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Love In The Present Tense [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Catherine Ryan Hyde (Author), David Coburn (Reader), Jeremy Redleaf (Reader), Duana Speights (Reader)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
RRP: �15.31
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Book Description

Release Date: 1 Feb 2007

Mitch is a 25-year-old with commitment issues. Leonard is a five-year-old kid with asthma and vision problems, who captivates everyone he meets. Pearl is Leonard's teenage mother, who's trying to hide a violent secret from her past. Life has given Pearl every reason to mistrust people, but circumstances force her to trust her neighbour, Mitch. Then one day, with a heart full of agony, Pearl drops Leonard off with Mitch and never returns.

Pearl, Leonard and Mitch each have a story to tell and as their lives unfold, profound questions arise about the nature of love and family. How do you go on loving someone who isn't there? With Leonard's absolute conviction in 'forever love' always present, Leonard and Mitch grow up side by side and piece together the layered truths and fictions of their almost magical lives. The answers are heartbreaking, but ultimately triumphant.

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Product details

  • Audio CD
  • Publisher: Audiobooks (1 Feb 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1846571049
  • ISBN-13: 978-1846571046
  • Product Dimensions: 13.8 x 12.4 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,847,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Catherine Ryan Hyde Page
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than 16 novels including Pay it Forward (which was made into a feature film starring Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt), Love in the Present Tense (a Richard & Judy Book Club bestseller), Chasing Windmills, When I Found You, Second Hand Heart, The Hardest Part of Love, Don't Let Me Go, and the forthcoming When You Were Older.

For more information on Catherine Ryan Hyde and her books, see her website at www.catherineryanhyde.com And while you're there, click on "Contact Me" and drop a line to the author, who loves to hear from readers!

Catherine lives in a very small town in California.

She also writes Young Adult novels that are completely suitable for grown-ups, and which her adult readers tend to enjoy as well. They include Becoming Chloe, The Year of my Miraculous Reappearance, The Day I Killed James, Diary of a Witness, and Jumpstart the World.

Product Description

Review

"A sweet and honest look at the pains and pleasures of love, and who could not fall in love with Leonard-what a beautifully drawn character" (Jane Green)

"A work of art...enchanting" (San Francisco Chronicle)

"Haunting" (Washington Post)

"Hyde excels in her story of a love that transcends time, place and human weakness" (Publishers Weekly)

"A magnificent storyteller" (The Denver Post)

Book Description

The magical story of a young boy's search for his mother
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful writing 13 Mar 2007
By Zannie
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The story revolves around a charming little boy called Leonard whose young mother is desperate for an equally charmed life for him. However, in the way of that is her lack of family and the violent secret she is running from. She disappears when Leonard is 5, leaving him in the care of a sweet neighbour called Mitch. He is in his mid-20s and doesn't know much about looking after young children, but they rub together to make things work.

The tale is boldly told and the book is refreshingly concise. There is little room for saccharine sweetness or weepiness, with the result that Leonard does not come across as a tragic little boy, despite everything that is thrown at him, but a little star that everyone wants to succeed. The relationships he forms are powerful and focussed, enabling the author to flow between decades freely without losing the emphasis or momentum of the prose.

Leonard becomes increasingly focussed upon finding his mother as he grows older and seems to be unable to be truly happy until he does. Mitch is his greatest friend because he understands this, treating Leonard's ideas without prejudice throughout. Whether and where he finds his mother is something for the reader to discover - I have no interest in spoiling any plot.

The only reason I have not given this book 5 stars is because at the end of the book Hyde chooses to switch from her very effective writing style to a letter device. This is not a device that I am generally keen on because it is normally done badly - it is only usually effective at the opening of a novel, such as with E M Forster. I thought it let Hyde down a little. However, I'm still very glad I read it.
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Love - all that it is and all that it should be 18 Feb 2007
By Brida TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE VOICE
Format:Paperback
This is yet another selection for the current Richard & Judy bookclub. If it hadn't have been on their list, I doubt I would ever have chosen to read it. I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it - I wasn't expecting to.

The story is about 3 characters - Pearl, a teenage mother; Leonard, her son; and Mitch, her neighbour. The book is narrated by each of these characters, so the reader is able to gain their different perspectives.

Pearl begins the narration, describing a night as a young girl, when she witnessed a man being killed. This shocking image by Pearl really sets the tone for her following pieces of narration - it quickly becomes clear that Pearl has had a hard upbringing; her parents seem to be barely there for her, so much so that when Pearl is 13yrs old, she is approached by a young policeman, who has a drastic effect on her life. As she says, that is really the start of everything.

The 'everything' is that, when Leonard is 5yrs old, Pearl drops him off at Mitch's house and does not return.

Ultimately, this book is about love. Leonard, throughout his childhood does not doubt that his mother loved him - still loves him. He believes that, although she is not there physically with him, she is there in a whole other way; he sees her in the flame of a candle and within the sound of the ocean. But, if she loved him so much, why did she leave him? And why did she never tell him who his father was? Leonard does not even know what his surname is. As the story progresses, it examines how a belief in 'forever' love is able to keep Leonard believing in his mother's devotion, and so therefore enables him to also love his mother in spite of her absence. Read more ›
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and haunting 12 Jan 2007
By Carol Seddon
Format:Paperback
This is a gorgeous book. I laughed and cried at Leonard - he is a unique character and you can't help but love him from the first moment you meet him. This novel really makes you think about how we love and grieve, and how we all need something to hope for. The ending was really exhilarating and moving and I will definitely be looking out for more books by Ryan Hyde.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Unconditional Love 20 Oct 2007
By C. Calisgil
Format:Paperback
Thirteen-year-old Pearl was waiting at the bus stop when the cop got out of his car and came up to her....... So starts a sequence of events that will have far reaching effects on a number of lives! A memorable story, beautifully written and the 'forever' love it portrays overcomes its sadness. All readers will quickly grow to love Leonard - Pearl's remarkable 5-year-old son, and Mitch - the 25-year-old next door neighbour, has an endearing personality. Pearl passes the gift of 'forever' love to Leonard and, from him, Mitch learns all about it. This novel has a dark side, but it's essentially a story of real love - the unconditional and selfless kind.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply beautiful... 21 Oct 2007
By LittleReader VINE VOICE
Format:Paperback
Do you know when you read one of those books that you truly find difficult to put down and when finished, leaves you feeling utterly emotionally drained? Well, this is one of those.
The heartbreaking tale of Leonard, who at just 5 years old, loses his mum, Pearl. She leaves and never returns. Luckily, Mitch is there - a neighbour with a big heart - who picks up the pieces and guides Leonard through his life and his search for inner peace.
I think what makes this novel so wonderful is the characterisation - it's simply flawless - you are under Leonard's skin from the first few chapters and have an overhwelming need to remain there until you find out what happened to Pearl. I would have starved and not slept all weekend if I hadn't had this book prised from my fingers!
Easily the best Richard and Judy read this Summer...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Best read in a long while
It is a while since I read this book but having spent the last hour reading reviews on other books I feel it's fair to report succinctly on this. Read more
Published 7 months ago by ljh
5.0 out of 5 stars My Favourite Book Ever
I am an avid reader and enjoy a wide range of books, I picked this book up somewhere by accident a few years ago. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Sarah McGuinness
5.0 out of 5 stars Love, love, love this book
I first read this book a few years ago in paper back and love it, it's a short read but the characters and theme really stayed with me. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Book Guru
5.0 out of 5 stars Left an impact.
I read this back in 2010 when I came across it in the house we were staying in. I prefer romances but, being stuck for something to read, I gladly picked this up. Read more
Published 19 months ago by StarPlayer
3.0 out of 5 stars Sentimental and unsatisfying
I can't say that I would have chosen to read this had it not been selected for my reading group. Despite the disturbingly violent opening scenes I stuck with it and became quite... Read more
Published 21 months ago by hiljean
1.0 out of 5 stars love in the present tense
This is not a very good read, hard to get going, jumps all over the place, do not think i will even finish the book,
Published 21 months ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars You just have to love Leonard
As the title suggests this book is about love. There is the love of a mother for her child, the love that develops between the child and the young man who cares for him after his... Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2012 by Jan
5.0 out of 5 stars Love in the present tense
A brilliant sad/funny book with a very unusual and heartwarming story Don't be put off by the first few chapters - its not a thriller. I loved this book and will read it again.
Published on 23 May 2011 by Maureen
5.0 out of 5 stars A lesson in love from someone who knows
This book centres around 3 main characters, Leonard, Pearl and Mitch.
We get to see life through the eyes of these three at various ages, each with their own important lessons... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2011 by Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Warming
A really beautifully written, warm reading book.

Emotion packed (makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you 'WOW') and it's not one you can easily put down. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2010 by Ali
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