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The Sand Castle Audiobook
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(2.27) - 22 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
It's August 1952, and seven-year-old Nickel sets off for a day at the seashore with her mother, aunt, and cousin Leroy. Everyone is excited when they reach Chesapeake Bay—everyone except for Leroy, who is recently motherless and frightened of the world around him. Nickel delights in tormenting her cousin, but, as the group lounges on the beach and begins work on a magnificent sand castle, the sisters try to coax him out of his shell by telling stories about their own childhood trips to the shore. However, Nickel's taunting of Leroy escalates, and the family history between her mother and aunt rises to the surface—and then a crab bites Leroy, and they must all come together. Only years later can Nickel see that day for what it truly was—a life-changing lesson about family and the pleasure and heartbreak that comes with it.
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"Really a short story rather than a novel. A day at the beach in the early 50s with two sisters, the daughter of one, and their nephew who just lost his mom. Sweet and honest interactions between the characters. A snapshot of their lives that shows the bigger picture of their past and futures. "
— Kate (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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[A] sad, funny, always moving snapshot of a sort of love letter in the sand.
— Booklist Starred Review -
“[A] sad, funny, always moving snapshot of a sort of love letter in the sand.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“Feisty Southern sisters Juts and Wheezy…are back and irascible as ever…Bittersweet…Heartbreaking.”
— Publishers Weekly
The Sand Castle Listener Reviews
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" I thought it was an alright read-though not one of my favorite books by Ms. Brown. "
— Megan, 2/5/2011 -
" This is a nice short story, but again, inconsistent with the story she created for these characters in <em>Six of One</em> and <em>Bingo</em>, so kind of disappointing. Would have been a nice story if it were truly independent of the other books. "
— Jaymie, 3/12/2010 -
" This was a short about family generations of love an loss. <br/> "
— Wendy, 11/8/2009 -
" Some charm but I still find Brown overrated as a writer and her Southernisms both unconvincing and obnoxious "
— Susan, 10/28/2009 -
" My favorite RMB characters (Juts, Wheezie, and Nickel) in little more than a short story. Nowhere near the humor or insight as "Six of One" or "Bingo." "
— Dave, 10/7/2009 -
" Not too memorable, but I liked the author's writing style so I plan on trying something else by her. This might not have been a good one to begin with, but I have to admit, the cover sucked me in. "
— Stephanie, 9/28/2009 -
" I thought this would be a family feel good story about a day at the beach and instead it was quite possible one of the most depressing books I ever read. Skip! "
— Erin, 5/7/2009 -
" A short story in book form about a day at the beach. Quick interesting read...the preceeding books probably intoduce the characters better. "
— Patty, 4/17/2009 -
" <br/>1. Brevity is a virtue. <br/> <br/>2. I now refer to male genitalia the way the characters in this story do. <br/> <br/> "
— Brent, 4/16/2009 -
" I read this in an afternoon. It's very short and sweet but contains some small life lessons. "
— Tricia, 3/8/2009
About Rita Mae Brown
Rita Mae Brown is the bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries; the Sister Jane series; the Runnymede novels, as well as Rubyfruit Jungle and In Her Day; as well as many other books. She is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter and a poet.
About Marguerite Gavin
Marguerite Gavin is a seasoned theater veteran, a five-time nominee for the prestigious Audie Award, and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones and Publishers Weekly awards. She has been an actor, director, and audiobook narrator for her entire professional career. With over four hundred titles to her credit, her narration spans nearly every genre, from nonfiction to mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and children’s fiction. AudioFile magazine says, “Marguerite Gavin…has a sonorous voice, rich and full of emotion.”