• The Truthful Story

  • By: Helen Stine
  • Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
  • Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (190 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Truthful Story  By  cover art

The Truthful Story

By: Helen Stine
Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

When 10-year-old Genevieve Donovan's Nannie dies mysteriously in the Lowcountry river she's loved and lived near all her life, Genny and her family are heartbroken. In 1960s South Carolina, new industry is encroaching on old country, and Genny fears her grandmother may have gotten in the way of so-called progress. Even Daduh, Nannie's dearest friend and longtime housekeeper, doesn't know what to make of Nannie's death. Was it an accident, or did the drunkard son of a local businessman play a role? What's more, ever since Nannie passed, Genny has been hearing and seeing things she's not sure she can share with anyone except her mother, whose own grief is making it harder and harder to get through to her. Seeking answers, longing for guidance, and unsure if Mama will ever be the same again, Genny gingerly forges a path out of childhood and into adolescence. As Genny struggles to understand justice, healing, and a world in which Nannie is gone but still present, The Truthful Story traces a family's difficult journey through the pain of loss and the survival of love.

©2016 Helen Stine (P)2016 Helen Stine

What listeners say about The Truthful Story

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    98
  • 4 Stars
    50
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    135
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    85
  • 4 Stars
    42
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Beautiful Story & great narration. I love everything that Jenna Lamia narrates. A Heart warming tale that I didn't want to end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

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

Wow!

I listen to >50 audio books each year. I chose this book only because I was curious to read (hear) a depiction of 1960's life in the Charleston Lowcountry. I wasn't expecting much, but what I found was an amazing novel that reminded me of "To Kill a Mockingbird "...great surprise! Best book of the year!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

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

Narration better than the story

One of the most difficult things for an author of a coming-of-age story to do is to write the story in adult voice-as one looking back-so that it doesn't sound like a middle grade or young adult book. Most of the first part of A Truthful Story sounded like the latter. If not for Jenna Lammia, I wouldn't have finished the book. If I had read the book instead of choosing the audio version, I know I wouldn't have finished. There were too many back stories within the story, and I found myself getting confused. Lots of telling and describing and I just wanted the story to happen and it dragged. Too many characters that didn't seem to move the story forward and and anticlimactic ending caused me to give the story two stars. I was hoping for more of a mystery revolving around Nanny's death, but it was solved too soon. I felt that was the climax, but the book went on and on.

That said, there were some nice stories within the story, and overall, the book was well written, but nothing really happened. Just some nice stories.

Jenna Lammia makes every book come alive, and with her narration, I kept going, enjoying some of the memories of growing up in the 60s, and hearing stories about the low country.

Overall, I was entertained, but a little disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

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

Great Story

Wow what a great story. And Jenna Lamia is the best narrator I have heard. She just makes the story. If you have ever lost someone you love stop and pay attention they will surely send you a sign.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

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

if you liked "The Help"...

The narrator, Jenna Lamia, makes this book come to life. This is a coming of age story set in South Carolina in the 1960s. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane along with the storyline.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

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

Another home run for narrator Jenna Lamia

Jenna Lamia does an excellent job of portraying this rich story of the South. Good story of family, connection, loss, and the strong bond we share with people.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Great Read

Great character development and lots of surprises! Well written with tremendous voice. Loved the book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Mediocre

Incredible narration, that is what kept me listening. I found the story lacking and dull

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Wait, what?

Good story, and best narrator ever, but I did not like the ending. I know it is hard to wrap things up while
providing a satisfying conclusion, but this felt rushed and as though there should be a second book. I do
not see the comparison to "To Kill a Mockingbird", however I can understand how the narration by Jenna Lamia
could evoke such thoughts. She brought this book to life!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Kind of Ho Hum

This was a story that captured the essence of the South. Jenna Lamia is always outstanding. However,
nothing happened that got you really enthused. I mean it was huge to the characters in the story, but the listener knew just about what would happen. The special gifts that were inherited were interesting, but all in all even though it was a good southern story, it lacked something.

Vicky J

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful