Sing Them Home

By: Stephanie Kallos

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 19 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Everyone in the tiny town of Emlyn Springs, Nebraska, knows the story of Aneira Hope Jones, the woman swallowed up by a tornado, and of the painful legacy bestowed upon her children. Larken, Gaelan, and Bonnie have grown into adulthood enshrouded in myth and unresolved grief, longing for closure and for release from their identities as motherless children. Both knowingly and unknowingly, the Jones siblings have condemned themselves to the task of interpreting and paying homage to their mother's life; thus, they have never claimed their own.

This eagerly anticipated second novel from the author of the national best-seller Broken for You will delight readers with its warmth, humor, and wisdom.

©2009 Stephanie Kallos (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Sing Them Home] will find a welcome audience in anyone who has experienced grief, struggled with family ties or, most importantly, appreciates blossoming talent." (Publishers Weekly starred review)
"This fresh, invigorating novel fingers carefully through [its characters'] pain. Kallos doesn't rip her characters apart, just tenderly shows us their failings as they stumble, in a realistic and satisfying manner, toward better selves. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)

Fabulous writing!

This starts out seeming incomprehensible, but the plot, with flashback memories, and more, just grab you. I loved BROKEN FOR YOU, her first book, and now have added this one to my favorites. Kallos has woven so many complex things into this story and ties them all to the tornado that takes Hope Jones away forever from her family. This isn't Kansas, Dorothy, it's Nebraska and full of interest and depth. The narrator was wonderful, too, even adding Welsh, in song and spoken, as well as voices and other bits of singing. Fabulous writer and reader!

captivating

I really liked this book. The story is interesting and unique, and the narrator did a wonderful job.

Definitely worth it.

I agree with many of the other reviewers that it is hard to follow at first. Honestly had it not been for those reviewers I probably would have stopped in the first few paragraphs. It was hard to follow at first but eventually pulled together and was a very great story. I am glad I purchased the book and would recommend it. It's not a "favorite" but it was a great book and a great listen.

Just keep reading! It’s worth it.

This book is difficult to get into, but once you have, it’s a true gem. The narrator did an amazing job of reading this novel and bringing it to life. Bravo!

Better every time

The layers of tender beauty weave together in a tapestry so rich that more nuance and hearty reveals itself with each listen.

It took awhile

About a quarter way through I loved this book. I am so glad I didn't give up on it. Very thought provoking.

A bit confusing...

Great concept, but hard to follow at times. It's a very interesting story and it follows these children who lost their mother, but it gets confusing and hard to follow. I'm going to have to listen to it again and see if it gets less confusing...

Beautiful Story

Any additional comments?

Loved the story. Actually didn't expect to fall in love with the Jones' family, but fall in love I did. I was swept up into their life, could relate to their trials and tribulations. Thought the way the dead were portrayed was unique, beautiful, calming, and peaceful.

I loved it

It was really hard to get into I had to skip the 1st chapter entirely but after that it was a wonderful story

Oddly impressionistic

I almost gave up on this book. Kallos' first novel, "Broken For You" was a sensitive, intimate story with nuanced characterization and finely-tuned dialogue, so I was looking forward to "Sing Them Home". While reading/listening to this novel, it seemed that Part 1 and Part 2 should have been reversed in order. Part 1 was full of impressionistic scenes, characters without context, story lines that didn't go anywhere. While such techniques are inventive, this does not make for enjoyable listening. I was always rewinding to get the smallest sentence that would clue me in as to what was going on. Plus, all the live Welsh singing was a turnoff - no offense to Welsh musical heritage, it just didn't work in an audiobook. Part 2 was more linear, filled in the gaps, and let the reader know the characters. Finally.

I don't get what is so compelling to writers about this stream-of-consciousness, impressionistic style of writing, but the last 3-4 books I've read have used this technique and it's annoying. I can't give this novel more than a 3, especially considering the added feature that it's written - and read - with a sense of irony and sarcasm, full of caricatures instead of relatable characters.