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Letter from a Stranger: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 676 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
Ever since her first novel, "A Woman of Substance," was published in 1979, British novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford has been captivating audiences worldwide. Her heroes and heroines are inspiring and unforgettable, her plots complex and catapulting, her locales transforming familiar places into adventures and bringing exotic places into places as familiar as the ones next door.
Bradford's 27th novel, "Letter from a Stranger," published in the fall of 2011, is available in audiobook format, as are most of her novels.
In the "Letter from a Stranger" audiobook, documentary filmmaker Justine Nolan opens a letter intended for her estranged mother, Deborah, only to encounter a revelation that Deborah has told Justine and her twin, Richard, an egregious lie, the outcome of which guarantees to turn all of their lives upside down, and one which must be resolved immediately.
To further complicate the matter, the letter arrives with no return address, from far away Istanbul. Futile attempts to locate its sender or to gain more knowledge of its contents mandate a journey into Turkey in search of a long-dead, much-beloved family member in effort to reclaim, if at all possible, ten precious years of their past and, more importantly, to secure the futures of the entire family and their loved ones.
There is no time to waste.
"Letter from a Stranger" is filled with natural beauty, splendid detail and visits to exotic places. The rivers and markets of Istanbul come to life for listeners of this audiobook, whether they be on their morning commute, in their armchairs or on a walk through a local park.
Bradford takes readers into lavishly rich places in both present-day America and Turkey, but as herd fans expect, she sends them on a roller-coaster ride that transports them to some of the most heart-wrenching events in world history, creating experiences so vivid that those experiencing Justine Nolan's story come away as seasoned travelers, sojourners in time as well as in space.
The result is an immensely satisfying 13 hours plus spent with narrator Nicola Barber as she takes the listener through Bradford's "Letter from a Stranger" audiobook.
"I thought this was a very good book. I think you might like it, Lisa. About a family torn apart - the mother telling her twin son and daughter upon their graduation from college that their beloved grandmother had died in a plane crash. Ten years later the mother receives a letter that the daughter opens saying she should contact the grandmother. Unfortunately there is no return address on the envelope, but the daughter remembers the person that wrote the letter was a very close friend of her grandmother's and that she lived in Istanbul. So she goes to Istanbul to see if she can find her grandmother that she thought to be dead all these years. Some very interesting family secrets are discovered - mostly concerning Berln during WWII."
— Toby (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
In Letter From a Stranger, Barbara Taylor Bradford delivers a lush and evocative new novel of family secrets and betrayals that stretch from the streets of World War II Berlin to the winding alleys of Istanbul to the present day. Justine Nolan is a documentary film maker who lost her beloved grandmother a decade ago—the person who was the only source of love and comfort in her life. Her own mother Deborah had always been distant and uninvolved, following her own agenda in pursuit of her career as an interior designer. But when Justine inadvertently opens a letter addressed to her mother, she discovers that not only is her grandmother Gabri alive, but that Deborah has deliberately estranged the family from her for all these years. Justine's search for her grandmother takes her to Istanbul where she begins to uncover the family's secrets that stretch all the way back to World War II. As the layers of deception peel away, Justine begins to understand a woman she never really knew…and she begins to ask questions about the true desires of her own heart.
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Letter from a Stranger Listener Reviews
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" Thought this would be a "fluffy" read. And it is for the most part. It surprised me toward the middle of the book tho. "
— Myrna, 2/18/2014 -
" Intriguing but not a can't put down page turner. "
— Kelly, 2/14/2014 -
" It's a typical beach read, not to much to ponder. "
— Ginger, 2/6/2014 -
" Don't waste your time on this pap-fiction. If I could give it minus stars I would. "
— Pat, 2/4/2014 -
" WOW! What a fantastic story! Some history, some romance and excellent characters. One of the best I've read in a long time. "
— Rebecca, 1/17/2014 -
" This book had some good qualities. It gives a vivid description and insight into Berlin during World War 2, a horrible time in history. I also enjoyed the tour through Istanbul. But, the story really did not captivate me until Justine was finally reunited with her grandmother and this part did stir the emotions. I felt the book was over-written and the storyline seemed forced ---- not any real redeeming qualities. I was rather disappointed, especially since Barbara Taylor Bradford has always been a favorite of mine. Letter from a Stranger just doesn't come close to the Woman of Substance series. "
— Wanda, 1/13/2014 -
" A chance letter in the mail reveals to adult twins Julia and Richard that a family member they thought dead is actually still alive. Julia sets out on a mission to find this person, and in the process, she uncovers many family secrets. "
— Laura, 1/3/2014 -
" Barbara Taylor Bradford has still got it! "
— Halli, 12/30/2013 -
" Very slow start and really the love at first sight was very weak. Skimmed most of second half of the book. "
— Deb, 12/14/2013 -
" This is the only Bradford book I've ever read, so I didn't know what to expect. It was an easy, quick read that dragged in some places, was too sappy for me in some places, and had too many coincidences. But, I loved the description of Istanbul--makes me want to visit. "
— Angela, 12/8/2013 -
" So far its a really really good book. I HIGHLY recommend it :) "
— Becky, 8/25/2013 -
" Very slow start...but interesting last quarter. "
— Betsy, 7/19/2013 -
" The story was great but the dialogue was ridiculously hard to buy. "
— Amanda, 4/6/2013 -
" This was a great book because it had a story within a story and that always scores points for me. Some of the character dialog was a bit of a turnoff for me. It just seemed that some of the phrases that the characters said were awkward and unnatural. Otherwise the story and setting were interesting! "
— Andrea, 2/18/2013 -
" This was not a very good book. There were so many sub plots in this book that never developed. I was dissappointed in the writing as well. "
— Ann-marie, 12/15/2012 -
" A story concerning the peeling away of family deception and secrets. I like Bradford's books especially her weaving in historical facts and history- In this case you discover Istanbul "
— Kathy, 11/4/2012 -
" I typically enjoy her books. This was an easy read, and while it probably didn't have to be this long, and some of her writing reminds me of Danielle Steel, it still held my interest and I enjoyed the characters. And there was a bid of historical truth to the story, i.e. WWII events wHitler. "
— Diane, 10/30/2012 -
" This is the first book by this author I have read. The descriptions of Istanbul were very evocative; however, the story seemed to drag at times. "
— Teresa, 10/11/2012 -
" Pretty predictable. Not one of her best but a fast read. "
— Brenda, 9/22/2012 -
" I really liked how she delivered the historical fiction portion of this story. "
— Mary, 9/9/2012 -
" If I could give this a 3.5, I would. This book was slow for me at the beginning, and then moved pretty quick. I really enjoyed this story! "
— Lorilee, 8/1/2012
About Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford, bestselling author, was born and raised in England where she started her writing career as a journalist. She has written numerous international bestsellers, and fifteen of her novels have made the New York Times bestsellers list. Ten of her novels have been adapted into television mini-series, starring actors including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Liam Neeson, Deborah Kerr, and Elizabeth Hurley. She has been inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America and in June of 2007 was awarded an Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature.
About Nicola Barber
Nicola Barber, is an Audie Award and Earphones Award-winning narrator whose voice can be heard in television and radio commercials and popular video games such as World of Warcraft. She is also an Audie finalist in the prestigious category of solo female narrationfor her work on Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen and Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. She has performed on the stage in New York City and at a number of top regional theaters in the United States. Her film and television roles include The Nanny Diaries with Scarlett Johansson, and Law & Order’s 2009 season premiere. Originally from England, she currently resides in New York, a multicultural background that enables her to bring a broad range of accents and characterizations to her role as a full-time voice-over actor.