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The Letters: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.03) - 729 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Is there any mystery greater than those we love the most? In this remarkable collaboration, New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger combine their unique talents to create a powerfully moving novel of an estranged husband and wife through a series of searching, intimate letters. By way of a correspondence so achingly real you’ll forget it’s fiction, they trace the history of a love affair and of a family before, and after, the moment that changed the course of two people’s journey forever. Sam and Hadley West are both trying in their own ways to survive after the unthinkable loss of their only son in Alaska. For Sam, a sports journalist, acceptance means an arduous trek by dogsled across the bleak and beautiful arctic wilderness to find the place where Paul died. For Hadley, it means renting a benignly haunted, salt-soaked cottage off the Maine coast where she begins to paint again. Now, at opposite ends of the country, waiting for their divorce to be finalized, they begin to exchange letters by post, missives filled with longing and truths they’ve never before voiced, as they recall their marriage—its magic moments and its challenges—and begin to rediscover the reasons they fell in love in the first place. As Sam risks his life to reach the remote crash site, Hadley begins an equally hazardous inner journey to a rendezvous with the mad grief of a mother’s heart. At the place where all else is lost, they will meet again….
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"Slow at first. I thought this was going to boring because the first few letters were sent in batches from the man, using a lot of exposition about his trip to the Antartic. However, as response letters from the woman come in, a drama about their relationship begins to unfold. We start to understand more about their lives, the events that brought them to decide divorce--the drinking, the affair, the abandonment--all to avoid dealing with the pain of losing their son. In the end, we can see how writing to one another has provided a therapy that heals their wounds, something that otherwise could not have been achieved. I suspect that Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger wrote this book much in the way that it is read. In letters. And we can hear the distinct voices of each writer clearly. A great book for a relaxing day at the beach."
— Lori (4 out of 5 stars)
The Letters Listener Reviews
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" I couldn't force myself to read past the first two chapters. "
— Lizzy, 2/17/2014 -
" Good book. Such intense, raw emotions. I finished the book in one afternoon "
— Kathy, 2/17/2014 -
" enjoyed this book. i love any books where there are letters to read. a portion of it was very sad. so worth the read though.... "
— Debbie, 2/13/2014 -
" Rice is my "turn to" author. I know I will find a story I like. The Letters are a series of letters between an estranged couple who are coming to terms with their son's death. As they correspond, they come to terms with their past, who their son was, and who he turned out to be. Affirmation is a great thing in any relationship. "
— Katy, 2/4/2014 -
" I thought this would have more romance than sadness. A good light read for the winter, but be prepared, it's content and context of the novel is sad to say the least. "
— Krystal, 1/26/2014 -
" This book was a different take on telling a story. I enjoyed it very much. Definitely a book I think should be read. "
— Tara, 1/22/2014 -
" I really liked this book. It's in letter format, thus the title. The letters are from husband and wife. They lost their son in a plane crash in alaska. Since the loss they have not known how to go on, in life and with each other. The husband is trekking across alaska to find solace in seeing where his son died. The wife is spending a winter in a beach cottage. Writing letters is how they learn to communicate again. It's a quick read. More of a "married person who's ever gone through any kind of large marital trial" kind of read. I found it touching and engaging. "
— Jessica, 1/20/2014 -
" I love this author too! This book is all letters between a husband and wife that are about to divorce after their 20 yr. old son dies in a plane crash. "
— Allyson, 1/17/2014 -
" I had to listen to this book while on a day trip to San Diego. I did not enjoy the self obsessed parents who were unable to find joy in life due to their lack of respect for the after life. "
— Jamie, 12/31/2013 -
" It was easy to follow and you could feel the heartbreak and emotions that this couple was enduring. I would recommend this book to anyone who has compassion. "
— Sarah, 12/30/2013 -
" A beautiful love story told in a way I couldn't have imagined. The book was a fast read and I enjoyed every part of it - the love, the rage, the confusion, the anguish, the losses and the triumphs. "
— Nea, 12/29/2013 -
" Hard for me to get into but I finished it because of the 2 reviews of excellent in the back of the book. I didn't think it was that good. "
— Tracy, 12/27/2013 -
" I tried to enter this book before but I said the author was Anne Rice instead of Luanne. I learned a lot about sled dogs. "
— Elaine, 11/27/2013 -
" Absolutely loved it ---- such insights into the grieving process and renewal of love. "
— Cmccann, 11/19/2013 -
" A beautiful book. Very touching. "
— Barb, 11/19/2013 -
" What am interesting way to tell a story about love - undying love. This booked sucked me in immediately and is a quick read! It's just under 200 pages. I would recommend it to anyone. "
— Amandaemata, 8/30/2013 -
" Picked this up at the library while I was waiting for 3 and 4 in the Twilight series. "
— Bonnie, 8/17/2013 -
" This book is an amazing story. Its about this couple that split up but come back together over the death of there son. The right letters back in forth and from those letters they realize that they still love each other. Its a beautiful little story that you can finish and enjoy in an afternoon. "
— Gabrielle, 3/8/2013 -
" I would read this book again. The story is very touching. The letters really bring you into the characters' lives. Well written. Great collaboration. "
— Isabella, 2/3/2013 -
" Having just finished and enjoyed Eternal on the Water, I decided to give this collaboration a try. I know I would have liked it more if I had read it (the male reader's delivery was annoying), but the book took a turn at the end that was ridiculous. "
— Melissa, 1/9/2013 -
" A quick read done in letters which is a form I normally enjoy. It was supposed to be a tear-jerker but it never quite got me there. The story of a couple seeking closure and solace after their son's death in a plane crash...this was good but not spectacular. "
— Amy, 10/20/2012 -
" This is absolutely one of the greatest novels I have read. As a grieving mother, I highly recommend this book! "
— Rachel, 8/25/2012 -
" Wow. This book is excellent. Read it. "
— Laura, 6/3/2012 -
" I liked this book it was well written and easy to read.I recommend it as light reading "
— Isabel, 2/18/2012 -
" I am a true Luanne Rice fan. This book is not a typical Rice novel. It took a while to get into, but I found I enjoyed the book. I finished reading it a couple of weeks ago and I find that it still pops into my thoughts occasionally. "
— Deedee, 7/23/2011 -
" Found it an interesting way to write a book......loved the story and began to feel Sam and Hadley's pain in the loss of their son. "
— Cheryl, 5/5/2011 -
" I thought this would have more romance than sadness. A good light read for the winter, but be prepared, it's content and context of the novel is sad to say the least. "
— Krystal, 4/11/2011 -
" This was a good book. Different format than I'm used to but I really enjoyed it. "
— Lisa, 4/5/2011 -
" That we have lost the ability to communicate with the written word is so sad and leaves us anable to voice those deepest thoughts that take a while to express. We should all go back to writing letters to those who matter most to us. "
— Elsie, 3/10/2011 -
" Maybe I half liked this book as I read it next to the pool in Hawaii. It did make me glad that I will be seeing both of my kids in 5 dyas. "
— Jan, 2/21/2011 -
" This is a very different kind of love story. I liked it, but didn't love it. I wanted to feel more about this couple. Their pain of losing a son was evident, but the book is told in a series of letters sent back and forth and emotion imo was lacking "
— Karen, 10/2/2010 -
" I love this author too! This book is all letters between a husband and wife that are about to divorce after their 20 yr. old son dies in a plane crash. "
— Allyson, 12/18/2009 -
" ONe of my favorite books in the last five years. Honest "voices" as each author write one half of the couple. It was moving, and sad, and bittersweet. "
— Amy, 12/2/2009 -
" I loved this book. I liked the format of two people talking back and forth through letters.It was interesting how issues were resolved and feelings communicated behind the safety of a letter, as opposed to face-to-face. "
— Susan, 11/2/2009 -
" Hard for me to get into but I finished it because of the 2 reviews of excellent in the back of the book. I didn't think it was that good. "
— Tracy, 9/29/2009
About the Authors
Luanne Rice is the author of more than thirty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Sandcastles. Many of her novels have been made into movies for television. Her short stories, essays, and articles have been widely published in magazines and newspapers. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
Joseph Monninger has published several award-winning young adult novels and three books of nonfiction, including the memoir Home Waters. He has been awarded two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and lives and teaches in New Hampshire, where he also runs a dogsled team.
About the Narrators
Donna Rawlins is an accomplished and successful songwriter, vocalist, and female voice-over artist. She has read a wide range of audiobooks—from Jane Heller’s Female Intelligence to novels by Suzanne Brockmann, Tami Hoag, and Dana Reinhardt. Her voice-over work can also be heard on numerous educational programs, commercials, documentaries, PSAs, and featured voice parts in various films such as Citizen Ruth.
Bruce Turk is an actor who has appeared in television series such as Numb3rs, ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Third Watch. Also a narrator, he has read numerous audiobooks, including Easy Money by Jens Lapidus and The Good Father by Noah Hawley.