Love and Other Impossible Pursuits Audiobook By Ayelet Waldman cover art

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

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Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

By: Ayelet Waldman
Narrated by: Susan Denaker
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In this moving, wry, and candid novel, widely acclaimed novelist Ayelet Waldman takes us through one woman’s passage through love, loss, and the strange absurdities of modern life.Emilia Greenleaf believed that she had found her soulmate, the man she was meant to spend her life with. But life seems a lot less rosy when Emilia has to deal with the most neurotic and sheltered five-year-old in New York City: her new stepson William. Now Emilia finds herself trying to flag down taxis with a giant, industrial-strength car seat, looking for perfect, strawberry-flavored, lactose-free cupcakes, receiving corrections on her French pronunciation from her supercilious stepson – and attempting to find balance in a new family that’s both larger, and smaller, than she bargained for. In Love and Other Impossible Pursuits Ayelet Waldman has created a novel rich with humor and truth, perfectly characterizing one woman’s search for answers in a crazily uncertain world.©2006 Ayelet Waldman; (P)2006 Books on Tape Literary Fiction Family Life Women's Fiction Witty Psychological Fiction Genre Fiction

Critic reviews

“A romantic, shocking . . . page-turner [that] actually says something new and interesting about women, families and love.” –The New York Times Book Review“Absorbing. . . . Compelling and artfully drawn. . . . The novel is beautifully paced and unfolds seamlessly.” –The Washington Post“A smart and finally affecting portrayal of a woman working her way out of her own grandiose self-image into something like real love.” –New York“The emotions Waldman instills in her protagonist are visceral and convincing. . . . [Emilia’s] always sharp, wickedly funny, opinionated and cheerfully bitter, lending depth and energy to this wise, entertaining book.” –San Francisco Chronicle
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I enjoyed this novel..the narrator is fantastic, and captures each character perfectly, particularly little William. I found it a bit depressing, but realistic, and appreciated the wise insights into human relationships that the tale provided. All in all, a worthwhile and entertaining read.

Sweet--interesting psychological insights

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As a stepmother and woman who's lost a child, I really love this book. It's not the most interesting of stories, but it's relatable and well-written. I enjoyed the narrator and the passion in which she told the story.

Real Life

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This was a wonderful story and beautifully read. As a stepmother, I could identify. Though it was humorous, I also found myself with a lump in my throat several times.

Wonderfrul

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This was a good story about marriage and motherhood, especially for us neurotic women - gave me something to relate to. The story was very good but some of the bits became rambling, but they helped to define the idiosyncrasies of the characters so they we worth getting thought most times.

Good story

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I loved this book. As a mother who lost a child, I found it authentic, unbearably sad, but also redemptive. The heroine, Emelia, was maddening in her inability to empathize with her five year old stepson, but also lovable with her wit and sarcasm. Her anger was hard to bear at times, but I remember my own so well after my child died 22 years ago.

It is an ode to motherhood, the tragedies of divorce and infidelity, and the ability of us all to bond with one another. Highly, highly recommend it but it is not for the faint of heart or for those unwilling to face the unbearable loneliness of grief

The narrator is wonderful -- a perfect match for the character and the tone.

Heart breaking, hopeful, and brilliant writing.

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