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  • The Lonely Hearts Hotel

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Heather O'Neill
  • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
  • Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (243 ratings)

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The Lonely Hearts Hotel

Written by: Heather O'Neill
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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Publisher's Summary

Set in Montreal and New York between the wars, a spellbinding story about two orphans whose unusual magnetism and talent allow them to imagine a sensational future, from the best-selling, two-time Scotiabank Giller Prize-short-listed author.

Exquisitely imagined and hypnotically told, The Lonely Hearts Hotel is a love story with the power of legend. Set in the early part of the 20th century, it is an unparalleled tale of abandoned children, radicalized chorus girls, drug-addicted musicians, brooding clowns, and an underworld whose fortune hinges on the price of a kiss. In a landscape like this, it takes great creative gifts to escape one's origins. It might also take true love.

Two babies are abandoned in a Montreal orphanage in the winter of 1914. Before long their true talents emerge: Pierrot is a piano prodigy; Rose lights up even the dreariest room with her dancing and comedy. As they travel around the city performing for the rich, the children fall in love with each other and dream up a plan for the most extraordinary and seductive circus show the world has ever seen.

Separated as teenagers, both escape into the city's underworld, dabbling in sex, drugs, and theft in order to survive. Ruthless and unforgiving, Montreal in the 1930s is no place for song and dance. But when Rose and Pierrot finally reunite beneath the snowflakes, the possibilities of their childhood dreams are renewed, and they'll go to extreme lengths to make those dreams come true. After Rose, Pierrot, and their troupe of clowns and chorus girls hit the stage and the alleys, the underworld will never look the same.

With extraordinary storytelling, musical language, and an extravagantly realized world, acclaimed author Heather O'Neill enchants us with her best novel yet - one so magical there is no escaping its spell.

©2017 Heather O'Neill (P)2017 Penguin Random House LLC
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What listeners say about The Lonely Hearts Hotel

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Magical

Best book I’ve read in a very long time, imaginative and magical. Narration was perfect.

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4 people found this helpful

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book

The story and how it was written was incredible. I enjoyed this book within a few minutes of reading. Julia Whelan narrating this made it even better. The characters were really shone through, the description and narration were so good. I would definitely recommend this read!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Best book I’ve read.. ever

It’s #1 for me. Beautifully written, magical story, captivating characters… this will stay in my heart for a long time. I’m so grateful I got to experience this book.

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

Sad and charming...I didn't want it to end.

It was one of the first books that I was satisfied with the ending. The narration was really perfect, the characters so complex and the plot engaging. You think it's just a story about 2 orphans ...but it's so much more.

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3 people found this helpful

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Wonderful book

I am a huge fan of Julia Whelan, and wanted to read this book for quite a while. I am french Canadian and wanted to wait for the french translation that was just out last month, because I knew it was going to be a good one (translator and publisher are both great!), but the narrator's choice just convinced me to listen to it instead. What a great 2 weeks of walking to my job listening to this! I was enchanted by this lovely story revealing to me a city that i know well with a complete new perpective. I loved the characters and their tragic but beautiful destiny, and even more Heather O'Neill's style, being at the same time innocent and fierce.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed this book based in Montreal

Wonderful story line based in Montreal. Magical portrayal of the life of two orphans living in Montreal.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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absolutely amazing.

this was an amazing book. at first I thought it was really long, but it was absolutely worth it. beautifully narrated.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

easy to listen to and interesting story.

I wasn't too sure about it at first but there is some unique about the writers style that is interesting. the narrator does a good job with the characters voices and I'm pleased to have finished listening to it within a week.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Beautifully Written

Such a wonderfully written story…my only complaint was some of the voice acting….it was just a bit silly

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent story

Very sad but interesting story, Julia Whelan was amazing as always!!! Would recommend but there are definitely some things that could be triggering.

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