Preview
  • At Home in the World

  • A Memoir
  • By: Joyce Maynard
  • Narrated by: Joyce Maynard
  • Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (198 ratings)

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At Home in the World

By: Joyce Maynard
Narrated by: Joyce Maynard
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Publisher's summary

In the spring of 1972, Joyce Maynard, a freshman at Yale, published a cover story in The New York Times Magazine about life in the sixties. Among the many letters of praise, offers for writing assignments, and request for interviews was a one-page letter from the famously reclusive author, J.D. Salinger.

At Home in the World is the story of a girl who loved and lived with J.D. Salinger, and the woman she became. A crucial turning point in Joyce Maynard's life occurred when her own daughter turned eighteen--the age Maynard was when Salinger first approached her. Breaking a twenty-five year silence, Joyce Maynard addresses her relationship with Salinger for the first time, as well as the complicated, troubled and yet creative nature of her youth and family. She vividly describes the details of the times and her life with the finesse of a natural storyteller.

Courageously written by a women determined to allow her life to unfold with authenticity, At Home in the World is a testament to the resiliency of the spirit and the honesty of an unwavering eye.

©1998 Joyce Maynard (P)2013 Macmillan Audio
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Critic reviews

“Unsparing self-scrutiny...maturity and emotional candor.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

“Absorbing, funny, and emotionally blistering.” —Jules Siegel, San Francisco Chronicle

“A wry, painful, engaging book.” —Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes

What listeners say about At Home in the World

Average customer ratings
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Loved it!

I have never been hocked to a book the way I did with this one wright from the beginning. Beautifully written.
I listen to many audio books I rank Joyce number one in performance. She has a soft clear voice.
I would definitely like to read her other books.

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2 people found this helpful

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Talented Writer- Love Her Work

Any additional comments?

I discovered Joyce Maynard years ago when I read this book. It never left me and I was thrilled to find it on Audible.
She writes with great insight and sensitivity. I love her novels as well. I just wish she wrote more prolifically.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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could not stop listening.

Loved it. Can't.wait to read more of her fascinating. books., a great author a. must read

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4 people found this helpful

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The authors honestly is inspiring

Joyce tells the truth in a way that breaks my heart while making me feel almost normal in my own family dysfunction. I can’t stop reading/listening.

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A personal, deep dive.

I’ve read a few of Joyce Maynard’s book, mostly as a young mother in my early 20’s. Clearly, Ms. Maynard has honed her craft; I couldn’t put this book down and was sorry it ended. It was a treat to have her read her memoir. I found her voice soothing and melodic. As other reviewer‘s have mentioned, there was a clicking sound in the background but it wasn’t distracting to me. I’ll be listening to this again.

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1 person found this helpful

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Engrossing

This memoir is personal, fast-paced, and involving. Admittedly, I was shocked by some of Joyce Maynard's decisions. Wish there were a sequel.

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Grateful

I am so grateful Joyce Maynard had the courage to write this book, the biting honestly with which she tells her story captivated me. For the most part, I read the words along with her as she narrated it, and I’m even more grateful she had the courage to read it in her own voice. I am inspired and will endeavor to read more of her books.

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5 people found this helpful

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Loved it!

I originally wanted to read this book as a Salinger fan, I can’t believe how much hate it received when first published in 1998. It is not a sensationalized tell-all as once written off as, to me it is a normal memoir with a person telling their experiences as anyone has the right to do. I am still a fan of Salingers writing but now also a Moyer fan. She was honest and her accounts felt heartfelt and not bitter, it was wrong for a successful older writer to have a romantic relationship with an 18 year old. It was nice to read the only first hand account of the man and peel away some of the lore. Thanks Joyce!

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Powerful

Another powerful memoir by Joyce Maynard. I enjoyed listening to the author in her own voice tell us her very own coming of age story and reflection on personal growth. As a mom of two young adult girls, I will be encouraging them to read this book so they know their mother is right when she tells them that there are men (and women) out there who may try to destroy them without ever lifting a finger to strike them. Without giving too much away, potential readers should know that this real-life story is about emotional abuse and psychological torture. It describes in detail the steps that a master manipulator took to covertly exploit the naivety of a young girl, and skims over the many years it took for that young girl to properly confront the demonic being who tried to break her. This book would make a wonderful companion to accompany any Psychology 101 textbook, because it is important for young people to see personality traits in action as they are learning about them. Bravo to Maynard for once again using her own voice to read the audio version. As I listened, I felt like I was listening to a friend tell me her story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Narration Distracted From Beautiful Writing

The narrator (also the author) had this strange clicking noise that could be heard after certain words and sentences. At first I thought it was something wrong with my earphones, but no, it was coming from the narrator. It was so annoying that I found myself anxiously waiting for the next weird click, which greatly detracted from the experiences shared in the book and her beautiful writing. If this type of thing doesn't bother you, then please download this book. If this type of thing does bother you, please be ready to be uncomfortably annoyed for the duration.

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10 people found this helpful