The Beginner's Goodbye
10 journalers for this copy...
Unabridged on 6 CDs (original), 6.5 hours
Book Description:
Anne Tyler gives us a wise, haunting, and deeply moving new novel in which she explores how a middle-aged man, ripped apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent appearances—in their house, on the roadway, in the market.
Crippled in his right arm and leg, Aaron spent his childhood fending off a sister who wants to manage him. So when he meets Dorothy, a plain, outspoken, self-dependent young woman, she is like a breath of fresh air. Unhesitatingly he marries her, and they have a relatively happy, unremarkable marriage. But when a tree crashes into their house and Dorothy is killed, Aaron feels as though he has been erased forever. Only Dorothy’s unexpected appearances from the dead help him to live in the moment and to find some peace.
Gradually he discovers, as he works in the family’s vanity-publishing business, turning out titles that presume to guide beginners through the trials of life, that maybe for this beginner there is a way of saying goodbye.
A beautiful, subtle exploration of loss and recovery, pierced throughout with Anne Tyler’s humor, wisdom, and always penetrating look at human foibles.
Book Description:
Anne Tyler gives us a wise, haunting, and deeply moving new novel in which she explores how a middle-aged man, ripped apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent appearances—in their house, on the roadway, in the market.
Crippled in his right arm and leg, Aaron spent his childhood fending off a sister who wants to manage him. So when he meets Dorothy, a plain, outspoken, self-dependent young woman, she is like a breath of fresh air. Unhesitatingly he marries her, and they have a relatively happy, unremarkable marriage. But when a tree crashes into their house and Dorothy is killed, Aaron feels as though he has been erased forever. Only Dorothy’s unexpected appearances from the dead help him to live in the moment and to find some peace.
Gradually he discovers, as he works in the family’s vanity-publishing business, turning out titles that presume to guide beginners through the trials of life, that maybe for this beginner there is a way of saying goodbye.
A beautiful, subtle exploration of loss and recovery, pierced throughout with Anne Tyler’s humor, wisdom, and always penetrating look at human foibles.
I enjoyed this book. It was different but was a very nice listen.
Sending off to BigJohnLefty
Sending off to BigJohnLefty
Arrived in the mail today from a VBB on BookObsessed. Thank you! Plan to listen to soon.
So although this was a little slow in places, it was pretty good..... I think it's a good take on the grieving process one goes through after losing a close loved one.
Can't recall if I've listened to anything else by this author before or not.
Anyway, will put in my next box.....
Can't recall if I've listened to anything else by this author before or not.
Anyway, will put in my next box.....
Journal Entry 5 by BigJohnLefty at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (9/26/2012 UTC) at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Am putting this into my "Another CD-Only AudioBookBox" for round two! Hope this finds a good home!
Can't call myself a fan of Anne Tyler but the description sounds interesting. Will give this a try. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy the story. A nice look at a marriage relationship, and how sometimes we misunderstand one another and making wrong assumptions. I think the reader's voice is a bit whiny, almost like a kid, I don't know if it's meant to represent the character.
Journal Entry 8 by Azuki at BigJohnLefty's CD-only AudioBookBox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, September 19, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (9/19/2013 UTC) at BigJohnLefty's CD-only AudioBookBox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Putting it into the box for the next reader.
This book enjoyed a brief stop in San Jose, CA before continuing its journey in the Audio Bookbox!
Chose from Big John Lefty's First CD audiobookbox
I enjoyed listening to this book. After the sudden death of his wife, Aaron is "crippled" by his grief. He seems to have a hard time getting on with his life until Dorothy starts appearing to him. Her unexpected appearances help Aaron to get on with his life.
Journal Entry 12 by dabercro at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (5/31/2014 UTC) at ~~~ ♥ ~~~ A Friend ~~~ ♥ ~~~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Passing along to Aberpeter when I see her this weekend.
Thank you dabercro
Aaron learning to cope after the death of his wife. Initially he closes the world off around him and tries to get by. After his wife starts to "visit" him, he has some moment of clarity and he is able to embrace the past in such a way that allows him to live his life again.
sending to FeistyPom2Love as part of the 2014 HGG RABCK. Happy Holidays!
Wow, thank you so much the surprise audiobook for the 2014 HGG this year!! It sounds really interesting. Thank you sharing it with me. I also look forward to using the recipes and bookmarks. Thanks again for the goodies!!
Nice storyline and interesting take on how one deals with the grief of loss of a loved one. It was a tad slow in parts, but good overall. I thought this audio books was well read though. I am saving it for iwillrejoice's audio vbb.
I'm releasing this to the next listener in iwillrejoice's audio vbb. Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing the book with me. It arrived today.
Found the book intriguing. Anne Tyler developed the grieving process that made me care for the characters of the book. I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 as I felt the ending was predictable and hurried.
Enjoy! KTM RABCK to Audio Book Sweepstakes WINTER 2016. I am sharing a book that I really enjoyed.
Journal Entry 22 by Plum-crazy at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 30, 2016
Wow, this is a well travelled audio book! Many thanks booklady331
Journal Entry 23 by Plum-crazy at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 3, 2017
Never listened to Anne Tyler before but have read many. As always Tyler takes everyday situations & weaves them into an intetesting story, in this case how Aaron copes with the death of his wife.
Journal Entry 24 by Plum-crazy at Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 6, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (11/6/2017 UTC) at Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Added to earthcaroleanne's Audio Bookbox.
Released as part of the NOVEMBER "THE" CHALLENGE (#5)
Released as part of the NOVEMBER "THE" CHALLENGE (#5)
Journal Entry 25 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Thursday, December 21, 2017
This is another audiobook from the bookcrossing audio-bookbox which has arrived here in Switzerland. I quite enjoyed this, although I'm still a bit estranged from the whole audiobook concept, in that with this one, for example, the narrator has such a distinctive voice and accent that I can't help but wonder how I would have "heard" this character if I'd been reading the actual book rather than listening. Anne Tyler was at one point one of my favorite authors - I especially liked The Accidental Tourist and Ladder of Years which both touched me, in different ways. I've been somewhat less convinced in recent years, but she has a very strong prose voice which I do admire.
The conditions for listening to this are somewhat less than ideal, perhaps, in that in preparation for an up-coming meeting I am inputting data from applications into a database and regularly have to pause the story while reading more detailed parts of the applications. There are, however, plenty of long moments when I can focus on the story and it certainly helps to pass what would otherwise be very tedious (and lonely!) hours.
Thanks so much for sending on this box, and thanks for the fun comics included in the box for this audiobook. I used to get the Gary Larsen day-by-day calendar and my door has a number of my favorites taped to it..
The conditions for listening to this are somewhat less than ideal, perhaps, in that in preparation for an up-coming meeting I am inputting data from applications into a database and regularly have to pause the story while reading more detailed parts of the applications. There are, however, plenty of long moments when I can focus on the story and it certainly helps to pass what would otherwise be very tedious (and lonely!) hours.
Thanks so much for sending on this box, and thanks for the fun comics included in the box for this audiobook. I used to get the Gary Larsen day-by-day calendar and my door has a number of my favorites taped to it..