Rush Home Road

By: Lori Lansens

Narrated by: Ruby Dee

When Addy Shadd was a young girl living in Rusholme, she was taught the history of her town, which was settled by fugitive slaves in the 1800s. It was told to her like a storybook legend - and although Addy is forced to leave her beloved home as a teenager, the place will call to her for the rest of her life. She thinks of it as a commandment: "Rush home, Addy Shadd. Thou shalt rush home." But the stories and memories of Addy's past have been buried deep in her 70-year-old heart - memories that are by turns dark and poignant, erotic and mysterious.

When five-year-old Sharla Cody is abandoned on Addy's trailer-park doorstep, the old woman doesn't know if she is up to the task of mothering the willful, curious child. But she takes the little girl into her home, and Sharla opens a door to Addy's past - to memories of the strawberry fields, the church graveyard, and the tender crust of her Mama Laisa's apple pies. The past returns to Addy Shadd, and as she sits in her trailer she can close her eyes and "see the county farms and city streets and recall each season of death and rebirth." Somehow, Sharla Cody helps Addy make sense of her long and hard life so she can find forgiveness - and finally make the journey home again.

©2002 Lori Lansens (P)2002 Time Warner AudioBooks, a Division of AOL Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"Lansens is a brilliant talent, with a profound, big-hearted comprehension of human flaws and humane possibilities." (The Globe and Mail)

you don't want the story to end.

What made the experience of listening to Rush Home Road the most enjoyable?

Felt a little homesick after the story ended - like the connection had been made with the characters and you begin to miss them as soon as the story is over

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rush Home Road?

When the connection was made between the child and her family

Have you listened to any of Ruby Dee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

A real story!!

What did you love best about Rush Home Road?

The story is very real. Full of everyday experiences. Certainly not a fairy tale. I loved it - it was my first audio and I read the reviews before I purchased it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rush Home Road?

The moment Addy Shadd discovered she was pregnant she made a decision to love her baby and not reject it because it was also a victim of a violent rape.

What about Ruby Dee’s performance did you like?

Absolutely beautiful. She has the ability to become the character that she is reading and I am there with her.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes - when Addy Shad looked into the face of her dead baby - Liam - and spent the few moments with him.

Any additional comments?

There were many other special and poignant moments as well. I will certainly listen to Ruby Dee again and read books by Lori Lansens again.

so well done!

a very warm and engaging story spoken with brilliance. I enjoyed every minute of it.

LESSONS OF LOVE

Ruby Dee is one of my favorite artists. As usual, her chareacters seem to come to life. Only one flaw, she sometimes sounds too breathless and it is distracting, I'm questioning exactly when this nove was written because years ago, I remember a movie that portrayed that incident on the train with the ring. Nevertheless, it is a story worth enjoying.

Rush Home Road

I selected this book because Ruby Dee is the narrator and I had listened to "Their Eyes Were Watching God" with utter amazement. This book is equally amazing, rich characterization and beautifully narrated. I found myself connecting with the main character every step of her journey.

Wonderful story(telling)

I, too, selected the book because Ruby Dee narrated it and was not disappointed. I didn't want to turn it off! The story was sweet, real, tragic and quite engaging. Characters had depth even if some were only introduced briefly. Timeless and compassionate story.

A wonderful, moving story about the joy of life .

This is a joyful book about life and all the blessing and love we create in our lives. Yes, there is a lot of tragedy and loss but this story is about a woman who created a good life for herself despite the evil that came her way. I really loved this book and I hope you all take the time to listen too it.

Rush Home Road review

If you could sum up Rush Home Road in three words, what would they be?

Hard to put-down....

What did you like best about this story?

The narrator's voice and how the story would go from present to the past -

What does Ruby Dee bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

More feeling....

If you could take any character from Rush Home Road out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Addy Shadd - to ask her why she didn't tell her parents what really happened to her.

Any additional comments?

Didn't want the story to end...but it was a beautiful ending.

Excellent performance, OK book

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

From the beginning this book was very intriguing and the reader's voice was totally enthralling. I listen as I drive and often space out and miss things. I have to rewind a lot, but not with this book. The reader is easy and pleasant to listen to. The book started really strongly and was pretty good throughout, but the ending was sort of abrupt. On the other hand, as an audio book it was shorter than most, which is sometimes nice. Many of them go on and on forever.

Have you listened to any of Ruby Dee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't know if Ruby Dee also read in The Help, but if not, she sounds a lot like the women who did.

Sorry I stuck with this one

I was disappointed in this story. Performance was well done but the story itself was all over the place and disappointing.