Real Life and Other Fictions
A Novel
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Real Life and Other Fictions
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Narrated by:
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Jane Oppenheimer
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By:
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Susan Coll
About this listen
***"If you're fascinated by unexplained phenomena, hop in a beat-up Audi with the kooky and supersmart Cassie Klein and her dog Luna for a voyage of discovery involving a giant moth, a West Virginia bridge collapse and a hot cryptozoologist. The droll Ms. Coll strikes again!"--People Magazine***
Cassie Klein has always used stories to help her fly, but now her plot points aren't lining up.
In her 50s, Cassie has already weathered more than most. She was orphaned at the age of two and has never fully understood why her DC-based parents were on a bridge in West Virginia that just so happened to collapse as they drove across it. Her search for answers prompted a failed career in journalism, and now she's an aspiring novelist teaching at a local community college waiting for her literary dreams to finally come true. She stood by her once-doting husband when his meteorology career took a nosedive, and now she has learned that the man who became an internet meme has been cheating on her.
She's had enough. She scoops up a teething puppy and embarks on a road trip that's heavy on impulse and light on planning. She's not sure where she's going, but she knows she might as well start at the beginning. What really happened to her parents all those years ago?
In this comically surreal, warmhearted journey, she encounters people she never knew existed--chief among them, an enigmatic cryptozoologist, who helps her in the quest to discover her past. And along the way, she looks for answers regarding curious sightings of a creature known as the Mothman in the months before her parents died. As the line between real life and fiction blurs, Cassie finds herself grappling with the nature of stories, myths, and who gets to write the endings.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Monotone delivery
- By Patricia M Hart on 11-01-24
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Swift River
- By: Essie Chambers
- Narrated by: Shayna Small, Janina Edwards, Robin Miles
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 72
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 68
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Story4 out of 5 stars 68
It’s the summer of 1987 in Swift River, and Diamond Newberry is learning how to drive. Ever since her Pop disappeared seven years ago, she and her mother hitchhike everywhere they go. But that’s not the only reason Diamond stands out: she’s teased relentlessly about her weight, and since Pop’s been gone, she is the only Black person in all of Swift River. This summer, Ma is determined to declare Pop legally dead so that they can collect his life insurance money, get their house back from the bank, and finally move on.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Diamond had a sad life.
- By Gail Ramsey on 12-09-24
By: Essie Chambers
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The Husbands
- A Novel
- By: Holly Gramazio
- Narrated by: Miranda Raison
- Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 863
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 814
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Story4 out of 5 stars 814
When Lauren returns home to her flat in London late one night, she is greeted at the door by her husband, Michael. There’s only one problem—she’s not married. She’s never seen this man before in her life. But according to her friends, her much-improved decor, and the photos on her phone, they’ve been together for years.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Ho hum pretty repetitive story
- By Lucy on 05-08-24
By: Holly Gramazio
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The Fabled Earth
- By: Kimberly Brock
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape. Faced with a changing world, two timelines and the perspectives of three women intersect where a folktale meets the truth to reveal what Cumberland Island has hidden all along.
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5 out of 5 stars
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It was a beautiful story the entire time.
- By Mrs teacher on 12-04-24
By: Kimberly Brock
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I Hope This Finds You Well
- A Novel
- By: Natalie Sue
- Narrated by: Nasim Pedrad
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 541
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 515
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Story4 out of 5 stars 515
As far as Jolene is concerned, her interactions with her colleagues should start and end with her official duties as an admin for Supershops, Inc. Unfortunately, her irritating, incompetent coworkers don’t seem to understand the importance of boundaries. Her secret to survival? She vents her grievances in petty email postscripts, then changes the text color to white so no one can see. That is until one of her secret messages is exposed. Her punishment: sensitivity training (led by the suspiciously friendly HR guy, Cliff) and rigorous email restrictions.
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5 out of 5 stars
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I Hope You Listen to This Book
- By Amazon Customer on 11-24-24
By: Natalie Sue
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The Mighty Red
- A Novel
- By: Louise Erdrich
- Narrated by: Marin Ireland
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 373
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 359
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 359
In Argus, North Dakota, a collection of people revolve around a fraught wedding. Gary Geist, a terrified young man set to inherit two farms, is desperate to marry Kismet Poe, an impulsive, lapsed Goth who can't read her future but seems to resolve his. Hugo, a gentle red-haired, home-schooled giant, is also in love with Kismet. He’s determined to steal her and is eager to be a home wrecker. Kismet's mother, Crystal, hauls sugar beets for Gary's family, and on her nightly runs, tunes into the darkness of late-night radio, sees visions of guardian angels.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing!
- By Hollis Corwin on 10-07-24
By: Louise Erdrich
What listeners say about Real Life and Other Fictions
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karenadd
- 09-12-24
Interesting
I really enjoyed this book. It was quietly interesting at first and built from there. The characters were likable and believable. The narrator was very good.
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