Landline

By: Rainbow Rowell

Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, comes a hilarious, heart-wrenching take on love, marriage, and magic phones.

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it's been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply-but that almost seems beside the point now.
Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they're supposed to visit Neal's family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can't go. She's a TV writer, and something's come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her-Neal is always a little upset with Georgie-but she doesn't expect to him to pack up the kids and go without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she's finally done it. If she's ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It's not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she's been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts. . . .

Is that what she's supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

©2014 Rainbow Rowell (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Rowell's writing deftly avoids cliché, and the book's action builds cleverly as Lowman skillfully sweeps listeners along to the satisfying, romantic, hopeful conclusion.” —AudioFile

“Lowman captures the sweetness and vulnerability of the couple's college courtship; there are intimate moments, spoken slowly and seductively, that are lovely and voyeuristic, including the couple's first kiss.” —Publishers Weekly

“A fantastic recording of an equally fantastic novel. Rebecca Lowman's narration deftly captures the pacing of this tale, and her impressive ability to portray distinct voices enhances the listening experience.” —Library Journal

Relationships are hard

It has taken me longer than usual to sit down to write this review, because I don’t seem to know how to put in words what I feel about this book. I would have to say that Rainbow Rowell does not cease to impress me. I have loved both her adult novels so far because they are very real. She has the kind of magic that can turn simple everyday things into a wonderful story highlighting the beauty that life is. You don’t have to go and live an adventure (although I love those too) to experience true joy and I feel like she captures this marvellously.

This time around the main focus is marriage. I’m not a marriage lady, as you may know, but I do have meaningful relationships in my life, as assume all of you have, and all the lessons Georgie learns throughout the book are applicable to those as well.

I have always felt that love is decision you make every day to stick by a person’s side. Of course it all starts with a fuzzy feeling, let’s say, in your heart, but true love is a decision. Georgie seems to learn this the hard way thanks to a magic telephone that allows her to realize all the mistakes she’d made in her relationship with her husband, which was mainly that she took him for granted. Her priority was work, and she was very good at it, but her decision was always work and never her husband.

It was really a fun journey she goes through and I was a bit nervous along the way to see if she was able to make things right. I loved Neil. He is the perfect lovable husband any working woman would want. I have always been a sucker for good guys, and he is the ultimate good guy ever. He was very real too. With flaws and everything, but he clearly had his priorities in order which I very much appreciated. I did not care much for Georgie’s mum, because she kept telling her daughter his husband left her, which he hadn’t. I didn’t feel she was very supportive.

The same could be said about Seth. He was clearly a great writing partner. He was funny and charming, but he didn’t want to let go of Georgie and he seemed to not know where his place was. They had some mixed priorities in y opinion.

Overall, it was an excellent story that moved me. I loved the combinations of characters, and how the story was switching back and forward between their past and present. It really worked great. I also loved the touch of magic that was added through the phone. I’ve read some reviews that said they didn’t care much for it, but I thought it added something extra that was pretty cool.

The first time I heard Rebecca Lowman narrated a book I didn’t like her that much, so I was a bit worried my apprehensions with her narration would show again. Thankfully, I was pleased to discover I really enjoyed her narration this time around. I don’t know if she was a more suitable narrator for an adult book or if her pacing just sped up and got better. Bottom line, I liked her narration very much. She did some excellent male voices; the only problem was that I felt all her male characters were the same. Such problem didn’t exist with female characters.

Good book

I like this book. if your married than you can probably relate to some of the problems the couple in the story have. Even though the book Eleanor & Park is my favorite from Rainbow Rowell, I still recommend this read. The scenario is a little confusing, but easy to follow. All around a pleasant read.

Well done.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

We're all unsure sometimes. We're all in limbo at some point or another. I can see this book being a great source of comfort to someone in that situation, because it has to me.

What did you like best about this story?

It's an easy-read. If you're looking for a book to be not to serious but still give you serious life advice in going with your instincts and just always trying, then this is the book for you. Seriously.

What about Rebecca Lowman’s performance did you like?

She was fine. At first she seemed shy and quiet but she was amazing with conveying feelings.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It would most probably be "from this point onward" but that might seem like an inside joke. So maybe I would say something like doing your best today so you can have the right future. Oh and something reminding to never stop trying or that it's never too late.

Any additional comments?

I was crying pretty much the entire second half of the book. Well that might be because I'm a 20 year-old who is feeling very emotional these days but I suspect it also has to something with the very relatable protagonist going through a unique experience that in reality is experienced by every human being. It somewhat touches on faith and destiny, but more than that, it told me to follow my heart and not be afraid to leap, and trust that everything was going to turn out perfect. Yes we hear these from people around us all the time but it might not truly sink in until you look at them being told through a fictional character.

I love the Rainbow Rowell/Rebecca Lowman combo

I think I would love Rowell's style no matter who narrated her books, but Rebecca Lowman is such a great complement to her work. The premise of this book is a little far fetched but ultimately, it's about remembering why you fell in love with someone and fighting to get back to the magical days of a blossoming relationship. I hope Rainbow Rowell will continue to write adult books - though I'm also crazy about her YA books!

Loved the story

I havent re-read or listened to this book in a while. I loved the concept that an old rotary phone from the main characters childhood home. How she is able to speak to her husbands younger self. Oh how I wish that could actually happen!

I listen to it on repeat

The narrator is fine and she grows on you, plus the story is fantastic and funny and worth 2nd and 3rd and 10th listens

Narrated with perfection, story was just okay.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes. It is a quick fast read. I would recommend to listen, rather than just read. Rebecca Lowan does and amazing job. Otherwise Georgie just annoys the heck out of you.

Would you recommend Landline to your friends? Why or why not?

Sure, with the preface that I HATED the ending.

What about Rebecca Lowman’s performance did you like?

She made you like unlikable characters. It was very easy to feel what each character was feeling.

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

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

Cute

I really liked this book and would definitely recommend. I enjoyed the narrator, she's the same narrator from Eleanor & Park.

Very enjoyable, well narrated.

A very nice story and well narrated. Give a different perspective on life and probably many marriages. Never lost my interest. Good ending, but not great one.

Rainbow Rowell Sure Can Write!

What did you like best about this story?

I like the realness of the story and characters. Anyone who is married or in any sort of committed relationship can relate to the compromises that individuals make in a relationship and the toll that can take on the relationship over time. Rowell captures this in an incredibly realistic way.

Which character – as performed by Rebecca Lowman – was your favorite?

Georgie.

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

I had to stop at various points and calm down. I was getting very angry with both Georgie and Neil. I wanted Georgie to realize her her complacency in her marriage that evolved from putting her career first, and I wanted Neil to just reach out and try to connect with Georgie during his visit with his parents.