Tell the Wolves I’m Home

A Novel

By: Carol Rifka Brunt

Narrated by: Amy Rubinate

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In this striking literary debut, Carol Rifka Brunt unfolds a moving story of love, grief, and renewal as two lonely people become the unlikeliest of friends and find that sometimes you don’t know you’ve lost someone until you’ve found them.

1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life - someone who will help her to heal and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn’s funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn’s apartment and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she’s not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

An emotionally charged coming-of-age novel, Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a tender story of love lost and found, an unforgettable portrait of the way compassion can make us whole again.

Carol Rifka Brunt’s work has appeared in several literary journals, including the North American Review and the Sun. In 2006 she was one of three fiction writers who received a New Writing Ventures Award, and in 2007 she received a generous Arts Council England grant to write Tell the Wolves I’m Home, her first novel. Originally from New York, she currently lives in England with her husband and three children.

©2012 Carol Silverman (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A gorgeously evocative novel about love, loss, and the ragged mysteries of the human heart, all filtered through the achingly real voice of a remarkable young heroine. How can you not fall in love with a book that shows you how hope can make a difference?” (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author)

“Tell the Wolves I’m Home is a charming, sure-handed, and deeply sympathetic debut. Brunt writes about family, adolescence, and the human heart with great candor, insight, and pathos.” (Jonathan Evison, New York Times bestselling author)

“Tremendously moving…Brunt strikes a difficult balance, imbuing June with the disarming candor of a child and the melancholy wisdom of a heart-scarred adult.” ( Wall Street Journal)

Authentic and Compelling

This book goes back to the 80s when fear and ignorance about AIDS brought out the worst in people. That is the backdrop to this story, but the heart of it is about love and acceptance.

June, the main character, is a fifteen year old girl coping with the loss of her uncle - the one person she felt truly understood her and accepted her for who she was. It is about the loss of her sister as the two girls, once extremely close, begin to make their separate ways in the world. And, it is about the loss of her image of her mother as she starts to see her as a person, complete with flaws. June has to let go of these things to be able to accept herself.

At the same time she is letting go, a new friend comes into her life. This person sees her clearly, in a way that unnerves her and puts the question of who she is and who she is capable of loving front and center.

The author handles the intensity of these relationships and the depth of emotions in a gentle and authentic way, allowing you to feel the pain of those adolescent years as you experience June's struggles. The voice of the character (and the narrator) rings true, and I found myself lost in the story and brought back to experiences in my life where acceptance by others was as crucial as acceptance of myself.

I highly recommend this book. I appreciated that it touched on heavy subjects without becoming maudlin. It is well-paced, well-read, and easy to become immersed in.

Moving future classic

We'll written from start to finish. No student should leave high school without reading this and talking about it in English class. As the fifteen year old narrator reflects on her complicated family relationships we learn about her as well as her parents, her sister, her uncle and his partner. The characters are complex and beautifully revealed by the author Carol Rifka Brunt. In Brunt's hands the AIDs crisis of the 80s is sensitively and gently handled. Having lived in the New York City area I found the portrayal of a young girl coming of age near the City and dealing with the loss of her gifted uncle to AIDS to be credible and deeply engaging. I am looking forward to Brunt's next effort

No beginning, no ending

Any additional comments?

If I heard the names, Toby or Finn a few more hundred times in this book I was going to delete it, but the book finally came to an end, ,thank goodness

peeking...

What did you like best about Tell the Wolves I’m Home? What did you like least?

It's a peek into a gay life - interesting and sympathetic.
least? The family relationships: parents - children. Also the improbability of some of the story-line.

Would you ever listen to anything by Carol Rifka Brunt again?

no

What about Amy Rubinate’s performance did you like?

ok

Incredible!!!

This is one of the finest books I have read! The narrator is perfect! I hope to find more by this author. A MUST READ

Narrator

I did not care for the narrator but I loved the story. Maybe the narrator should be required to do an actual British accent before she’s accepted.

Beautiful

I don’t have much to say other than you need to read this book. It’s a glittery gem of a read and I will keep it in my heart for the rest of my life.

My favorite

This is now my favorite book I’ve ever read /listen to. It was written beautifully. I’m gonna read it again in a year so i never forget it.

I'm 14 again!

Excellent narration of a moving and compelling story. The main character completely captured me. She's ageless.

Heartbreaking and sensitive

I can't believe this book had any negative reviews! Even though already in my library, I nostalgically went back to read the reviews when popped up as a "Daily Deal" . Yes, some may find it hard to relate to the protoganist as her stance was unusual, but I found she gave me a different angle on the victims of AIDS. Those left behind, and those coming of age during that time. Beautiful layers, empathy. I don't remember having problems with the narrator, either. Some novels I have been unable ro finish and had to have refunded - "Witches on the Road Tonight", Kim Basinger in "The Awakening" come to mind (ugh). This one however was one of the ones in a library of almost 200 titles that touched me the most. So much so, I felt like I had to go back and give my two cents, in defense of this novel (I rarely WRITE out reviews.)