All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

A Novel

By: Bryn Greenwood

Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

A beautiful and provocative love story between two unlikely people and the hard-won relationship that elevates them above the Midwestern meth lab backdrop of their lives.

As the daughter of a drug dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. It's safer to keep her mouth shut and stay out of sight.

Struggling to raise her little brother, Donal, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible adult around. Obsessed with the constellations, she finds peace in the starry night sky above the fields behind her house until one night her stargazing causes an accident. After witnessing his motorcycle wreck, she forms an unusual friendship with one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold.

By the time Wavy is a teenager, her relationship with Kellen is the only tender thing in a brutal world of addicts and debauchery. When tragedy rips Wavy's family apart, a well-meaning aunt steps in, and what is beautiful to Wavy looks ugly under the scrutiny of the outside world.

A powerful novel you won't soon forget, Bryn Greenwood's All the Ugly and Wonderful Things challenges all we know and believe about love.

©2016 Bryn Greenwood (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Jorjeana Marie was meant to narrate this gripping story, which takes place in meth country in the Midwest. Neglected, abused 8-year-old Wavy Quinn is stargazing when she unintentionally causes Jesse Joe Kellen, an ex-con employee of her drug-dealing dad, to crash his motorcycle. Marie grippingly portrays this troubled pair who befriend each other after Wavy saves his life. Things come to a head when their relationship is misunderstood. In addition to deftly presenting the lead characters, Marie perfectly renders Wavy's adorable little brother and beloved grandmother. Some chapters are written from other characters' viewpoints over a period of 15 years, and Marie presents those flawlessly as well. Listeners will be eager to hear what happens next, always rooting for Wavy and Kellen." ( AudioFile Magazine)

So many 'hard to listen to' moments

This is difficult to review. I wasn't initially captivated by the provided synopsis, but I got the book because so may reviewers had written to just get it. I read several reviews, and I can go back and check again, but I don't remember any that warned of the extremely graphic and vulgar language used to describe sexual acts. Put that little cherry on top that many are spoken by a girl no older than 14 years, who is experiencing them with a 24 year old man. I'm not sure I can express myself in a way that conveys my sincere distaste for those moments and there were plenty.

So, now you know. If you think you can look beyond it, there is a decent story here. But I can definitely say, it wasn't for me. Knowing what I know now, I would have passed on this one.

rule breaker in every way

Game changer. This book rewrites the rules of love, family, intimacy, and asks questions not everybody will be comfortable with. I can absolutely understand why so many reviews refer to how inappropriate portions (if not the entire concept) of this book are; however, there is something to be said for taking on a subject such as this at all and another for creating a masterpiece with it. If you are mature enough to deal with the concept of an underage girl falling in love with a much older man, both coming from very difficult backgrounds, then listen to this book - you will not regret it. It’s been months since I’ve finished this book and the characters are still stuck under my skin, mostly due to the fantastic performance by Jorjeana Marie. Really glad I didn’t let all the naysayers stop me from listening to this one. For lovers of literacy at its finest, this is a must listen.

Hard to listen to at first &then I couldn't stop

What did you love best about All the Ugly and Wonderful Things?

This book was somewhat similar to A Little Life - there is a true love component that is unsullied by REALITY - but the reader can't accept the love story at first which makes it more interesting. An interesting story that I ended up not being able to stop listening to as it got into the final hours.

What was one of the most memorable moments of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things?

Oh there are many! but i think lying in the meadow looking at the stars.

What about Jorjeana Marie’s performance did you like?

She did a great job portraying a big guy and a shy girl - from age 8 to 22. I always knew who was speaking. I really liked how the author had several different voices tell the story.

Any additional comments?

A very satisfying read/listen!

A Different Kind of Love Story

I did love this story. It different from any other story I have read lately, or ever for that matter. Jorjeana Marie did such a fantastic job with the narration. I highly recommend it.

Conflicted!

So conflicted. It was well written and the character development was great but I still feel uneasy about rooting for their love story. It kept me on my toes as I had no idea where the story was going, but I didn't love how it ended and I still feel bad for Brenda.

Not the usual love story

Good character development. I cared about them. Held my interest. All the elements I look for in a story.

Ummmm...

Kind of don't know how to feel about this book. No question it is well written but the subject matter was pretty tough to deal with overall, i.e. a live story that begins when the female is 8 and the male is 19 or 20. Sometimes a very awkward listen.

This story challenged my moral compass

It would be fair to say that this story really tested my moral compass. Having said that, I enjoyed this book.

I've read quite a few MC or gang stories but this is really about the other people associated with them and how their lives are affected. This story is centered around a group of people who live on the wrong side of the law and are running a meth lab.

Wavy was born into this life, her father may have the looks of a movie star but he is caught up in a meth fuelled world. He is married to her mother but he rarely stays at their house and has several girlfriends to fill his sexual needs. Her mother Val is hooked on drugs and spends most of her days in bed sleeping or in depression over how awful her husband is. And there is Donal, Wavy's baby brother. He is less than a year old and being cared for by his 8 year old sister.

Wavy's mother has really messed with her head and as a result Wavy very rarely speaks and won't eat in front of people. People mistake Wavy as being 'dumb' or 'stupid' but it is in fact the opposite, she is a very clever and well read child. Her father has no connection with her whatsoever and his only attempt at anything remotely 'father like' is to send one of his guys to bring groceries to the house once a week. This is how her friendship with Kellen comes about.

Kellen comes off his motorbike near Wavy's house and she rushes to his aid to see what she can do. This is just beginning of a beautiful friendship. He becomes a regular visitor to their home, helping out with Donal and making sure Wavy has all she needs for school etc. He is their self appointed protector, lord knows their own father isn't interested.

Wavy is happy to have a friend of her own, someone who wants to know her and is interested in learning about the constellations of stars. She quickly develops a crush on Kellen, he may be 15 years older than her but she wants to marry him one day.

Wavy's living environment means that she has been exposed to a lot of 'adult' things at an early age. Her mother told her that you only learn things by watching so seeing people having sex and shooting up drugs is not something that gives her any shock value. However it also means she has no inhibitions around the people she trusts so she is very forward with Kellen.

You may wonder why Kellen is like this with Wavy but he has a messed up background too and Wavy gives him a sense of belonging and family. Having said that, a few things happen that I was a bit 'iffy' about but I moved past it.

Eventually, though, things start to fall apart and when a tragedy happens everything changes, lives are torn apart and Wavy's life is forever changed.

However, people continue to underestimate just how clever and tenacious Wavy is and she sets about to make things right so she can reclaim what is rightfully hers. Family is everything to Wavy and nothing will get in her way.

This was an incredible story about resilience and determination. Just amazing.
6 likes

Entertaining story!

This was a very well written book. Just loved the story and the interaction of all the characters throughout.

Loved it,indiscretions and all.

I was hesitant to purchase this book after reading the reviews. Many had mentioned that there were graphic scenes that were a little much to take. Although there are some rough spots in this book the story is well written and the narrator spot on. Miss Greenwood has created richly developed characters and a well-thought-out storyline. I enjoyed hearing the story from multiple perspectives. it's definitely worth a credit and the time to listen.