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All My Puny Sorrows

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About this listen

Elf and Yoli are sisters. While on the surface Elfrieda's life is enviable (she's a world-renowned pianist, glamorous, wealthy, and happily married,) and Yolandi's a mess (she's divorced and broke, with two teenagers growing up too quickly), they are fiercely close - raised in a Mennonite household and sharing the hardship of Elf's desire to end her life. After Elf's latest attempt, Yoli must quickly determine how to keep her family from falling apart, how to keep her own heart from breaking, and what it means to love someone who wants to die.

©2014 Miriam Toews (P)2014 Recorded Books Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt Funny Tear-jerking Fantasy
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A difficult yet beautiful novel about love between sisters and the joy and depth of relationships. I loved the different personalities of all the women and particularly Lottie. it explores a taboo subject with great empathy.

Sorrow and joy

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The Audible blurb makes clear the rather bleak subject matter of this novel and, indeed, there were times when I seriously wondered whether I should listen to the end; but I am so glad that I did.

The sadness of the story is leavened by some very funny lines and the narrator does a wonderful job of bringing the story to life but the real star of the show is the writing. As with all the best literature my life feels enriched for having read it.

Beautiful, funny and heart-rending

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A poignant, yet often witty story, with fine attention to detail. A gentle and absorbing listen.

Beautiful writing

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Love Miriam Toews' writing - honest, amusing, realistic. Despite the subject matter, amusing and uplifting, as well as being desperately sad, poignant and thought-provoking.

Pragmatic insight into mental illness

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This is a totally stunning, heart-wrenching, witty, 'real' book. I just loved it so much. I don't feel any words I can say will pay it the praise it deserves. All I can say is that I recommend it whole heartedly, especially if you are into novels exploring family dynamics, the unique bond between siblings, and have an appreciation for dark humour. I will forewarn that it is very focused on suicide and although Toews writes so sensitively and with such an original and contemplative way, I am aware that some may not find this a book they can read.

Toews Captures the love between sisters better than any other

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