Every Last One

By: Anna Quindlen

Narrated by: Hope Davis

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

In this breathtaking and beautiful novel, the number-one New York Times best-selling author Anna Quindlen creates an unforgettable portrait of a mother, a father, a family, and the explosive, violent consequences of what seem like inconsequential actions.

Mary Beth Latham is first and foremost a mother, one whose three teenaged children come first, before her career as a landscape gardener, or even her life as the wife of a doctor. Caring for her family and preserving their everyday life is paramount. And so, when one of her sons, Max, becomes depressed, Mary Beth becomes focused on him, and is blindsided by a shocking act of violence. What happens afterwards is a testament to the power of a womans love and determination, and to the invisible line of hope and healing that connects one human being with another.

Ultimately, in the hands of Anna Quindlen's mesmerizing prose, Every Last One is a novel about facing every last one of the the things we fear most, about finding ways to navigate a road we never intended to travel, to live a life we never dreamed we'd have to live but must be brave enough to try.

©2010 Anna Quindlen (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

“Spellbinding.” ( The New York Times Book Review)

“In a tale that rings strikingly true, [Anna] Quindlen captures both the beauty and the breathtaking fragility of family life.” ( People)

“We come to love this family, because Quindlen makes their ordinary lives so fascinating.” ( USA Today)

Great book

All of Quindlen’s books are excellent... characters are well-developed and situations are realistic. This one is sad but poignant. Any mother could relate.

It started slow - so glad I stuck it out

This is such an emotional story. I didn't want it to end. I'm glad I listened.

So beautiful!

This book deals with a very tough subject. Anna Quindlen’s writing is magical and beautiful and lovely. I will always treasure this book.

Amazing story about grief

I have come across very few writers who can express the complexities and the shape of grief in the way that Anna Quindlen can .  exquisitely written 

Almost Unbearably Sad, Completely Wonderful

This is the kind of book that, if written by anyone other than somone with the talent of Anna Quindlen, would never work; but Ms. Quindlen is a master. I have read almost all of her works, and have often said that I have felt her compilations of columns written for newspapers and magazines were her best work,(she did, after all, win her Pulitzer in that category). But she has outdone herself with this latest effort. I am a mother of five, with a now-empty nest, and as I write this, this very day my youngest is winging away to Afghanistan, as a medic with the Army National Guard, and this book provided a catharsis for me, that I won't explain because I do not want to reveal even one iota of the plot. I am so very glad I opted for the audio version, as Hope Davis was absolutely masterful, she is a consumate actress.

Loved it!

So true how different children brought up in the same household can be. Good illustration of the dynamics that are within the family. Found myself laughing, nodding in agreement, and crying out loud. Loved it!

Exquisite

Anne Quindlen's writing leaves me breathless. Although our lives could not be more different, I never fail to relate to the lives of her characters and what they experience.

An amazing story, capturing grief beyond imagining.

Beautifully observed, wonderfully read

Hadn't read anything about this book (or if I had, I'd completely forgotten what) before I started listening to it--a wonderful reading by Hope Davis. I'd recommend, as others do, that you NOT read much about the book before you start, and just take it on faith that Anna Quindlen knows what she's doing. I was perfectly happy with the first half's beautifully observed portrait of family life with teenage kids--though I understand why some people might find it a bit slow-going and uneventful. But then events do occur, and the second half is heart-wrenching and equally beautifully observed. Highly recommended, but if you've endured a major tragedy or loss very recently you might want to wait a bit.

Beautifully Written

Anna Quindlen has an amazing way with words. The greatest joy in listening to this book was her prose. The story is described so well, you truly feel for the characters as though you were going through the experience. It is, however, unbelievably sad. Be warned!

Every last detail is perfection!

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

This book is amazingly well written and absolutely worth reading. Prepare yourself, though, to be pulled into the depressing details of dealing with ( or not dealing with!) grief.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Every Last One?

My most memorable moment of this story is understanding how the book got its title and realizing that it's true that all of our fears in life are tied to death.

What about Hope Davis’s performance did you like?

I loved Hope's performance! Her ability to draw us into the mundane life details of Mary Beth and her perspective of her children, friends, and family while refusing to grieve was amazing. I wanted to jump into the story and "wake her up!"

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When her son Alex confronted Mary Beth at the psychiatrist's office about not grieving for her loss--it was acted perfectly!