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Homecoming

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
With unerring insight and emotional power, Belva Plain, in her extraordinary novel, tells the story of a family divided and of the proud matriarch who takes a bold last stand to unite her warring children in what may be their last Homecoming.
It is a crisp December day when Annette Byrne walks to the end of her long, curving driveway and drops five sealed envelopes into the mailbox, quickly, before second thoughts stay her hand.  Shortly thereafter, with the holidays approaching, her estranged family will be gathered at her country estate for the first time in years.
The sons. . . two brothers embittered by a breach of ethics, honor, and trust.  The grandchildren. . . one young couple on the verge of divorce; another, lovingly united against the parents who have tarnished their lives.  As the ill-fated meeting hurtles toward a bitter and abrupt conclusion, not even Annette Byrne's indomitable will can heal the rift—until a shattering event alters the landscape forever.
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    • AudioFile Magazine
      Listeners may need a few minutes to get past Bradshaw's pronounced twang. Once over this hurdle, one is captivated by his mission to heal the early hurts of wounded adults. He accomplishes this with a delivery that is genuine, sincere and confidence-building; his delivery varies from personal and comforting to expansive and comic. He provides moments for private meditation, as well as the feeling of a shared group experience. Except for one instance when a hokey angelic chorus enters, the choice of music is pleasant and unobtrusive. E.F.A. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 29, 1997
      When the matriarch of the Byrne clan individually summons each member of her family to her country home, the estranged invitees have no idea that they will attend a reunion of sorts. Plain's 15th novel, which reads more like an outline than one of the lavish family sagas we've come to expect from her, zips along swiftly with scant character development. Indeed, readers may wonder why Annette Byrne bothers to gather this array of stereotypes: elder son Lewis and his wife, rich WASPs with "no sense of family"; their daughter Cynthia, who wallows in self-pity because she no longer has the perfect life, man or career; and Annette's younger son, Gene, estranged from Lewis because of a family business disaster years earlier. In addition, Gene remains embittered by the nine-year marriage of his daughter Ellen to Mark Sachs, whose parents, Aaron and Brenda, are orthodox Jews (of course, Aaron is a doctor, a surgeon, no less, who quotes the Bible at inappropriate moments). Can long-raging feuds be overcome by one family gathering? The plot is plagued by two-dimensional characters, stilted dialogue ("Come, come, for heaven's sake, you're out of breath") and an abrupt, all-too-happy ending. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club main selections; author tour.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This story of a family with long-held animosities ends with a satisfying resolution. Until the very end, however, the plot and characters are contrived and dull. Nor does Lindsay Crouse's narration add any life to the book. Every phrase or sentence ends with her voice dropping suddenly into flatness. There's almost no attempt to distinguish among characters' voices, and at times the listener is unsure of who is speaking. Musical additions are inappropriate and jarring to the ear, as well. Another rendition might improve the listener's enjoyment of this novel, but it's doubtful, since the material seems as problematic as the production itself. J.J.F. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

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