Leaving Time

A Novel

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman, Abigail Revasch, Kathe Mazur, Mark Deakins

Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Throughout her blockbuster career, number-one New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult has seamlessly blended nuanced characters, riveting plots, and rich prose, brilliantly creating stories that "not only provoke the mind but touch the flawed souls in all of us" (The Boston Globe). Now, in her highly anticipated new book, she has delivered her most affecting novel yet - and one unlike anything she's written before.

For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Refusing to believe that she would be abandoned as a young child, Jenna searches for her mother regularly online and pores over the pages of Alice's old journals. A scientist who studied grief among elephants, Alice wrote mostly of her research among the animals she loved, yet Jenna hopes the entries will provide a clue to her mother’s whereabouts.

Desperate to find the truth, Jenna enlists two unlikely allies in her quest. The first is Serenity Jones, a psychic who rose to fame finding missing persons - only to later doubt her gifts. The second is Virgil Stanhope, a jaded private detective who originally investigated Alice’s case along with the strange, possibly linked death of one of her colleagues. As the three work together to uncover what happened to Alice, they realize that in asking hard questions, they'll have to face even harder answers.

As Jenna's memories dovetail with the events in her mother's journals, the story races to a mesmerizing finish. A deeply moving, gripping, and intelligent pause-resister, Leaving Time is Jodi Picoult at the height of her powers.

©2014 Jodi Picoult (P)2014 Random House Audio

Awesome!

This was one if the best books I have listened to! The narrator was perfect

Best Book Ever

If you could sum up Leaving Time in three words, what would they be?

All time favorite .....this is one of the very best books I have ever read

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes!!

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

Emotion ...pure emotion

absolutely wonderful book and audio

this story was wonderful from beginning to end. i came to love the characters in this story and ciukdnt wait to get back to this book. he narrator was the best I've heard and I listen to audio books a lot. Can't wait to start my next Jody Picoult book.

Wow

Took a minute to get in to, but I'm glad i stuck to it! Great book! Excellent ending and a tear jerker!

Not my cup of tea..

Although I still love her writing style and the way she faces impossible topics this particular twist is too far outside my personal belief zone. Great story marred by too much of a religious line.

I literally did not put the book down

I would hesitate recommending this book to animal lovers if they have a difficult time with animals being hurt or abused. This book will break your heart. The author did a magnificent job weaving this story. I enjoyed the surprise twist at the end and the few loose ends left for the imagination.

Great Book and Great Performance

Would you consider the audio edition of Leaving Time to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version

What was one of the most memorable moments of Leaving Time?

The author weaves in facts about elephants that are both fascinating and heartbreaking

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The narrator captures the feel and pace of the book and is able to voice the characters so that they are distinctive

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The portion where an elephant mother loses her baby

Best book I've read so far, love it!

This is my third book this year so far, but this one has made a mark in my life. Being able to learn thru a story about grieving and mothering of elephants has made me realize that we need to slowdown and take in every moment in life either if we are grieving or giving life to a new being!

Only 3 stars for the story because . . .

The story was actually very good and it was exceptionally well researched. I'm sure my opinion regarding the promotion of the authors religious beliefs (or at least her beliefs about the afterlife ) is mine, not widely shared, but it was the only part of the story that I disliked and even resented.

I do not believe in do-over lives, aka reincarnation. I believe that evil will promote many truths that will allow those unaware to believe one great lie, if it is in fact the great deception that will cause one to reject Christ and the resurrection.

This book is filed with many truths of the paranormal and people who are receptive to visions and have psychic abilities. It is also full of truths regarding elephants and abuses of these beautiful animals.

I just feel I'd be irresponsible if I didn't decry the falsehood of reincarnation. This is the only mortal life one gets and this mortality is the only opportunity to prove the divinity of Christ to ourselves, and act accordingly. Don't let the fictitious possibility of a do-over allow you to make tragic mistakes now.

Great and Interesting story

Loved it and learned a lot about elephants. I have enjoyed Jodi's books that I have read or listened to. Great job.