Lone Wolf

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Natalia Payne, Louis Changchien, Celeste Ciulla, Nick Cordero, Angela Goethals, Mark Zeisler, Andy Paris

Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

In the wild, when a wolf knows its time is over, when it knows it is of no more use to its pack, it may sometimes choose to slip away. Dying apart from its family, it stays proud and true to its nature. Humans aren’t so lucky. Luke Warren has spent his life researching wolves. He has written about them, studied their habits intensively, and even lived with them for extended periods of time. In many ways, Luke understands wolf dynamics better than those of his own family. His wife, Georgie, has left him, finally giving up on their lonely marriage. His son, Edward, twenty-four, fled six years ago, leaving behind a shattered relationship with his father. Edward understands that some things cannot be fixed, though memories of his domineering father still inflict pain. Then comes a frantic phone call: Luke has been gravely injured in a car accident with Edward’s younger sister, Cara. Suddenly everything changes: Edward must return home to face the father he walked out on at age eighteen. He and Cara have to decide their father’s fate together. Though there’s no easy answer, questions abound: What secrets have Edward and his sister kept from each other? What hidden motives inform their need to let their father die . . . or to try to keep him alive? What would Luke himself want? How can any family member make such a decision in the face of guilt, pain, or both? And most importantly, to what extent have they all forgotten what a wolf never forgets: that each member of a pack needs the others, and that sometimes survival means sacrifice?

©2012 Jodi Picoult (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Another awesome read

What I love about this author is her incorporating the real life of things with her story. This one is wolves. My first one was elephants. It make me understand the beauty of the animals that she incorporated. Along with family problems.

Her best one in some time

The best book by this author that I’ve read in the last year or two. Wonderful research and story.

Love Picoult

What did you like best about Lone Wolf? What did you like least?

I loved the book even though there was a lot about wolves in it.
I like the way she builds a plot.

Great story, fantastic ensemble performance

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like Joe - his head and heart are in the right place, and who doesn't need to have a lawyer in the family?

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

The ensemble narration underscored the personal and intersecting perspectives and individual motivations.

Who was the most memorable character of Lone Wolf and why?

Luke, of course was the most memorable character for me. I can picture him with blood on his face, and imagine what he must have looked like as he emerged from the Canadian forest after 2 years in the wild.

Any additional comments?

For Jodi Picoult fans, this book doesn't disappoint. No preaching, but a very interesting observation into wolf pack behavior and end of life decisions; likely two things you never thought you'd say in the same sentence. The process of contradiction, compromise and truth telling (something most families will have to face at some point) was heart wrenching at times. Awesome story - I enjoyed every minute!

Fabulous listen - love the different narrators

A Jodi Picoult book. No more no less. I happen to love her so for me this was a treat. Love how each character has his own narrator. Some better than others but the quality of the book as a listen was great. As always a captivating controversial plot line. Not going to win a Pulitzer but a highly enjoyable book, well worth the purchase.

wolf behavior mimics human and vice versa

What made the experience of listening to Lone Wolf the most enjoyable?

An intriguing listen. Heartwarming study of family relationships as compared to wolf pack relationships

Who was your favorite character and why?

Edward, the son fighting to keep a promise to an emotionally distant father made when he was 15 years old.Joe, a loving husband.

If you could rename Lone Wolf, what would you call it?

After listening the Lone Wolf is an apt title. Luke is the Lone Wolf of the human pack.

partly listened to

Would you try another book from Jodi Picoult and/or the narrators?

maybe will decide when I finish

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

only heard part

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

only heard part

Was Lone Wolf worth the listening time?

only heard part so far good

Any additional comments?

no

Not Picoult's Best

I've really enjoyed the other three books of Picoults I've read. This one was a bit laborious story-wise. The usual twists weren't very remarkable in this one. However, I thoroughly enjoyed each of the narrators. They made the book worth finishing.

A terrific and thoughtful story

Would you listen to Lone Wolf again? Why?

Yes. I love stories where I learn information (in this case about wolves) as well as listen about characters and the events in their lives.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Edward- I really felt for him and his struggles. I admired his willingness to see his own challenges as well as to do something about them.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

I love Jodi Picoult's books because each chapter is from the viewpoint of an individual character as the storyline progresses- this group of narrators captures the individual characters and helped me created a vision of them in my mind.

If you could take any character from Lone Wolf out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would keep them all.

Any additional comments?

I have recently started listening to Jodi Picoult's books and I have really loved them all so far. I would imagine that these are better to listen to than to read- at least for me. The group of narrators and the way each chapter is set up is a real plus to me for listening to the story over reading the story.

Jodi, what happened?

As all of Jodi Picoult's fans know, her books come with a twist.

However, this one really doesn't. I mean, the things that others may call a "twist" aren't a typical "Jodi Picoult twist."

If you've read some of Picoult's best work and are looking for another such experience, then this book isn't for you. It's not bad, it moves along nicely, and there are some quotes in it that make it an overall worthwhile experience, but it's definitely not among her best work.

The narrators are good and I like how the story is told in voices - it helps distinguish the characters and makes the overall experience more enjoyable.