• The Practice House

  • By: Laura McNeal
  • Narrated by: Angela Dawe
  • Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (899 ratings)

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The Practice House  By  cover art

The Practice House

By: Laura McNeal
Narrated by: Angela Dawe
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Publisher's summary

Nineteen-year-old Aldine McKenna is stuck at home with her sister and aunt in a Scottish village in 1929 when two Mormon missionaries ring the doorbell. Aldine's sister converts and moves to America to marry, and Aldine follows, hoping to find the life she's meant to lead and the person she's meant to love.

In New York, Aldine answers an ad soliciting a teacher for a one-room schoolhouse in a place she can't possibly imagine: drought-stricken Kansas. She arrives as farms on the Great Plains have begun to fail and schools are going bankrupt, unable to pay or house new teachers. With no money and too much pride to turn back, she lives uneasily with the family of Ansel Price - the charming, optimistic man who placed the ad - and his family responds to her with kind curiosity, suspicion, and, most dangerously, love. Just as she's settling into her strange new life, a storm forces unspoken thoughts to the surface that will forever alter the course of their lives.

Laura McNeal's novel is a sweeping and timeless love story about leaving - and finding - home.

©2017 Laura McNeal (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Practice House

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    459
  • 4 Stars
    278
  • 3 Stars
    118
  • 2 Stars
    29
  • 1 Stars
    15
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    232
  • 3 Stars
    113
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    11

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well, written, interesting, different family saga

I wasn’t sold till Scotland and NY was behind Aldine—those parts felt almost superfluous to the story. But I kept listening because Angela Dawe is my favorite female audio narrator. As soon as Aldine gets to Kansas, the story picks up.

I could have listened to an entire book about Aldine, but the book takes a turn and we end up with the POVs of all the Price family members. I was especially impressed how McNeal took unlikeable characters seen from Aldine’s POV, who became much more sympathetic when we were in their heads. Nevertheless, it did not make Aldine an unreliable narrator, the reader just understands the character’s motivation better.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the book went in many directions that I didn’t expect, all of which were interesting and satisfying. Also loved the historical details of time, place, and events.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I want my 13 hours back

This is one of those books that tricks you into thinking it's going to get better, but it never truly does. Chapter after chapter I was waiting to get to know the characters more, and finally get the sense of emotion from any of them, but nothing! Don't expect it either if you decide to invest your time into a book that really goes no where.

I didn't find any of the characters likable, and no matter what bad thing happened to them, they responded to their circumstances coldly and without emotion. They ended up driving me crazy. The one redeeming factor to this was the narrator - she was very good and nailed her accents. I bought this after reading the reviews and I'm really surprised that people found this book 'gripping'. It's intriguing but leaves you empty for wanting a lot more.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Greatread

Great story line. I couldn't get enough of it and yet it was so simple. Refreshingly different

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Simplicity

Thoroughly enjoying A complex story told brilliantly I couldn't put it down. Listened in two sittings

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

depressing and boring

What disappointed you about The Practice House?

The story was not interesting. I kept waiting for it to get that way and it never did. None of the characters was I ever invested in their welfare, most I found terribly annoying making one bad decision after another or just having an endless string of bad luck. The writing style to make each character a point of view character was unnecessary. Knowing the boring lives of all the characters did not make it more interesting and sometimes just made it difficult to follow.

Has The Practice House turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes. I used to read this type of book more so perhaps i'm just finished with this type... Sad, uneventful stories about everyday life and mistakes. I read to escape normal life, however, my life is a party compared to these characters.

Have you listened to any of Angela Dawe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. her performance is well done. Her voice is sad as suits the characters. Only her reading of the youngest child was a bit grating and loud.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment and annoyance. I can't really even say sadness because the characters were not compelling enough to cause me to feel their pain.

Any additional comments?

I really feel bad giving such a harsh review but I take other's reviews seriously. I'm sure the author worked hard on this book and others may really enjoy it. Sadly, for me it was an experience of waiting too long for it to get interesting and then just wanting it to be over but not feeling I could just stop because by then I had too much time invested to not finish it.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An outstanding tale of the 'dirty 30ies'

The author spins what at first seems to have a predictable next step but then she swerves. This occurs throughout the novel. all the while whetting your appetite for more. A long novel, there are many twists and turns, narrated expertly. The character development is complete. At times you can almost catch the odours of the folk or the lemon meringue pie many enjoy with coffee at the town cafe.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • g
  • 06-21-17

outstanding story and narration

I couldn't put it down. This drama should become a major motion picture. can't wait to see it.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Historical Romance

Didn’t think I would like this, but I loved it. Realistically told story, with intertwining characters. A great understanding of the “dust bowl” in Kansas and it’s affect on families and farming. Would read another story by Laura McNeal and “loved the Scottish” lilt by Angela Dawe.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Exquisite

The book captures the history of Kansas in the 30's and the migration following the drought. Exquisitely written and touching. This will touch my thoughts forever. The narrator was amazing

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

EXHAUSTINGLY TOO REAL

This book was made of very believable people who were well played out by the author but the narrator was AMAZING!!! She brought every character to life with her reading both male and female and old and young alike!!! This book was so unpredictable that you did not realize what was happening until the author revealed it. I appreciate that there was minimum swear words throughout the story. It made it refreshing even though it was somewhat tragic in spots! If you love a good drama, this is a great book for you!!

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3 people found this helpful