Interesting idea. So much foreshadowing. The author tells you time and time again what is going to happen so there's no surprise when anything does actually happen.

I can't compare since I did not read, only listened. However, the reader did a great job; I really did not want this to end. What a great story, beautifully written and an excellent reader. I intend to read more of Ford's work.

Making it interesting.

Nope

Don't make the boys voice so weird.

Nope.

SOOOOOOOOOO slow and totally boring. Don't do it!!

Good story with characters you care about whether or not you like them. It had some twists that I didn't expect which kept my interest. The main character holds his emotions in close check so it felt at times as if he was narrating someone else's story. It was his survival mechanism and was well used in this story.

The first lines of this book show us the “before and after” of an event which changed and vastly influenced the life of Dell Parsons, and his twin sister, Berner. "First, I'll tell about the robbery our parents committed. Then about the murders, which happened later." When the twins are fifteen, their parents, (immature and dysfunctional adults at the best of times) got the brilliant idea to rob a bank in a small town in order to get them out of debts to some dangerous people. The twins, who know nothing about this until after it happens, are abandoned as the parents are taken off to jail and ultimately convicted. Their mother did ask a friend to help them. Berner didn’t wait around for help but took herself off to San Francisco, but Dell was taken by this friend to Canada to live with her brother. He turned out to be a violent man who committed murder to rid himself of people coming to arrest him, and from there Dell’s life changes for the better. This is a haunting and well written story about events which happen, over which very young teenagers have no control, and how they each dealt with those events through the rest of their lives. It’s an excellent book.

Yes. But not until I digest it; I'll be thinking about this book for months. Then I'll listen again.

The Last Child and A Place More Kind than Home. All are about boys and the terrible things that happen to them that most people they meet will never know about.

Del (the main character) alone after his parents are taken away to jail.

Del, of course. We have a lot in common.

This is a gripping, powerful story that's also philosophically and psychologically profound. And extremely well written and performed. I hate that it ended.

Really great listen!

The story line.....

Haven't listened to other works by author

No....just enjoyed the story...reminded me of the events of the era....

I'd call this a longitudinal study of the lives of two children from a dysfunctional family onto which Richard Ford adds carefully observed psychological nuance. So, though there is much to learn about the characters, it's not too much; we are genuinely concerned for their well being throughout their lives. The setting is rendered loosely enough to allow in cold atmospheric light so we can see these flawed, living and breathing characters in action over time. Ford conveys a sense of place is so authentic you will find yourself brushing your hand over the bed to clean the sheets and protect Dell in his little bed . I don't like stories so crushingly sad, but I had to know that Dell made it. I love how this book shows us that choice is key to our survival. I love how Dell understands this truth early in his life. So, I'll wipe away my tears and recommend Canada to anyone who can bear a dark read. It's worth the trip.

Yes. It's different from what I usually listen to, and interesting.

Have not.

Del

I'd keep it the same.

I listen to audiobooks frequently and found this listening experience to be among the top: great story, wonderfully human characters -- warts and all, great descriptions of time and place. I thought Holter Graham's narration was outstanding: flow, dramatic touches, even his voice were right-on in his capture of the main character and reveal of the story.