Send for Me

By: Lauren Fox

Narrated by: Natasha Soudek

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

An achingly beautiful work of historical fiction that moves between Germany on the eve of World War II and present-day Wisconsin, unspooling a thread of love, longing, and the powerful bonds of family.

Annelise is a dreamer: imagining her future while working at her parents’ popular bakery in Feldenheim, Germany, anticipating all the delicious possibilities yet to come. There are rumors that anti-Jewish sentiment is on the rise, but Annelise and her parents can’t quite believe that it will affect them; they’re hardly religious at all. But as Annelise falls in love, marries, and gives birth to her daughter, the dangers grow closer: a brick thrown through her window; a childhood friend who cuts ties with her; customers refusing to patronize the bakery. Luckily Annelise and her husband are given the chance to leave for America, but they must go without her parents, whose future and safety are uncertain.

Two generations later, in a small Midwestern city, Annelise’s granddaughter, Clare, is a young woman newly in love. But when she stumbles upon a trove of her grandmother’s letters from Germany, she sees the history of her family’s sacrifices in a new light, and suddenly she’s faced with an impossible choice: the past, or her future. A novel of dazzling emotional richness, Send for Me is a major departure for this acclaimed author, an epic and intimate exploration of mothers and daughters, duty and obligation, hope and forgiveness.

©2021 Lauren Fox (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

The narration was awful.

I was excited to listen to this book - it was highly rated on the Today Show. I just couldn't get pass the narrators whiny voice on Audible. I will have to read this book instead.

Hardcopy May have been better for this book

The narrator seemed to have an annoyed tone throughout the book which detracted from the storyline and characters. The story jumped around from 1930’s Germany to roughly 1998/2000 Milwaukee and at times it was hard to figure out who was who based on the narrators same annoyed tone. This may be one instance where reading the hardcopy may have been better the the audio version.

Disappointed

Worst reading I have heard. I am sure it doesn't do this book justice. Cant rate the story because the narrator is so bad. Did not finish.

Send For Me

The narrator of this book ruined the book for me. I think I would have like the book had I read it instead of listened.

Well written but plot did not really connect with me.

The plot as described did not describe a complex mother and daughter relationship. The relationships in both generations seemed rather simple lipstick. It was more a story about middle class refugees, in this case during the Holocaust. I don’t think it relayed anything new or different about that story either.

The narrator speaks very slowly and with excessive drama. I had to listen at 1.5 speed and still felt it was a bit slow. However she is able to relay the emotions of the story.

Narration

I cannot legitimately rate this story because I had to discontinue listening to the story after about five chapters. The narration of this story is completely annoying and artificial in her delivery. Please spare your listeners further narrations by this narrator!

Please beware of this narrator

It was very difficult to concentrate on the story. The narrator's voice was so sing-songie that I was constantly distracted from the storyline and will now pay closer attention to who is narrating😩

Disjointed and poorly written

Not sure how this book got published. A boring account of lives through the years. Although I understand the challenges faced by families separated this narrative did little to bring to light a true engaging story. And to make it worse the narrator was truly awful. Had this not been our book club read I would have stopped reading (listening) after the first few chapters.

Heartfelt writing and expressive narration

I loved everything about this book as well as Lauren Fox's past novels. A master wordsmith she draws you in and you just can't stop listening. I really enjoyed the narrator, as well. Expressive with a soft voice, she brought this sad tale to life. You will totally enjoy this work of art.

Loved the story, confusing aim audio format

Great and moving story. The narrator is fine. The problem is with duplicate names and the time jumping back and forth— in audio format it is even harder to be clear who/when at all times.
Very insightful about progeny and future generations carrying the tragedy of loss from the Holocaust experience.