Flight Patterns

By: Karen White

Narrated by: Susan Bennett, Amanda Leigh Cobb, Melissa Hurst

The New York Times best-selling author of The Sound of Glass and coauthor of The Forgotten Room tells the story of a woman coming home to the family she left behind - and to the woman she always wanted to be.

Georgia Chambers has spent her life sifting through other people's pasts while trying to forget her own. But then her work as an expert on fine china - especially Limoges - requires her to return to the one place she swore she'd never revisit.

It's been 13 years since Georgia left her family home on the coast of Florida, and nothing much has changed except that there are fewer oysters and more tourists. She finds solace in seeing her grandfather still toiling away in the apiary where she spent much of her childhood, but encountering her estranged mother and sister leaves her rattled. Seeing them after all this time makes Georgia realize that something has been missing - and unless she finds a way to heal these rifts, she will forever be living vicariously through other people's remnants. To embrace her own life - mistakes and all - she will have to find the courage to confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets she was forced to keep.

©2016 Harley House Books, LLC (P)2016 Recorded Books

Haunting story about family secrets

Story told by three narrators about family secrets and the pain they cause. It improved the story to have the 3 distinct voices. Reccomend to women who enjoy Southern stories-about relationships between women

Epic story of family love and loss

This was a great story. The narrators were fantastic, making me see the characters as they spoke. Part family saga, part mystery - this will be appreciated by a multitude of readers. Would make a great Book Club discussion. Can love forgive all sins?

flight patterns

Great story but not her best too much bee info. One of the narrator's not the best still worth the money.

Mesmerizing Tale of Forgiveness

One of the many things I loved about this book is the setting, the iconic gulf coast town of Apalachicola, Florida. Apalachicola is only a short drive from my home, and I have spent many afternoons there shopping and eating some of the freshest seafood in the world. It was joyous to have this charming oyster town and its fabulous restaurants featured in FLIGHT PATTERNS.

This multi-layered story has Georgia Chambers confronting her past, while attempting to find a very rare piece of Limoges china that she is sure she saw in her mother's closet over 20 years ago. The problem is that was twenty years ago and she promised she'd keep it a secret. Neither Georgia’s mother nor her grandfather wants her to find it. They have secrets of their own, and those secrets have driven Georgia’s mother to the edge. As the hunt for the china piece continues, Georgia’s sister’s, Maisy’s hatred for Georgia is evident, and the cause is yet another of the many mysteries contained within the pages of FLIGHT PATTERNS. The many layers of this book is exactly what makes it a fascinating read.

Much of this mesmerizing story centers around bees. Each chapter in FLIGHT PATTERNS starts with a enlightening quote from Georgia’s grandfather’s beekeeping journal. These beekeeping vignettes are a little extra present inside the book, and serve as a poignant lead-in to each chapter. Loved the symbolism found throughout this book—water and renewal; locks and problems; but especially the bees and the character symbolism of determination and will power. The same characteristics that Georgia needs in order to make the first move.

FLIGHT PATTERNS is full of thought-provoking lines about family, sisterhood, forgiveness and secrets. Here are just a few of my favorites:

“Sometimes all we need do to forgive our parents is to understand their own childhood.”
“No one can hurt us as much as those we love the most.”
“All adversity is temporary unless we insist on clinging to it with both fists.”

A Lot About Bees and a Long Story

Sisters connected in an unexpected way separated them for years. Raised by a traumatized mother unable to care for them, they depended on one another in their growing up years. But then, tragedy, and the older one goes away for ten years until a china tea cup brings them to face one another again. It's a long tale with a lot about the characters and slow on plot. It's not a page turner, but for those who enjoy learning about families and their histories, it's worth the read. Because I really didn't listen carefully to the connections, I'll one day listen to the story again. I enjoyed learning about the BEES.

Excellent!

I don't know why I waited so long to read this book. I know the story will stay with me a good long time!

Interesting twist

I liked the concept, but I needed a family diagram to keep everyone straight in Birdie’s past! Maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention. Good ending tho.

What a story teller

A well written novel start to finish. Karen White is a master story teller, she has a way of taking you into this small town, sitting you down to be a part of all the lives of her characters, allows you to think back on your own childhood, your secrets, and longings. Thank you Ms White for this wonderful novel.

Fascinating

Everything about this book is superb. It is entertaining, educational and I couldn’t stop listening.

Phenomenal ⭐⭐⭐⭐

All because of a tea cup and saucer could so many family secrets be revealed. I really enjoyed this story. I'm a huge Susan Bennett fan ever since I listened to The Sound of Glass