Interweaving Storylines based on Real Life Events

If you could sum up In the Unlikely Event in three words, what would they be?

Unlikely but Believable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite character was Rusty. I liked the fact that her past and present stories were both covered and, as a mother, could identify with her.

Have you listened to any of Kathleen McInerney’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I haven't heard any of Kathleen McInerney's other performances.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Mason rescued the stewardess.

Any additional comments?

At first I found that the brief introductions to the many characters were a little confusing, but as the story developed, I felt I got to know them. Judy Blume did a great job (as I remember from my childhood) of developing the characters. I was surprised to find that this was based on real life events as I spent most of the book thinking that it was rather unbelievable.

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Ok but hard to keep up sometimes

While i understand and sympathise with the fact that this novel contains alot of fact with the plane crashes i have to admit i found it hard to keep up with about half way into it.

I didnt really like the characters and the ones i thought were ok i soon got bored of and it felt like it dragged out alot 2/3 's into the story.
the actual narration was good, voice was soothing.

Im gutted i didnt like this book as i was always a huge Judy Blume fan in my youth but then you cant like everything!

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Brilliant book by a favourite childhood author

I always read Judy Blume as a child and this took be back to then.

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Too many characters and ultimately disappointing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I'm glad I read it as no doubt it will be one of those books that is talked about, simply because of who the author is. I listen while working so it doesn't overly bother me if a book isn't hugely gripping as long as I can get through it but with this one I was just waiting for it to finish.

If you’ve listened to books by Judy Blume before, how does this one compare?

I grew up on Judy Blume through my teenage years in the 90s and was so excited to read her work now, however it didn't meet my expectations. She is an excellent author but I just struggled with this book. I even stopped listening at one point and came back to it a few weeks later determined to finish!

Could you see In the Unlikely Event being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

There are so many characters in this book - I couldn't begin to keep them straight in my mind. Some are introduced just to be killed off! I guess it would make a better mini series than a movie simply because of this reason. Either way I think the number of characters would need to be reduced.

Any additional comments?

Like Cloud Atlas and The Goldfinch I got through it but wouldn't listen again!!

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Wonderful story, beautifully narrated

What did you like most about In the Unlikely Event?

Beautifully told story of the people whose lives would be forever changed by the tragic plane crashes. The atmospheric setting of the Fifties so perfectly captured, and characters so real it was hard to believe they were all fictional.

What other book might you compare In the Unlikely Event to, and why?

None.

What does Kathleen McInerney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Kathleen McInerney was fantastic and brought the characters to life. She greatly added to my enjoyment of this book

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A wee bit of both - but mainly it made me to ponder deeply about the experiences and reactions of the people involved, and recollect the stories of that time from my parents.

Any additional comments?

As a teenager I loved reading Judy Blume books, and I can now only hope she writes many more books for adults as she has such a wonderful understanding of human relationships and our day to day lives. This story was obviously close to her heart, having lived through the plane crashes herself, and the characters were so authentic I fell sure they must be based on people she knew.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent Saga

I wasn't sure how the book would suit me, not understanding how the story would be told. (Quite an unusual subject!) But I thoroughly enjoyed it, got into the characters and their lives. Another triumph for Judy Bloom

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This is a Young Adult Book

This is a Young Adult Book not an adult book. I loved Judy Blume's books as a child. But this book doesn't rate as an adult book. I think it is a missed opportunity not to have classed it as YA because the book shows how much has changed for women since the 1950's. Many a young woman would call herself a feminist if she was reminded what feminists have achieved since then. This is not a political book at all.

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1 person found this helpful

Slice of 50's based on real tragedy

What a great story that is based on three aeroplane crashes? Sounds awful but the amazing storytelling brings the characters in 1950's American to life. Anachronistic references were so interesting. Highly recommend.

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Irritating performance, did not finish book boring

I was looking foward to this but it was just annoying and the story line was so slow.

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Unbelievable - If it wasn't true!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - for period interest - No if you want them to get in a plane again.

What did you like best about this story?

The period detail - being a teenager in the early 1950s, as well as the tale of a community in shock, pulling together and trying to put on a united front..

Which character – as performed by Kathleen McInerney – was your favourite?

The Grandma.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really. It sometimes felt like listening to an elderly relative's rambling tale about people you don't know. Stay with it - their relationship to the main families in the story eventually becomes clear, although I often wished I'd got the book in my hand to flick back and remind myself who these people were.

Any additional comments?

My daughters loved Judy Blume's teen books when they were growing up, so I was keen to read something for myself. In many ways, this felt like a book aimed at her usual audience. Told mainly through the eyes of a fifteen year old girl, all the usual issues were there; love, sex, fashion, friends, sleepovers, dances, school, Family troubles etc etc, but with the tragic backdrop of the plane crashes. I would have preferred a bit more from an adult view point. I loved the period detail in fashion and manners. My only real criticism is that it could have ended at least 45 minutes earlier. I don't know what this equates to in pages, but at the end, it felt like the author was just filling up the pages she'd promised to her publisher. Perhaps it was cathartic to tie up all the loose ends so neatly. It's an amazing story, and I'm glad Judy Blume has written it down otherwise I would never have believed such a thing could happen.

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