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The Possibility of Everything: A Memoir Audiobook
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(3.00) - 495 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From the bestselling author of Motherless Daughters, here is the real-life story of one woman’s search for a cure to her family’s escalating troubles and the leap of faith that took her on a journey to an exotic place and a new state of mind.
In the autumn of 2000, Hope Edelman was a woman adrift, questioning her marriage, her profession, and her place in the larger world. Feeling vulnerable and isolated, she was primed for change. Into her stagnant routine dropped Dodo, her three-year-old daughter’s curiously disruptive imaginary friend. Confused and worried about how to handle Dodo’s apparent hold on Maya, this otherwise mainstream woman found herself making the extremely unorthodox choice to take their daughter to Belize in hopes that a shaman might help banish Dodo—and all he represented—from their lives.
The Possibility of Everything chronicles the magical week in Central America that transformed Edelman from a person whose past had led her to believe only in the visible and the “proven” to someone open to the idea of larger, unseen forces. This deeply affecting, beautifully written memoir of a family’s emotional journey explores what Edelman and her husband went looking for in the jungle and what they ultimately discovered—as parents, as spouses, and as ordinary people—about the things that possess and destroy us or that can heal us all.
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"I would highly recommend it - I LOVED it!!! Not only is it an interesting, suspenseful story, but I could relate to the feelings the author describes about motherhood and marriage and the skepticism and struggle to believe. "
— Michelle (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Edelman writes like a dream and like a dreamer, with a novelist’s rhythm and a journalist’s unsparing eye. The Possibility of Everything kept me gasping and turning pages, awed by Edelman’s unwillingness to compromise the truth. This book makes everything seem possible—except putting it down.”
— Jacquelyn Mitchard, author, The Deep End of the Ocean, a #1 New York Times bestseller and Oprah Book Club pick -
“From its gripping opening to its moving conclusion, The Possibility of Everything takes you on a spirited journey that gracefully interweaves details of early motherhood with reflections on faith and transformation, all set against the beauty and wonder of a foreign place. A thoughtful and compelling read by the accomplished Hope Edelman.”
— Cathi Hanauer, author of Sweet Ruin and editor of The Bitch in the House -
“To write memoir well, one must surrender fear and reveal all dimensions of the inner truth—from gorgeous to heinous and what lies in between. In search of faith she can wrap her arms around, Edelman set down fear and has revealed all of herself with beauty and candor, innocence and intelligence, wisdom and clarity. In this fascinating and honest account of a one woman’s quest for wholeness and healing for her daughter, herself and her family, Edelman gives us hope.”
— Jennifer Lauck, author of Still Waters and Blackbird: A Childhood Lost and Found -
“The true beauty of this book—and there is so much that is beautiful…is that Edelman relentlessly dissects her own perspectives and feelings with an uncommon courage.”
— Oregonian -
“Edelman writes eloquently about her struggle…With vivid descriptions of Belize and its Mayan history, The Possibility of Everything is an intimate account of the struggles of parenting, partnering and faith.”
— People -
“A well-crafted tale of skepticism versus spirituality…Edelman’s writing soars highest when depicting her family’s eye-opening encounters in the humid tropical jungle with—just possibly—the supernatural.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“What happens when a toddler’s imaginary friend seems more than imaginary, less than a friend, and wreaks havoc on an entire family’s sense of well-being?...the book explores the gaps between science and faith, children and parents, and what we believe and what we wish for.”
— Redbook magazine -
“[A] charming memoir full of self-deprecating honesty that defies easy categorization…Gripping and vividly detailed…Equal parts a meditation on the trials of motherhood and marriage, a travelogue, and an exploration of faith, which [Edelman] braids together into a highly readable, insight-laden narrative.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Possibility of Everything Listener Reviews
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" Really can't finish it at this point. It has not pulled me in to a story that I want to keep reading. So, now I finished it but it wasn't worth it. "
— Delena, 2/20/2014 -
" I would highly recommend it - I LOVED it!!! Not only is it an interesting, suspenseful story, but I could relate to the feelings the author describes about motherhood and marriage and the skepticism and struggle to believe. "
— Michelle, 2/7/2014 -
" I wanted to shake the parents in this memoir. I had to force myself to read this book, and I only bothered because I'd paid $10 for it. I didn't find any of the characters very likable. I also thought the whole middle of the book was more boring than a calculus textbook. Way too much detail on the Maya pyramids and all, which had very little to do with anything. I expected this book to be gripping and emotional, but found it dull and annoying. "
— Ashley, 2/6/2014 -
" If this rating system would allow, I would have given this book 3 1/2 stars. This book was a quick read for me. The writing was smooth and kept my interest throughout. I couldn't put it down because I was dying to know how Maya would end up as well as how Hope, Maya's mother and the author, would evolve. Or if she WOULD evolve. I didn't know much about the Mayan's before reading this book other than their calendar and how advanced their civilization was. I learned a great deal more about their social structure, their buildings and their spiritual beliefs. I found it fascinating how in Belize no one bats an eye over the belief that a small child's imaginary friend is connected to her spirituality. I loved that they understood and still understand that spirtiual/mind/body are all linked together. And here in America we think we are advanced! I found the subject matter to be extremely interesting and if you are interested enough in the summary of this book to pick it up, then you will most likely feel the same way. The only negative I had about the book was that while I was dying to find out the spiritual answers to Maya's problem, I was led through the history and intricacies of the Mayans and the interactions of this family with other resort guests. However, now that I've finished the book, I feel that all of these contributed well to the story and gave a well rounded picture of this family and what led them on this path of searching for answers, other than the typical answers one would find in our modern world. "
— Terri, 1/24/2014 -
" While having an interesting subject matter, it was difficult to get into because of the interrupted flow of the writing. Then again, maybe memoir's aren't my thing. But I'd recommend checking it out at the library first, "
— Lea, 1/20/2014 -
" Interesting nonfiction. A bit of spirituality. "
— Vicki, 1/10/2014 -
" Couldn't make it past page 7, and even that was hard. "
— Christine, 12/7/2013 -
" I loved this book. very gripping and insightful "
— Cheryl, 11/5/2013 -
" LOVED it! Going along on the journey to help heal her daughter was amazing. "
— Susan, 10/27/2013 -
" A really beautiful memoir of Edelman's experiences with her family in Belize. Worth picking it up almost solely for the writing! The full review on One Librarian's Book Reviews. "
— melissa1lbr, 7/13/2013 -
" This was a book club pick and it was not interesting to me, but appealed to a lot in my book club. "
— Carrie, 2/6/2013 -
" Another book about a mother-daughter relationship (this time the daughter is 4) as the family takes an exotic vacation. "
— Catherine, 10/4/2012 -
" Very interesting book. I enjoyed her writing style. "
— Cyndie, 9/24/2012 -
" Good read for a mom of a young child. I felt like the author was a bit overproctective and histronic and times, but overall, I enjoyed the book. "
— Shannan, 9/5/2012 -
" This book outright annoyed me. I expected so much more than what it ended up being. The mother in the story annoyed me. I thought it was going to have true mystic to it, and really it was just her making excuses for her daughters poor behavior. "
— Gina, 5/12/2012 -
" I'd heard great things about this book, so I expected to love it more than I did. Maybe I would have liked it better if I hadn't had such high expectations going in. I enjoyed the descriptions of Belize, but I didn't really connect with the author's story like I thought I would. "
— Keri, 2/10/2012 -
" Another book about a mother-daughter relationship (this time the daughter is 4) as the family takes an exotic vacation. "
— Catherine, 4/29/2011 -
" Parts of this book were just ok. "
— Susyanddanweber, 4/26/2011 -
" What a great book, from a great author! Not the typical book I would read, but I highly recommend this book. Edelman intrigues readers throughout the book... It flows so nicely. Can't wait to read more book by her. "
— Mary, 4/18/2011 -
" Loved Edelman's writing style. The book is great but a little slow at the end. "
— Kristy, 4/16/2011 -
" The author gives a look into a difficult time in her life and shows the reader that in her journey she has learned so much. I was grateful for the emotion and the honesty she showed. "
— Mona, 4/3/2011 -
" Good - read it straight thru - just not as gripping as I thought it should be "
— Beth, 2/8/2011 -
" Interesting nonfiction. A bit of spirituality. "
— Vicki, 1/28/2011 -
" Wow! Very interesting, had no idea in would fold so well into many things I believe and am interested in!! "
— Tink, 12/19/2010 -
" currently listening to audio book <br/> <br/>Just could not get into it - I listened to 4 of the 9 discs and just have no interest in finishing "
— Janeene, 10/24/2010
About Hope Edelman
Hope Edelman is the author of five nonfiction books, including the bestsellers Motherless Daughters and Motherless Mothers. A graduate of the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program, she has published articles, essays, and reviews in numerous magazines and anthologies. She lives in Topanga, California, with her husband and two daughters.