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After Annie: A Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Part of Quindlen’s gift is that you don’t just read about these characters, you inhabit them. . . . Luminous with life, hope and the power of love.”—People (A Book of the Week Pick)
“[A] quietly revelatory and gently gleaming gem of a book.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
Anna Quindlen’s trademark wisdom on family, friendship, and the ties that bind us are at the center of this novel about the power of love to transcend loss and triumph over adversity, by the author of Still Life with Bread Crumbs and One True Thing.
When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her children, and her closest friend are left to find a way forward without the woman who has been the lynchpin of all their lives. Bill is overwhelmed without his beloved wife, and Annemarie wrestles with the bad habits her best friend had helped her overcome. And Ali, the eldest of Annie’s children, has to grow up overnight, to care for her younger brothers and even her father and to puzzle out for herself many of the mysteries of adult life.
Over the course of the next year what saves them all is Annie, ever-present in their minds, loving but not sentimental, caring but nobody’s fool, a voice in their heads that is funny and sharp and remarkably clear. The power she has given to those who loved her is the power to go on without her. The lesson they learn is that no one beloved is ever truly gone.
Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is about hope, and about the unexpected power of adversity to change us in profound and indelible ways.
“[A] quietly revelatory and gently gleaming gem of a book.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
Anna Quindlen’s trademark wisdom on family, friendship, and the ties that bind us are at the center of this novel about the power of love to transcend loss and triumph over adversity, by the author of Still Life with Bread Crumbs and One True Thing.
When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her children, and her closest friend are left to find a way forward without the woman who has been the lynchpin of all their lives. Bill is overwhelmed without his beloved wife, and Annemarie wrestles with the bad habits her best friend had helped her overcome. And Ali, the eldest of Annie’s children, has to grow up overnight, to care for her younger brothers and even her father and to puzzle out for herself many of the mysteries of adult life.
Over the course of the next year what saves them all is Annie, ever-present in their minds, loving but not sentimental, caring but nobody’s fool, a voice in their heads that is funny and sharp and remarkably clear. The power she has given to those who loved her is the power to go on without her. The lesson they learn is that no one beloved is ever truly gone.
Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is about hope, and about the unexpected power of adversity to change us in profound and indelible ways.
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Community Reviews
usually am such a fan of family dramas. the only character whose story interested me was the eldest daughter. found the dad to be way too selfish and the best friend annoying.
I listened to the audiobook and also read several parts of the book. Initially, it took me quite a while to really get into the story. The narrator's delivery was very monotone, which made it harder to stay fully engaged, especially during key moments that could have been more impactful with a livelier tone. That said, I can appreciate the effort in bringing the narrative to life.
On a personal note, having recently lost a sibling, I found myself connecting with the deeper themes of grief and healing explored throughout the story. The emotional core of the book resonated with me, and I could definitely relate to the struggles and the journey of coping with loss. However, despite this connection, something still felt missing for me. There were parts of the plot or character development that I was hoping to explore further, and it left me wishing for a bit more depth or a stronger emotional payoff in the end.
Overall, it’s still a solid book, and I think many readers would appreciate the themes it tackles. For me, however, it felt like there was more potential that wasn't fully realized.
On a personal note, having recently lost a sibling, I found myself connecting with the deeper themes of grief and healing explored throughout the story. The emotional core of the book resonated with me, and I could definitely relate to the struggles and the journey of coping with loss. However, despite this connection, something still felt missing for me. There were parts of the plot or character development that I was hoping to explore further, and it left me wishing for a bit more depth or a stronger emotional payoff in the end.
Overall, it’s still a solid book, and I think many readers would appreciate the themes it tackles. For me, however, it felt like there was more potential that wasn't fully realized.
“They were all floating in some in-between where nothing seemed right. Waiting for the rest of life, whatever that was, a future that felt like a betrayal.”
After Annie's sudden death, her family and best friend must learn to cope without her. The story is told from three different points of view. Bill is Annie's husband, left to fill Annie's shoes raising four children without her. Annemarie is Annie's best friend, who was lost and careening out of control while Annie was alive and must now find a way to get it together without her. Ali is Annie's eldest daughter, who feels the burden of stepping into adulthood too soon and has so many questions to be answered without her mother.
Well-written and easily relatable, this book quietly points out what's hard about the death of a loved one and the painful process of moving forward with ones own life.
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