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Passing Love Audiobook
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(3.05) - 175 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Jacqueline E. Luckett's debut novel was heaped with critical acclaim and selected as a "recommended read" by the Essence Book Club. Set in the City of Light, her second novel, Passing Love, is a tender tale of love and discovery. After Nicole-Marie Handy leaves a marriage proposal behind to travel to Paris, she discovers that her father had a secret affair with a woman there many years before. "[A] dreamy and lyrical paean to all things French . a fascinating portrait of women of color who defy family and tradition to follow love ."-Publishers Weekly
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"This was a 4-1/2 star book for me. I really enjoyed Jacqueline Luckett's writing style: fluid, engaging, and descriptive. PASSING LOVE is the tale of two women: Nicole-Marie, a 50-something divorcee involved with a married man, and Ruby, a girl growing up in segregated Mississippi. When Nicole's best friend dies, she feels compelled to keep a promise. She'd always dreamed of going to Paris, and now she has nothing to hold her back. In fact, removing herself from the situation with her married lover is probably the best thing she can do. So she packs up, tells her parents she'll be away for a while, and she heads overseas to the City of Light. In the meantime, we learn more about Ruby, an impetuous teenager who falls in love with an older man, a saxophone player in whom Ruby sees promise for a future outside her small town. She leaves her family for her man, ending up in Paris, a city she comes to adore. Only her life becomes more complicated than she'd ever envisioned when her lover dies and, out of sheer loneliness, she takes up with another. Down the road, these two women's lives converge. Their connection brings a host of things to light, particularly for Nicole. PASSING LOVE is a well-written tale of relationships and survival and love in all its contexts."
— Susan (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Lush, evocative, and seductive. Only read Passing Love if you’re willing to give yourself over completely to the excitement of the jazz scene of post-WWII Paris, and a woman’s determination to find her place in the present-day City of Light.”
— Lalita Tademy, New York Times bestselling author of Cane River -
“Luckett has written our Paris dreams come true—between two lives and two generations, this story delivers the romance and the heartbreak of all that the City of Lights has to offer. You will escape with this novel and question or embrace your own unlived lives.”
— Heidi W. Durrow, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky -
“A fierce, beautiful novel…a heroine for the ages…Luckett is a writer to watch and admire.”
— O, The Oprah Magazine -
“Beautifully written and filled with vibrant scenes of Paris in its Jazz age and today, Passing Love is a treat.”
— People -
“[A] dreamy and lyrical paean to all things French…a fascinating portrait of women of color who defy family and tradition to follow love.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Luckett’s loving descriptions of Paris evoke the sights, smells, and sounds of the City of Light. Nicole’s story is one with which any woman, regardless of age or skin color, can relate, but Ruby’s tale and the author’s meticulous research into the Paris of the period following WWII is the real star of this novel…Well written and engaging, a celebration of life after fifty.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“C’est magnifique! A delicious read, brimming with hope, love, and light.”
— Tayari Jones, author of Silver Sparrow
Passing Love Listener Reviews
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" I loved this novel because it pulled together so many things about which I have been learning this summer: the rise of jazz, the way African-Americans were treated back home after having served in WWII, etc. I almost cheered for Nicole at the end :) "
— Bxrchk, 2/16/2014 -
" Overall I appreciated the authors sense of place (Paris) and her character development. My issue is with her sentence structure which at times felt awkward. I caught myself rereading sentences and paragraphs to discern the meaning. I have caught myself thinking about the characters in the days since I finished the book which says a lot about how embedded they were in my mind. In summary, an enjoyable read. "
— Christine, 1/21/2014 -
" Read this book for one of my book clubs. I enjoyed the historical aspects - Paris after WWII with many blacks finding the acceptance they couldn't get at home. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Paris and use of French (a good refresher). The story was interesting but didn't grab my heart strings. Probably a 3.5. Will be interested in our discussion. "
— Joanne, 1/19/2014 -
" This was such a slow read. I did not get truly engaged in the book until around page 150. Great story overall. "
— Stephanie, 1/19/2014 -
" Even though this is a "romance" novel which I generally stay away from; this story at least has some interesting quirks. It's really three different romance stories woven into one and it's fairly enjoyable. "
— Althea, 12/31/2013 -
" I'm a little conflicted on this one. Something about the author's style of writing didn't work for me, but I enjoyed most of the story. There's a soap-opera-y little twist in the middle that I didn't see coming and enjoyed. "
— Milissa, 12/30/2013 -
" Interesting read focuses on African American expat scene in Paris after WWII. "
— Iris, 12/30/2013 -
" It took me a while to get into this book, but when I did, I read it right through. I think 3.5 stars would be more appropriate. I liked how the writer moved between times and had the story of two people Ruby and Nicole. "
— Tara, 12/17/2013 -
" It didn't work for me... "
— Marilyn, 12/9/2013 -
" Romantic love story where to two women have the same man in common but they are decades apart. I got lost in the French lessons and took me a while to see the connection between the characters. The character development was awesome but it was the slow storyline that made this a 3-star read. "
— Monique, 12/4/2013 -
" An incredibly lush read. The story transitions back and forth in time between Paris present-day and the 1950s. It explores multifaceted aspects of love, from romance to heartbreak, quite beautifully. "
— Tiana, 7/29/2013 -
" The book was difficult for me to follow. It could be the back and forth between the French and English. The chapters about Ruby were more interesting to me. Those chapters could have been a book in its self. I would have enjoyed this book more if the story was told from the perspective of Ruby. "
— Debra, 6/13/2013 -
" This was a touching, magical, heartbreaker of a story, with the right measure of hope. The writing is strong, the plot is compelling, and I enjoyed learning about eras, places, and situations new to me. I will be watching for anything else by Luckett. "
— Julie, 4/18/2013 -
" Another 3.5 for me "
— Sheena, 1/10/2013 -
" a very good read in my opinion. "
— John, 9/18/2012 -
" 3.5 is my truer rating for this book. It was a slow start but it eventually got and held my interest. For me it ended short of answers. It's a sad love story on multiple accounts. Its lessons are very real, which is what I liked most about this book. "
— Maeceon, 8/26/2012
About Jacqueline E. Luckett
Jacqueline E. Luckett is the author of Searching for Tina Turner. A San Francisco Bay Area native, she lives in Oakland, California.
About Robin Miles
Robin Miles, named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, an Audie Award for directing, and many Earphones Awards. Her film and television acting credits include The Last Days of Disco, Primary Colors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, New York Undercover, National Geographic’s Tales from the Wild, All My Children, and One Life to Live. She regularly gives seminars to members of SAG and AFTRA actors’ unions, and in 2005 she started Narration Arts Workshop in New York City, offering audiobook recording classes and coaching. She holds a BA degree in theater studies from Yale University, an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, and a certificate from the British American Drama Academy in England.