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Where Things Come Back

By: John Corey Whaley
Narrated by: Josh Hurley, Fred Berman
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Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2012 Michael L. Printz and William C. Morris Awards, this poignant and hilarious story of loss and redemption “explores the process of grief, second chances, and even the meaning of life” (Kirkus Reviews).

In the remarkable, bizarre, and heart-wrenching summer before Cullen Witter’s senior year of high school, he is forced to examine everything he thinks he understands about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town. His cousin overdoses; his town becomes absurdly obsessed with the alleged reappearance of an extinct woodpecker; and most troubling of all, his sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother, Gabriel, suddenly and inexplicably disappears. Meanwhile, the crisis of faith spawned by a young missionary’s disillusion in Africa prompts a frantic search for meaning that has far-reaching consequences. As distant as the two stories initially seem, they are woven together through masterful plotting and merge in a surprising and harrowing climax. This extraordinary tale from a rare literary voice finds wonder in the ordinary and illuminates the hope of second chances.

©2012 John Corey Whaley (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
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What listeners say about Where Things Come Back

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

When a curse save your life!

You can Google me for the rest of the review! I have a whole review of this book in my Blogger and Wordpress blog:

"Inkish Kingdoms"

I cannot say that I laughed with this book. I think the main event on the book is what actually sets the mood and the tone of the book (I mean that is what is supposed to happen, isn’t it?). It is just way too serious the fact that Cullen’s little brother just disappeared.

I can picture Cullen and his best friend just trying to live a normal life and move on, but how? The whole situation just becomes absurd at some point, not the book, but real life. How can you actually move on with your life like nothing happened? It is impossible not to give up to the pressure and to ones emotions.

The narrator was simple amazing! You can totally feel what Cullen was feeling! His fears and frustration! Even his cynicism was palpable! There is a reason why I gave 5 stars on every rate for this book!

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

Once started, my curiosity made me finish. The pieces came together in the most unexpected ways!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wow!

So interesting and I never really knew where it was going or what was going to happen. Got this book for a book group I'm with. Well written book with two story lines that come together about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. I would recommend to those who like mysteries and young adult. I also liked that there were two voice actors for this story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A good listen

This is a very well performed story about a family whose 15-year-old son disappears, as told mainly by his older brother. The reader is lead through experiences and situations in the lives of people the boys knew, and eventually learns what happened to the missing boy. It's a better story than I've made it seem, well worth the read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderfully Interwoven Story/Narration

What made the experience of listening to Where Things Come Back the most enjoyable?

This was a fascinating story to listen to, because there are two stories being told, which become blended together toward the end.

Have you listened to any of Josh Hurley and Fred Berman ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first listen for both narrators, and they both did a great job.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Weird and Wonderful

This is an amazing tale of brothers Cullen and Gabriel. While the town goes cukoo in search of a rare and possibly non-existent woodpecker, Gabriel goes missing. Cullen is left to spend his senior year worrying and accepting pity glances and casseroles from the townsfolk. The tone is straight forward, a little deadpan and sombre, yet humorous. The entire idea is clever and I loved it. If you choose to read it, I have to share that I believe the last sentence is one of the best in YA novels of all time. Just when you're confused and don't think Whaley can pull it off, he wraps it all up with a shocking and satisfying conclusion.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful Experience to Read this!

I just love his writing style so much that I can keep listening to it for hours and hours. I don't really know how the author did it.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Worst book ever!

This book epitomizes a phrase I have hated my entire life. I am ashamed to say that I cannot come up with a better way to describe this book. If you could turn the phrase "life's a bitch and then you die" into a novel, this would be the book. Full of swearwords and teenage angst, which is actually the delightful side of the book. Also filled with darkness very confused suicidal religious maniacs that taint everything good about religion. The story is depressing and strange and frustrating. The timeline is written poorly and does nothing but confuse the reader. The characters are not only flawed, but incredibly depressing. Not only do I want my money back. But I wanted to reach through the CD player and grab the authors throat and ask for the six hours of my life back. Nothing has resolution at the end. It just leaves you hanging. There are no good lessons to be learned. It is a complete waste of time! Please please do not read this book.

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5 people found this helpful