, 2/27/2013 -
" I loved this collection of short stories. I think the title story was my favorite. Great characters and a nice variety of style throughout the book. "
— Karen, 2/16/2013 -
" This is a refreshing group of stories without gimmicks. They examine life's difficulties with humor, grace, and clear-eyed insight. Each one is a gem. "
— Richard, 2/9/2013 -
" Very well written, but many if the stories were so depressing that I got to a point where I dreaded starting the next one and had to read something lighter in between. "
— Julie, 5/14/2012 -
" I especially liked the title story. Reminiscent of Alice Munro. "
— Julie, 5/5/2012 -
" I loved this! I thought "If I Loved You" was wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed "The Guide". I also liked the anticlimactic "Some Women Eat Tar." "
— Jenn, 8/21/2011 -
" excellent short stories "
— Dawn, 7/18/2011 -
" A wonderful collection of short stories "
— Judith, 7/3/2011 -
" Stunning. I only read this because I was part of a panel interviewing the writer for CCPTV, but I fell completely in love with it. "
— Julie, 5/20/2011 -
" wonderful short story collection with very powerful writing "
— Jamiewas, 5/5/2011 -
" I think the writing is excellent. This is a book about loss. Death, divorce, and running away. Each story focuses on a time of some loss. The characters were real and interesting. "
— Danielle, 4/18/2011 -
" Loved this series of short stories! "
— Jenni, 4/13/2011 -
" I enjoyed reading this collection, and some of the narratives stuck with me, but I wanted these stories to be more formally daring. "
— Katharine, 4/9/2011 -
" I didn't really finsih the book, I only rad a couple of the stories, because I didn't think the writing was awesome. I like the concept though, which is all in the name. <br/> <br/> "
— epstuk, 4/1/2011
About Robin Black
Robin Black’s stories and essays have appeared in numerous publications, including One Story, Colorado Review, Georgia Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Bellevue Literary Review, Southern Review, and the anthology The Best Creative Nonfiction. The winner of many awards and a recipient of fellowships from the Leeway Foundation and the MacDowell Colony, Black is a graduate of the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers. She lives with her family in Philadelphia.
About the Narrators
Mark Deakins is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator and actor whose television appearances include Head Case, Star Trek: Voyager, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His film credits include Intervention, Star Trek: Insurrection, and The Devil’s Advocate. He wrote, directed, and produced the short film The Smith Interviews.
Kimberly Farr is an actress and winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration. She has appeared on Broadway and at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, and the American Place. She created the role of “Eve” in Arthur Miller’s first and only musical, Up from Paradise, which was directed by the author. She appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway production of The Lady from the Sea and has acted in regional theaters across the country, including a performance in the original production of The 1940’s Radio Hour at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage.
Ann Marie Lee is a seven-time winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award for narration. She is a Los Angeles–based actress with television credits that include ER, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Nip/Tuck. Her stage performances for Broadway National Tours and regional theater include Peter Pan, As You Like It, Heartbreak House, and The Cherry Orchard.
Kirsten Potter has won several awards, including more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. Her work has been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and by AudioFile magazine, among many others. She graduated with highest honors from Boston University and has performed on stage and in film and television, including roles on Medium, Bones, and Judging Amy.