Audiobook, Contemporary Fiction

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center @katherinecenter @PattiMurin @MacmillanAudio

Jonetta | Blue Mood Café


the setup…
Sadie Montgomery is a struggling portrait artist who could use a break. She’s pretty much estranged from her father, her career hasn’t set the world on fire despite her talent and she lives in her studio, which was never meant to be used that way. But her luck might be changing after she becomes a finalist in an important portrait competition, the one her late mother entered. But after she lands in the hospital following an almost accident, the trauma continues when it’s determined she needs brain surgery. Things seem to go well but shortly after, Sadie discovers that the thing she needs to see most…faces…she can’t!

the heart of the story…
It’s hard to imagine living in a world where you can’t see the faces of those you encounter, let alone if it’s your livelihood. Sadie had a lot of issues before the face blindness (called prosopagnosia) and the condition she hoped was temporary came at a bad time and forced her to deal with the world differently. While there were lots of humorous episodes, the heart of the story is Sadie and her tragic history, living in the shadow of her mother’s death and father’s indifference. I couldn’t help rooting for her, to find a way to win that contest and to forge a relationship with the guy who seemed to appreciate her. With all that she’d endured, Sadie was a marvel in that she kept getting up and trying, with Peanut her touchstone pup at her side. Their devotion to each other was special. And, there was the possibility of a new relationship.

the narration…
Murin was perfect as Sadie, a little snark but not obnoxiously so. And, she mastered the other characters, nailing individual distinctions. She made the story so much clearer in her storytelling.

the bottom line…
Though I’d heard of prosopagnosia, learning what those with the affliction actually saw was illuminating. I could actually envision how Sadie was seeing the world. She was a wonderfully flawed character, loyal to her friends and who deserved better from her family. There’s a great twist to this story, one I figured out before the reveal but it didn’t matter as it just gave me a new direction for enjoyment. It’s messy and not everything gets cleanly resolved but I loved where Sadie ended up for herself…stronger for it all.

Book Info

  • Release Date: July 11, 2023
  • Narrator: Patti Murin
  • Audio Length: 10 hours, 39 minutes
  • Publisher: Macmillan Audio

 

 

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17 thoughts on “Hello Stranger by Katherine Center @katherinecenter @PattiMurin @MacmillanAudio”

  2. Pingback: 2023 Audiobook Challenge @kimbacaffeinate @twimom227 #2023AudiobookChallenge – Blue Mood Café

  8. I found it illuminating too and, yeah, totally saw the twist coming but it didn’t matter towards my enjoyment – only added an extra element of tension which always speeds up reading. Excellent review!

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  9. Excellent review, Jo. I loved the narration as well and thought Sadie’s voice was well done, but Parker’s was right on. I am in awe of those of you who figured out that last twist, I was totally caught off guard.

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