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The Way the Crow Flies

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About this listen

In The Way the Crow Flies, Ann-Marie MacDonald takes us back to the early 1960’s, a time of optimism infused with the excitement of the space race and overshadowed by the menace of the Cold War—a world filtered through the imagination of Madeleine McCarthy, a spirited nine-year-old. Unaware that her father, Jack, is caught up in his own web of secrets, she at first welcomes her family’s posting to a sleepy air force base in southern Ontario.

The base, however, is home to some intriguing inhabitants, including the unconventional Froehlich family, and the odd Mr. March, whose power over the children is a secret burden that they carry. Then tragedy strikes, and a local murder intersects with global forces, binding the participants for life. As tension in the McCarthy’s household builds, Jack must decide where his loyalty lies, and Madeleine learns about the ambiguity of human morality—a lesson that will become clear only when the quest for the truth, and the killer, is renewed twenty years later.

 Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Inspiring

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A slow burn but it catches on fire. The web takes time to build and tell the tale that creates this era so vividly. Astounding that this book has some basis on real story. I was captivated by the layers of mystery and the characters. Such a shocker. Ann-Marie McDonald paints in prose so richly.

Astounding mystery.

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Ann-Marie’s narration was masterfully captivating - truly a voice-acting genius. Is it possible that I feel saddest for Grace? When I first picked up this book many years ago, I found it hard to return to it… dreading the after 3 pm name list. But going back to it now with Ann-Marie to guide me through it all did provide the comfort I didn’t know I needed. A few literary highlights for me: are intertextualities, allusions, and the interwoven dependency of time and place that informs history. The voice of the “innocent” juxtaposed to the voices of the “adults” are layered and complex, and they also feel relatable… knowable and commonplace. So many injustices don’t resolve themselves in this book. As frustrating as that is to a reader, I can understand the urgency in the appeal the author may be attempting to make: feel that rage and don’t let it happen again. And understanding that, at least for me, was very powerful. As a survivor of child abuse, as a parent to small children, as a teacher, and as a neighbour, I, too, bear witness.

Bearing Witness

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The depth and intricacies of this story are incredible. The author’s narration is so amazing that even the introduction of the characters and the detailed plot foundation, in the first few hours, are completely captivating. Anne Marie MacDonald’s writing is a symphony. I ‘lived’ in this story and absolutely did not want it to end. I am comforted by the fact that I can look forward to other books by Anne Marie MacDonald. I have already listened to her novel, FAYNE which is also brilliant!

Incredible

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I loved everything about this book, the of the best books I’ve read! A definite good read

The characters

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A wonderful masterfully written novel. The narration by the the author is superb. a real classic!

Beautiful

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