Emory's Gift

By: W. Bruce Cameron

Narrated by: W. Bruce Cameron

After 13-year-old Charlie Hall’s mother dies and his father retreats into the silence of grief, Charlie finds himself drifting lost and alone through the brutal halls of junior high school.

But Charlie Hall is not entirely friendless. In the woods behind his house, Charlie is saved from a mountain lion by a grizzly bear, a species thought to be extinct in northern Idaho.

And this very unusual bear will change Charlie’s life forever. Deeply moving, and interwoven with hope and joy, Emory’s Gift is not only a heartwarming and charming coming-of-age story, but also a page-turning, insightful look at how faith, trust, and unconditional love can heal a broken family and can bridge the gaps that divide us.

©2011 W. Bruce Cameron (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Absolutely wonderful!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book. It was charming, great characters and just a wonderful story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Emory of course!

Creative and Different

I love animal stories, so I thought this would be right in my wheelhouse. This story was quite unique, so it's hard to compare it to anything else. I was pulling for all of the characters and listened for long periods of time to find out what would happen next. This was a fun listen!

Is This a True Fairy Tale?

I liked this book, mostly. At first the whole thing seemed believable and I was enchanted The idea that a bear could be taken in by a boy and not a baby bear but a full grown bear! I wanted to believe it. And then the discovery that the bear scratched out a message with red paint. But maybe it was just an overactive imagination The problems of trying to hide a bear from everyone was straight from a young boy were so funny I had to laugh. Later, it became just a bit overboard. An circus atmosphere, angry neighbors, the legal problems, and another message. It was more than one boy could handle. Was this just a fairy tale or was it based on a true story. I want to believe.

I love the story, a great book for families.

Where does Emory's Gift rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is hard to find a family story that is entertaining, engaging and has a nice moral.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Emory's Gift?

I liked the friendship between father and son when the bears discovery brings on unwanted problems.

Have you listened to any of W. Bruce Cameron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He did a good job.

If you could rename Emory's Gift, what would you call it?

Emorys Healing Power.

Wanted to believe it was real

Would you consider the audio edition of Emory's Gift to be better than the print version?

Once the story grabbed onto me, I was helpless to give it up. Every moment I could, I hooked up my ITouch to listen. Maybe it's just me but I wanted to believe this was not a book of fiction but had really happened. And so it goes.......

The author did a wonderful job in narration.

The only negative, perhaps a little heavy in the pre/adolescent angst but perhaps this was part of what made Charlie "grow" (mature) and lent more to the story and character development.

Other than that, I totally enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to others.

Can you love a killer?

I didn't want the bear to leave but then, neither did most of the characters. What a powerful force he was in the lives of this disparate community. I completely accepted the possibility of the story and was surprised by the many responses to it. I particularly enjoyed the periodic justaposition of the psychiatrist who by asking, had the storyteller examine how Emory met his needs at particular junctures in the story. Do we really attract all that we need? I loved this listen!

W. Bruce Cameron doesn't fail to please again.

Where does Emory's Gift rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right up there with my favorite, "A Dog's Purpose". I loved both of these books. There were moments that were funny, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and real. You could almost imagine yourself seeing through the eyes of the dog as he went through his lives.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved how the dog came back as a Chihuahua. Imagining him holding his own with the other dogs around him was poignant. These teeny little dogs have a lot of heart!

Which character – as performed by W. Bruce Cameron – was your favorite?

I loved all of them.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend for all dog lovers.

RIVETING!

The author had me from the first sentence. the coming of age story was emotive. the grizzly bear was an incredible character. since the author narrated this the inflections were perfect. He has a great voice for narration. I hated having to put it down each time. the author claims thisbto be a true account. I don't known whether it is or not, but I'm just going to believe. ibwill be listening to this one again.

Didn't want it to end

Where does Emory's Gift rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best stories I've heard in a long long time. One of those you look forward to everyday and hate when it ends.

What did you like best about this story?

The epilogue was awesome. Wraps the story up nicely

What does W. Bruce Cameron bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really enjoyed Cameron's narration, Love his humor.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both ...

Any additional comments?

This story really makes you think. Very inspirational.

Interesting idea

Bear being human..a story we could enjoy, combined with human elements of Father - son relationship. Understanding each other's life.