My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

By: Annabel Pitcher

Narrated by: David Tennant

Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

My sister Rose lives on the mantelpiece.

Well, some of her does.

A collarbone, two ribs, a bit of skull, and a little toe.

To 10-year-old Jamie, his family has fallen apart because of the loss of someone he barely remembers: his sister Rose, who died five years ago in a terrorist bombing. To his father, life is impossible to make sense of when he lives in a world that could so cruelly take away a 10-year-old girl. To Rose's surviving 15-year-old twin, Jas, every day she lives in Rose's ever-present shadow, forever feeling the loss like a limb, but unable to be seen for herself alone.

Told with warmth and humor, this powerful story is a sophisticated take on one family's struggle to make sense of the loss that's torn them apart...and their discovery of what it means to stay together.

©2012 Annabel Pitcher (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Wowed

This story had me bawling! Beautifully written. David Tennant is my favorite narrator. This story will have you in tears. Grab a box of tissues. I’m a mess! Ugly crying for certain.

WOW

What did you love best about My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece?

I loved the story told by a 10 year old boy

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jamie, he was fantastic

What about David Tennant’s performance did you like?

He was great to listen too. I will seek more from him

Any additional comments?

This was an amazing story of friendship, family, love and loss!
I couldn't stop listening and just loved it. I laughed, I cried, I got angry and happy all through this story.

Perfect Narration Makes You Love the Story

The narrator's Scottish accent is extremely clear and understandable and he has a boyish charm that brings young Jamie to life in such a wonderfully believable and honest way. He tells the story with such inflection and feeling that you really feel every comic and heartrending note.

The story itself was very good and has enough truth and surprises in it to feel very real and yet remain entertaining. Some of the villains were a bit one dimensional but since it is told from the point of view of a boy that is 10 I thought that made sense. When you are that age things are often seen in a simpler way.

Excellent narration

The narrator brought characters to life beautifully, and added to the richness of the story. I also appreciated the musical interludes between chapters; it allowed for breathing space, giving the listener a break from the tension of the story.

A thoroughly enjoyable listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Although this book has a heavy theme, and at times you would like to slap a few of the characters, David Tennants wonderful narration relieves the tension and helps you to focus on the charm and message of the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece?

When they were performing for the TV Show and Jas refused to go to the next level without Jamie. Finally, someone doesn't abandon this poor boy!

Which character – as performed by David Tennant – was your favorite?

Jamie. I think he captured the essence of the 11 year old boy perfectly.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was all over the place. I laughed at a few points and I was furious at the selfishness of the parents in other points. I think it was well balanced and the fact that it made me want to step into the story to give a hug, share the laugh, or take a character by the shoulders and say, "What are you thinking???" says a lot for the writer.

Came for the Voice, Stayed for the Story

I am a big fan of David Tennant, this is why I chose this book. I am glad I did because the story in this book is so innocent and worth listening to. The way they capture a 10 year old's thoughts and actions is so accurate. I smiled a lot when hearing this book. Give it a chance!

Fabulous

This book beautifully touched on multiple adult themes from the eyes of a naive child that not only made you feel for him and the realities that he and his family had to face but makes you reminisce on your own childhood and the loss of innocence adulthood brings. I will be buying a hard copy of this book to live on my own mantelpiece

Ordered for the narration, but book is charming

I ordered this book because I love David Tennant's audio performances, and he doesn't disappoint here. I love that he doesn't have different voices for the different characters, but distinguishes them by the changing the quality of his voice. My only niggle was that he used his own Scottish accent rather than using an English one.

The book itself is charming and well written, but I think many of the characters are rather flatly portrayed (although this may be intentional as the narrator is a 10-year old boy). Also, at times the boy seems much younger than 10 years old, to the point where it's a bit unrealistic. Even so, I still like the book because it feels like an honest, simple, and moving depiction of how young people deal with tragedy--of any kind.

In short, well done and certainly worth a listen!

Certainly not a happy feel, but that’s okay

I really enjoyed this. David Tennant was brilliant at vocalizing the child-like, deeply honest, and expressive thoughts of a ten year old in his narration. The story was interesting and most characters were built up nicely. I like that the character development wasn’t straight and positive for everyone - it gave more believability and depth to characters who, like real people, don’t always have a happy ending or move in the right direction. But it’s not unsatisfactory -and it helped build the plot as well as the backstories of characters. There’s something unsettling about hearing how raw and honest a ten year old’s thoughts are and how they may see the world we show them. An interesting view on grief and how we all deal with it differently.

Worth the Listen

I don’t think I am alone in that I picked this book for the narrator but was so pleased with how amazing it was. Lovely and sentimental; heartbreaking at times, and exactly what I needed. It goes without saying that the performance was incredible.