Split-Second Lifetime

By: Denise Kahn

Narrated by: Denise Kahn

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

On a business trip from the US to Paris, Jebby meets Dodi on a flight. Jebby is an ethnomusicologist, and Dodi is an international photographer. They are immediately attracted to each other, but from the very first moment Dodi triggers what seems like past life memories for Jebby of a poignant and passionate time they shared together. As Jebby tries to figure out if she is "losing it" or if past lives really do exist, they embark on a path of adventure and romance where lifetimes and cultures interweave in modern day Paris, Uzbekistan, and in the old Southwest. Jebby and Dodi live their unusually diverse and rich adventure and romance, surrounded by an international cast and superb musicians. At the same time Jebby discovers where the Hopi originated from, that death is not a finality, love transcends lifetimes, and music is eternal.

©2013 Denise Kahn (P)2017 Denise Kahn

Split second lifetime

Any additional comments?

The story develops around music, which is the center of the novel. Kahn’s writing is lyrical and magical. Her main character Jebby is a music ethnomusicologist, and she takes the reader on a journey of discovery of the music in Central Asia. Jebby and her team are producing a series of CDs on native music from around the world. She meets Dodi on the plane before she embarks on her journey Very entertaining book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent!

music, anthropology, photography, relationships, reverie, past, punny

Disclaimer: I love this author's writing and narration.
Jebby's life is rooted in the expressions of sound and is fulfilled by the fieldwork of the ethnomusicologist. Dodi's is all visual and finds that his career as an international photographer meets his need. They come together by means of that most unbelievable situation: coincidence.
The publisher's blurb can only give you a sterile view of the plot but not how moving and enjoyable it is. This author's writing always appeals to the senses even as the plot stretches the imagination, even more so when narrated by the author and with her choices of music interspersed as emphasis.
I requested and received a free audio copy via AudioBookBOOM.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

So much culture explained in this story.

The beautiful relationship formed despite differences is awe inspiring. Reading of their journey and experiences shared a wealth of knowledge. I particularly admired the respect shown when allowed to witness sacred spiritual traditions. Narration was smooth and easy to follow through out.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A lovely read!

A really interesting and exciting read!

Such a fantastic read that is full of mystery with a powerful message.

Beautiful narration! Was so engrossed in this story because of the narrator.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Music is key to the soul

Wow. This novel covers the good and bad parts of life this book brings so many things to life. It is truly an unforgettable story and one that I highly recommend.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Lovely Story

Where does Split-Second Lifetime rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to some really great ones, so this one isn't at the top, but it's decent.

Did Denise Kahn do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, she did. There's also a male narrator that does the male voices, or at least I think there is. If Denise does the male voice too, I'd be shocked!

If you could rename Split-Second Lifetime, what would you call it?

Journey for Love

Any additional comments?

This a really interesting story, that isn't the usual type of thing I read, but I really enjoyed the story! This book deals with love through time, and the characters are on a wonderful journey through Uzbekistan, where they meet some interesting people in their quest to discover some unique music. This story has a lot of heart, and I found the story wonderful. The only that hit weird with me was some things in the end that I felt took me too much out of the story, but overall, I enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio version of this book, and the recording isn't the best, but as the story progresses I enjoyed the listening experience. The narrators do other accents, which I think they both did a great job with, so in the end, I liked the listening experience.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Time Travel Full of Mystery

When one listens to this book one must not be distracted. This is an intricate story about a couple who meet randomly but soon discover they knew each other in past lives. Wonderfully narrated by the author herself, Denise has a pleasant way of telling her story. I'm not usually a fan of this type of book but this one was so intense I had to keep on listening. I'm glad I did. Thanks to the author for gifting me this audiobook in exchange for a review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Really enjoyed

Any additional comments?

I suggest you listen to this when you can really sit and listen. Some of it at the beginning can get confusing but it does all come together nicely. I really enjoyed learning so much about music. The author did a really good job developing the characters. The narrator did a great job. The story was very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A unique and interesting story

Would you consider the audio edition of Split-Second Lifetime to be better than the print version?

Narration was good and did the story justice. Story was unique and powerful with a message.

Any additional comments?

This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Love Is Eternal

Any additional comments?

When Jebby meets Dodi, she begins to have what she first believes to be visions or hallucinations. Though they are strangers, they both feel an instant connection as if they have always known one another. As they travel the world together, Jebbi wonders if her visions are really memories of a past life with Dodi.

Split-Second Lifetime was a beautifully written story but I will admit that I was a little confused in the beginning. Once I realized that the two stories were past life and present, I quickly became more engaged. Ali, their guide in Uzbekistan, was a truly wonderful character. I also loved the "guano" story at the beginning and liked the bits of humor throughout. Music played a central role in the story and it was interesting to learn about instruments of different cultures. The narration was well done considering that the characters had so many different accents and the pacing was very good. This was a very entertaining story and I would recommend Split-Second Lifetime.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator. This review is my honest opinion.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Caravanserai mobile, music - and guano.

Meeting for the first time on a 'plane en route to Paris, passengers Dodi and Jebby feel an immediate attraction to each other, which feeling becomes love and they have been together, when this story commences, for seven years. This is not a romance but it is a love story because, with the meeting with Dodi, Jebby, from whose point of view this story is told, also begins to have visions, flashbacks which entirely consume her, to another couple in the long past, Hopi Indians, and their story as well as the present day one, intertwine together throughout the book.

Jebby is a recorder of music whilst Jodi is a renowned magazine photographer and together, with Mickey and Minnie, Jenny's assistants, they travel the world recording and taking pictures in exotic and remote locations. The scenery and ambience of the different locations is beautifully, visually given to the reader with a light and exquisite touch. The whole book is one of delight and exploration, of the places visited, it's music and history and myths, it's peoples - and always there is also the ongoing story of the other life, the customs and loves of the Indian couple.

It is hard to express in a few sentences the beauty and strangeness of this truly delightful story and the fascination aroused in the reader of the lives both present and past. Denise Kahn is a writer of great skill and she has proved, with this book, her ability as a narrator also. With clarity and perfect gentle pacing, she relates this complex tale, always capturing not only the musicality of the text itself but also giving clearly differentiated and appropriate voice to all of her protagonists, both male and female. Even her accents, of which there are many in this cosmopolitan story, seem perfectly reproduced, the only exception being that of Mickey, one of the travelling companions and assistant to Jebby, who is Australian - but without the destinations Aussie twang.

As mentioned previously, this is a love story, love of life, of music, of food and ideas and of a couple.And how love can endure beyond physical death.
My profound thanks to the rights holder of Split-Second Lifetime for gifting me a complimentary copy via FAFY, at my request. It is a wonderful, even inspiring book which demands the listener's full attention but which I have no hesitation in recommending.