Gone

By: Julie Elizabeth Powell

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

After Charley dies in her office chair, how is it that she finds herself propelled into the mysterious world of Avalon?

Upon encountering an essence, which insists is her daughter, the one she knows she left behind, insanity battles with fear inside her mind.

The further she delves, the more puzzling things appear, especially after she rises into the Orb of Caprice - a realm of fairies, talking flowers and goblins; and something else, something that lurks in the shadows ready to swallow her whole.

Can she realize in time what it is she must do; or has she left it too late?

©2015 Julie Elizabeth Aldridge (P)2015 Julie Elizabeth Aldridge

Unusual and thought provoking

This fictional fantasy tale has sprung from the roots of a true event and reflects the raw emotion, guilt, sorrow, humour and love that the author experienced. It is a thought provoking, heartbreaking and yet hopeful story that makes you think "what if." What if there are other planes of existence where the vegetative or demented mind goes to exists and grow. What if we can be reunited with our loved ones. What if each of us creates our own version of "heaven or hell" when we die. What if our essence never really dies but just passes onto another plane of existence. The possibilities are endless. I received the audiobook from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gone

This seemed to be a mix of Lewis Carrol and Neil Gaimans style of writing.I thought it well written and very beautiful in spots,frustrating in others.Nancy Peterson did a fin job narrating the tale of Charle,Lottie to her husband,who dies in her office only to step into a world of confusion and revelation.I was given this book free by the author,narrator or publisher.

good book

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com.”

well writen and perfomed. interesting and not expected. this book was different and interesting.

Charley may have lost her mind to find herself

Any additional comments?

We’ve all missed relatives who passed away. Charley has is worse than all that. Her daughter Jenny passed away in every sense except the physical. At two years old, Jenny suffered an accident that left her in a coma for over a decade. Charley threw herself completely into work to ignore the painful loss. Until her heart attack.

Charley emerged from her trauma into a world of fantasy and philosophy. She is reunited with the young woman her poor lost Jenny became in a place outside of our physical world, known there as Elsewhere. Charley must take a trip around this enchanted afterlife realm in order to see and overcome things that will ultimately lead to her overcoming the crippling loss of her dear Jenny.

Outliving your child is any parent’s worst nightmare. The idea of an afterlife reunion is the cornerstone of nearly every modern faith system. I think Powell’s approach to the afterlife reflects deep contemplation into philosophy and religion. I know I enjoy an open minded discussion on the great beyond. If your personal faith limits your taste in after life fantasy, perhaps you should stick with Pilgrim’s Progress or Inferno. If you harbor any curiosity about consciousness after death, then you should join Charley as she travels through Avalon and into the Star Realm.

I received a free copy in exchange for a review. Any review. That fact that it’s a good one is because the book is good. Which has nothing to do with how awesome I am. You’ll have to find that out for yourself @S_Shane_Thomas on Twitter.

I’ve already read the next adventure in the fantasy world of Gone, Star Realm. I loved that one too! I think Powell’s storytelling has a place among all-ages greats like C.S. Lewis, Mark Twain, and L. Frank Baum. I say all-ages, rather than early readers because the lack of adults only topics does not detract from a story’s quality or approachability by an adult reader. In fact, I read nearly all of the Oz series and all of the Chronicles of Narnia as an adult aloud to my son. I may have enjoyed some of them more than him.

Books aimed at younger readers can still be written intelligently. Adults should find early reader books still enjoyable. Perhaps I’ve sidetracked…

If you have dealt with the loss of a child, wonder what’s beyond this life, enjoy all-ages fantasy stories, or simply want to rediscover the passion of youth, read Gone.

Thought-provoking and unique

This was an interesting story. I liked the Alice-In-Wonderland style of the setting, but at times it was hard to follow. This story is really heart-breaking - I can't imagine having to suffer the death of one's child, and then the ensuing path to forgiving oneself. This story is definitely a unique one.

I listened to the Audible audio version of this book, narrated by Nancy Peterson. I enjoyed the narration and thought the narrator did a good job with character voices and pacing.

Too slow

I received a free audio version of this book for review. The story is about a woman that dies and goes to what she envisions the after-life to be. It may be a very good story line but it moves extremely slow and has too many areas that the author feels must be explained before the story can proceed. The combination of depressing and Alice in Wonderland's rabbit hole were too much for me.

The narrator seem to have a difficult time in areas as she repeated several phrases which should have been edited out but were not.