Grandfather's Whispers

De: Stacy N. Elliott

Narrado por: Carol Beth Anderson

Sarah Miller struggles to remain conscious while medical teams work diligently to save her life. As she slips into a deep sleep, she enters an ethereal realm where her grandfather, Ralph Miller, awaits her under the protective canopy of a large oak tree beside a still pond. But this is no ordinary tree! As Sarah gazes into its glittering leaves, she is whisked away into one memory after another. With her grandfather's ever-changing tie, Ralph guides Sarah into understanding life's tragedies and the power of decisions. She will discover the consequences of actions made by others, as well as her own. Compelled to accept the truths of her past, she finds the courage to face her fears. In the end, Sarah will have one final choice, a choice that could set the precedence for not only her life but the lives of those around her.

©2024 Stacy N. Elliott (P)2025 Stacy N. Elliott

Not easy to listen to, but worth the effort

This is a review of the audio book version of the novel, which I received free from the author. There are mild spoilers throughout this review (about the general setting, not about specific details).

The story centers on Sarah, a troubled teen who is enmeshed in a personal medical crisis. While she is unconscious, she travels to a between-place and interacts with her beloved maternal grandfather (who has died not too long ago). Sarah and her grandfather explore her memories. The Prologue does a good job of letting us see who the grandfather is. It also sets the stage for the main story arc.

Sarah's grandfather was her rock. Her mother is a source of love and support, even if Sarah does not always appreciate her mother's sacrifices. Sarah and her siblings are living with the results of some poor choices made by their mother (she married a charming, but abusive man). Her grandfather helps her to process her painful memories, and in the end, Sarah finds reasons to move forward with her life and build a positive future.

There is a vaguely religious backdrop to the novel (especially through the grandfather), but this is only rarely brought to the front, and never in any detail. The brand of spirituality expressed is one that does not condemn the flawed characters. Instead, the author shows the good inside each of them (even the horrible, abusive father) while not excusing the harmful behavior.

Sarah's past memories of her dysfunctional nuclear family are pretty intense (so is the language in a few instances). Sarah's experiences may trigger disturbing memories in some readers (but there are also happy memories). If such a reader sticks with the book, I believe it can potentially provide hope and some measure of healing. The author includes references to some helpful resources at the end of the book. For other readers, the novel can serve to build the reader's empathy and understanding for people who have lived through experiences similar to Sarah's.

The narration for the audio book is easy to listen to. The narrator has an often soothing voice, but without becoming boring or monotonous. During the more emotional and tense scenes, the narrator's voice clearly conveys the emotion.

A Story That Touched My Heart

This was my first experience with this author's work, and the story was very emotional. I felt for Sarah Miller and her experiences. I enjoyed the relationship between Sarah and her grandfather. I liked the way the story was laid out as I thought the format was creative. There were some incidents which I found difficult to listen to as the audiobook played. I was amazed at Carol Beth Anderson's narration as her voice was expressive and portrayed all the emotions that were engendered by this story. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

Amazing book!

I finally got to read my wife's book! She did an awesome job on writing it, and Carol Beth Anderson did an amazing job narration of the book.