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Red Hook Road Audiobook
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(3.00) - 2,777 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
As lyrical as a sonata, Ayelet Waldman’s follow-up novel to Love and Other Impossible Pursuits explores the aftermath of a family tragedy. Set on the coast of Maine over the course of four summers, Red Hook Road tells the story of two families, the Tetherlys and the Copakens, and of the ways in which their lives are unraveled and stitched together by misfortune, by good intentions and failure, and by love and calamity. A marriage collapses under the strain of a daughter’s death; two bereaved siblings find comfort in one another; and an adopted young girl breathes new life into her family with her prodigious talent for the violin. As she writes with obvious affection for these unforgettable characters, Ayelet Waldman skillfully interweaves life’s finer pleasures—music and literature—with the more mundane joys of living. Within these resonant pages, a vase filled with wildflowers or a cold beer on a hot summer day serve as constant reminders that it’s often the little things that make life so precious.
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"I was happy to live for awhile on the Maine cost among these well-delineated people. Everyone remained true to themselves with significant refinements until I closed the book. Yes, there were some happily ever after parts that might have seemed overly kind but not many. I so enjoyed that I searched my library on-line to find more only to discover that Waldman wrote many more books in a humourous/ironic vein. Very disappointed to find only one possible novel, I reserved it hoping for the best. I wish she would venture into places where her greatest skill is in drawing people one cares about a great deal. (Admit to a soft spot for Mr. Kimmelbrod.)"
— Joanne (5 out of 5 stars)
Red Hook Road Listener Reviews
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" This was good through most of it but the author chickened out at the end with unlikely external solutions solving everybody's problems. "
— Marcie, 2/12/2014 -
" I liked the entire book until the last 10 pages. And then I liked the Epilogue or whatever. Which is the only thing keeping it from a 5 star rating. "
— Krista, 2/10/2014 -
" I'm surprised I didn't love this more, though I did enjoy it. I found myself quite annoyed at Daniel most of the time - he felt like a total whiner. It was interesting to see how these two families, brought together by both love and tragedy weathered the storm of grief. "
— Katlet, 2/5/2014 -
" Loved the characters. A good one. "
— Margaret, 1/29/2014 -
" Couldn't get past the first 50 pages. Just not interested. "
— Chanel, 1/29/2014 -
" The story itself I could take or leave, touched a bit close to home. But the writing is great. I definitely want to read more of her work. She and Michael Chabon are probably my favorite current power writing couple. "
— Catherine, 1/29/2014 -
" Although the story begins with a tragedy, I was caught up in reading how each family member dealt with their emotions and loss. "
— Leeann, 1/14/2014 -
" Didn't like it after first few pages, forced myself to keep going. I found it depressing to read about these depressed, mourning people. The book made me sad. The end was better but the good part was so short. "
— Denese, 1/13/2014 -
" Nothing earth shattering, but kept me interested. I liked Ruthie's character the best. "
— Stefany, 1/7/2014 -
" first book of hers I have read ... she's a good author, the book was a bit predictable and a bit thin in terms of character development, but it hooked me in and was an interesting read. I will read more of her work. "
— Tamar, 1/6/2014 -
" A very sad premise, this was a well written book that ends in a surpringly uplifting way. I definitely enjoye it and would recommend it. "
— Stacy, 12/23/2013 -
" Love, loss, and family relationships set against the rugged Maine coastline all make for an interesting read. "
— Jeanne, 12/7/2013 -
" Excellent story following the lives and the coping mechanisms of a family after a tragedy strikes. "
— Marilyn, 11/30/2013 -
" Continuing my string of really depressing books. Love all her books and looked forward to this one. It didn't disappoint, though I would recommend a box of tissues as your reading companion. "
— Leahsal, 11/15/2013 -
" Really enjoyed. Wonderful language. "
— Jean, 8/11/2013 -
" I normally don't read books like this but the reviews sparked my interests. I enjoyed it but found that it was somewhat predictable. It reminded me of Jodi Picoult. "
— Ctroskoph, 1/15/2013 -
" Sad, depressing, too many details in some places and not enough in others. Couldn't wait for it to be over. "
— Stacie, 12/30/2012 -
" I read Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman last year, and I think that I like her fiction just as much as I enjoyed her essays. "
— Kristy, 9/6/2012 -
" Easy and fun read. But lacked complexity of emotion. And too much of a soap opera feel. "
— Rebecca, 8/2/2012 -
" This was such a good but sad story about two families dealing with many tragics in their lives. "
— Wendy, 5/30/2012 -
" Not a light summer read, but I couldn't put it down. "
— Joanne, 6/30/2011 -
" I can't say I really enjoyed this book because it was tragic. I think the subject matter was covered very well and that the book really did show the life and times of the people going through this. P.S. Thanks to Goodreads for sending this one to me!! :) "
— Ellen, 6/29/2011 -
" I think this is very well written. The story line may be a bit obvious and two of the main characters rather irritating but it didn't put me off the book at all. I would read more by Waldeman. "
— Sandra, 6/29/2011 -
" This book was very slow and hard to get into. Overall it was OK. Things dod pick up in the end. "
— Michelle, 6/29/2011 -
" Not very memorable. It's annoying that the entire plot of the book is described on the book jacket. <br/> "
— Mimy, 6/27/2011 -
" Enjoyed it- even though beginning was just soooo sad!! I liked all the characters and could feel their pain. "
— Jane, 6/26/2011 -
" I got this as one of my free books. I found this story captivating and enjoyed the life message about what matters most. "
— Jean, 6/24/2011 -
" It is an interesting story. I like the way this author writes. "
— Carolin, 6/15/2011 -
" The books was okay, but I prefer a book with more plot. "
— Suzanne, 6/15/2011 -
" I thought it was a great interpretation of the way in which death affects two totally different families and ties them together forever. I did find some of the characters annoying, but that's usually the case with real people, too. I would recommend to others to read. "
— Lauren, 6/9/2011
About Ayelet Waldman
Ayelet Waldman is an essayist and author of several books including Red Hook Road, Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, and The New York Times bestseller Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities and Occasional Moments of Grace. Her personal essays and profiles of such public figures as Hillary Clinton have been published in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Vogue, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former criminal defense lawyer. Waldman currently lives in Berkeley, California with her Pulitzer Prize-winning husband Michael Chabon, their four children, and their Bernese mountain dog Fanny.
About Kimberly Farr
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.