Held

A novel

By: Anne Michaels

Narrated by: Anne Michaels

WINNER OF THE GILLER PRIZE • SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • A NEW YORK TIMES BEST HISTORICAL NOVEL OF THE YEAR • A breathtaking and ineffable new novel from the author of the international bestsellers Fugitive Pieces and The Winter Vault—a novel of love and loyalty across generations, at once sweeping and intimate

1917. On a battlefield near the River Escaut, John lies in the aftermath of a blast, unable to move or feel his legs. Struggling to focus his thoughts, he is lost to memory as the snow falls—a chance encounter in a pub by a railway, a hot bath with his lover on a winter night.

1920. John has returned from war to North Yorkshire, near a different river. He is alive but still not whole. Reunited with Helena, an artist, he reopens his photography business and tries to keep on living. But the past erupts insistently into the present, as ghosts begin to surface in his pictures: ghosts with messages he cannot understand.

So begins a narrative that spans four generations of connections and consequences that ignite and reignite as the century unfolds. In radiant moments of desire, comprehension, longing, and transcendence, the sparks fly upward, working their transformations decades later.

Held is affecting and intensely beautiful, full of mystery, wisdom, and compassion, a novel by a writer at the height of her powers.

Slow slow pace

Interesting philosophical questions but stories told around them were soporifically slow paced and repetitive, imho, not worth the money or time spent.

Poetry of the Heart

Held is read by the author, Anne Michael. It is a book of vignettes of love, loss, desire, death, the unseen world as well as meditations on war and other memories. The prose is beautiful and poetic. I listened to this book twice in order to take it in. I love Anne Michael’s writing. Fugitive Pieces is by far my favorite. I read that book many times. I rarely reread books even though I read constantly. I loved this book but I needed the second read in order to have it sink into my soul. The beauty of this book brought me peace and stillness. I may listen to it again sometime. This book definitely will not be for everyone. I think it is for meditative spirits and people who value poetry of the heart.

Would give six stars if possible

Glad I came across this book, as I had never previously read Anne Michaels. Thought provoking and filled wth beautiful language. Almost poetic. I do not always enjoy the narration by the author, but I can’t imagine any other person reading it. Highly recommend to those that enjoy wonderful prose.

Gorgeous storytelling- but missing the story

She writes so beautifully capturing people, images, and makes you hungry for more…but it’s more like a collection of short stories and some are interrelated…with the same underlying theme…but different characters…as soon as you’re enjoying the story, she flips to a new chapter with new people. You are left wanting more…also…it was off-putting to listen to a narrator with a Canadian accent mispronouncing words- I prefer my narrators to just bring the book to life, not to distract.

Beautifully written

I believe the writer should have hired a professional person to narrate, her rhythm was not so good and also having all these different characters read by the same person with the same intonation was not easy to follow. The story is absolutely beautiful though!