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So Far Away: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 541 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Thirteen-year-old Natalie Gallagher is trying to escape: from her parents' ugly divorce, and from the vicious cyber-bullying of her former best friend. Adrift, confused, she is a girl trying to find her way in a world that seems to either neglect or despise her. Her salvation arrives in an unlikely form: Bridget O'Connell, an Irish maid working for a wealthy Boston family. The catch? Bridget lives only in the pages of a dusty old 1920s diary Natalie unearthed in her mother's basement. But the life she describes is as troubling -- and mysterious -- as the one Natalie is trying to navigate herself, almost a century later.
I am writing this down because this is my story. There were only ever two people who knew my secret, and both are gone before me.
Who was Bridget, and what became of her?
Natalie escapes into the diary, eager to unlock its secrets, and reluctantly accepts the help of library archivist Kathleen Lynch, a widow with her own painful secret: she's estranged from her only daughter. Kathleen sees in Natalie traces of the daughter she has lost, and in Bridget, another spirited young woman at risk.
What could an Irish immigrant domestic servant from the 1920s teach them both? As the troubles of a very modern world close in around them, and Natalie's torments at school escalate, the faded pages of Bridget's journal unite the lonely girl and the unhappy widow . . . and might even change their lives forever.
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"A great quick read combining some of my personal favorites: teen angst, a great family story genealogy and fabulous writing. I did want all the loose ends tied up a bit neater, but the ending emulates real life. Perhaps also leaves room for a sequel. I am off to find Mitchel Moore's other work!"
— Susan (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Moore wields a powerfully emotive style, not unlike that of Francine Prose, in which she displays both deep compassion and winning humor…A beautifully told story of human fallibility and connection.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“This sweet and thoughtful novel is both tense and elegiac, exploring the damage we inflict on ourselves and each other and the strength it takes to heal.”
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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A 2012 Booklist Editors’ Choice Selection: Adult Books for Young Adults
So Far Away Listener Reviews
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" I really enjoyed this book, but I feel the ending was just a little too abrupt. Very glad I read it, though, and I still give it 4 stars. I will have to get my hands on her first book. "
— Angela, 2/14/2014 -
" Pretty good novel. Easy read and interesting, especially the historical diary they find. I could see this being made into a movie. "
— Becky, 2/5/2014 -
" This story had such great potential, with 3 separate stories being woven together. One of those stories comes from a tall, skinny yet beautiful 13 year old girl whose mother is nearly non-existent, her father is busy finding someone else to love and her best friend has become one of her cyber bullies. Another part of the story is an older lady who has 'lost' her only child, and then the third comes from a very old book found in a basement. I was intrigued, because I love that concept of finding old diaries. I did like the story, but I feel a little let down. I don't need to have every aspect resolved in the end---I like a good story that makes you wonder a bit--but it felt like the author decided, 'i don't know how i want this to end, so i will just leave it at that'. The characters seemed to get thinner and thinner as the ending approached and then the story line just dissolved into nothing. I was left wondering 'why didn't this character do this' and 'whatever happened to so and so?' It was frustrating and a bit disappointing. I appreciated Ms. Moore's writing style and feel she has talent, but I think she could have done better with the ending. "
— Stacy, 1/7/2014 -
" if you want to read a book about cyberbullying and its effects on many people and how it works, then this is your book. horrible stuff. it's also about mothers and daughters and how they work and don't work. especially how a mother learns to live with sorrow, not knowing, yet having to carry on. "
— Meg, 1/6/2014 -
" Meh. I listened to this one. LOVED the voices. Enjoyed the storyline involving immigrant Bridgett. Tired of the constant internal monologue of Kathleen and the cyber bullying issues with Natalie. The F-word is used twice. "
— Lisa, 12/27/2013 -
" More like a 3.5. This one is mostly about a teenage girl who is bullied. "
— Kelly, 12/17/2013 -
" It takes a while to build the characters in this book but is a good one. Especially enjoyed the different character voices. "
— Monica, 12/11/2013 -
" Three characters, Natalie, Kathleen, and Bridget, (2 from present time and 1 from another era) share misfortune and secret. Beautifully crafted novel that sweeps the reader up in description and story from the beginning pages and holds on till the very end. "
— Tanya, 12/8/2013 -
" Well, it is something of a page-turner, but I'm with Les on this one. It is an interesting plot and moves rapidly, but there really isn't very much substance to it. I did read it in one day, however, and that may be an indication that it really is pretty good! "
— Andrea, 11/29/2013 -
" I found the subplot (Bridget's diary from the 20's) to be way more fascinating than the main plot. I was really looking for more of a connection between the two plots, and I was a little let down about that. I felt that the ending was disappointing...too many loose ends. "
— Kelly, 9/15/2013 -
" I pushed my way through this one. Too many stories rolled into one book. "
— Lin, 8/24/2013 -
" A great book about cyber bullying. I am glad that people are being more informed about this terrible thing that goes on. Enjoyed this book a lot and opened my yes to this problem that I am sure goes on everywhere. "
— Heidi, 8/20/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book for the sense of place since I live in the community written about. I found the book interesting and sad for the reality of bullying behavior. "
— Kathy, 4/15/2013 -
" This is a nicely layered story, with compelling characters in a quietly moving plot. Moore creates very believable people in sadly believable circumstances but she doesn't stray to the melodramatic in her narrative. A nice read on a Sunday afternoon. "
— Melanie, 3/25/2013 -
" I think I expected more fom this book. Quick and interesting red highlighting impact of cyber bullying, but wish there was something more significant with the diary pages found. "
— Michelle, 2/22/2013 -
" Well written. I love that the author blended history with a current issue of cyberbullying. A good read for teenagers. "
— Cher, 1/21/2013 -
" Thought it would be a mystery taking us into past but basically a cyber bullying novel. "
— Denese, 1/11/2013
About Meg Mitchell Moore
Meg Mitchell Moore worked for several years as a journalist. Her work has been published in Yankee, Continental, Women’s Health, Advertising Age, and many other business and consumer magazines. She received a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and a master’s degree in English literature from New York University. Meg lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts, with her husband, their three children, and a beloved border collie.
About the Narrators
Gabra Zackman is an actress, author, and narrator who has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards. She was educated at Northwestern University. A classically trained actress, she has appeared in theaters all over the country as well as on film and television.
Emma Galvin won the 2011 Audie Award for best fiction narration, was a finalist for the Audie Award in 2012, and won six AudioFile Earphones Awards for her narrations. A graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, her film appearances include My Suicidal Sweetheart, A Perfect Fit, and The Big Bad Swim. She has performed in several regional theater productions, including Love Punky, The Power of Birds, and The Realm.
Suzanne Toren, award-winning narrator, has over thirty years of experience in narration. She was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She has won the American Foundation for the Blind’s Scourby Award for Narrator of the Year, AudioFile magazine named her the 2009 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture, and she is the recipient of multiple Earphones Awards. She performs on and off Broadway and in regional theaters and has appeared on Law & Order and in various soap operas.