Tumbleweeds

A Novel

By: Leila Meacham

Narrated by: Angèle Masters

A recently orphaned girl moves to the Texas panhandle and struggles to forge new friendships in a town of football glory in this unforgettable novel of surprising plot twists and unexpected beginnings.
Recently orphaned, eleven-year-old Cathy Benson feels she has been dropped into a cultural and intellectual wasteland when she is forced to move from her academically privileged life in California to the small town of Kersey in the Texas Panhandle where the sport of football reigns supreme. She is quickly taken under the unlikely wings of up-and-coming gridiron stars and classmates John Caldwell and Trey Don Hall, orphans like herself, with whom she forms a friendship and eventual love triangle that will determine the course of the rest of their lives.

Taking the three friends through their growing up years until their high school graduations when several tragic events uproot and break them apart, the novel expands to follow their careers and futures until they reunite in Kersey at forty years of age. Told with all of Meacham's signature drama, unforgettable characters, and plot twists, readers will be turning the pages, desperate to learn how it all plays out.

Enjoyable read... I didn't want to stop listening!

If you could sum up Tumbleweeds in three words, what would they be?

Great Character Development!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kathy, because she was a strong and intelligent woman, who overcame adversity!

What about Angele Masters’s performance did you like?

Some of her voices were good, but some just didn't fit with the character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me cry when the accident happened with the young man.

Any additional comments?

Narration was not as good as "Roses" by the same author.

Forest Gump

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Absolutely not. I really want to like this book. I'm only halfway through listening to it, but felt the need to warn other listeners. It sounds like Forest Gump is reading it. She makes all the characters sound the same. Why no one caught this when it was recording is beyond me. It's getting on my last nerve.

Would you recommend Tumbleweeds to your friends? Why or why not?

Maybe to read, but definitely not to listen to.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Angele Masters?

Rebecca Lowman, Julia Whelan, Emma Galvin, Neil Caplan, Grover Gardner, Jeff Woodman. Not sure if it's the narrator or whoever directed it, but someone dropped the ball on this production.

Did Tumbleweeds inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to warn other listeners.

Any additional comments?

I'll let you know if the narration gets better. I feel the need to finish listening since it's expensive.

One of my all time favorites!

Would you consider the audio edition of Tumbleweeds to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version of Tumbleweeds. I did read the print version of Ms. Meachams book, Roses. Great books are great whether heard or read.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters were well developed and sounded like people I knew in high school. Being from Texas and familiar with the weather and the Texas landscape made it seem more like it was about people and places I knew. I am always disappointed when a great book is finished. I feel like the characters are my friends and I miss them!

Have you listened to any of Angele Masters’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first, but it was excellent. I hope to hear more of her performances in the future.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Most definately!

Any additional comments?

I look forward to other books by Leila Meacham and hopefully narrated by Angele Masters

Twists, turns and a good long listen!

Reminded me of a southern version of "The Thornbirds". I really enjoyed listening to this book. I ordered it immediately after I finished listening to another great generational saga, "Roses", by the same author. I want more! Meacham does a fine job of character development and has a true talent for telling heartfelt stories. I am still thinking about the characters, long after I finished listening. The only negative; finding more audiobooks that will keep my attention, as these two have. Well done Lelia Meacham!

Didn’t want it to end!

Thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book! Great story and narration! Going to look for more books by this author now.