Today Will Be Different

By: Maria Semple

Narrated by: Kathleen Wilhoite

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A brilliant novel from the author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette, about a day in the life of Eleanor Flood, forced to abandon her small ambitions and awake to a strange, new future.

Eleanor knows she's a mess. But today she will tackle the little things. She will shower and get dressed. She will have her poetry and yoga lessons after dropping off her son, Timby. She won't swear. She will initiate sex with her husband, Joe.

But before she can put her modest plan into action - life happens. Today, it turns out, is the day Timby has decided to fake sick to weasel his way into his mother's company. It's also the day Joe has chosen to tell his office - but not Eleanor - that he's on vacation. Just when it seems like things can't go more awry, an encounter with a former colleague produces a graphic memoir whose dramatic tale threatens to reveal a buried family secret.

Today Will Be Different is a hilarious, heart-filled story about reinvention, sisterhood, and how sometimes it takes facing up to our former selves to truly begin living.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Maria Semple (P)2016 Hachette Audio

This will make you feel like you're going crazy!

Would you try another book from Maria Semple and/or Kathleen Wilhoite?

I loved Where'd you go Bernadette, and I feel that this has great potential, but it wanders around and then overall wraps up quite sharply. There are so many asides here that its hard to find the main thread of the plot. I preferred some of the asides, and overall think that Eleanor is someone I would dislike in real life. Her mental wanderings drove me crazy!

What about Kathleen Wilhoite’s performance did you like?

She keeps the voices of the main characters distinct, which I think would be tricky, and she keep the story moving along quickly.

Could you see Today Will Be Different being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No way.

Any additional comments?

The first minute of the audiobook says that it contains a mac and PC compatible pdf file of drawings. Audible does not give you that file, and technical support did not believe me. I was very annoyed by this.

Left me wanting more but not in the best way poss

If you could sum up Today Will Be Different in three words, what would they be?

Narratively inventive, Self-deprecating , "honest."

What was most disappointing about Maria Semple’s story?

Honestly the Story was bit Anti-Climactic. This entire novel built up to a moment that was utterly the most underwhelming 'internal conflict' between a Woman and the life she has had with her sister and her own husband. Perhaps by design, the novel seemed to leave a lot of what we learn about Eleanor completely unresolved- the opportunity for a series or sequel. Lastly, in my opinion, parts of the story could be described as a bit preachy and narrow minded.

Have you listened to any of Kathleen Wilhoite’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Does not Apply. BUT absolutely fantastic performance!

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

Wife loses herself in her thoughts of her past and believes she's lost her only source stability; her husband.

Any additional comments?

The Performance on this is truely fantastic- literally one of the only reason i continued to the end. Had I picked the book up on my own, most likely i would not have finished it for lack of interest at a certain point in the story. The way the Author navigates between past and present, i must admit, was very inventive and enjoyable. I WOULD read another one of this Author's Stories for her writing skill; just did not like the story itself.

Loved it!!!'

Another great book by Maria Semple! I truly enjoyed this book and its wonderful narration.
I always love her characters they are so flawed, humorous and real.

Interesting

This is a very interesting book. The ending is a little off but I really enjoyed the journey. Takes place entirely in one day with some flashbacks to set the character I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book for weeks

Great performance

Loved the book. Great story. and it's especially enjoyable thanks to the narrator. Truly a performance. .

Wonderful story

Loved this book ! Even thou I have nothing in common with this character, I loved her!

Well written

Wonderful Narration of a Very Well-Told Story

This story was not my usual serious, non-fiction, or historically-based fiction pick. But I couldn’t put it down. The writing and narration were so well done that I could picture the characters. Very enjoyable!

Love her voice

I love the author's voice - the way she writes her stream of consciousness and yet you can keep up with her because she can connect the dots with her story telling.
I also love the narrator's voice - literally. It is raspy and I can imagine the characters sounding like her.
I prefer where'd you go bernadette more, but I was so sad when that ended that I was happy to find this book with a similar vibe and the same narrator.

LOVE

I loved this book and the performance. I think the reader's voice enhanced the story, which was very amusing.

Decent Book

Storyline was a bit slow and at times difficult to follow. The narration (with multiple voices being performed) was a distraction for me. Overall enjoyed Seattle focus (familiar landscape).