Count the Ways

A Novel

By: Joyce Maynard

Narrated by: Joyce Maynard

Length: 15 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

In her most ambitious novel to date, New York Times best-selling author Joyce Maynard returns to the themes that are the hallmarks of her most acclaimed work in a mesmerizing story of a family - from the hopeful early days of young marriage to parenthood, divorce, and the costly aftermath that ripples through all their lives.

Eleanor and Cam meet at a crafts fair in Vermont in the early 1970s. She’s an artist and writer, he makes wooden bowls. Within four years they are parents to three children, two daughters and a redheaded son who fills his pockets with rocks, plays the violin, and talks to God. To Eleanor, their New Hampshire farm provides everything she always wanted - summer nights watching Cam’s softball games, snow days by the fire, and the annual tradition of making paper boats and cork people to launch in the brook every spring. If Eleanor and Cam don’t make love as often as they used to, they have something that matters more. Their family.

Then comes a terrible accident, caused by Cam’s negligence. Unable to forgive him, Eleanor is consumed by bitterness, losing herself in her life as a mother, while Cam finds solace with a young new partner.

Over the decades that follow, the five members of this fractured family make surprising discoveries and decisions that occasionally bring them together and often tear them apart. Tracing the course of their lives - through the gender transition of one child and another’s choice to completely break with her mother - Joyce Maynard captures a family forced to confront essential, painful truths of its past and find redemption in its darkest hours.

A story of holding on and learning to let go, Count the Ways is an achingly beautiful, poignant, and deeply compassionate novel of home, parenthood, love, and forgiveness.

©2021 Joyce Maynard (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

She had a lot to learn

It took a long time for Eleanor to grow in so many ways. Her relationship with her husband was uneven in that one was a dreamer and the other practical. She built up resentment which came to a head with tragedy. I feel the book was too long.

Perfect voice for audio

I ordered the hardcover from my local bookstore, but when I went there to pick it up, I was told the book wasn't available yet. Then when it was released, I didn't have time to get to the bookstore, so I downloaded the audiobook because I didn't want to wait anymore. I'm so glad I did!

The author read the book herself, and she did a perfect job. I feel silly saying this, but I didn't realize it was her voice until I was almost halfway through and liked the voice so much, I looked it up and learned it was Joyce Maynard. What a nice surprise!

The story is incredible. I keep thinking of the characters because they were alive to me. I related to much of the story. I'm hoping for a Part 2!

Beautiful

If you are in your 50's like me, you will most likely really relate to this book. Someone younger might find it too sad or gloomy. To me, however this is an honest and beautifully written and narrated novel. Joyce Maynard did a wonderful job not only writing this heartwarming story, but also reading it in her own voice (a skill on it's own). It's not a mystery or a thriller, but instead a touching and well written novel about life, it's struggles, disappointments, joys and rewards. It takes a profound look at marriage, rearing children, the tragedy of divorce, forgiveness and renewal. This is the kind of book that I didn't want to stop listening to and that says in ones heart and mind for a long time after it's over. I liked that the story spanned almost five decades and that it included and intertwined history within the plot. I will miss the characters and think of them often.

So beautifully written

Joyce Maynard’s novel still lingers in my mind. The characters, story..the happiness, joy, sorrow and forgiveness.. are told in a true voice. An excellent book that I highly recommend to anyone interested in good literature.

Wonderful fully developed characters

I could not stop listening to this book. If you like realistic fiction about the love and struggles of families over the decades, you will love it. The author narrated it and did a wonderful job.

Real people

The authentic emotions of the characters was something you could identify with. Certainly the circumstances presented give a lot of room to see yourself in the story.

Enthralled and uplifted

Joyce is a master story teller and I agree that in Count the Ways she brings the best of her gifts. Love her delivery here too. Well worth the listen. 👌

Count the Ways

This, by far, is my favorite listen. I think because the author was the reader. Amazing writing & delivering it the way she meant & felt it! Thank you

A Gem

This was my first Joyce Maynard book. I am not sure why, but I heard her tell a story on The Moth. The message in that story was so profound, I scrambled to get more views and understandings from her. This book takes the long view of real life, from its beginnings and through (not quite to the end, at least let’s hope not). Joyce Maynard writes about the ordinary in an extraordinary manner. She also takes the potholes and blind siding devastations and gives us all the strength to carry on through our own with the same grace and humanity of her character. Without soppy drama. My favorite take away was crazy land.

If there is a redeeming JD Salinger quality, it was his ability to spot a gem of a writer when he read her writing.

Loved listening …

Count The Ways has been a long awaited book from my favorite author. I have been following Joyce Maynard for over thirty years, delighted, at first, with Domestic Affairs. Joyce is the best storyteller, and her narration was simply wonderful. Loved this book on Audible!