Truly Like Lightning

A Novel

By: David Duchovny

Narrated by: David Duchovny

Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

This audiobook includes exclusive music by Kyd Miller Duchovny, the author's son

From the New York Times-best-selling author David Duchovny, an epic adventure that asks how we make sense of right and wrong in a world of extremes

For the past 20 years, Bronson Powers, former Hollywood stuntman and converted Mormon, has been homesteading deep in the uninhabited desert outside Joshua Tree with his three wives and 10 children. Bronson and his wives, Yalulah, Mary, and Jackie, have been raising their family away from the corruption and evil of the modern world. Their insular existence - controversial, difficult, but Edenic - is upended when the ambitious young developer Maya Abbadessa stumbles upon their land. Hoping to make a profit, she crafts a wager with the family that sets in motion a deadly chain of events.

Maya, threatening to report the family to social services, convinces them to enter three of their children into a nearby public school. Bronson and his wives agree that if Maya can prove that the kids do better in town than in their desert oasis, they will sell her a chunk of their priceless plot of land. Suddenly confronted with all the complications of the 21st century that they tried to keep out of their lives, the Powerses must reckon with their lifestyle as they try to save it.

Truly Like Lightning, David Duchovny’s fourth novel, is a heartbreaking meditation on family, religion, sex, greed, human nature, and the vanishing environment of an ancient desert.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

©2021 David Duchovny (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

great book!

this was a very unique experience. a look into the world of an extremist morman family. It's as much a family drama as it is a thriller. it's as much a comedy as it is a tragedy. It does do some unnecessary bashing on conservatives that I found obnoxious but the story and characters were so great i can look past my one issue.

Meh...

Listened to the whole thing, not my normal genre but I ❤️ D.D so I listened. Seems like this could have been half as long as it was. Really bad audio?!

Intriguingly epic glimpse into two different worlds

I’m not really sure how to describe this epic saga — there is so much woven together to explore the worlds of corporate greed, religion, sex and the destruction of our treasured lands like Joshua Tree. A crazy corporate retreat is the catalyst for the unravelling of polygamous Mormon family’s world. With expert plotting and characters that pop off the page, you’ll want to slow the speed of Duchovny’s narration to enjoy each well-chosen word— especially as three of the Mormon children are forced into the public school system. Dig in and enjoy.

Look beyond the religion

At first I was taken back by the fact he was using the Mormon faith. But I was determined to hear it through! The whole picture was effective and I was glad that I finished it. The topic it covers was current and true! The family it effect was forced into the real world of schooling versus honest, and Ins beliefs over another! The whole thing made me look at the true on our society today! As a Mormon , who hasn’t followed in a long time, my guard was up and not sure! But in the end he’s storytelling made me stop and think. Actually, the authors note at the end, made it clear to me, he wasn’t picking on anyone religion or etc... other then it sounded tinny at times ! The overall story was quite compelling! Keep your mind opt and listen all the way through!

Duchovny can tell an intricate tale.

I loved the depth of each of the characters in this American novel. Their stories were woven together as the fabric of the larger world they inhabit. The story was timely, relevant and poignant.My only complaint is that the audio sounds like it was recorded in a small booth, but maybe it was because of Covid. Duchovny's voice brings the charters and tale to life nevertheless.

Ridiculous audio production

Seems like a good book, as far as I got with it anyway. The problem is with the narration--not the quality of David Duchovny's narration itself, but the quality of the recording of that narration. He sounds like he's at the other end of a long hallway, or imagine you're outside of a public restroom at a park or something and you're talking to someone who's inside the restroom. I'm not finished with it and I'm not going to finish. Too bad!

Chops

When I saw the name I thought, ego project coop of some ghostwriter’s work. The reality, Duchovny has some serious writer’s chops. His characters are so well developed, each having a personal depth and complexity. His storylines are grounded, gritty with texture, humor and scars. A very happy surprise.

David duchovnys genius

I really enjoyed how fresh this book is. I loved how each and every character has their own story that brings weight and meaning to the whole story.

Beautifully, Tragic, inspired!

I really loved this story. I didn’t want it to end. David is gifted and brilliant. The characters were incredibly rich, both deeply flawed but beloved. I took a star from the overall because the audio was wonky in some spots. But the author reading it, I think really brought additional life to it. He knew where to add inflections or play it more flat. The story was nothing short of beautiful! David is a talented novelist among his other gifts. Thank you for this book!!

Poor narration

I had high hopes for this book, I've been a fan of David's for decades, and was actually looking forward to him reading his book to me. It's unfortunate that he isn't that good at it. Some obvious lines that could have simply been recorded again have made it into this, and he has a tendency to soften his tone toward the ends of sentences making it difficult to hear and understand at times. If this is at the top of your list I'd buy the book and read it rather than listening to it, wish I would have.