Songs of the Humpback Whale

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Jim Colby, Elizabeth Morton, Jonathan Davis, Carol Monda, Chris Sorensen

Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

The powerful debut novel from New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult, Songs of the Humpback Whale is a moving story of love and family told through the eyes of five people: Jane Jones, her daughter Rebecca, and three very different men in their lives. After a watershed moment in their marriage, Jane leaves Oliver, her renowned marine biologist husband, and begins a journey across the country with Rebecca in search of understanding about her troubled past.

©1992 Jodi Picoult (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"This powerful and affecting novel demonstrates that there are as many truths to a story as there are people to tell it." ( Publishers Weekly)

phenomenal!

every book I listen to from this author is better each time. there is no favorite...she has a great soul!

A bit disappointing

If I hadn't read her other books I would have moved on. It's a bit like a harlequin romance Definitely not her best.

Disturbing

Jodi Picoult’s debut, SONGS OF THE HUMPBACK WHALE, written in the early 1990s is a difficult book to review as some of the relationship issues are dated. Filled with dysfunctional relationships on steroids, this is the story of Jane and Oliver Jones and their terrible marriage. Also included, teen daughter Rebecca, Jane’s little brother Joley (who has a creepy unhealthy attachment to big sis) and Jane’s instalover Sam.

The shifting narrators and timelines at first confused me, until I realized Rebecca’s POV was told from end to beginning.

No one could ever accuse Picoult of being cowardly when broaching difficult topics, including barely 15 year old Rebecca falling in love with a man ten years her senior, which wasn’t unheard of when I was younger and today is statutory rape. I’m glad she included the situation because it happens. I’m certainly not advocating such relationships or having them handled the way it was in the book.

I didn’t like the choices at the end, but I don’t think as a reader I was supposed to think the decisions were right.

Disappointing

Love some of the author’s other titles but struggled to finish this one. Main character just never few on me. Too much angst. Not all stories can have happy endings but found little redeeming qualities here.

Difficult to follow storyline

I have listened to several of her books and this is the only one that i have found difficult to really understand to meaning behind the story.

speed it up?

yes, I've also been having a problem with the Rebecca narrator...it helps if you speed her up, but then you haveto go back to normal with the rest of the characters. but that takes the fun out of listening! this is a great book, one of my favorite Jodi Picoult's, hope they fix it, I cant listen anymore

Disappointing

NOT one of Jodi Picoult’s best books. Weak story. I couldn’t stand the main character, Jane. In fact, many of the characters were dumb. And the narrator for Rebecca was so annoying!

Love Picoult, hate the narration!

What did you like best about Songs of the Humpback Whale? What did you like least?

I agree wholeheartedly with reviewer Michelle about the narration of this book ruining the experience. I am a recent convert to Jodi Picoult's work and have now listened to several of her books on Audible, very much enjoying them. But this one it driving me nuts - in fact, I've paused it to write this review, about one-quarter of the way through.

What did you like best about this story?

The story is grabbing me and I'm hoping to learn more about the habits of Humpbacked Whales, as one thing that Jodi Picoult is renowned for is her thorough research of the subject about which she is writing.

What aspect of the narrators’s performance would you have changed?

However, the narrator for the part of Rebecca is terrible. Rebecca is supposed to be 15 years old - I have a daughter of that age and she does NOT talk like a five-year-old! She is speaking far too slowly, reminiscent of a young child reading aloud in class. I can't stand it!!

Was Songs of the Humpback Whale worth the listening time?

I'll persevere with it as far as I can (I usually listen to audiobooks while cooking and working in the kitchen!) but may have to ditch it if Rebecca turns out to have too big a role in this book. I've recently listened to Picoult's 'Change of Heart' and 'House Rules' and they were a great deal better.

Slow & Challenging

J.Picoult has done herself No Favors w this book. Generally
S L O W - kept Hoping for it to get better but for a rare scene once in awhile dully drug to the end. I'm displeased Most with the Mother/Jane - Main character who settles for less rather than grab for Best Self ..... Generally disappointing.

Meh from a great author

I usually love Jodi’s books but this one just wasn’t there for me. It felt like the whole story was for nothing because of the ending. I didn’t dislike the experience or listening to it - I’m glad I didn’t read it that’s for sure. Definitely not one I would revisit but I love Jodi’s other books!