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Second Nature (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,841 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A New York Times best seller, Second Nature tells the story of a suburban woman, Robin Moore, who discovers her own free spirit through a stranger she brings home to her perfectly ordered neighborhood. As Robin impulsively draws this beautiful, uncivilized man into her world-meanwhile coping with divorce and a troubled teenage son-she begins to question her wisdom and doubt her own heart, and ultimately she changes her ideas about love and humanity.
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"I have been meaning to read another Alice Hoffman book since "Here on Earth" and have finally gotten around to it! And I loved this book! Something about her writing and characters just draws you in. Most of all, I enjoy reading unique stories, something above the ordinary, and this was sure it. Very interesting story."
— Theresa (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Magical and daring...very possibly her best.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Intelligent and absorbing...a celebration of the simple, unstinting grace of human love.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“Another page turner...Second Nature is first-rate storytelling.”
— Cleveland Plain Dealer -
“Suspenseful...a dark, romantic meditation on what it means to be human.”
— New Yorker -
“Hoffman’s keen appraisal of human nature and her graceful prose do much to keep this novel appealing.
— Publishers Weekly -
“[Second Nature] once again demonstrates [Hoffman’s] magic as a storyteller. In this story about relationships, loneliness, and being misunderstood, Hoffman’s simple, yet powerful, style artfully weaves together past and present, one life to another, allowing us inside the hearts and minds of her unique characters. Kate Nelligan’s moderate pace makes for clarity and fine vocal differentiation...The abridgment flows smoothly, free of sound effects and music. Like the storyteller’s intricate tale, Second Nature is best when heard.”
— AudioFile -
“There’s always been a kind of primal undercurrent in Hoffman’s love stories—a pulse of feeling as mysterious and inevitable as the moon-besotted turtles who clamber out of the sea to lay their eggs once a year. In her tenth novel, a latter-day Beauty and the Beast, this pulse is as powerful as a drumbeat—it draws you in and frightens you at the same time...Once again, Hoffman stirs up the unlikely with the ordinary and seasons it, expertly, deliciously, with our darkest desires.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Second Nature Listener Reviews
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" I've written so many times about Alice Hoffman, what more can I really say? She's amazing. She creates a magickal world we all want to believe in. "
— Katrina, 2/2/2014 -
" Oh, good summer read - a bit of fantasy - unexpected turns - will make you think. "
— Margery, 2/2/2014 -
" One of my favorite Alice Hoffman books, her perfect blend of nature, mystery and characters. This one was ahead of its time "
— Deb, 1/29/2014 -
" A very interesting novel about a man raised by wolves and a woman's encounter with him, revealing much about human nature & the nature of community. "
— Marvin, 1/20/2014 -
" I didn't love this book, but I really wanted to. Easy read with complex situation, but resolution and character choices were not what I expected. "
— Nicolle, 1/7/2014 -
" One of my favorite books. "
— Tom, 1/5/2014 -
" short, intriguing, but just didn't quite get me, perhaps because I just didn't empathize with the characters as they were too superficially evoked "
— Cheryl, 1/5/2014 -
" Not my favorite Alice Hoffman story..... "
— Amy, 1/3/2014 -
" Alice Hoffman is the QUEEN of "quirky" Characters! I fall in love with them every single time.. Her stories stir you up and make you believe in Magick :-) LOVE IT! "
— Lisa, 1/3/2014 -
" I'm on an Alice Hoffman kick. enjoying them all - including this one too! "
— Jane, 1/2/2014 -
" Liked it, but the story is a bit of a stretch. "
— Njwillott, 12/11/2013 -
" I'm a big fan of Alice Hoffman and really enjoyed this book. She has a knack for writing stories that are bittersweet yet filled with hope, and this one is no exception. I'm also a big fan of the 'beauty and the beast' theme, and this book falls into that category as well. "
— Pam, 12/9/2013 -
" My favorite Alice Hoffman "
— Druie, 9/22/2013 -
" The thing about Alice Hoffman's books is that they're great reads - I'll pick one up and not put it down until it's finished, but a few months later, I can't remember what on earth the book was about. I get them all confused with each other and the plots and characters are vague in my memory. "
— Jamie, 9/8/2013 -
" This was the first Alice Hoffman book I read and I was hooked. I think the second was Practical Magic. I like her use of the supernatural in a very everyday use. She's pretty consistent with her books and their themes, but sometimes ones touch you more than others. I really enjoy her reads. "
— Andrea, 7/21/2013 -
" Another of my favorite Hoffman books. "
— Tina, 10/17/2012 -
" I enjoyed this book. It was the first book by Alice Hoffman that I've read. I felt that the ending didn't have a whole sense of finality to it but it was enjoyable, nonetheless. I'm looking forward to reading the other books of hers that I own in my collection. "
— Penny, 8/22/2012 -
" Not my favorite Hoffman, but she's one of my favorite authors, and I still thought it was amazing. "
— elissa, 4/19/2012 -
" I appreciated the small touches of magic in this book - but in too many cases I felt she was trying too hard and maybe dialing it back a notch would have made for a better read. Still a good read, but not as good as it could have been...and not nearly as great as Practical Magic. "
— Jennifer, 11/14/2011 -
" My favorite Alice Hoffman. filled me with dread. delight, yearning "
— Leslie, 11/4/2011 -
" Love love love this story!! "
— Emily, 10/5/2011 -
" This was a quick and interesting read. Definitely a book by Hoffman. I am not usually a fan of mystical-fiction, but Hoffman always find the right balance between reality, and the unexplained. "
— Kim, 8/30/2011 -
" It was a 25 cent book at the library...and now I know why. "
— LMJ, 6/5/2011 -
" I have yet to not love a book by this woman! pick up any book by Alice and I am sure it will become a favorite...:) "
— Annie, 5/8/2011 -
" My very favorite of Hoffman's offerings so far. "
— Newgirl, 4/13/2011 -
" I love Hoffman's writing, she's lyrical and spins a beautiful tale, but I had trouble suspending my disbelief enough on the basic setup of the plot (i.e., that the protagonist would take the possibly deranged man into her home) to fully immerse myself in it. "
— Cupcakencorset, 10/22/2010 -
" An unexpected find in an airline seat pocket, Alice Hoffman delivered just what I expected, another solid read. "
— Karen, 10/18/2010 -
" The story was really intriguing. I'm not sure I really liked the ending, but it was a good book overall. "
— Tamara, 10/18/2010 -
" A very interesting plot. Enjoyed this book. "
— Rosemarie, 9/6/2010 -
" This is a beautiful story packed with romance, suspense, and a dark mystery. Alice Hoffman fully develops sympathetic characters while inspiring the reader to think about love, life, and humanity. "
— Lauren, 7/27/2010 -
" The first of Alice Hoffman's books I read....and hooked on her works ever since! "
— Kathryn, 7/9/2010 -
" Interesting premise - more intense, a little less magical. Not my favorite Hoffman, but still a good read. "
— Sue, 6/18/2010 -
" I appreciated the small touches of magic in this book - but in too many cases I felt she was trying too hard and maybe dialing it back a notch would have made for a better read. Still a good read, but not as good as it could have been...and not nearly as great as Practical Magic. "
— Jennifer, 6/10/2010 -
" Alice Hoffman is the QUEEN of "quirky" Characters! I fall in love with them every single time.. Her stories stir you up and make you believe in Magick :-) LOVE IT! "
— Lisa, 6/9/2010 -
" Not my favorite Alice Hoffman story..... "
— Amy, 4/5/2010
About Alice Hoffman
Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including the Practical Magic series and the Oprah’s Book Club selection Here on Earth, among others. Eight of her novels have made the New York Times bestsellers list.
About Kate Nelligan
Kate Nelligan has had a successful acting career in her native Canada, in Britain and in the United States. Nelligan studied at Toronto’s Glendon College, but left to attend the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She quickly established herself in the UK on stage and on television. As a member of the National Theatre, she gave a much lauded performance in Tales from the Vienna Woods and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for David Hare’s Plenty. She moved to Manhattan in the early ‘80s, dropped the English accent, and won stardom on the Broadway boards, racking up four Tony Award nominations for best actress. On the screen, both big and small, she established herself as a top-notch and in-demand supporting player and character actress. Nelligan was Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting Actress for The Prince of Tides, and her performances in movies and television in her native Canada have brought her five Gemini Award nominations.