The Given Day

By: Dennis Lehane

Narrated by: Michael Boatman

Length: 23 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in Boston at the end of the First World War, New York Times best-selling author Dennis Lehane's long-awaited eighth novel unflinchingly captures the political and social unrest of a nation caught at the crossroads between past and future.

Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters more richly drawn than any Lehane has ever created, The Given Day tells the story of two families: one black, one white, swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, Brahmins and ordinary citizens, all engaged in a battle for survival and power.

Beat cop Danny Coughlin, the son of one of the city's most beloved and powerful police captains, joins a burgeoning union movement and the hunt for violent radicals. Luther Laurence, on the run after a deadly confrontation with a crime boss in Tulsa, works for the Coughlin family and tries desperately to find his way home to his pregnant wife.

Here, too, are some of the most influential figures of the era: Babe Ruth; Eugene O'Neill; leftist activist Jack Reed; NAACP founder W. E. B. DuBois; Mitchell Palmer, Woodrow Wilson's ruthless Red-chasing attorney general; cunning Massachusetts governor Calvin Coolidge; and an ambitious young Department of Justice lawyer named John Hoover.

Coursing through some of the pivotal events of the time, including the Spanish Influenza pandemic and culminating in the Boston Police Strike of 1919, The Given Day explores the crippling violence and irrepressible exuberance of a country at war with, and in the thrall of, itself. As Danny, Luther, and those around them struggle to define themselves in increasingly turbulent times, they gradually find family in one another and, together, ride a rising storm of hardship, deprivation, and hope that will change all their lives.

©2008 Dennis Lehane (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"[An] engrossing epic....A vision of redemption and a triumph of the human spirit." ( Publishers Weekly)

The narrator is amazing.

The narrator is amazing. Interesting story and great to listen to. Highly recommend. I wanted to continue to listen and listen.

Wonderful story. Spectacular narration.

This is a wonderful story that gives a great feel for America post World War I. But even more impressive is the narration. Michael Boatman does various black, Irish and Boston accents in a believable and dramatic fashion. I think it’s one of the most impressive Audible narrations that I’ve ever heard.

Exceptional Story, Well Told

One of the greatest things that I enjoy about a drama wrapped in true history is it pushes me to read more of that history. There was so many points in this story I had never heard of. Learning these and seeing how the author wrapped his characters in those points of history makes the entire drama take on it's own life. Learning that politicians were as bad back then as they are now, for almost the exact same reasons.

Very long. I almost stopped listening to it

What did you like best about The Given Day? What did you like least?

I had trouble getting through the first 2 sections and almost stopped listening to it. The third section really picks up, though.

Could you see The Given Day being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

yes, with a lot of editing

Poetic, disturbing, and memorable

This is a lengthy book, almost 24 hours, but I blew through it in 3 days- I found myself taking longer walks! Depiction of Boston in early 20th century more graphic than any movie I have seen. Wonderful characters. The beginning of the novel with a charming and sad incident involving Babe Ruth - well it had me at "hello".

Great

Great book. Excellent reader. Only thing I wasn't a fan of was the music they put in chapter breaks. The music they chose didn't seem to fit the story or mood at all

Wonderful story and voice

Yes, use a credit on this one - very well written and superbly voiced. It will be your whole world when listening and you'll resent any time spent away from it. When it's over, you'll wish it had been longer. Good!

Thoroughly enjoyed

This is a long book and I could have listened for another 20 hours. I was completely absorbed in the feeling of the time. History texts should be this compelling. The narration was indeed a performance and it was the perfect enhancement.

Riveting

Excellent historical novel. Learn while being thoroughly entertained. It is well conceived, well written and well read. I love when I can’t put a book down and I also can’t predict the twist and turns of the plot. Bravo!

Excellent Narration

This is just one of those great epics that you hate to see end. The greatest part for me, though was the amazing job done by narrator, Michael Boatman. The Russian, French, Italian accents, the foreign language sections and the variety of Irish brogues were luscious! The only distraction was stopping to wonder how one person could bring the speech patterns, pronunciations and inflections of such a wide range of characters to life. I've had the pleasure of listening to many fine book narrations, but by far this was the best. Kudos Mr. Boatman