The Obituary Writer

By: Ann Hood

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

From best-selling author Ann Hood comes a sophisticated and suspenseful novel about the poignant lives of two women living in different eras.

On the day John F. Kennedy is inaugurated, Claire, a young wife and mother obsessed with the glamour of Jackie, struggles over the decision of whether to stay in a loveless but secure marriage or to follow the man she loves and whose baby she may be carrying. Decades earlier, in 1919, Vivien Lowe, an obituary writer, is searching for her lover, who disappeared in the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. By telling the stories of the dead, Vivien not only helps others cope with their grief but also begins to understand the devastation of her own terrible loss. The surprising connection between these two women will change Claire’s life in unexpected and extraordinary ways.

Part literary mystery and part love story, The Obituary Writer examines expectations of marriage and love, the roles of wives and mothers, and the emotions of grief, regret, and hope.

©2013 Ann Hood (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Beautiful

Can be a bit heavy on the heart, but beautifully written and absolutely worth reading. I loved it. Thank you for this book, Audible, and to all who were part of publishing it.

Beautiful juxtaposition between love and grief.

if you have experienced both love and true deep grief in your life, you will love the presentation of these equalizing emotions in this book. I wish there had been a little less adultery, as most of the love relationships involved it, but it was an absolutely beautiful story and was written superbly.

Beautiful and sad

Lyrical and haunting, a story of lives and loves lost and gone. Two women’s lives are entwined, connected by the beauty and sadness of the choices they had made, with the JFK inauguration and the San Francisco 1906 earthquake as backdrops. Grief was a major theme here and was aptly explored. Also, the narrator did a FANTASTIC job.

What a great story!

What did you love best about The Obituary Writer?

I loved the character development. It was interesting to go from one era to the other.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vivian--she had a life with tragedy and joy.

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

I enjoyed her voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Wonderful

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the ending, although I knew what was happening. A few chapters before the end, a name was introduced that brought it all together. It is a lovely story to read (listen to) when you can curl up on the sofa and bring the characters into your mind.

What aspect of Tavia Gilbert’s performance would you have changed?

I found her to be a bit whiney and she didn't differentiate the various characters very well. I found her portrayal of Claire as someone who lacked a personality.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The story was a sad story and one that made me reminisce of times gone by

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story about love, loss and finding your way.

Clever tale

The narrator did an excellent job with matching her voice to character's age and emotional state. The story was not predictable as I thought it would be.

This book kept my interest

I found the book to be very interesting the storyline feel you could follow as a weave in and out of different time periods in different lives

Tale of Two women

Ann Hood never ceases to amaze me With a twist in the story. Just when I thought I had the ending figured out It changed. The narration was excellent.

This was a gem of a book!

I am so glad this book popped up as a suggestion for me. I enjoyed the dual timelines & how they slowly merged.

LBJ's ears ...

"... his oversized ears practically moving with the wind." ... I so abruptly laughed aloud - and rewound (What!?, about those ears?) and hearing that again, so burst out laughing anew.