Lone Wolf

By: Jodi Picoult

Narrated by: Natalia Payne, Louis Changchien, Celeste Ciulla, Nick Cordero, Angela Goethals, Mark Zeisler, Andy Paris

In the wild, when a wolf knows its time is over, when it knows it is of no more use to its pack, it may sometimes choose to slip away. Dying apart from its family, it stays proud and true to its nature. Humans aren’t so lucky. Luke Warren has spent his life researching wolves. He has written about them, studied their habits intensively, and even lived with them for extended periods of time. In many ways, Luke understands wolf dynamics better than those of his own family. His wife, Georgie, has left him, finally giving up on their lonely marriage. His son, Edward, twenty-four, fled six years ago, leaving behind a shattered relationship with his father. Edward understands that some things cannot be fixed, though memories of his domineering father still inflict pain. Then comes a frantic phone call: Luke has been gravely injured in a car accident with Edward’s younger sister, Cara. Suddenly everything changes: Edward must return home to face the father he walked out on at age eighteen. He and Cara have to decide their father’s fate together. Though there’s no easy answer, questions abound: What secrets have Edward and his sister kept from each other? What hidden motives inform their need to let their father die . . . or to try to keep him alive? What would Luke himself want? How can any family member make such a decision in the face of guilt, pain, or both? And most importantly, to what extent have they all forgotten what a wolf never forgets: that each member of a pack needs the others, and that sometimes survival means sacrifice?

©2012 Jodi Picoult (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Picoult at a new peak!

This book has that familiar Picoult branding - moral dilemmas, family conflict over medical and legal issues, and shifting perspectives amongst the primary players. But this time Picoult brings in pack behavior, and its relationships to human family, in the form of a protagonist who has immersed himself in several wolf packs, living with them in the wild over several years, and indeed preferring the wolf-life over his flesh and blood family.There is also an unusual plot device - the main protagonist is on life support, unable to speak for himself, although we hear his story from the past. (Here is a slight homage to Hemmings' "The Descendants" where the wife is similarly on artificial life support yet is able to take her place as a main character.)

Or, to put it in general terms, sometimes my regular life seems to exist just between Jodi Picoiult books. I am giving this book five stars all around, as I think it's one of Picoult's best, on a par with "My Sister's Keeper" and "House Rules" - my two previous personal favorites. The author deals with love and loss in a very nuanced way, not at all heavy-handed, and she has much to say about the tangled web of conflicting emotion contained in what it means to be a family.

Narration was perfect on all counts. Those who've read my reviews know that I prefer calm and steady readings over dramatic ups and downs, and have a distinct aversion to the portrayal of histrionics in an audiobook. Save the crying for the movies!

I did have to laugh at two of the marginal characters' names - "Zirconia Notch", attorney for the daughter. Really? I guess the name is to indicate a hippie heritage, but the not-so-veiled reference to Franconia Notch (NH) created an out-of-context caricature. Then there is "Helen Bedd" (sp?) - hell in bed?? - just couldn't get past that one. Evidently Picoult is also a punster. There is also a generous supply of bad jokes throughout the book - something for the reader to laugh at or groan, and with which to entertain the 8-11 yr old set. (As I admit to doing.)

Anyway, to wrap this up, this book is Picoult's best, and I, as always, am waiting for the next.

It should have been better

I really wanted to live this book, but I couldn't. It was superbly written but felt more like a shiny beatiful balloon that has a slow leek. One of the things that bothered me the most was the artistic liberties taken with facts about wolves. The performance for the most part was great. I think the story was a let down and not very believable for me.

love jodi picoult

This is another great listen by jodi picoult. Working in healthcare, this book hit home and she did a great job potraying the delicate issue of end of life decisions.

Fantastic

I have yet to be dissapointed with a Jodi Picoult book. She is one of the best writers of our time.

Jodi Picoult at her best!

I regularly listen to Jodi Picoult. Though her books have some similarities, they are extremely well researched and very informative on their subjects. This book I found to be one of the most enlightening and interesting ones to date. The story of the wolves is fascinating and the way she intertwines it with the delicate situation at hand is genius. I always like to hear what this author has to say and love the ways she tells her stories. This is one of her best.

Wolves!!!

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. I am definitely an animal person, but had never given wolves much of a thought. Picoult is able to weave this story of a family drama around some very informative wolf research. I became so engrossed in the storyline and was sad when it was over. Not to mention that the voice of "Luke" (I think Nick Cordero) is so sexy. I loved when it was his turn.

Accidental learning

Great way to accidentally learn about wolves. Enjoyed this book very much as the writer does such a great job giving us each character's point of view and experiences.

Crazy Wolf Man

What did you love best about Lone Wolf?

Luke's obsession with wolves was amazing and sad at the same time. I understood how something like this might happen. Luke was obsessed. He lived true to what he loved most. In my opinion his priorities were completely twisted, but he did not settle in for what he considered to be a mundane life. He couldn't. He did not sell out so to speak... His true nature would not have permitted him to do so.
Learning about wolves and their habits and instincts was of great interest. I enjoyed this book overall.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lone Wolf?

When Luke, while in a deep coma and near vegetative state, opened his eyes the one time when it seemed he heard his daughter's voice and more importantly understood what she said to him made me tear up. When his eyes followed her as she moved from one side of his bed to the other I became hopeful, even if only for a very short time. I was sure her persistence was going to pay off...

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I don't know how to answer this. I enjoy having the books read to me.

Who was the most memorable character of Lone Wolf and why?

Luke, hands down, was the most memorable character. His life was of great interest. I came to understand his obsession. I did not agree with it, but I got it. His love of the wild wolves, their nature and nature itself was astonishing. He was a true 'nature man' in every sense of the word.

A wonderful fiction....

Loved this book. Anyone intrigued by dog /would behavior would love this book, not to mention the added benefit of a great story including mystery, thrills, both mental and physical horror, as well as the study of human nature within the confines of one's family.
My only distraction was the constant nagging in the back of my mind about how factual the depicted behavior of true life wolf packs in this book compared to real life wolves would be.
Regardless, however, this one is one of those that will keep you up until the wee hours because you just can't stop listening.

Lone wolf

Jodi Picoult’s Lone Wolf was extremely compelling. I found it well written and thought-provoking. In this Audible version, the male readers were well cast. They sounded natural and their voices very much suited their characters. I found the female readers rather distracting as they seemed overly precise in their pronunciation as if they were reading the story to an audience that may not have English as their first language. The dialogue didn’t sound natural at times due to that. I found myself wishing I had just purchased the book as their voices and overly precise diction were distracting in that regard.