Wish You Well

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: Norma Lana, David Baldacci

It is 1940 and a tragedy sends Lou and her little brother, Oz, along with their invalid mother, from New York City to the rugged mountains of Southwest Virginia to live with their great-grandmother. The story is told with both heartbreaking elegance and large doses of touching humor as the lives of Lou and Oz are changed forever.

The portraits of the land and its people are described with an extraordinary eye for detail, and the story flows through swells of prejudice, innocence, faith, and the question of whether one can ever really wish another well. The climactic courtroom battle is as unpredictable as it is relentless and will not only decide the fates of Lou, Oz, and their mother, but also those they have touched.

©2000 Columbus Rose, Ltd (P)2000 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Richly textured." (Library Journal)
"Baldacci triumphs with his best novel yet, an utterly captivating drama." (Publishers Weekly)

Wish You Well made me cry!

David Baldacci is an amazingly talented and versatile writer who is known mostly for his thrillers, but he actually has written books in several genres. Wish You Well, set in 1940, is historical fiction. It starts with Lou and Oz living with their invalid mother and father in New York City. The father dies and Lou is forced to go with her brother and mother to the mountains of western Virginia to live with her great grandmother. The book is about the lives of Lou and Oz with their great grandmother. It is a wonderful and touching story, a great listen! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Great book Good family book

Am sending to my sister (who grew up during the depression) and and my daughter and granddaughter who will be the verbal historians. ONE SUGGESTION I grew up in the south with farm ancestors and in a farming community. .
When this very good reader says "brogans" it is like chalk on a board. The correct pronunciation is "bro(long "O") ANS (like the word and) emphasis on the ANS. My parents talked about them all the time.

An thinking when I go to visit my 9 year-old grand-twins for Thanksgiving, we will listen to this book together, They live in Virginia now.

Awesome Story - the best of David Baldacci's!

I only read David's books that are not real suspenseful because I don't like high suspense. This was awesome and very entertaining.

I'm glad I read this!

This book is such a deviation from Baldacci's "regular" style of writing that it is challenging to formulate a review. I keep comparing it in my mind to Baldacci's more typical genre but there is absolutely no comparison. The bottom line is that I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I read it. I think you will too... If the other, more typical books of legal/crime drama are the main course, then "Wish You Well" is the dessert. A completely unique flavor. Open your mind and give it a try!

a wonderful journey into a life

an accident changes all, it is a wonderful story - a few great surprises - I found it wonderful

Heartfelt

this book touched my heart like no other.
I will read,listen to, everything David Baldachi writes! i laughed,cried, got angry, and cheered throughout this book! I how it males it's way to a wonderful movie. Amazing!

Magnificently written and read

Just a tremendous read. It shows you the skill of Baldacci. Have read many of his mystery series but he could write in any genre. This book touched me as I read the great story about Appalachian life in the 40’s

Excellent

Thank you Mr. Baldacci for this trip back in time. I could almost see those mountains - again. I remember what they look like. I have family there we used to visit every year during my childhood.

inspirational story

such a wonderful book would love to listen to it again and again and never get tired of it The emotion the heart-wrenching love and compassion it's amazing what people do

Miracles on the mountain

I think this book was full of miracles…the story, the characters, the narration. I was immersed in the story from the start and felt that I was right there with Lou and Oz as they navigated their new journey on that Virginia mountain. I loved the story of resilience and family and taking care of each other through hardships, both the tragic driven and the crafted by industry circumstances. The characters were so well written and their interaction and growth throughout the story was so wonderful and fulfilling, capturing all the elements of life, tragedy, love, humor, sacrifice, being human. Outstanding read all around and great narration!!