Idaho

A Novel

By: Emily Ruskovich

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Los Angeles Times best seller

A stunning debut novel about love and forgiveness, about the violence of memory and the equal violence of its loss - from O. Henry Prize-winning author Emily Ruskovich.

Winner of the Pacific Northwest Book Award

Winner of the Dublin Literary Award

Named One of the Best Books of The Year by Buzzfeed

Ann and Wade have carved out a life for themselves from a rugged landscape in Northern Idaho, where they are bound together by more than love. With her husband's memory fading, Ann attempts to piece together the truth of what happened to Wade's first wife, Jenny, and to their daughters. In a story written in exquisite prose and told from multiple perspectives - including Ann, Wade, and Jenny, now in prison - we gradually learn of the mysterious and shocking act that fractured Wade and Jenny's lives, of the love and compassion that brought Ann and Wade together, and of the memories that reverberate through the lives of every character in Idaho.

In a wild emotional and physical landscape, Wade's past becomes the center of Ann's imagination, as Ann becomes determined to understand the family she never knew - and to take responsibility for them, reassembling their lives - and her own.

Finalist for:

• International Dylan Thomas Prize
• Edgar First Novel Award
• Young Lions Fiction Award

“You know you’re in masterly hands here. [Emily] Ruskovich’s language is itself a consolation, as she subtly posits the troubling thought that only decency can save us.... Ruskovich’s novel will remind many readers of the great Idaho novel, Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping.... [A] wrenching and beautiful book.” (The New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice)

“Sensuous, exquisitely crafted.” (The Wall Street Journal)

“The first thing you should know about Idaho, the shatteringly original debut by O. Henry Prize winner Emily Ruskovich, is that it upturns everything you think you know about story.... You could read Idaho just for the sheer beauty of the prose, the expert way Ruskovich makes everything strange and yet absolutely familiar.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Mesmerizing...[an] eerie story about what the heart is capable of fathoming and what the hand is capable of executing.” (Marie Claire)

“Idaho is a wonderful debut. Ruskovich knows how to build a page-turner from the opening paragraph.” (Ft.Worth Star-Telegram)

©2017 Emily Ruskovich (P)2017 Random House Audio

Exquisitely beautiful writing--but quite sad

I love the writing of Emily Ruskovich--it is poetic, haunting, beautiful. And the narration of Justine Eyre is equally lovely. It fits the story perfectly. However, I find the subject matter of the story unbearably difficult to listen to.

Couldn't get through it

Written so well, the imagery was wonderful. that's where the good part ends. The narrator is tough to take, her voice is grating and she makes some characters sound like they have mental disorders. I was so distracted by her voice I couldn't get through the book. By reading the reviews, I think I would have been disappointed anyway. As far as I got, nothing was making sense. Got three quarters of the way through, couldn't take it anymore.

Amazing Book

This book is so quietly haunting and well-written. Not exactly a page-turner but gripping in the small details of the characters lives and the gradual unfolding of they mystery. Lovely.

Great listen

I was shocked at some of the less than stellar reviews for this book, I really enjoyed it. I loved the writing style used, it was unusual, but very poetic and just beautifully written. Yes it is sad, but the characters were all very compelling and I'm glad that I got this book.

Beautiful prose but...

Beautifully written, but I think I need a literature professor to explain some of it. Wasn't crazy about the voice of the narrator. Maybe would have been better if a less nasal voice had been the narrator.

Not really like a previous reviewer

To get straight to it, yes this book bounces all over the place. There are points in the book where the transition from one character to another in a remembrance of an event occurs and you get lost. I found myself thinking “ wait a second, I thought she talking about something or someone else.” Backing up the story to see where I missed the transition and still not finding the definitive moment from one character to the next. That was the annoying bit.
The author does become poetic in her description of emotion or scenery but the entire book is not “poetic”.
If your from a Idaho as I am, you recognize names of places and can relate to the period being referred to. You do also realize that not everything mentioned is true and factual. The author’s fictional license.
The storyline it’s self is not about just one thing and there are unanswered questions. Events are eluded to and not explained so your left guessing. Yet there are parts that you can assume would be what a person might do if in the situation they found themselves.

From the credits it sounds like she had numerous people involved in her writing of the story. “Helping” her edit and maybe too involved for the author to flourish her own creative license. I don’t know but I can’t say it wasn’t a story that you just lost interest in. I wanted to hear what came next even when I had to retrace at times.

This book is a trip into frailty and strength

I enjoyed the listening of this book so much that I finished it in three sittings. Sometimes it left me wondering who was the disturbed person and who was the most normal. That is frequently the way it is when people are intertwined around a tragic happening. Everyone is affected, and deals with it in the best way they can. It gets very complicated. The author seems to have a grasp on the complexity of being human.

IDAHO, A NOVEL

I took a few days to finish this novel. I loved all things about it. Thought provoking and deals with many aspects of a life. I finished it about 30 minutes ago and plan to listen again, very soon . Deals with relationships of all kinds and displays the changes a life can have at a moments notice.

Confusing/terrible ending

I listened to this on a long drive... if you weren’t paying close attention you’d get lost. It bounced back and forth between characters. Some of the characters really had no reason to be in the story. Then the ending had no closure. Was the Ivy Elliot was dating actually June??? I want to know!!

That being said, her descriptions were amazing. I felt like I was actually there.

Reread????

I feel I will have to reread this book to adequately review. Prose is gorgeous but somehow lost myself in storylines. Perhaps due to my distaste at this whole plot