When a tragic accident happened in an elephant sanctuary, a whirlwind of activity all happened at once. One woman was dead. Another was seriously injured. A man loses his grip on reality… and a little girl is separated from her mother.
Jenna Metcalf was 3 years old when that night cost her both of her parents. Her father is taken to a mental facility, and her mother quietly slips out of a hospital ward never to be seen since. Now Jenna is 10 and living with her grandmother; but not a day goes by that she does not wonder what ever happened to her mother and why she never came back for her.
Jenna takes all the babysitting she money and tracks down a once famous-now washed up psychic names Serenity Jones to search for her mother through her talents, and Virgil Stanhope, the now retired police officer who was on the scene the night of the accident. For reasons beyond them, both Serenity and Virgil feel that they are meant to help this small girl who is just looking for answers.
Told in alternating voices of Jenna, Serenity, Virgil, and Alice (Jenna’s mom), the whole story comes together of what happened that night and why.
I feel like a kid when I try to describe how I felt about this book. Mainly because I want to say “Oh wowza!!!!” I have read and enjoyed Jodi Piccoult before, but kind of had her framed in a box of a female John Grisham who tells harder cases (like school shootings, autistic murderers, and suing your parents for rights to your own body…) but this THIS is not the Jodi Piccoult that I think any of us know. This is a brand new author… and she has created something amazing.
Leaving Time comes at you at such a wonderful pace. While you may think four different narrators is a bit much, it blends well and flows easily from one voice to another. While each persons perspective is entirely different, they all fit together so well. When Alice is the narrator you learn so many amazing facts about her time working with the elephants. I learned so much about these amazing creatures and how they care for their young, never forgetting a person no matter how much time has passed. The facts about the elephants added another layer to the book.
I loved this story. I listened to it on audio and it went with me from the car to the house. I could not get enough and I wanted to know how this would all come together… and when it does….
whoa.
Kudos tot he incredible narrating team of: Rebecca Lowman (Narrator), Abigail Revasch (Narrator), Kathe Mazur (Narrator), Mark Deakins (Narrator)
For those of you who enjoy Jodi Piccoult’s writing as well as for those who found her past story lines to be a bit of the same, you are in for a treat and I must tell you do not miss this book!!!
- Listening Length: 15 hours and 11 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Random House Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: October 14, 2014
- Hardcover: 416 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books (October 14, 2014)
Book Journey 
I have this book on hold at the library and can’t wait for it to come in!
I was impressed!
This sounds like the kind of Picoult book I like.
I think you would Kathy, I am surprised you have not already read this one… you beat me quite often to the great ones! 🙂
I have this one on Sparky and can’t wait to read it!
You will like this one Laurel!
I loved this book and your thoughts mirror how I felt. Totally brilliant!
I am so glad you enjoyed it too!
Great suggestion, as always. I’ve not read any of Jodi Picoult’s work, so I have no preconceived expectations. Thanks for your blog, I enjoy your energy and your weather reports. I’m in Sydney Australia, our weather contrasts in an interesting way. Keep on keeping on!
Thanks! I will be in Australia in January on a cruise with my husband – excited to experience the area!
I was worried all of the detail about elephants etc would be a tad boring, but it sounds like that’s not necessarily the case.
Thanks for sharing.
Deb
I found it fascinating. They tie in all the information well in the story so it blends into the story line.
I haven’t read Picoult before but this certainly does sound interesting.
This is different than her normal style – this one is in a class all of its own 🙂
Looks great. Still time to try your hand at my Picoult quiz!
There is a quiz? Now I have to check that out! 😛
I was going to read this but seeing that great narrator team … hum.
The narration is impressive and I usually do not like multiple narrators. 😀
Definitely adding this to my Audible wish list!
I have this one in audio – coming to the top of the pile soon. It will be my first Picoult book. Sounds like I’m making a good choice.
Great book!! Makes me want an elephant!!!
Right???? 😀
Sheila, just a little note to thank you for encouraging me to read Jodi Picoult’s book “Leaving Time”. Not for the first time, you placed a book in my path. I never read books about ghosts, but, this time, I did. I wasn’t disappointed and along the way I learned a lot about elephants. In your review you said “you are in for a treat and I must tell you do not miss this book!!!” You were absolutely right. Thank you.
Of Diane, thank you! Your message today is timely and I so appreciate the feedback. I am so glad you liked it!