One True Thing

By: Anna Quindlen

Narrated by: Christina Moore

For years, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Anna Quindlen has been admired for her extraordinary intelligence, insight, and honesty.

A young woman sits in jail, accused of the mercy killing of her dying mother. She didn't do it, but she thinks she knows who did. In the last months of her life, Ellen Gulden's mother revealed startling secrets that challenged everything Ellen believed about her family. Now, in jail, Ellen believes those secrets will tell her who had the courage to end her mother's suffering.

©1994 Anna Quindlen (P)1995 Recorded Books

Beautiful Story

This is one of the most well written books I've experienced. Inspired by a true story, of course makes it even more emotional and heartbreaking. But it is also reads like a magnificent novel with twists and surprises until the very end. The narration could not have been more perfect . Very highly recommend!

So very thought-provoking

This writer never disappoints and this is one magnificent example. I smiled, laughed, cried through it all. I think this may be my favorite Quindlen, though her novel After Annie is a close second. Read it! You will think of your own family in new ways.

Amazing story

I have this book in paperback and have read it multiple times and enjoy it each time. This is the first time I’ve listened to it. The narrator was so good and I know that I will be listening to it again.

Sweet, but somewhat dated

This was a sweet story, and I admit it made me tear up a little. I did not love the narrator - there was a weird edge to her voice sometimes that made the main character unlikable. The assumption that the daughter would give up her career but that the men in the family would just continue their (presumably) more important lives was irritating. There was no reckoning of this issue.

EXCELLENT!

Thought provoking story. Very descriptive characterization throughout. Loved the narrator's ability to give full emotional and dramatic range to the different characters.

Who's life is it anyway? . . .

This novel hit home and happens more often than not. My 96 year old mother is currently in a nursing home and really wants it to be over. I sympathize with her and wish I could help. However, the law does not allow this and I strongly believe that it is a subject needs to be addressed by lawmakers. We need another Dr. Kevorkian to fulfill the wishes of those, who no longer have any quality of life.

Compelling Listen

This is such a fraught subject. Quindlen handles it with grace and realistic, if privileged, characters. While some of the plot was predictable, I identified with Ellen and was engaged in her complicated relationship with her parents, confronting her childhood assumptions with adult reality. Moore's performance is excellent.

Profound

No one seems to spell out the truth in beautiful prose like Anna Quindlen
Well worth the read, especially if you have aging parents.

Beautiful book made even better with the narration

I loved this book. Sometimes I listened to passages over and over because Ms. Quindlen’s writing is so amazing. Christiania Moore was one of the best narrators I have listen to. Excellent choice.

Truly Beautiful

I had forgotten I’d seen the movie made from this book until half way through it. It was cast well. But this book! Quindlen is a master of a touching story without sentimentality. Simple, graceful, true and human. Ms Moore narrates with excellent characterizations, marvelous tone and rhythm and perfect inflections. She was just the right voice for the lead character too. I’ll look for more books read by her. Right now, I’m using my credits to get more Quindlen books in my library!!