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  • The Bittlemores

  • Written by: Jann Arden
  • Narrated by: Jann Arden
  • Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)

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The Bittlemores

Written by: Jann Arden
Narrated by: Jann Arden
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Publisher's Summary

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

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

Would benefit from a professional audio performer

Waited eagerly for this. Have to say, I was very disappointed. Jann's reading of it was stilted. Stressed the wrong parts of the sentence and paused where there shouldn't be pauses. I really feel an audio performer would have done this book justice.

Might try the book in a non-audio format

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

Loved the narration.

Great job on the different voices for each character. Terrific narration and voice. Love when the author reads their own book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Captivating, Lovely

Jan is a genius. What an absolutely lovely book. This has been my favourite book in a very very long time I’ve binged it.

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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

I loved this book and obviously the narration was outstanding!

I laughed, I cried, I cringed for the characters! Jann Arden does an amazing job with the narration, of course. :)

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Ok

Love Jann!! Her reading of the book is great. However the story lacks a lot. The story is Canadian which is wonderful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Nailed it !

Jann is Canada’s sweetheart and so multi talented. I listen to books because I’m dyslexic and the joy and sorrow and twists and turns and perfect ending to her creation makes me want more ! Please don’t take 14 years to put out another my friend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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So much to love

Okay, as others have said, this wasn't Jann Arden's best reading, but it wasn't terrible and I still loved hearing her tell this story she's been writing for so long. This book is reminiscent of Charlotte's Web, Animal Farm and Judy Blume, with a dark side and a thread of suspense throughout. I found it hard to put down. I love Jann Arden but wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was certainly not disappointed and am heading out to buy a hardcopy for my mother for Christmas.

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

Loved all the characters

Great story and I loved all the characters.

I hope you have more books to write.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • HB
  • 2023-11-15

I feel sad to say goodbye.

Although I am sad I must part with the story, I feel complete. I never skipped one word and that’s saying something!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved this!

I think this was so enjoyable! As the author reading HER book, she narrated it the way she wanted it listened to.
It was funny, charming and so Canadian. This is going onto my Christmas gift list. I won’t look at farm animals the same way ever again. Thanks Jann, you are a talent!

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  • Paul Skayman
  • 2023-12-03

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!

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  • RawkMama05
  • 2023-11-30

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.

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