The Story of Beautiful Girl Audiobook By Rachel Simon cover art

The Story of Beautiful Girl

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

The Story of Beautiful Girl

By: Rachel Simon
Narrated by: Kate Reading
Try for $0.00

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $28.79

Buy for $28.79

It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl.

When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love. Literary Fiction Heartfelt Family Life Tearjerking Fiction Historical Fiction Psychological Genre Fiction Sagas
Moving Storyline • Compelling Characters • Excellent Performance • Unique Plot • Emotional Journey • Wonderful Reading

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
This book took me awhile to get into, despite the fact that it is gripping, moving, compelling, from the first paragraph. There was no problem with it holding my interest. However, some things in the story seem - especially at first - a bit far-fetched. It required some suspension of disbelief. Once I was past a certain point in the novel, however, what had been bothering me along those lines of believe-ability evaporated. The last few hours especially are "driveway material" - if you've been listening in the car, it's likely you'll be hunting for some headphones as soon as you get in the house.

Bottom line for this reviewer: a beautiful, moving novel.

oh yeah

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I've listened to this book three times within two years. One reason I liked this book is because the story is so different from anything I've heard or read before. The narrator gave such an EXCELLENT performance and really gave life to the characters. I think it's a book for women more then men and ladies I encourage you to listen. It's sad but you won't want to stop listening.

Wonderfully sad.

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

What did you love best about The Story of Beautiful Girl?

This story reinforces the importance of treating EVERYONE you come in contact with dignity and respect. A full life is had not by proving how much better one is than another but by experiencing all the amazing talents and beauty in the people around you. So many people have amazing talents and perspectives.

What about Kate Reading’s performance did you like?

Wonderful performance. I could picture the characters in her voice.

Wonderful display of "six degrees of separation."

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A great, feel-good story about a young woman with a mental handicap, and her struggles in and out of a "school" for the disabled. A bit of history about the 70's and 80's institutions for the disabled, a bit of a coming of age story, and a lot about love in all it's forms.

I teared up. A lot.

A Beautiful Story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was a fantastic read. I did struggle in the beginning as it was moving fairly slowly, but around page 50, I realized this was going to be a very good book & it was. I absolutely loved Kate Reading as the narrator. Fantastic job.

A fantastic book & the narrator was perfect

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews