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Title: What They Always Tell Us
Author: Martin Wilson
Narrator: Jesse Einstein
Format: Unabridged
Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
Language: English
Release date: 07-16-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 21 votes
Genres: Teens, Fiction & Literature
Publisher's Summary:
James and Alex have barely anything in common anymore - least of all their experiences in high school, where James is a popular senior and Alex is suddenly an outcast. But at home, there is Henry, the precocious 10-year-old across the street, who eagerly befriends them both. And when Alex takes up running, there is Jamess friend Nathen, who unites the brothers in moving and unexpected ways.
Editorial Reviews:
In this heartrending coming-of-age tale, two brothers, James and Alex, must learn to live with each other as they experience the trials and tribulation of high school. After Alex's suicide attempt, the whole family is on edge. Thankfully, the boys are able to make a new shared friend. How will this young intermediary mend their relationship? Jesse Einstein's well-paced performance of What They Always Tell Us is filled with expertly rendered deep emotional connections.
Members Reviews:
Characters You Will Care About
"What They Always Tell Us" has alternating chapters between brothers, Alex and James, which allows the reader to gain insight into their personalities, and their reactions to an incident that happened before the story's narrative, and the aftermath.
I think one of this book's strongest characteristics is that the reader can really feel the growth between both brothers. Martin Wilson does a fantastic job of making these characters relatable, and multi-dimensional.
Alex has practically become a recluse after his friends all ditch him, and his parents act like they have to walk on eggshells or he'll suddenly go off balance and do something crazy again. He has to endure all of this alone, but Martin doesn't exploit the situation and aim for the reader's sympathy. That comes naturally through Alex's interactions with Henry and Nathen, which set him on a path of transformation that the reader can believe and relate to. As I watched Alex begin to grow up, I rooted for him even more. I found myself invested in his happiness, which is a sign of a great character.
And James is neither the super comforting big protector, nor is he a huge juke who could care less about Alex. The incident definitely puts a strain on their relationship, but I really like that Martin chose to include James' narrative, because you can see how much he's trying to be there for Alex, but it's not as easy it seems. He has his own life, own problems, and own worries, all of which are very relatable to a senior preparing to go off to college, and escape the small hometown he's always known. To him, the high school life full of parties is becoming monotonous and he feels like he's drifting away from all his friends who are still so invested in it. I loved watching his thought process, and how it wasn't just a clear shot from zero to one hundred. Like anyone else, he wavered on some things, let his mind soak everything in, which took him back and forth.
Henry and Nathen, who both influence Alex and James (especially Alex), really tied the story together. Henry is so adorably quirky, and I loved his interactions with Alex. And Alex's relationship with Nathen is the backbone of the story, slowly allowing Alex to open his heart, and feel things again with someone else. When I know how much the relationship means to Alex, it means a lot to me too.
And another thing that really sold me on the book was the ending. Things weren't wrapped up with a nice bow.
