When Madeline Was Young Audiobook, by Jane Hamilton Play Audiobook Sample

When Madeline Was Young Audiobook

When Madeline Was Young Audiobook, by Jane Hamilton Play Audiobook Sample
FlexPass™ Price: $12.95
$9.95 for new members!
(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)
  • Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
  • No credits to manage, just big savings
  • Unlimited podcast listening
Add to Cart
$9.95/m - cancel anytime - 
learn more
OR
Regular Price: $24.99 Add to Cart
Read By: Richard Poe Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 7.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.38 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: March 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781440798405

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

19

Longest Chapter Length:

60:18 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

01:29 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

34:08 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

7

Other Audiobooks Written by Jane Hamilton: > View All...

Publisher Description

When Aaron Maciver's beautiful young wife, Madeline, suffers brain damage in a bike accident, she is left with the intellectual powers of a seven-year-old. In the years that follow, Aaron and his second wife care for Madeline with deep tenderness and devotion as they raise two children of their own. Narrated by Aaron's son Mac, When Madeline Was Young chronicles the Maciver family through the decades, from Mac's childhood growing up in Wisconsin with Madeline and his cousin Buddy, through the Vietnam War, his years as a husband with children of his own, and his cousin's involvement in the subsequent Gulf Wars. Jane Hamilton, with not only her usual keen observations of human relationships but also her humor, deftly explores the Macivers' unusual situation as she examines notions of childhood (through Mac and Buddy's actual youth as well as Madeline's infantilization) and a rivalry between Buddy's and Mac's families that spans decades and various wars. She captures the pleasures and frustrations of marriage and family and exposes the role that past relationships, rivalries, and regrets inevitably play in the lives of adults. Inspired in part by Elizabeth Spencer's The Light in the Piazza, Hamilton offers an honest, exquisite portrait of how a family tragedy forever shapes and alters the boundaries of love.

Download and start listening now!

"I love all of Jane Hamilton's books. This novel has an interesting premise--a married couple keep his first wife Madeline, who is brain-damaged, as part of the family, treating her like an older sibling to the other children. Hamilton re-invents the notion of family. "

— Gerry (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Hamilton’s careful, unpretentious prose finds moral nuances both in a full-blown antiwar debate and in the small details of Madeline’s care.”

    — People
  • “Hamilton’s beautifully written When Madeline Was Young is both an absorbing, nontraditional family portrait and a shaky meditation on American political passions.”

    — Entertainment Weekly
  • “Mesmerizing…Bittersweet, funny…Hamilton affirms her status as one of our most magnetic and provocative novelists.”

    — Chicago Tribune
  • “Hamilton brings characteristic empathy to the complex issues at the core of this patiently built novel.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “Richard Poe gives a fine and nuanced performance of Mac’s tale about his odd, but loving family. As young Mac, he reads with an exuberance that implies youth, then slows to his well-known gravelly warmth as Mac ages. He’s equally skilled with women’s voices, making them real without a squeak. And his even, clear pace matches the book’s atmosphere of remembrance.”

    — AudioFile
  • “While Hamilton gives the political climate of the sixties considerable attention, her story is more about how people, by bonding together, can transcend tragedy and loss with love, tolerance, and humor. Recommended.”

    — Library Journal
  • “Hamilton is exquisitely observant and unfailingly generous to the characters she creates: every life has weight and dignity.”

    — Kirkus Reviews

When Madeline Was Young Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.08 out of 53.08 out of 53.08 out of 53.08 out of 53.08 out of 5 (3.08)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 10
2 Stars: 5
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Hamilton's narrator is male in this book, albeit a sensitive male. I thought the book suffered from having three focal points -- Buddy, and Madeline, and Mac's parents' marriage. Overall it was a good book, but not Hamilton's best. "

    — Lisa, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I got the vibe from the book that I was supposed to like one of the characters, yet I despised him. I felt disdain for him while others admired him. Maybe this is how the author intended the readers to feel? I don't know. It was an interesting read, but at the same time I couldn't wait to be finished with the book. "

    — Dru, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I listened to this audiobook and kept asking myself, "Where is this going?" The answer: Nowhere. "

    — Claudia, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This book is a much slower read than what I expected. Strongly evokes a specific place and spans several decades. The title is a bit misleading, because Madeline seems to remain in the background througout the story. It does not compare to Map of The World as far as the tension level, but all in all it was a relaxing read. "

    — Colleen, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Just not as good as her other novels. This was kind of a letdown. "

    — Sue, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I read this book because it wss by Jane Hamilton and I loved loved A Map of the World. I didn't love love this one, but it was good. "

    — Beth, 12/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I was a little disappointed. There were lots of interesting family vignettes, but the plot wandered all over the place and went nowhere. "

    — Cathy, 12/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another great book by Jane Hamilton--heard her speak/got her autograph at the Visiting Writers' Series at Butler. "

    — Anne, 12/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " "A map of the world" by the same author is on my top 10 list, hence reading this book. I really enjoyed it a lot - I like the way at the end, the whole story comes full circle. If I had to describe it in one word, I would say "endearing". "

    — Julia, 11/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very interesting concept for a story - a young bride suffers a traumatic brain injury that leaves her with the mental capacity of a child. Her husband remarries and the two raise her as their child. "

    — Myla, 11/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " something to read... although i do think timing of thought and emotion kind of feeds into the appreciation of this book... "

    — rahima, 8/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Interesting story of cross generational issues. "

    — Linda, 3/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " implausible but well written... heard Jane speak at Lawrence University a could years ago.... she is charming and bright and is everything her writing suggests. "

    — Holly, 10/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I picked this book up thinking it sounded interesting and that it would be mainly about Madeline and the effect she had on those surrounding her. So far she's nothing more than a supporting character and even so hers is still the most interesting storyline. "

    — Patty, 8/7/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Very insightful book; interesting dynamic between a family who is raising the husband's first wife who suffered a head injury and is now like a 6 year old. Told from the view of the son, now an adult. I like it so far... will keep you posted... "

    — Rebecca, 8/2/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " If you saw the show "Light in the Piazza" this is sort of a sequel. Madeline's life after her brief romance in Rome forms the body of the novel. Quite good. "

    — Mom, 4/8/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It took some time for me to get into this book. The author's style is unique and I couldn't understand her rhythm at first. The story is engaging and I would likely recommend it to female friends. "

    — Raina, 4/5/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A novel that follows the Maciver family through four decades of life, tragedy and the triumph of unconditional love. "

    — Staff, 3/16/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is the story of a young man who grows up in a family whose parents are raising a young woman who he believes is his sister. The story is unique and clever. "

    — Nancy, 9/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Finally I'm done and can move on to the next book...I think by tomorrow I will have forgotten this one. Nothing in it struck me, characters were flat, and I'm not even sure what the plot was. It wasn't even entertaining. "

    — Carrie, 6/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book gets three stars purely for quoting a line from a Kate Bush song. It's misleading to consider this the sorry of Madeline, it's more a look at the family as a whole. It jumps back and forth a fair bit which is a little off putting. "

    — Melinda, 4/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I like the plot of this story, it had a lot of potential. Didnt turn out to be as good as I thought, but kept me entertained. "

    — Heather, 2/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fascinating theme.. worth reading just to think about "what if"... "

    — Carmen, 2/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Interesting subject matter, especially for the time period. Well written. I probably would not read it again, though. "

    — Amy, 2/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Political differences play a large role in the plot. Otherwise, I would have given it 5 stars. "

    — Rballjax, 9/28/2010

About Jane Hamilton

Jane Hamilton lives, works, and writes in an orchard farmhouse in Wisconsin. Her novels have won numerous awards, including the PEN Faulkner Award for Fiction, and The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World were both chosen as Oprah Book Club picks and made into movies. Her short stories have appeared in Harper’s Magazine. Hamilton lives in Rochester, Wisconsin.

About Richard Poe

Richard Poe, a professional actor for more than thirty years, has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including 1776 and M. Butterfly. On television he has had recurring roles on Star Trek and Frasier. His films include Born on the Fourth of July and Presumed Innocent. Poe is a well-known and prolific audiobook performer and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards.