Once Upon a Day (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Lisa Tucker Play Audiobook Sample

Once Upon a Day Audiobook (Unabridged)

Once Upon a Day (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Lisa Tucker Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Joyce Bean Publisher: Brilliance Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 8.00 hours at 1.5x Speed 6.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN:

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Publisher Description

Dorothea's father, like all good parents, wanted to keep his children safe. But unlike other parents, Charles O'Brien believed the only way to do so was to leave everything behind, including his very successful life. In a rocky, desolate corner of New Mexico, on a 35 acre estate he called the Sanctuary, Charles raised the children in complete isolation, with books and encyclopedias, records and a grand piano, but no television, computer, radio, or even a newspaper. Now, Dorothea, at 23, is leaving this place for the first time, in search of her missing brother - and venturing into the world.

Dorothea's search will turn into an odyssey of discovery, leading to the truth of her family's past and the terrifying day that changed her father forever. But Dorothea's journey will also introduce her to an unusual cast of characters, including a homeless girl from Missouri who becomes a jazz singer and a doctor turned cabdriver who has suffered his own losses. Together, they have a chance to make a discovery of a different kind: that though a heart can be broken by the tragic events of a day, a day can also bring a new chance at love and a deeper understanding of life's infinite possibilities.

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"I liked this book. Great start, a little slow sometimes in the middle, & a page-turner near the end. I will say I felt disappointed when I got to the end just in that I felt like "is that it?" The end just snuck up on me too quickly."

— Holly (4 out of 5 stars)

Once Upon a Day (Unabridged) Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.51351351351351 out of 53.51351351351351 out of 53.51351351351351 out of 53.51351351351351 out of 53.51351351351351 out of 5 (3.51)
5 Stars: 4
4 Stars: 14
3 Stars: 17
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Enjoyed the characters and the read! Quick and worth the time! "

    — Cathy, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good fast read...thought it ended rather abruptly "

    — Angela, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is the third book I've read by Lisa Tucker. I love her writing style and ability to develop characters; by the end of her novels, I really feel like I know each of the individuals personally. What I don't love, however, is that the stories aren't very realistic. They start out okay, but towards the end I'm left feeling that things would have turned out quite differently in real life. "

    — Cora, 2/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Very interesting plot with fascinating questions presented. A quick page turner. I would want to give this more stars but it is rather sophomorically written, without tremendous depth to the characters or insightful dialogue. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am haunted by some of the themes. So maybe I would give it a 4 . . hmmmm "

    — Kim, 2/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The theme is interesting --- can we ever really keep the people we love entirely safe? I didn't really like the execution, although I suspect it's better than I give it credit for. "

    — Anna, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoy this author's books. Although she does write about difficult subjects. And, I have frequently wanted to give a few of her characters more common sense! "

    — Lauralee, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Ohhh this was a good one! The ending was a little anti-climactic if I remember correctly, but I still enjoyed the whole story. "

    — Alicia, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I remember liking this book, but it blends in with so many similar others in my mind...guess I'll have to read it again. "

    — Jan, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A compelling story of life lived in priviledged isolation. Makes you wonder what it would be like to be these characters..lucky or encaged? "

    — Natalie, 1/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book a ton! Read it in one day. I would have given the book 4 stars, but the ending was not what I wanted. I think I wanted more of a wrap up. I feel like it just ended... "

    — Brooke, 1/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a great story, smoothly woven together. Well written, rich characters, and original plot. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. It is a suprising step up than a beach book. "

    — Andrea, 12/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book was kind of weird. Much stranger than I anticipated (for some reasn at the library I thought this was a love story). In the back of the book the author identified Stephen as the main Character, but I read the entire book thinking the girl was the main character. Weird. "

    — Tracy, 12/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " people do many things in the name of love... "

    — Rory, 10/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I really like the two main characters of this book in the beginning, but I found the backstory unlikely and the back story characters unlikeable. "

    — Susan, 9/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This is a compulsive read, partially because the plot is so damned bizarre. Not necessarily great writing, or even a great story (it all wraps up a little neatly for me) but I read the whole thing in one evening because I needed to know what happened. "

    — Laura, 3/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I normally go for the fun easy reads but I enjoyed this book and the originality of the storyline. "

    — Erin, 3/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Wow - there is a lot going on in this book. Mystery, romance, obsession/possessiveness and other weird psycho family stuff... And all of it is interesting. And well told. "

    — Audrey, 2/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good story. This was like a good "vacation" read to me. Enjoyed the characters, the style of writing and the ending. Would recommend this to someone as a light read. "

    — Tkc, 1/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " an unusual story. very enjoyable. carole "

    — Carole, 12/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I liked this book very much! Interesting concept, plus the way the story went back and forth between the past and the present worked well. "

    — Ivy, 2/19/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " had a hard time getting into this book and ended up doing a bit more skimming to move through the story ... I think the writing is good as is the story line but it never really hooked me ... I'm not sure if it was the timing when I was trying to read it or what... "

    — Eve, 2/16/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I think I liked this one. It was a bit serious but it had a cute sense of humor. "

    — Diane, 1/9/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I read this in one day, surviving a 10 hour road trip. I loved it "

    — Christina, 1/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very good story...got me from the start "

    — Beth, 12/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really liked the story line! Very compelling and unpredictable. Also a little quirky. It did have some very disturbing scenes. "

    — Kerrie, 12/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I thought the ending was weak. "

    — Agnes, 3/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Such an interesting premise. I really liked following all the characters and seeing the effect tragedy and certain decisions had on each one. "

    — Margy, 2/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Beautiful, Thought provoking. So sad, and yet proved that hope is a powerful thing. Loved it! "

    — Tamsen, 2/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book a ton! Read it in one day. I would have given the book 4 stars, but the ending was not what I wanted. I think I wanted more of a wrap up. I feel like it just ended... "

    — Brooke, 2/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good story. This was like a good "vacation" read to me. Enjoyed the characters, the style of writing and the ending. Would recommend this to someone as a light read. "

    — Tkc, 1/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " had a hard time getting into this book and ended up doing a bit more skimming to move through the story ... I think the writing is good as is the story line but it never really hooked me ... I'm not sure if it was the timing when I was trying to read it or what... "

    — Eve, 12/29/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I REALLY enjoyed this book. And yes, I've read 3 books in 3 days --- Jen's out of town. "

    — Ashley, 12/5/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great book - very different, very enthralling...I devoured it. "

    — treehugger, 10/1/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Beautiful story about the rise and fall of a family. And how far a parent can go to protect their child. "

    — Bri, 9/23/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I listened to the unabridged audiobook. I think I liked it better than if I had been reading it because it wasn't really good enough to sit down and ignore everythng else to read this book. "

    — Linda, 9/16/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really couldn't put this one down - beautifully written with just enough intrigue to keep me flipping pages. I really like "first books" by authors :). "

    — Tracey, 9/13/2010
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I kept trying to finish this, but I finally had to give up. "

    — Stacey, 8/12/2010

About Lisa Tucker

Lisa Tucker grew up in Missouri and is the author of six novels. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she went on to receive master’s degrees in English and mathematics and was awarded fellowships in both fields. She has taught creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania, the Taos Writers’ Conference and UCLA. Her short work has appeared in the New York Times, Seventeen, the Oxford American, and NPR’s “Three Books.” She currently lives in Philadelphia.

About Joyce Bean

Joyce Bean is an accomplished audiobook narrator and director. In addition to having won several AudioFile Earphones Awards, she has been nominated multiple times for the prestigious Audie Award. Equally adept at narrating fiction and nonfiction, and she also narrates audiobooks under the name Jane Brown.