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    The Life She Was Given
    The Life She Was Given
    The Life She Was Given
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Life She Was Given

    Written by Ellen Marie Wiseman

    Narrated by Lori Gardner

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    From acclaimed author Ellen Marie Wiseman comes a vivid, daring novel about the devastating power of family secrets-beginning in the poignant, lurid world of a Depression-era traveling circus and coming full circle in the transformative 1950s. On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn't allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She's never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it's for Lilly's own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time-and sold to the circus sideshow. More than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents' estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden rooms, and she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl. At first, The Barlow Brothers' Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Soon, thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circus's biggest attraction.until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about Lilly's fate and her family's shocking betrayal, and find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last. Moving between Julia and Lilly's stories, Ellen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinary, very different women in a novel that, while tender and heartbreaking, offers moments of joy and indomitable hope. PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF ELLEN MARIE WISEMAN COAL RIVER "Wiseman offers heartbreaking and historically accurate depictions.The richly developed coal town acts as a separate, complex character; readers will want to look away even as they're drawn into a powerful quest for purpose and redemption.a powerful story." -Publishers Weekly "This book will attract readers of historical fiction and those looking for strong female characters." -VOYA Magazine "Heartrending and strongly drawn." -Booklist "Ellen Marie Wiseman takes readers deep into the politics and hidden atrocities of a 20th-century Pennsylvania mining town." -BookPage.com WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND "A great coming-of-age story." -School Library Journal "A great read!" -The San Francisco Book Review THE PLUM TREE "The meticulous hand-crafted detail and emotional intensity of The Plum Tree immersed me in Germany during its darkest hours and the ordeals its citizens had to face. A must-read for WWII Fiction aficionados-and any reader who loves a transporting story." -Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us "Ellen Marie Wiseman weaves a story of intrigue, terror, and love from a perspective not often seen in Holocaust novels." -Jewish Book World "Ellen Marie Wiseman's provocative and realistic images of a small German village are exquisite. The Plum Tree will find good company on the shelves of those who appreciated Skeletons at the Feast, by Chris Bohjalian, Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay, and Night, by Elie Wiesel." -New York Journal of Books
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 25, 2017
    ISBN9781501955693
    Author

    Ellen Marie Wiseman

    Ellen Marie Wiseman is the New York Times bestselling author of the highly acclaimed historical fiction novels The Orphan Collector, What She Left Behind, The Plum Tree, Coal River and The Life She Was Given. Born and raised in Three Mile Bay, a tiny hamlet in northern New York, she’s a first-generation German American who discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in New York State. Since then, her novels have been published worldwide, translated into twenty languages, and named to “Best Of” lists by Reading Group Choices, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, The Historical Novel Society, Great Group Reads, and more. A mother of two, Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her husband and dog. Visit her online at EllenMarieWiseman.com.

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    Reviews for The Life She Was Given

    4/5

    270 ratings32 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Audio production was excellent but I will not be following this particular author

      T’was a bit long & laboured, with an oddly rushed ending.

      I had figured out most of this ending well before the final chapter. Though I was surprised that Lily survived the final showdown on the railway track.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I loved this book! It was such an emotional roller coaster! It takes a gut-wrenching twist near the end that I did NOT expect! Lily’s story is a wild one and I loved every minute of it.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      It has a very good premise, however, characters are flat and the only two things that save it are the circus theme and the plot twist towards the end
    • 5/5
      LOVED this story!! It took me for a long ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. Sad and a little disturbing but a very well written story.
    • 1/5
      I kept waiting for something good to happen. Nothing at all.
    • 1/5
      This is a truly terrible book for unexpected severe animal abuse. I can not recommend it to anyone even though it has a tacked on rainbow, all is right with the world ending to try to soften the previous horror.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful storytelling. I was gripped and moved from beginning to end.
    • 4/5
      “The Life She Was Given” is an interesting story with a nice surprise ending. The parallel stories of the two female characters, Lilly and Julia, are well developed during the alternating chapters for each. Some of the emotional parts of the stories with the elephants tearing up were a bit much. My guess is this book overwhelmingly appeals to women.I would guess that it is a popular women’s book club choice. Being a man, I might be less accepting of this kind of plot device. That said, I did enjoy the story, especially the ending.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely loved it. Great story. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.
    • 5/5
      Omg! I've never wanted to cry more in a book ever!!
      Beautiful story!!
      Can't wait to read more of your stuff.
    • 5/5
      This book was captivating right from the start. A well written novel that goes back and forth between 2 main characters from different time periods, yet strangely connected. Beautifully descriptive, and utterly heartbreaking. A highly recommended read.
    • 4/5
      Because of her appearance, Lilly is sold to a circus sideshow as a child. This novel is her story with the circus in the 30s, along with an adjoining story in the 50s. Both stories are intertwined and tragic. I enjoyed reading the book, and towards the end had a hard time putting it down, but the cruelty that all the characters encounter, both human and animal, are hard to stomach. These atrocities are true, but it is still disturbing to read about them. I was prompted to look for further information on circus sideshows of this period, along with information about Lilly's condition.
    • 4/5
      Heartbreaking story - it's near impossible not to feel an intense emotional reaction to the cruelty these characters experienced. That ending though--- brutal. However, as much as I was unable to stop listening to this audiobook, I couldn't give it 5 stars because some parts of the story - the crane scene in particular - were just too implausible and unnecessarily vicious, obviously exaggerated to create that visceral emotional response. I would only recommend this to people who enjoy being emotionally wrecked by a story and don't particularly need anyone to have even a remotely happy ending.
    • 5/5
      Such an incredible story! This dramatic suspense novel was both heartbreaking and hopeful. After being sold to the circus in 1931 by her mother, Lilly faces an uncertain future. Twenty five years later, 18 year old Julia is struggling with her past. Well fleshed-out characters set in richly detailed backdrops make this a compelling read. Fast paced and masterfully written, the dual timelines kept me completely invested until the full circle conclusion. This book will stay with me for a long time.
    • 5/5
      This book was captivating! Nine year old Lily Blackwood has never been outside her attic bedroom. Her father buys her books and she can see out a small window, but that is the only was she can experience the outside world. Then one night, her mother sells her to the circus!Twenty years later, Julie Blackwood inherits the Blackwood estate and horse farm. The house holds many secrets. Wiseman moves between the stories of these two girls stories with ease. The reader experiences so many emotions as the story unfolds. There is suspense and mystery throughout. One experiences outrage as well as joy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are real and the situations at times unimaginable.
    • 4/5
      I was so conflicted. I couldn't stop reading. The animal cruelty sections were very hard to get through (and maybe just a tad too explicit). I had an ending in mind, but it wasn't the case - although part of it I had guessed from the very beginning. Still a compelling read - some actual history and overall - an enjoyable, easy read.
    • 2/5
      This book, The Life She Was Given, is not for anyone who is bothered by cruelty to children or animals.

      I expected something good to come out of all the heartbreak, I felt cheated and angry.

      But, it did make for an interesting discussion for the club.



      Some members liked it. According to Goodreads and Amazon many people did.



      Goodreads 3.96 stars average out of five

      Amazon 4.3 stars average out of five

    • 4/5
      This story was so much more than I expected. Told from the perspectives of Lilly in the 1930s and Julia in the 1950s. Lilly Blackwood, an albino girl, was sold to the circus by her mother during the depression. Lilly did not know why her mother did not love her and why her father did nothing to help. She was told she was horrendous looking and if she was out in public, people would do terrible things to her. Her part of the story describes her life in the circus. It was not all smiles and laughs. She was purchased from her mother by the owner of the Side Show and he treated her terribly. She was beaten, ridiculed and almost raped. Julia Blackwood, born almost 2 decades later, was also treated poorly by her mother until she could no longer stand it and ran away from home. Her father had already died and her mother blamed her for it. When she finally gets word that her mother has died, she returns to Blackwood Manor with mixed feelings. Once there, she realized that she needs to find out what went wrong with her family. She begins to explore and uncover secrets.

      There are many themes in this book. The first is the idea of freaks, albinism was treated very differently in the past. We now have much more tolerance for people born with defects, however it is not as good as it should be. The theme of animal cruelty also resonates throughout Lilly's section when she is talking about the circus. There is also some religious fanaticism and both child abuse and abuse of women. Sections of the book require a strong stomach. This is the first book I have read by this author and I was not disappointed. The characters were well developed and the scenes were descriptive, but not overly so. There are many parts of this book based on real situations, which makes it even more thought provoking. Overall, this was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, reading about circuses, family drama etc. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
    • 1/5
      Sophomoric writing, melodramatic scenes, tired and boring tell instead of show description, caricature-styled characters with zero development. There is too much wrong with the story (we’ve already done Flowers in the Attic and Water for Elephants) the clear lack of research, the anachronisms, the overthetop Lilly asthma/fainting thing, STOP...I can’t get back the time I lost in my life reading this novel so I’m done devoting time to reviewing. Just, please, don’t waste your time.
    • 5/5
      This was my first Wiseman book and I will tell you that it will not be my last. This story was brutal, sad and beautiful all at the same time. The resilience of the human spirit absolutely amazes me and I will be remembering this story for a long long time.

      My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced readers copy!
    • 5/5
      I could not put this book down. I don't remember Water for Elephants, so I don't know how close this book is, but this is wonderful.
    • 5/5
      A heartbreaking story of a young girl sold to the circus, by her mother who looked at her daughter’s “aberration” as a sin. Life in a circus wasn’t easy, in fact, it could be downright scary, but Lilly discovers that the circus family is family and she found support and love as well as hard work. I was hoping for a fairy-tale ending, but I appreciate an author who writes honestly.
    • 4/5
      This book opens with a young albino girl being sold to the circus by her mother, setting the stage for some of the darker episodes in this novel. A page turner that moved between a 1930s circus and a 1950s farmhouse, this book delved into family secrets and self-discovery. I enjoyed the book, even if I wished for better for many of the characters, and I felt the ending was satisfying, even if it left a few unanswered questions.
    • 5/5
      Lilly had been locked away in her parents attic since birth. When the circus sets up nearby, her mother sells her to the circus, determined to send her "monster" child away. Over twenty years later, Julia inherits her parents estate and horse farm. When she finds a hidden attic room and a handful of circus photos, she begins to investigate, slowly unraveling her family's secrets.This was an absolutely fascinating book. I don't want to give anything away, so I'm leaving my synopsis a bit vague. The alternating storylines between Lilly and Julia worked extremely well. The stories unraveled at a quick pace, the plot interesting from beginning to end. Overall, highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      I couldn't put this down! Great historical fiction. If you liked "Water for Elephants", this is for you!
    • 4/5
      The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie WisemanSource: NatgalleyMy Rating: 4/5 starsMy Review: It’s not often I get to the end of a book and must really think about if I liked it or not. I can’t honestly say I liked Ellen Marie Wiseman’s The Life She Was Given, but I can say I appreciated so much about it that I am able to genuinely award this book a very solid four-star rating. From beginning to end, this book is the twisted and sad story of a family warped by fear, religious extremes, hatred, and ignorance. Lily Blackwood is just ten years old when she’s forced to leave her family and join the circus. As one of the so-called “freaks,” it is Lily’s job to awe and amaze circus goers with her otherness, but at ten years old, all she really understands is having been abandoned by the only two people she has ever known in her entire life, her parents. Lily’s first months and years with the circus are marked by moments of pure terror, fear for her life, and only a few moments of true happiness. Sadly, this cycle will be never-ending and not truly understood by another human being until nearly two decades later when another family member uncovers the truth of Lily Blackwood’s life.When Julia Blackwood returns to Blackwood Manor, it is under a cloud of despair. Her parents are both dead (though not particularly missed) and the home she has inherited is marred by years upon years of bad memories. In so many ways, the house feels haunted and as Julia begins picking her way through the rooms, many of which she was never allowed in, she discovers a whole host of evil and awful secrets kept from her by her deceased parents. With little in the way of answers, Julia turns to the Manor’s farm hand to help he unravel the mystery of her home and family. What Julia discovers brings to mind the old adage, ignorance is bliss. As Lily and Julia’s stories unfold, it brings them ever closer to colliding. As the past hurtles toward the present, Julia is faced with some very difficult decisions about her future and the future of the seemingly cursed Blackwood Manor. The Bottom Line: As this was my first Ellen Marie Wiseman book, I wasn’t precisely sure what to expect. I can’t say I enjoyed this book as the plot is just so dark and twisted and filled with so much tragedy and precious few moments of happiness. There is actually one scene I couldn’t even read ☹ What I did like is the craftsmanship involved in the writing of this book and the ability, on the part of the author, to let this tremendously sad tale be just that, a tremendously sad tale. Wiseman makes no attempt to make this something more than what it is, to take generations of anger and hurt, ignorance and fear and make them all suddenly disappear with the revelation of the secrets. In all, I found this book both disturbing and unsettling in the best way possible and immediately went to Amazon and bought two other of Wiseman’s books, The Plum Tree and What She Left Behind.
    • 5/5
      Best book I've read in a long time.I think my heart actually broke in half at some point while reading this book.From being locked in an attic to being sold to a circus, Lilly was a fighter. I was completely captivated. I know this book will stay with me, probably forever.
    • 5/5
      When I saw Ellen M Wiseman had a new book I knew that one of my favorite authors would not disappoint. The book was great as usual with edge of your seat action, happeniess sadness love and with a surprise ending. A different story line but a great read. Ready for her next book.
    • 4/5
      3.5-4 starsThe Life She Was Given is one of the saddest books that I have read in a long while. The book is beautifully written, but I had a hard time reading portions of it because the story line is so depressing. The Life She Was Given is written in a dual timeline format. Lilly’s story takes place mainly in the 1930’s, and Julia lives in the 1950’s. Having children of my own, I found it so disheartening to read about the parents that raised Lilly and Julia. With respect to Lilly, I do not want to spoil the story so I will simply say that I had hoped for a different ending for her. She encountered way more than her fair share of cruel people in her lifetime. I liked the story involving Julia a lot better and was pleased with the resolution of her story. I was very glad to read this book because I had heard so many good things about it, but it very much weighed heavy on my heart. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie WisemanMy wish was granted by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley when they allowed me to read this ARC and I would like to thank them and also say this is my honest review. When I first started reading I wondered if I would enjoy the book. The story was being “told” of Lilly, her life in the attic, her thoughts as she looked forward to her tenth birthday. When her mother swept in, took her to the circus and sold her it was heartbreaking and from that point on her life, though in some ways better, wasn’t filled with happiness and light. From that introduction to Lilly I was then introduced to Julia. Again, I had trouble relating to her and her situation but picked up that both Lilly and Julia were raised by and called the same woman mother. And, Mother did not treat either of her daughters well. In fact, she was abusive and a horrible person with a husband that was rather weak and unlikable, too. Lilly’s story begins in 1931 and unfolds in chapters that alternate with those of Julia’s that begins in 1956. The two women’s life stories eventually interconnect with a twist that I am not sure I was expecting. And, I felt sad for both of them in more ways than one.Some of the words that came to mind while reading include: * Thought provoking* Informative* Sad* Dark* Twisted* Unsettling* DisturbingDid I like the story in the end? YesWould I recommend it? Yes – BUT I will caution you that this is not a romance though there is a bit of romance AND the life in the circus is not a happy story for the animals or the people. SO, if you are interested in a book that may make you think and wonder and be grateful you are who you are as you explore the lives of two women you will be glad you are not then…definitely pick up this riveting read and settle in for a while because the book is definitely worth reading. 4-5 Stars