Imagine a Death
A novel
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Imagine a Death
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Narrated by:
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Marie Cinquemani
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By:
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Janice Lee
About this listen
BIG OTHER Book Award for Fiction Finalist.
In the face of a slow but impending apocalypse, what binds three seemingly divergent lives (a writer, a photographer, an old man), isn’t the commonality of a perceived future death, but the layered and complex fabric of how loss, abuse, trauma, and death have shaped their pasts, and how these pasts continue to haunt their present moments, a moment in which time seems to be running out.
The writer, traumatized by the violent death of her mother when she was a child, lives alone with her dog and struggles to finish her book. The photographer, stunted by the death of his grandmother and caretaker, struggles to take a single picture and enters into a complicated relationship with the writer. The old man, facing his past in small doses, spends his time watching television and reorganizing the objects in his apartment to stay distracted from the deterioration around him.
A depiction of the cycles of abuse and trauma in a prolonged end-time, Imagine a Death examines the ways in which our pasts envelop us, the ways in which we justify horrible things in the name of survival, all of the horrible and beautiful things we are capable of when we are hurt and broken, and the animal (and plant) companions that ground us. Part of the Innovative Prose series, edited by Katie Jean Shinkle.
©2021 Janice Lee (P)2024 TRP: The University Press of SHSURelated to this topic
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Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone? Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.
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It’s 1984, and life has changed beyond recognition. Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain, is a place where Big Brother is always watching, and nobody can hide. Except, perhaps, for Winston Smith. Whilst working at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history, he secretly dreams of freedom. And in a world where love and sex are forbidden, where it’s hard to distinguish between friend and foe, he meets Julia and O’Brien and vows to rebel.
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Who is Audrey Hoedemaker? It's a question her sister Maureen has heard more times than she can count, and she doesn't know what the short answer would be. Little sister, troubled teen, backpacker, musical theatre coach, con artist, childcare worker. Murderer. A tragic, traumatic childhood casts a long shadow on the Hoedemaker sisters. Maureen has worked hard to move beyond the violence of the past and build a good, honest life for herself. Audrey, however, just can't seem to do the same, careening from one state of chaos to another.
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The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 2,515
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,460
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Story4 out of 5 stars 2,460
Two little girls stand with their heads bowed in my living room. I’m told they’re my granddaughters. Daisy is nine, and Alice seven. Daisy is the spitting image of her mother. This is the first time I’ve met them since my daughter and I fell out after she married that waste of space, Vince. They’ve come to live with me because their mother — my daughter — was murdered. In her own home while they slept close by. I think Vince killed her. But the police can’t prove it. I’ve always known he was no good. He treated my daughter like dirt. I said he’d cheat on her — but she wouldn’t listen.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Not too outlandish
- By Jackie H on 12-14-24
By: Jane E. James
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The Answer Is No
- A Short Story
- By: Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DeNoma - translator
- Narrated by: Stacy Gonzalez
- Length: 1 hr and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 899
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 845
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 845
Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone? Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Narrator doesn’t get Backman’s satire or rhythm
- By joey1603 on 12-01-24
By: Fredrik Backman, and others
-
George Orwell’s 1984
- An Audible Original adaptation
- By: George Orwell, Joe White - adaptation
- Narrated by: Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 10,293
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 9,750
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 9,749
It’s 1984, and life has changed beyond recognition. Airstrip One, formerly known as Great Britain, is a place where Big Brother is always watching, and nobody can hide. Except, perhaps, for Winston Smith. Whilst working at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history, he secretly dreams of freedom. And in a world where love and sex are forbidden, where it’s hard to distinguish between friend and foe, he meets Julia and O’Brien and vows to rebel.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Revelation!
- By wotsallthisthen on 04-07-24
By: George Orwell, and others
-
Say No More
- By: Caroline Overington
- Narrated by: Anna Skellern
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,232
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,207
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,207
Who is Audrey Hoedemaker? It's a question her sister Maureen has heard more times than she can count, and she doesn't know what the short answer would be. Little sister, troubled teen, backpacker, musical theatre coach, con artist, childcare worker. Murderer. A tragic, traumatic childhood casts a long shadow on the Hoedemaker sisters. Maureen has worked hard to move beyond the violence of the past and build a good, honest life for herself. Audrey, however, just can't seem to do the same, careening from one state of chaos to another.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Seriously, that was the ending?
- By alicia in athens on 02-13-25
-
The Art of War
- By: Sun Tzu
- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 41,879
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34,698
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 34,279
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The actual book The Art of War, not a commentary
- By Nemo71 on 12-31-19
By: Sun Tzu
-
Mary Jane
- By: Amy Herzog
- Narrated by: Rachel McAdams, April Matthis, Brenda Wehle, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 203
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 194
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 194
Academy Award nominee Rachel McAdams stars in Mary Jane, a poignant and intimate drama following a single mother’s journey caring for her chronically ill young son. Set in New York City, the play unfolds in two parts—Mary Jane's small Queens apartment and a pediatric hospital. With unflinching honesty and unexpected humor, we witness Mary Jane's tireless devotion, her interactions with medical professionals, and her struggle to maintain her sense of self.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing performance
- By Andrew Reynolds on 12-28-24
By: Amy Herzog
-
The Grandmother
- By: Jane E. James
- Narrated by: Anna Cordell, Max Dinnen
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2,515
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,460
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 2,460
Two little girls stand with their heads bowed in my living room. I’m told they’re my granddaughters. Daisy is nine, and Alice seven. Daisy is the spitting image of her mother. This is the first time I’ve met them since my daughter and I fell out after she married that waste of space, Vince. They’ve come to live with me because their mother — my daughter — was murdered. In her own home while they slept close by. I think Vince killed her. But the police can’t prove it. I’ve always known he was no good. He treated my daughter like dirt. I said he’d cheat on her — but she wouldn’t listen.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not too outlandish
- By Jackie H on 12-14-24
By: Jane E. James
What listeners say about Imagine a Death
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- RoxB
- 08-15-24
Thoughtful point of view
Imagine a Death is a complex fiction that unfolds in an unusual narrative style that is truly one-of-a-kind, though at times tedious. It features a Writer, a Photographer, and an Old Man living in an undefined post-apocalyptic city. The story is told through long sentences and the use of complex words, which may pose a challenge in following the story threads. However, Ms. Lee’s unique narrative style effectively shares the past trauma of each character, illustrating their perspective on life and the emotions they may or may not share. Each character's response to the loss of a loved one early in life is shaped by this trauma, and their thoughts and reactions to the events are like an interior monolog, mirroring the non-linear way the brain works.
The book delves deep into the emotional landscape of its characters as they navigate survival in a city where inhabitants are fleeing, and birds are falling from the sky. Each character carries the emotional baggage of heartache, remorse, dereliction, bitterness, and annoyance. The story immerses listeners in all the nuances and sensations experienced by each character to foster a deeper connection and empathy toward each character’s experiences.
Marie Cinquemani executes a consistent voice with good intonations and speed throughout the novel. The emotional moments are well-timed with an animated voice. Listeners can rest assured that there are no flaws or issues with the production of this audiobook, providing a seamless listening experience.
Fans of Women’s Literary Fiction will find this a novel that displays the world through a complicated lens where the conscious meets the subconscious. In many ways, Imagine a Death could be considered a psychological study bordering on horror within an uncertain love story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Toots
- 04-02-24
Audible book was fascinating
I chose Audible for this book and was very pleased with the narrator's gift of storytelling that draws you into the characters' turmoil. You won't be disappointed with the author's uniquely different depiction of humans and animals dealing with their trauma and impending disaster.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Annod & Eoj
- 04-02-24
The Perfect Audible Book
This innovative novel is like none I have read, or listened to, before. Each chapter feels like a carpet ride on a character's stream of consciousness. It reads like a living AND dying memory that is both ethereal and tangible at the same time, or a literary dance that moves from a floating, lyrical ballet to a ceremonial Haka. I especially love the voices of the animals, whether wild birds and bears, stray cats, or "The Dog", a companion pet, as they brought grounding and wisdom to the inexorable relationship between humans and the world. Their perspectives, mixed with the voices of nature on a seemingly failing planet, and the emotionally excruciating narratives of The Writer, The Photographer, and The Old Man, are brought to life by the wonderful Audible narrator's interpretation and expressive voice. As I listened to her read I gasped, I begged, I held my breath, until the very last word. It was the perfect Audible book!
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