As Snow Falls

By: Elle Klass

Narrated by: Lee Ann Freshour

It is the 20th century in California and the main character, a woman, has lived her life to the fullest. Nestled in her favorite spot during a snow storm she recalls the events of her life from her earliest memories of resisting birth and losing that futile battle to finding her true love and their beautiful family. There are monkey wrenches thrown in at every turn as she struggles to find her place; demonic teachers, cliquish students, her nightmare job, a love lost, and an earthquake that threatens her family. Life continues to dismay her until she can't take it anymore and sets off on a journey. She is a lost soul with no destination, a wandering heart until something happens, something so incredible she could have never imagined it! Through her harrowing and dark story she finds light, justice and true love. She is a humble and lovable character who is quite ordinarily extraordinary. Her story is anyone's story.

©2013 Lisa Marie Klaes (P)2016 Lisa Marie Klaes

Lovely look into one woman's life.

What did you like best about this story?

My favorite parts of the story are when the woman is honest about herself. She’s angry, depressed, at times crazy and irrational. She knows her personality flaws and learns to accept them and work through them, which is something so few people on this planet learn to do. Despite the idealistic life she appears to have, not everything is perfect in her world, but she learns to make the best of what she has, another life lesson we should all learn.

Any additional comments?

As Snow Falls is a brief look at one woman’s life. The way the author portrays the woman, she could be any one of us. She suffers, loves, and struggles even up to her last day on Earth to figure out who she is.
The novella moves through the woman’s life from birth to death. It quickly gives its readers an interesting look at the world through an infant and toddlers’ eyes, explores the angst ridden emotions of a young child and teenager, shares the confusing thoughts and actions of a young adult trying to finding their place in world after suffering an unexpected and traumatic loss, and relates the trials, tribulations, and happiness that makes up an adult life. Every person who reads the story can find something to relate to in it. I lost my father at seventeen, and even though I didn’t escape my world and distance myself from my family through traveling as the narrator does, I did it through alcohol and partying. Just as the narrator are her husband do, my husband and I went through a lot before finally coming together and marrying, and even though our relationship will never be perfect because we are both human and separate people, we’ve learned how love each other, work with each other, live with each other, and be happy with our life.
My favorite parts of the story are when the woman is honest about herself. She’s angry, depressed, at times crazy and irrational. She knows her personality flaws and learns to accept them and work through them, which is something so few people on this planet learn to do. Despite the idealistic life she appears to have, not everything is perfect in her world, but she learns to make the best of what she has, another life lesson we should all learn.
This novella reminded me of James Joyce’s Ulysses (which oddly enough, I didn’t enjoy) as it feels a little like a stream of consciousness novella. Whereas Joyce’s novel focuses on the day in the life of a man (if I remember the story correctly), which I found tedious, boring, and drawn out, As Snow Falls tells the story of woman’s entire life in one day. We get the sense from the beginning of the story that the woman is dying, and this is her life flashing before her eyes. Something that I hope happens to me, despite all the horrors I’ve suffered through in my life.
My least favorite part was how quickly we moved through the story. As with any good story, I found myself wanting to spend more time in the lives of the characters, in the world the author has built. As a novella, it moves through her world quicker than a full-length novel would; therefore, there are a number of places I wish the story had slowed down just a little bit so that I could have spent more time in that particular part of the narrator’s life. That being said, I think if it had been a full-length novel, it would have started to drag as Joyce’s novel did. I think the point of the story is that it is of a woman recapping her life before she dies, and the novella just that.
I should also note that I listened to this story on audio, so the pace might not have seemed so fast if I had read it. The narrator doesn’t pause in a few places where I think she should have to indicate that we are moving from one story to the next. For example, early on in the novella, the story of the narrator learning to use the toilet moves right into the story of the family going to church. There were also times, like when the narrator is telling the story of her son, his friend, and the girl that he would eventually marry when I got the time line confused because of how the narrator told this part of the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the story very much. I laughed, cried, grew embarrassed for her and angry and confused with her. Being able to relate to a character in such a way always means the author has a compelling story. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a quick, relatable read that shows that no matter what happens to you in your life, you can find yourself, your purpose in this world and that things won’t always be dark and bleak all of the time. I’m finding, just as the narrator does, that my life is perfect the way it is and all I need to do is spend every day figuring out ways to make it better, even if that means I have to change the way I see, feel, and react to others and situations.—Wow, writing that told me that I came away from this story with a lot more than I thought I did. :)
Side note: I received an audio copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Great Read

I enjoyed this book it was well written and narrated . This audiobook was provided by the author, at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudioBook Blast

GREAT READ!

I really enjoyed it! This book tells the story of a person's life which makes you reflect on your own life. The narration was great and kept me entertained! The author did a great job with the characters. This author is easily becoming one of my favorites! I look forward to reading more books by this author! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

As Snow Falls

“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”

A captivating listen, of an elderly woman as she's reminiscing about her entire life, during her final hours. There are funny, happy, sad and strange memories. I enjoyed this short listen as I thought about my own life to this point. People who pass through our lives for a purpose we may not know why, and maybe never will. A very nice way to spend a rainy Sunday morning.




The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed.

Nice Life Review Story

I found that I enjoyed the story, but the structure made it a little bit of a challenge. I appreciate what the author was trying to do in using the old woman in the cabin as a focal point for reminiscing, but it I think it took away the flow of the story for something wasn't necessary. I would find myself interested in what was happening and then it would go back to the woman for a sentence or two. Then I had to get interested all over again.

The narration did not seem to fit the story. It was narrated in a style of reading to a child, but that really wasn't the tone that so was picking up on. I do applaud the narrator for her enthusiasm though.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.