Wonder Valley

A Novel

By: Ivy Pochoda

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

When a teen runs away from his father's mysterious commune, he sets in motion a domino effect that will connect six characters desperate for hope and love, set across the sun-bleached canvas of Los Angeles.

From the acclaimed author of Visitation Street, a visionary portrait of contemporary Los Angeles in all its facets, from the Mojave Desert to the Pacific, from the 110 to Skid Row.

During a typically crowded morning commute, a naked runner is dodging between the stalled cars. The strange sight makes the local news and captures the imaginations of a stunning cast of misfits and lost souls.

There's Ren, just out of juvie, who travels to LA in search of his mother. There's Owen and James, teenage twins who live in a desert commune where their father, a self-proclaimed healer, holds a powerful sway over his disciples. There's Britt, who shows up at the commune harboring a dark secret. There's Tony, a bored and unhappy lawyer who is inspired by the runner. And there's Blake, a drifter hiding in the desert, doing his best to fight off his most violent instincts. Their lives will all intertwine and come crashing together in a shocking way, one that could only happen in this enchanting, dangerous city.

Wonder Valley is a swirling mix of angst, violence, heartache, and yearning - a masterpiece by a writer on the rise.

©2017 Ivy Pochada (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Destined to be a classic L.A. novel." (Michael Connelly)

Love this book

I rarely write a review here on audible but I loved listening to this story with the interweaving of the characters and their stories.

An intimate experience/not always pleasant

The characters, their experiences, and the settings felt authentic. This author uses language that took me on unusual journeys where I met people in an intimate way that would never happen in my life. Her close-up knowledge of a variety of fringe life styles made me curious about her life experiences. A Harvard-educated, privileged thirty-something white woman captured a piece of street cred in her story about a variety of off beat characters. Her accurate, descriptive language made it very real for me. She presented her characters with respect and I liked that. Fascinating read.

Wonderful writing; depressing situation

Wonder Valley tells the story of a down-and-out cast of characters, each grappling with street-level crises. Pochoda’s writing provides a perfect glimpse into the grimy windows of life on the streets of Los Angeles and in the remoteness of 29 Palms. The story is gripping; the characters’ situations realistically depressing, with redemption always a literal step away. I enjoyed this book very much, but its story is a cautionary tale. This book will make you feel, but not necessarily feel good. The male reader’s voice grated occasionally, particularly when he adjusted his voice to read female characters.

I liked it!

Lots of vignettes and mini life stories about people with the things they deal with in the hard times we have in life. We all have at some point whether we have money or not