Ernie's Ark

The Abbott Falls Stories

By: Monica Wood

Narrated by: Charlie Thurston

In nine interlinking stories, the town of Abbot Falls reacts as Ernie Whitten, a pipefitter, builds a giant ark in his backyard. Ernie was weeks away from a pension-secured retirement when the union went on strike. Now his wife Marie is ill. Struck with sudden inspiration, Ernie builds the ark as a work of art for his wife to see from the window; a vessel to carry them both away; or a plea for God to spare Marie, come hell or high water.

As the ark takes shape, the rest of the town carries on. There's Dan Little, a building-code enforcer who comes to fine Ernie for the ark and makes a significant discovery about himself; Francine Love, a precocious 13-year-old who longs to be a part of the family-like world of the union workers; and Atlantic Pulp & Paper CEO Henry John McCoy, an impatient man wearily determined to be a good father to his 26-year-old daughter. The people of Abbott Falls will try their best to hold a community together, against the fiercest of odds....

©2002 Monica Wood (P)2021 Tantor

I loved the story of ordinary people!

I liked every bit of it especially the character of Francine and how much she understood people at the young age of 13!

Wonderful story!

I loved the story! The varying points of view made it so interesting to listen to. The narrator had a soothing voice, perfect for a road trip!

Did not hold my interest

The first chapter/section is very intriguing, but the following supporting individual stories/chapters are a bit lackluster. I found this book difficult to engage with and hold my interest. Understand what the author was going for, but maybe there was not enough there for me. On the plus side it is very nicely narrated.

Guess I Didn’t Get It

Just seemed like a series of really sad lives loosely woven together. The final chapter tried to tie it all together.