An Unfinished Life

By: Mark Spragg

Narrated by: Tony Amendola, Judith Marx

Jean Gilkyson is floundering in a trailer house in Iowa with yet another brutal boyfriend when she realizes this kind of life has got to stop, especially for the sake of her daughter, Griff. But the only place they can run to is Ishawooa, Wyoming, where Jean's loved ones are dead and her father-in-law, the only person who could take them in, wishes that she was, too. For a decade, Einar Gilkyson has blamed her for the accident that took his son's life, and he has chosen to go on living himself largely because his oldest friend couldn't otherwise survive. They've been bound together like brothers since the Korean War and now face old age on a faltering ranch, their intimacy even more acute after Mitch was horribly crippled while Einar helplessly watched.

Of course, 10-year-old Griff knows none of this, only that her father is dead and her mother has bad taste in men. But once she encounters this grandfather she'd never heard about, and the black cowboy confined to the bunkhouse, with irrepressible courage and great spunk she attempts to turn grievous loss, wrath, and recrimination, to which she's naturally the most vulnerable, toward reconciliation and love.

©2004 Mark Spragg (P)2004 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Generations come of age, each in its own way, as tenderness survives stubbornness, pain, and silence. Each word counts for more than it says in this achingly beautiful story of courage and endurance." (Booklist)

Absolutely the best Wyoming author!

Mark creates a wonderful and creative story depicting the beautiful Wyoming landscape, full of characters you'd like to sit and talk with often. Bravo! I'm looking forward to many more adventures!

Wasn't Sure I Would Like This Novel

Sometimes, I will get an audiobook because I don't have time to read the book. This book has been sitting in my Audible library for a while, without listening to it. For the last few weeks however I have been listening to the novels in my Audible library that I haven't listened to. This is a great listen, it is only about 8 hours long, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The narrators were great for this novel and they made it come to life; I haven't seen the movie made of this novel but I have to say there is no way that it could be better than this Audible reading. This novel is about coming of age, loss and family, the way that it is written is engaging and I recommend it highly.

Really Good

This book is filled with likable - more like loveable - characters. And, if you've had the pleasure of seeing the movie, you can imagine them as Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, and Morgan Freeman!

An Unfinished Life

Enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed the movie, except the woman narrator sounds like she belongs in a porno.

Great narration!!!

Not one dislike. Great book great story and great narration. A must listen!! I would definitely recommend this great story!!