Two from the Heart
Author: James Patterson
Published: April 10, 2017
Audiobook
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: January 2-11, 2018
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description from Amazon:
Anne McWilliams has lost everything. After her marriage falls apart and a hurricane destroys her home she realizes that her life has fallen out of focus. So she takes to the road to ask long lost friends and strangers a simple question: “What’s your best story?” Can the funny, tragic, inspirational tales she hears on her journey help Anne see what she’s been missing?
Tyler Bron seemingly has it all-a successful company and more money than he knows how to spend. But he has no life. So he hires a struggling novelist to write one for him. There are no limits to the fictional world that Bron’s money can transform into a reality, and he soon becomes the protagonist of a love story beyond his wildest imagination. But will Tyler Bron be able to write the happy ending himself?
Jessica’s Review:
Two From the Heart is made up two novellas: Tell Me Your Best Story and Write Me a Life. They were both decent stories but for me something was missing. It was a quick read at just five discs for the audiobook. There is a theme explored for both novellas: How stories can shape our life in one form or another.
Tell Me Your Best Story:
Anne McWilliams is our protagonist and she has dealt with two life changing events in a very short time. The first event was her failed marriage. The second event is what changes her life forever. Her home and darkroom (which is her livelihood) is destroyed by a hurricane. She is anti-technology so she loses everything with her photography. Instead of dealing with this devastating loss she decides to go on an adventure all over the country. She sees old friends and also meets new people along the way asking “What is your best story?” During this adventure she decides to turn this into a book with these people’s stories and a picture of them. As with all road trip adventures, it becomes life changing — for the better — for Anne.
I did not like Anne dropping everything with her home. She all but forgets about it and just moves on. No clean up, nothing! What a way to ignore your responsibilities. I would be devastated if this happened to me, but I can’t see myself just dropping everything else and becoming carefree. Now, I did like the premise of the book she decides to write and photograph. In fact it would be one I would most likely buy. Everyone has a ‘best story’, what is yours?
Write Me A Life:
We meet Damian Crane, a struggling author who is approached by Tyler Bron, an extremely wealthy man, who happens to have no life. Tyler Bron tells Damian to write him a life and whatever he writes WILL happen, with no limitations. So begins a “create your own adventure” type story. Both Crane and Bron wonder what they got themselves into and you wonder how the story will end. Will Crane continue the story or will Bron be able to create his ending on his own?
I liked the premise of this novella better. Audio may not be the format for this story as the narration goes between Crane and Bron and I had difficulties keeping them straight. Reading it in print may be clearer as to who the narrator is for each chapter. It did not help that the narrator did not distinguish the two character’s voices in any way. I had to go back several times; I was getting confused as to who each narrator was. I lost some interest in the middle of the story. The ending is satisfying.
Though not the best, Two from the Heart is not the worst either. If you want a quick read in between books, I would recommend it.
