Love Anthony

By: Lisa Genova

Narrated by: Debra Messing

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

From the award-winning New York Times best-selling author of Still Alice and Left Neglected, comes a heartfelt novel about an accidental friendship that gives a grieving mother a priceless gift: the ability to understand the thoughts of her eight-year-old autistic son and make sense of his brief life.

Two women, each cast adrift by unforseen events in their lives, meet by accident on a Nantucket beach and are drawn into a friendship.

Olivia is a young mother whose eight-year-old severely autistic son has recently died. Her marriage badly frayed by years of stress, she comes to the island in a trial separation to try and make sense of the tragedy of her Anthony's short life.

Beth, a stay-at-home mother of three, is also recently separated after discovering her husband’s long-term infidelity. In an attempt to recapture a sense of her pre-married life, she rekindles her passion for writing, determined to find her own voice again. But surprisingly, as she does so, Beth also find herself channeling the voice of an unknown boy, exuberant in his perceptions of the world around him if autistic in his expression - a voice she can share with Olivia - is it Anthony?) - that brings comfort and meaning to them both.

©2012 Lisa Genova (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

Awesome!

I have loved all of lisa genova books. this one didn't disappoint either. I highly recommend it

Wonderful story

What made the experience of listening to Love Anthony the most enjoyable?

The characters seem genuine, the story is compelling and well paced, and the writing is wonderful. Lisa Genova seems to understand the pain of unfulfilled expectations. Her writing draws the reader into the inner world of her characters in a way that works well.. Debra Messing's narration is worthy of the quality of the writing. Good book, even better audiobook.

Loved this

Loved the book, but the narration was too soft in some section. The story was fabulous and the ending had me in tears.

Great book by wonderful author.

If you could sum up Love Anthony in three words, what would they be?

Touching, insightful, well written

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anthony. Can't reveal why without spoiling the story

What aspect of Debra Messing’s performance would you have changed?

She fluctuated between a very soft voice and a more audible on. I kept having to turn the volume up then down. Somewhat distracting.

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

Beth. She was talented and interesting.

Any additional comments?

You felt like you were actually present.

Favorite book of this year

Emotional ending. At the beginning this book, I would’ve never known it was going to be the heart wrenching and warm feeling experience I’m writing a review of this book. I cried especially at the end as she speaks through the child and the love and connection we have as mothers.

Not Disappointed

Once again Lisa Genova has written an observant and empathetic story. I'm not quite sure how she does it, but this was a powerful insight into autism and must be so meaningful for any parent who has a child on the spectrum, and for anyone who has seen an autistic child/person who displays some of the characteristic; hopefully we will all be a little more understanding whenever we do.

Beautiful

Heart warming and life affirming story of everyone's potential to love completely and our choices to do so. Read it!

Great story, bad narration

Would you listen to Love Anthony again? Why?

Debra has a beautiful voice however she starts every sentence very loud and by the end of the sentence I could barely hear her. Listening in my vehicle I was constantly turning the volume up and down. At one point she spoke so low I had to crank up the volume and when she started the new chapter my volume was so loud I almost jumped out of my seat lol!

Would you be willing to try another one of Debra Messing’s performances?

I don't think so

The given voice

This author does her homework, and then some, and therefore never disappoints. She gives voice to many who have conditions she researches and then writes about. They are not just good stories, but they educate, and for me they elicit empathy and compassion.

Loved It

I loved this story. I was one of those books in which I was sad every time I had to stop listening. I'd even drive the long way home just to get some extra listening time in. I liked the main characters and looked forward to finding out about them and their lives. Both women, far from perfect, were forced to deal with life events beyond their control. I found Anthony’s story fascinating. It was a point of view that I have never encountered. The book contained a great deal of humor, friendship, discovery and pain. After finishing the story, and now months later, I have a feeling of missing these characters and hoping that they have found happiness.