Still Life in Shadows

By: Alice J. Wisler

Narrated by: David Bosco

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

It's been 15 years since Gideon Miller ran away from his Amish community in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, as a boy of 15. Gideon arrives in the Smoky Mountains town of Twin Branches and settles in at the local auto mechanic's garage. He meets a host of interesting characters. The most recent acquaintances are Kiki, an autistic teen, and her sister, Mari. Known as the "Getaway Savior," he helps other Amish boys and girls relocate to life in modern America. 

One day the phone rings. On the other end is his brother, Moriah, calling from Florida. Of course Gideon welcomes his brother to stay with him and offers him a job. But Moriah is caught in a web that ends in his death and forces Gideon to return to the town of his youth, with his brother's body in the back of a hearse and Mari and Kiki at his side. He must face not only the community he ran away from years ago but also his own web of bitterness. Will he be able to give his anger over to God and forgive his father?

©2017 Alice J. Wisler (P)2018 Alice J. Wisler

Excellent look at Amish vs modern day life

A very good and realistic look inside the tight-knit Amish families, community, lifestyle and beliefs. The clash between Amish and modern day lifestyles are vividly portrayed in this book. The characters were very real and Mr. Bosco's performance was fantastic. All the different characters were distinct and his Amish accent was well-done. His portrayal of Moriah was absolutely amazing and spot on! And who couldn't love Kiki?! What an extraordinary character she is! This is a very good book that I can definitely recommend to anyone considering it. I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A Most Enjoyable Story Fantastically Interpreted

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

David Bosco is one of my favorite narrators and it was the reason why I agreed to review this audiobook. He did not disappoint and his interpretation of the various characters is truly remarkable. It truly makes for an enjoyable listening experience.
I was not familiar with the author however so that was a very pleasant discovery. The intricacies of the various characters make the storyline extremely interesting and captivating. A few years back I saw a captivating documentary on the voluntary exodus of some of the younger Amish community members. It is so true about the difficulties they encounter in trying to assimilate in an alien society. Not all of them make it and tragedies are more common than you'd expect. The author was able to convey the difficulties life changing events bring to these young people hungry to discover a world so different from the one they grew up with.
The portrayal of the autistic child is also extremely well done. What a wonderful world where all races, cultures, and mental abilities find a way of becoming part of a loving community... Just an outstanding audiobook overall.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Tender coming of age story

Still Life in Shadows is beautifully written and describes two main story lines. We are first introduced to 14-yr old KiKi who lives with her sister in North Carolina. She is treated differently in her school and doesn’t know why. Then enters Gideon, late 20-something male who grew up and escaped from his Amish community. The author uses the two of them to intertwine the differences and similarities people face when being different; and the positive outcome that happens when they admit who they truly are.

Narrator David Bosco does a fantastic job of separating the characters and making you feel empathy for each individual. Well done!

The character plots come together in a smooth way at the end. The author could have ended the audiobook in several places; but I’m so glad she didn’t. I definitely recommend this audiobook.

This audiobook was given to me in exchange for my unbiased review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A truly great listen

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I picked this book up simply because David Bosco narrated it. I've really enjoyed how he brings books to life. The story, here, is an interesting look at Amish society in a modern world. The added perspective of an autistic child only added depth to the story. All in all this is a very inspriring and heart warming listen.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Would Highly recommend this story!!!

I totally loved this book. The story was excellent and interesting. Having family members who suffer with autism, I think the author captured the way an autistic child might think very well. it was also interesting to learn a bit about the Amish culture, and also the Japanese culture. I love the way Gideon, Mari and Kiki were all brought together. Such different people, yet love and God bonded them and turned them in to a family. The narration was really great as well. I love the way the voices changed if someone was on the phone, or using a microphone for example. The narration kept the story intereting, and brought the characters to life.

This book was hard to put down. I also love the fact that Moriah's death and life was treated with such compassion. If there are any more audio books written by this author, I will certainly be reading them.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Families!

I liked learning more about the Amish and some of how they live.

I wanted to hear more about whether Gideon and Mari ever married .
I was disappointed it wasn’t a little longer.

Mr. David Bosco spoke so well! He has such a nice voice, it was like when you read a book and you don’t want to put it down.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another side of the amish life

this books looks at the other side of the amish life and getting away from it. It made me feel as if I was living the amish life in slow motion, riding in a horse and buggy. Yes the book was slow but it was worth every bit of it. You learn what a hard life they lead and what it takes to break away from it.
i received this free for an honest review from the author or narrator

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Feel-good book with lots of heart.

I'm a regular customer of the post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, and crime genres, so 'Still Life' was a real change of pace for me. To be brief, it's a slowly-paced, simple and sweet little story with a lot of heart.

I found minor issues with how the characters and plot were written, and with the wavering point-of-view, but I tried not to let that detract from what I felt the author was ultimately trying to convey. This story addressed some themes common to us all, like acceptance and forgiveness, without getting religious or preachy. It's a feel-good book that can interest even those of us who don't do feel-good books. Despite that this book's title makes zero sense to me, it's a story that doesn't make apologies or excuses for the messiness inherent in all our lives to some degree, and that is something I could relate to.

David Bosco gives a good performance that evokes the emotions of the characters and breathes life into the story. Overall, despite its imperfections, I am glad that I gave this one a try.

(I requested this free review copy audiobook and voluntarily posted this unbiased review.)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Faith and Hope

Narrator David Bosco has a warm quality to voice as he tells a story--and quite a range of accents on which to draw as, here, he introduces us to the Pennsylvania Dutch while in the midst of the North Carolina mountains. While disaffection with the rigidity of 18th century mores and lifestyle of the Amish is not uncommon, the sect continues to grow--as with any strict belief system there are plusses and minuses which can be enhanced or exacerbated by the personalities of those in power. But this novel is broader in scope than that, looking at mental illness, autism, racial prejudice, fear of "outsiders," and the very major issue of methamphetamine as a destroyer of lives. Despite some of these rough topics, the strongly Christian-based (but not preachy!) story overall has a feel-good atmosphere and a happy ending while perhaps teaching you about some topics with which you may be unfamiliar.

awesome

I picked this book because of the narrator. live his voice and style..but this story was amazing. thoroughly enjoyed it.

amazing book

It's been 15 years since Gideon Miller ran away from his Amish community in Carlisle,

loved this book from the start could not stop listing to it till it ended