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Anywhere But Here Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Mona Simpson (Author), Kate Rudd (Narrator), Brilliance Audio (Publisher)
3.7 out of 5 stars 272 ratings

A national best seller upon its publication, Anywhere but Here is a moving, often comic portrait of wise child Ann August and her mother, Adele, a larger-than-life American dreamer. As they travel through the landscape of their often conflicting ambitions, Ann and Adele bring to life a novel that is a brilliant exploration of the perennial urge to keep moving, even at the risk of profound disorientation. Simpson's first novel is ultimately a heart-rending tale of a mother and daughter's invaluable relationship.

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  1. Listening Length
    20 hours and 12 minutes
  2. Author
    Mona Simpson
  3. Narrator
    Kate Rudd
  4. Audible release date
    October 16, 2012
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Brilliance Audio
  7. ASIN
    B009RHNP68
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 20 hours and 12 minutes
Author Mona Simpson
Narrator Kate Rudd
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date October 16, 2012
Publisher Brilliance Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B009RHNP68
Best Sellers Rank #224,556 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,797 in Coming of Age Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#3,186 in TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction
#4,260 in Family Life Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
272 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's writing quality positive, with one noting the author's masterful use of language and imagery. However, the narrative style receives mixed reactions, with some appreciating the story arc while others find it rambling. Moreover, the book's content is considered depressing by several customers, and the character development receives criticism for being unconvincing.

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ReadabilityWriting qualityNarrative styleDepressing contentCharacter development
15 customers mention "Readability"11 positive4 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning they finished it and another noting it started off well.

"...The screenwriter took the best parts of the book while also creating an actual story arc, which the 'novel' lacks, because real life is rarely..." Read more

"This seemed like it would be a great book, but it dragged and went on and on and i just couldn't finish it." Read more

"...However, in this case, I just could not. I thought this book was a total bore and I did not care about the characters at all. Don't buy it." Read more

"The book started off well, with crisp writing, poetic prose, and a dramatic tension between mother and daughter as they made their way across the..." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one noting the author's masterful use of language and imagery.

"...Simpson's a master of language and imagery, the little details, a whole history wrought by a few words, but this is more of series of memories than..." Read more

"...In the end though, it kind of works. The book switches narrators, and sometimes jumps ahead or back in time...." Read more

"The book started off well, with crisp writing, poetic prose, and a dramatic tension between mother and daughter as they made their way across the..." Read more

"...Totally worthwhile, even without a Jobs connection. She's a talented writer." Read more

17 customers mention "Narrative style"11 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative style of the book, with some appreciating the creation of a story arc and recognizing it as a semi-fictionalized memoir, while others find the ending unsatisfactory.

"...This is what literary fiction is all about. The story of Anne and Adelle is profound...." Read more

"...The screenwriter took the best parts of the book while also creating an actual story arc, which the 'novel' lacks, because real life is rarely..." Read more

"...for a happy story with likable characters, then this is not the story for you...." Read more

"This book kept me turning pages. Very interesting." Read more

4 customers mention "Depressing content"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book depressing, with one describing it as an uneventful morass.

"...raw, which can make for good writing in some places but makes the book feel stagnant because it doesn't go anywhere: the mom never changes, no one..." Read more

"...in California, the storyline unraveled into a rambling, uneventful morass of typical American family life. I just couldn't finish it...." Read more

"I loved the movie but the book is so depressing. I read about one third." Read more

"Slow, disjointed story, depressing. Didn’t go anywhere." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"0 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with several noting that the characters were not fully believable.

"...I found most of the characters to be either annoying, immoral, or just plain horrible...." Read more

"A tough go with this book. The characters were not fully believable and the action often became bogged down with no apparent reason or resolution...." Read more

"Dysfunctional Characters abound..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Spindrift
    5.0 out of 5 stars I almost missed this one.....
    Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Had never read Mona Simpson before reading the wonderful "My Hollywood". I wanted to try another right away and ordered "Anywhere But Here". I can't believe that I missed it when it was new. I have been reading voraciously for many years and this one will have to be worked into my top 5 or 6 of all time favorites. This is what literary fiction is all about. The story of Anne and Adelle is profound. Adelle is unstable...narcissistic and abusive...but she does indeed love her daughter. Many reviewers here comment on Anne's blank personality. This so shows the skill of the author. Adelle is so dysfunctional she clearly sucks all of the oxygen out of every space occupied....clearly Anne's lack of emoting is symptomatic of being abused. She acts out in bouncing off of her mothers illness....but in an understated way that has the reader questioning what just happened. Simpson shows you what is happening instead of telling you. She then gives you family history through other family member's voices.This becomes a finely woven tapestry of a book. Life happens...it is not always pretty...not clearly black or white. People and situations are nuanced...and I have seldom seen an author bring it all together as elegantly as this. I understand that there is a sequel. I am off to order it now along with "Off Keck Road". I just finished "Anywhere But Here" a few hours ago....already miss Adelle,Anne and Carol. This will be with me for a long long time.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Nancyhua
    4.0 out of 5 stars Polarized response
    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    My reaction to this Bildungsroman echoes the love-hate relationship between Ann and her mother- at times you're embarrassed for her and want to stop, but you're also drawn to her and escape is impossible. Almost Dickensian- each abuse nestled casually among the commonplace boredom of childhood, except here the adults are also battered. You feel sorry and ashamed for the mom but you also know you're stuck with her, and she is charming in some ways, and her insecurities are so embarrassing because you can relate to her desire to fit in.

    Simpson's a master of language and imagery, the little details, a whole history wrought by a few words, but this is more of series of memories than a novel because Simpson isn't over this- the feelings are still completely raw, which can make for good writing in some places but makes the book feel stagnant because it doesn't go anywhere: the mom never changes, no one changes. Ann's voice is the same from age 4 to 17, and her mother is consistently crazy. This stagnation tells me more than anything that this book is very autobiographical- no storyteller would invent a story where nothing changes. Understanding isn't change: no matter how much she gets inside Adele's skin, they're both still trying to get away.

    This stagnation is actually something I think they fixed in the movie by using the cop as a device, making it seem like Adele matured and was selfless in selling the car and Ann matured and accepted her mother more and got into a good school. The screenwriter took the best parts of the book while also creating an actual story arc, which the 'novel' lacks, because real life is rarely structured into a nice arc, instead stagnating and bumping along in weird ways.

    I hope part 2 of this story is happy. I hope Adele finds the acceptance and recognition she craves and has a relationship where she and her partner take care of each other. Ann's problem seems harder but I hope she finds happiness.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Lisa Workman
    3.0 out of 5 stars Anywhere but here
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    If you are looking for a happy story with likable characters, then this is not the story for you. I found most of the characters to be either annoying, immoral, or just plain horrible. Also, the book reads like a collection of all of the bad things that they went through in their lives. It seems like nothing good happens to these people without it being followed by something horrible.
    In the end though, it kind of works. The book switches narrators, and sometimes jumps ahead or back in time. For this reason, it can sometimes feel more like a colletion of short stories than a single novel, but it all comes together in the end.
    The book has to do with family, especially mother/daughter relationships. It is about how we view eachother, and how we dont always know eachother as well as we think we do.
    One good thing I will say is that the book flowed well and never really felt like it was dragging. Maybe it flowed a little too well, because I found the ending kind of abrupt. It is the only time that the mother of the main narrator narrates the book, and it felt a little tacked on. I spent most of the book being annoyed with and/or hating this woman, and it seems like the author thought that by having her narrate a few pages, the reader would understand and like her. For me, it didnt work.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Carly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book kept me turning pages. Very interesting.
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  • January C. Shoaf
    2.0 out of 5 stars Just ok
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This seemed like it would be a great book, but it dragged and went on and on and i just couldn't finish it.
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  • Viktor
    1.0 out of 5 stars Too Boring to Finish
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The book started off well, with crisp writing, poetic prose, and a dramatic tension between mother and daughter as they made their way across the states. But by the time they reached their destination in California, the storyline unraveled into a rambling, uneventful morass of typical American family life. I just couldn't finish it. It was like trying to listen to your Aunt Edna talk about her endless visits to the doctor. Just tuned it out completely.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Margaret
    4.0 out of 5 stars Needed a more focused narrative
    Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book would have been better if at least a third was cut. Many events were repeated in multiple scenes that did not grant any new insights or information.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • V. Rathore
    3.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful novel. It is about the relationship between a ...
    Reviewed in India on September 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is a wonderful novel. It is about the relationship between a mother and daughter -Adele and Ann. They journey together to California, to a life Adele is seeking but can never attain. She can never attain what she is seeking partly because she is unable to accept what she has, partly due to not recognizing what it is she is and is seeking, and partly due to her crazy longing for a self and way of life that is not embedded in reality.
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  • Client d'Amazon
    2.0 out of 5 stars Moyen
    Reviewed in France on November 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    J'ai trouvé que le livre était assez mal écrit et peu intéressant au niveau de la narration. J'ai personnellement eu du mal à le terminer.
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  • Lisa Imogen Eldridge
    5.0 out of 5 stars great
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    received the product in time and it was received in a very good quality so i am pleased with my purchase
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  • sanjay bagga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it
    Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Good quality
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  • Eric Girardeau
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on March 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Good book. In a good state. Good price. Thank you very much.
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