Wild Game cover art

Wild Game

My Mother, Her Secret, and Me

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Wild Game

Written by: Adrienne Brodeur
Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Adrienne Brodeur
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About this listen

A daughter’s tale of living in the thrall of her magnetic, complicated mother, and the chilling consequences of her complicity.

On a hot July night on Cape Cod when Adrienne was 14, her mother, Malabar, woke her at midnight with five simple words that would set the course of both of their lives for years to come: Ben Souther just kissed me.

Adrienne instantly became her mother’s confidante and helpmate, blossoming in the sudden light of her attention, and from then on, Malabar came to rely on her daughter to help orchestrate what would become an epic affair with her husband’s closest friend. The affair would have calamitous consequences for everyone involved, impacting Adrienne’s life in profound ways, driving her into a precarious marriage of her own, and then into a deep depression. Only years later will she find the strength to embrace her life - and her mother - on her own terms.

Wild Game is a brilliant, timeless memoir about how the people close to us can break our hearts simply because they have access to them, and the lies we tell in order to justify the choices we make. It’s a remarkable story of resilience, a reminder that we need not be the parents our parents were to us.

Cover design by Christopher Moisan

©2019 Adrienne Brodeur (P)2019 Audible, Inc.
Motherhood Relationships Women Marriage Inspiring Heartfelt
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About the Creator

Adrienne Brodeur began her career in publishing as the cofounder, with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, of National Magazine Award-winning Zoetrope: All-Story. She has worked as a book editor and is currently the executive director of Aspen Words, a program of the Aspen Institute. She lives in Cambridge and on Cape Cod.

What listeners say about Wild Game

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what a story and so well written

Frank insightful and compelling an excellent read that keeps your interest the entire way through

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3 people found this helpful

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I loved this book.

Well written, beautiful descriptive language, and a seemingly honest and fair account of an extraordinary circumstance. The narrator was excellent.

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2 people found this helpful

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Great listening experience!

I really enjoyed this book and listened to it quickly as I was curious to see how it would end..

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic !

This is one of my most favourite books. I listen to it every summer. The author’s description of Cape Cod , the food her mother prepared and the feelings she experienced are so well written . I love this book so much! The narrator is also outstanding!!

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A stunningly beautiful and unique memoir!

I couldn’t turn this one off! The story, the portrayal, the details, this was an exquisitely written memoir that I will recommend to everyone!

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Loved this book

The story is engaging and the narrator is excellent. Finished it in 2 days--wish there was more as I'm sad it's over.

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3 people found this helpful

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I wasn’t expecting to love this book

This one was a sleeper hit. I bought it on a whim and started listening casually. Soon enough, I was listening every chance I could and really fell in love with the characters and complex relationships. 10/10

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Totally entertaining

I loved this book. Did not remember that it was a memoir until the end.
The narrator is first class.
So well written.

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This book just wasn't for me!

I looked back on the one and two star reviews and for me, those reviews summed up how I felt. Sadly, this was someone's life, and because of this, I find it difficult to speak my true feelings on the book. I think that the childhood Adrienne lived was quite sad and really unbelievable. The fact that she truly loved her step father and had to deceive him for so many years is quite messed up. I can't imagine how that would feel.Her mothers lack of regard for her daughter is unfathomable to me. Some people were just not meant to be parents and I think her mother is one of them, having absolutely no boundaries and teaching your daughter to lie to protect you is beyond messed up. I have no doubt that Adrienne is a strong women and should be proud of how she turned out (for lack of a better term). Even more so, I think it takes an extremely determined person to "Not mother the way you were mothered" and make an effort and the decision to do better for your children and for that I give her the utmost respect and admiration. The best part of the book was when her daughter approached her about the homework assignment and how she really didn't understand it. Hats off to you Adrienne! You must be an excellent mother despite how you grew up. That must have made you so proud, it should have!!

The book however, was just so slow and drawn out. I did not enjoy every detail on meals from how they were butchered to how they were prepared and what spices were used etc etc. Boring! It did not add to the story and I thought about stopping the book several times but thinking back to all the five star reviews, it made me continue. I figured it had to get better, but nope it didn't. Although I felt the book was indeed well written and very well narrated, the story didn't hold my attention, it's just not interesting enough for others to read about. I don't understand why there were so many five star reviews.

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6 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

slow

I found the narrative ws good however the story line was slow and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and it never did.

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