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  • The Book of Two Ways

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Jodi Picoult
  • Narrated by: Patti Murin
  • Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (199 ratings)

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The Book of Two Ways

Written by: Jodi Picoult
Narrated by: Patti Murin
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Publisher's Summary

Number one New York Times best seller

From the author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light comes a “powerful” (The Washington Post) novel about the choices that alter the course of our lives.

Everything changes in a single moment for Dawn Edelstein. She’s on a plane when the flight attendant makes an announcement: Prepare for a crash landing. She braces herself as thoughts flash through her mind. The shocking thing is, the thoughts are not of her husband but of a man she last saw 15 years ago: Wyatt Armstrong.

Dawn, miraculously, survives the crash, but so do all the doubts that have suddenly been raised. She has led a good life. Back in Boston, there is her husband, Brian, their beloved daughter, and her work as a death doula, in which she helps ease the transition between life and death for her clients. But somewhere in Egypt is Wyatt Armstrong, who works as an archaeologist unearthing ancient burial sites, a career Dawn once studied for but was forced to abandon when life suddenly intervened. And now, when it seems that fate is offering her second chances, she is not as sure of the choice she once made.

After the crash landing, the airline ensures that the survivors are seen by a doctor, then offers transportation to wherever they want to go. The obvious destination is to fly home, but she could take another path: Return to the archaeological site she left years before, reconnect with Wyatt and their unresolved history, and maybe even complete her research on The Book of Two Ways — the first known map of the afterlife.

As the story unfolds, Dawn’s two possible futures unspool side by side, as do the secrets and doubts long buried with them. Dawn must confront the questions she’s never truly asked: What does a life well lived look like? When we leave this Earth, what do we leave behind? Do we make choices...or do our choices make us? And who would you be if you hadn’t turned out to be the person you are right now?

©2020 Jodi Picoult (P)2020 Random House Audio
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What the critics say

“A thrilling adventure ... With Picoult’s stories, there is always something new to learn, and The Book of Two Ways is no exception.... A fun and interesting read, one that will lead readers to both learn a lot and also ask themselves key questions about how to create happy lives for themselves during the short time we have on earth.” (Associated Press)

“Picoult’s fans will appreciate this multifaceted, high-concept work.” (Publishers Weekly)

"Picoult’s fans will be more than ready for this puzzle of a novel.... [They] will find heady themes to consider.” (Booklist)

What listeners say about The Book of Two Ways

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Living, dying, regrets, and second chances

Loved this book! Loved the intelligent discussion on what happens after death and the process of dying, what it means to live in the present, about having regrets and getting second chances... this book has it all. One of my favourite books of 2020.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great listen!

Fantastic Story! Great narration for the most part. The reader's version of Wyatt's voice was off-putting, bug everything else was extremely well done.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice and different

The parts about Egyptian histories were a bit boring for me. But the story was engaging and very different.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Book of two ways rocks

This is one of the best books that Jodi has written. Always love the story (Egyptology) within the story. A true love story that leaves the heart split. An appropriate title for this book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A crash course in Egyptology!

Wow! One word. This book is so meticulously researched and clearly presented. I feel so well educated in the Middle Kingdom history now and appreciative of the work archaeologists do. The design of the chapters is so intricate and fascinating. I couldn’t put the book down and devoured this beast in four days!! This is not your classic Picoult, but it will be a classic! Thank you Ms. Murin for your fabulous reading and tackling the difficult Egyptian rulers’ names! I honestly enjoyed the book and can’t wait for Picoult’s next concoction.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

Love the dichotomy of two possible lives and the paths we are led to. The twist and turns of both, and the journey of learning who we are and what we could have been. Absolutely touching and thought provoking.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Should have been great, but reads like a textbook

This book had all the makings and potential to be novel and intriguing, given it's clever story arch and focus, but instead, it is lacking in narrative development, character development and overall content. It reads like a textbook at multiple times throughout and spends far too much time relaying information on Egyptology than on actually fostering the story. It was like reading the intro for a good book over and over: every moment was on the precipice of interesting but always fell short (never came to fuition) and was more often boring than sincerely engaging.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful story

Beautiful story telling that captures your imagination eloquently from beginning to end.
I highly recommend this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW! Powerhouse Book

Love the structure and complexity of the story. So detailed in the subjects described which adds richness. A book I will re-read many times!

An edit: I have now read this book more than 10X and listen to it like an old friend. I listen to it when I have a few minutes and know exactly where I am in the story. Life and love are messy and there doesn't have to be anyone being wrong or evil. I love the mix of each characters background of Egyptology, science, a death doulah, art, and jumping of time in the story all of which add to this interesting read. A love story so well written, I am sure many will enjoy.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

More of a history lecture on ancient Egypt

Didn’t care for the love story so much, but the history of ancient Egypt was very interesting. The author obviously did a ton of research . She , however , used the word “hospice” incorrectly throughout the entire book. The word palliative should have been used in many cases.

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