The Bittlemores

By: Jann Arden

Narrated by: Jann Arden

A heartfelt, comic, and deeply satisfying debut novel from the #1 bestselling author, singer-songwriter, member of Canada's Music Hall of Fame and star of her own hit TV sitcom. A little bit All Creatures Great and Small, a little bit Fargo and all Jann Arden!

On mean Harp Bittlemore’s blighted farm, hidden away in the Backhills, nothing has gone right for a very long time. Crops don’t grow, the pigs and chickens stay skinny and the three aged dairy cows, Berle, Crilla and Dally, are so desperate they are plotting an escape. The one thing holding them back is the thought of abandoning young Willa, the single bright point in their life since her older sister, Margaret, ran away.

But Willa Bittlemore, just turning 14, is planning her own rebellion. Something doesn’t add up in the story she’s been told about her missing sister, and she's beginning to question if her horrible parents are even her parents at all. Just as things are really coming to a head, a bright young police officer starts investigating a cold case involving a baby stolen from a little rural hospital 28 years earlier, and Willa and the cows find out exactly how far the Bittlemores will go to protect a festering secret.

Written with Jann’s trademark outrageous humour and full of her down-to-earth wisdom, The Bittlemores is a rural fairytale, a coming-of-age story and a prairie mystery all-in-one, saturated with her observations of the world she grew up in and her deep connection to the animals we exploit. This marvel of a first novel digs into how people come to be so cruel, but it also glories in the miracle of human kindness.

©2023 Jann Arden (P)2023 Random House Canada

An intricate web of artistry, description, and joy

Jann Arden has done it again. It seems that everything she touches turns to gold, and her debut novel is no exception. You will no doubt enjoy this rollercoaster of a story of belonging. It is just vile enough to make you want to walk away from it before it enthralls you to never want to put it down. Its expertly-interwoven complexities will have your heart alternating between racing and expanding thrice its size. The Bittlemores and the lessons that they offer to us all are fascinating examples of artistry at its finest.

Wonderful, illustrated details

I love Jann's word wizardry!! So many funny, delicious parts!! Her gift of storytelling, makes each character come to life.

Loved every second!

What a marvelous book. Pure listening pleasure. The storyline is so beautifully crafted. The characters so vivid. I am delighted to have stumbled upon this book!

Wonderful

Charming and unpleasant in equal measure. The characters in this book are so easy to visualize, you can almost smell them. Stick with this and you won’t be disappointed!

COWS ARE A GAL'S BEST FRIEND

I absolutely love love love love this story. Jann A does such a great job with her narration; her voice and all the different character voices kept me so captivated that I couldn't quit listening. I was sad when it ended, but definitely love the ending. It did not get boring and was so original. Thank you for not giving up on your story Jann A. I am definitely going to listening/read more your books.

Delightful listen

I’ve listened to Jann’s music for years, been to her concerts and this lives up to expectations. The pure Canadianness of the story is wonderful. Her references to Canadian music is fun. She just captures the essence of the prairies very well. Thanks Jann.

Awesome characters! I felt a part of the story.

I loved the pacing. The book kept me involved and interested. The character development was excellent .

Inventive and Entertaining!

I saw the good reviews and like Jann Arden as a person so I bought this book. I had no idea what to expect and for the entire time I was listening to this book, it just kept me guessing. It was so entertaining and shocking, both funny and gritty. It has deep family mysteries and sapient cows; characters you love, characters you love to hate and folks you just can't put your finger on until the very end. I enjoyed every minute of it and will definitely read it again!