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The Returning Audiobook
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(3.00) - 465 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Christy Award winner Ann Tatlock paints a vibrant portrait of a fractured family's journey toward healing and forgiveness. Now transformed by God's grace, John Sheldon is concerned about reuniting with his family after five years in prison. As he asks God to revive his dying marriage and heal his fragmented home, the answer to his prayers might just lie in the caring hands of his Down syndrome son. "Her lovely prose [makes] it a joy to savor her stories."-Publishers Weekly
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"The alternate reality here was amazingly thorough, alien and textured. The many viewpoints weave together beautifully, although in some ways they do keep the reader at a remove. The story is measured, emotionally complex, and absorbing in its portrayal of the complicated emotions and the slow healing happening in a divided land following a war. I probably would have given this 5 stars if it were not for the fact that a major, intriguing character (and story arc) was mysteriously abandoned."
— Debrarian (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“I was delighted to become acquainted with Billy in The Returning. He is a thoughtful, ambitious, and warm young man. Tatlock has successfully described the essence of a person with Down syndrome. Great story!”
— Chris Burke, actor, singer, and star of Life Goes On (ABC, 1989–1993) -
Once again Ann Tatlock proves she is a master storyteller and weaver. Every chapter peels back another layer of the story, another level to the characters, compelling the reader toward the end, where little is perfect, but with God it is well.”
— Eva Marie Everson, author of the Potluck Club novels -
“Stellar writing sets Tatlock apart from her peers. Her characters, especially Billy, pull the reader into the story, and the relationship between John and his children is wonderfully written.”
— RT Book Reviews
The Returning Listener Reviews
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" It grew on me eventually, but it was hard to get into. "
— Angela, 2/19/2014 -
" Little Women meets Canterbury Tales. "
— Kelly, 2/10/2014 -
" Yawn. The theme has been done better. The characters are sketchy at best. This is a thematic novel, so don't read it if you want action and character development. I understand how the author wanted to portray the healing, and the aftermath in general, of war, and how things settle. But it's, well, boring. "
— Rebekah, 2/5/2014 -
" the main character is very wishy-washy, always coming and going. plus, the book has, from a guy's perspective, his love for the main character. awkward! plus this random girl, not sure.... oh yeah, she's supposed to marry the war-ruined "hero" of the story. and she's like ten or eleven. "
— Pandionhalatius37.6-WINGS, 2/1/2014 -
" I had a hard time getting into this one at first. The author created a dialect for her characters that felt very cumbersome to me...It made the story seem to slog along. I'm glad I stuck with it, though. It ended up being a pretty interesting story. "
— Kristy, 1/18/2014 -
" Very different, but I liked it. Not at all what I expected! "
— Ruth, 6/27/2013 -
" After reading some others reviews I don't feel so bad. Did.not.get.it. "
— Alicia, 11/12/2012 -
" Did anyone else think the country that this book was set in was very reminiscent of early Norse and Celtic, really dark ages type times? "
— Ridley, 12/14/2010 -
" I found it hard to get into, beautiful and exciting in the middle, and rushed at the end. Definitely a book that would benefit from both re-reading and discussion. "
— Sarah, 5/7/2010
About Ann Tatlock
Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award–winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book of the Year in fiction for both All the Way Home and I’ll Watch the Moon. Ann lives with her husband, Bob, and their daughter, Laura Jane, in Asheville, North Carolina.
About Scott Sowers
Scott Sowers is an actor and audiobook narrator. AudioFile magazine named him the 2008 Best Voice in Mystery and Suspense. He is the winner of seven Earphones Awards.