Preview
  • The Bright Forever

  • A Novel
  • By: Lee Martin
  • Narrated by: various
  • Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
  • 3.6 out of 5 stars (73 ratings)

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The Bright Forever

By: Lee Martin
Narrated by: various
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Publisher's summary

On an evening like any other, 9-year-old Katie Mackey, daughter of the most affluent family in a small town on the plains of Indiana, sets out on her bicycle to return some library books.

This simple act is at the heart of The Bright Forever, a suspenseful, deeply affecting novel about the choices people make that change their lives forever. Keeping fact, speculation, and contradiction playing off one another as the details unfold, author Lee Martin creates a fast-paced story that is as gripping as it is richly human. His beautiful, clear-eyed prose builds to an extremely nuanced portrayal of the complicated give and take among people struggling to maintain their humanity in the shadow of a loss.

Reminiscent of books such as The Little Friend and The Lovely Bones, but most memorable for its own perceptions and power, The Bright Forever is a compelling and emotional tale about the human need to know even the hardest truth.

©2005 Lee Martin (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Martin's novel is hard to put down." (Booklist)
"Rich details and raw emotion mix as Martin, in engaging the human desire to excavate the truth, underscores its complex, elusive nature." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Bright Forever

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A little sad

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Over-all the time listening to the book was well-spent, but I would not recommend it to others. Although well-written, I did not like the plot.

Would you ever listen to anything by Lee Martin again?

Yes.

Which scene was your favorite?

No comment.

Did The Bright Forever inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

No

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Beautiful and very sad

Beautifully written, a small town tragedy. Each character has suffered loss and lonliness. Highly recommended if you like character-driven stories. Just be warned that it is very sad.
Narrators are:
Susan Deneker
Bo Foxworth
Kirby Heybourne
Lee Leon Cavalough
All the narrators were excellent.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engrossing book, read by an excellent reader

What a phenomenal book. I was so completely drawn into the story that I was even listening when I only had a minute or two, which I've never done before. I prefer my listening chunks to be large. This novel was masterfully written. I just came on Audible looking for more by the same author. These characters are going to stick with me for a long time. Every one of them.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Eerie plot

This book was published after The Lovely Bones and it shows. Same content- child abduction and death, creepy man with inappropriate love for a child and his involvement in the plot. Save your time and read The Lovely Bones.

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