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The Art of Hearing Heartbeats  By  cover art

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

By: Jan-Philipp Sendker
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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Publisher's summary

A poignant and inspirational love story set in Burma, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats spans the decades between the 1950s and the present.

When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be - until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father’s past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm the listener’s belief in the power of love to move mountains.

Jan-Philipp Sendker, born in Hamburg in 1960, was the American correspondent for Stern from 1990 to 1995 and its Asian correspondent from 1995 to 1999. In 2000 he published Cracks in the Great Wall, a nonfiction book about China. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats is his first novel. He lives in Berlin with his family.

©2002 Karl Blessing Verlag. Translation 2006 by Kevin Wiliarty (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Absolute magic…Like a spell, it haunts. Like love, it’s going to endure.” (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author)

What listeners say about The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Could not put it away

What did you like best about this story?

The mystery in the story makes this a fun book to listen too. It has an unexpected twist.

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

yes

Any additional comments?

The characters of this book are all so well developed. And each one on their own journey.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

5 stars

Would you listen to The Art of Hearing Heartbeats again? Why?

Yes, this book is such a beautiful story I could listen to several times just to pick up on parts I might not have paid enough attention to the first time through

What did you like best about this story?

The oddest love story I have ever enjoyed. Not much of a romance reader, this is a love story like none I've read before

What about Cassandra Campbell’s performance did you like?

Easy to listen to, character were different yet not contrived

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

Too long for one sitting.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
  • C.
  • 05-25-13

I wanted to like this...

I really wanted to like this; it had been recommended to me by 2 people whose recommendations I usually love. However, it didn't quite do it for me. I found the structure of the story -- a retelling of history from one person to another - was a bit contrived, and I don't think successful in this application. i kept hoping it would take flight, but i never felt that it did. I found the narrator contributed to this too - not the best choice for this story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

From Cathy

I was immediately interested and then I started to really dislike it. So glad I stuck it out. Was an amazing story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

True love story

Where does The Art of Hearing Heartbeats rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

5 starts. Couldn't put it down. Very soothing narrator. Pulls you writ into the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tin and MiMi. I felt that they were the perfect fit for each other. Each had obstacles to overcome.

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

This is the first

Who was the most memorable character of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats and why?

Well this is hard because I liked both Tin and MiMi.

Any additional comments?

Truly a wonderful story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Touching

This is a touching and painful story. A gifted writer and fantastic narrator. Among the good in this world there is always evil...life is so difficult until you think of others problems....it makes you grateful.....this book shows this so well.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Story dragged at times

I always love Campbell, but the story lagged and ending was drawn out, just ok

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Just okay

Any additional comments?

Just finished this and I feel mixed about it. It was an engrossing story and often it was very beautiful. The details about Burma/Myanmar made me want to visit. I found both Tin Win and Mi Mi inspiring, they made me want to be a better person- a better listener, more generous, less selfish. On the other hand, it felt a little preachy and pedantic. The contrast between Westerners and Burmese was heavy-handed. I'm not sure that the stereotypes hold true for all people from either culture. Also, I guessed the ending long before I got to the ending... and that made it a little less satisfying.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I was hoping for way more. Very predictable don’t waste a credit. Sad story author needed to build more of main characters life in America.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Standout Book!

This book was a great story! Sometimes it seemed like the narrator was going down a “rabbit trail” that didn’t pertain to the story, but every piece entertwined until at the end every question was resolved! Very well written!

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