Rush Home Road

By: Lori Lansens

Narrated by: Ruby Dee

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

When Addy Shadd was a young girl living in Rusholme, she was taught the history of her town, which was settled by fugitive slaves in the 1800s. It was told to her like a storybook legend - and although Addy is forced to leave her beloved home as a teenager, the place will call to her for the rest of her life. She thinks of it as a commandment: "Rush home, Addy Shadd. Thou shalt rush home." But the stories and memories of Addy's past have been buried deep in her 70-year-old heart - memories that are by turns dark and poignant, erotic and mysterious.

When five-year-old Sharla Cody is abandoned on Addy's trailer-park doorstep, the old woman doesn't know if she is up to the task of mothering the willful, curious child. But she takes the little girl into her home, and Sharla opens a door to Addy's past - to memories of the strawberry fields, the church graveyard, and the tender crust of her Mama Laisa's apple pies. The past returns to Addy Shadd, and as she sits in her trailer she can close her eyes and "see the county farms and city streets and recall each season of death and rebirth." Somehow, Sharla Cody helps Addy make sense of her long and hard life so she can find forgiveness - and finally make the journey home again.

©2002 Lori Lansens (P)2002 Time Warner AudioBooks, a Division of AOL Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"Lansens is a brilliant talent, with a profound, big-hearted comprehension of human flaws and humane possibilities." (The Globe and Mail)

Loved It!

This book was excellent. I loved listening to Ruby Dee and I loved the story line. It reminded of the The Secret Life of Bees. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I realized it was an abridged version after I listened to it. After a while, I will get the unabridged version to read.

I loved this story

If you could sum up Rush Home Road in three words, what would they be?

great reading

What did you like best about this story?

the ending

What about Ruby Dee’s performance did you like?

wonderful, could hear her again and again.

Who was the most memorable character of Rush Home Road and why?

Addy being young and then old

Any additional comments?

hope for a sequel of child growing up

Loved Narrater

What made the experience of listening to Rush Home Road the most enjoyable?

Ruby Dee

What did you like best about this story?

How it switched from past to present

What does Ruby Dee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Easy to listen to voice, with changes for characters

If you could rename Rush Home Road, what would you call it?

Addy's journey

Rush to Rush Home Road

Have you listened to any of Ruby Dee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I like Ruby Dee and feel she does a wonderful job with conveying voices and emotions.

Loved it!

I bought this book quickly because I needed something to read. I didn't really do a lot of research but I saw a review praising Ruby Dee's reading of it. I loved the book! It is one of the few books I read where I shed genuine tears at the end. It is the story about one woman's life time and the journey that she is taken on. It is amazing and heartfelt. I highly recommend it.

Sweet but a little confusing

I got this book because of Lansen's "The Girls" - this didn't grab me like that book did. It took me a little while to get used to Ruby Dee's cadence as the narrator. I think the abridgement was not good - there were plot lines that weren't fully fleshed out. All in all a pleasant listen, but not one I'd gush over.

good allrounder

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The content for the characters was a bit bewildering sometimes. it chops and changes it need to be listened with good attention. Missing the vitals could lose it for you, Light in the content and as i said a good allrounder that could be listened to by a mature ear.

What could Lori Lansens have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

i enjoyed it and considering the story line she did what she did for that reason, i just got a bit tired of the changing of the line.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

i felt authenticity as she was suited for the read i thought anyways.

Could you see Rush Home Road being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I think this story line has been done other times in different ways. i suppose anyone could play it.

Any additional comments?

The ending was a bit out of the norm, you found yourself self explaining what your interpretations were of the end.

Looking for books narrated by Ruby Dee

Enjoyed the book's slow pace, and the way the author skillfully carved out each character and made them important to the story.

Such a well dramatised reading by Ruby Dee

Would you listen to Rush Home Road again? Why?

Yes because it is a good story that touches the heart and seems so real. The story is very well plotted and Mrs. Dee did a great job reading it. A nice book for the road.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Things are not what they seem to be.

Rush Home Road

What a beautiful trail this story takes one on. Makes you feel like you are living the story. Well told and holds your interest.