All This Belongs to Me [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Ad Hudler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2006

An often hilarious, always moving novel that explores love and fate and the ways we lie to ourselves to get by in a sometimes overwhelming world.

When a mishap in the mail brings Geena into Ellis’s life, neither realizes how much they need each other. With her marriage in tatters, Geena is still recovering from the sudden loss of her son. Ellis has been alone in the world since the death of his mother, and as he approaches his twilight years, the routine of everyday life has replaced the relationships he might once have known. When that routine is thrown into disarray by changes at the Thomas Edison estate, where Ellis works as a tour guide, he is lost until Geena brings courage and independence back into his life. For Geena, caring for Ellis is the salve on her own wounds.

In a fascinating tale of fate and second chances, Ad Hudler weaves an intricate web showing the importance of friendship, family, and the need to accept one another, flaws and all.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this comedy predicated on off-camera tragedy, Geena Pangborn's upper crust in-laws blame Geena for her son's death—and uptight husband Barry isn't backing her. She takes off from Colorado, and, just as her money is running out, an incident with a mail truck leaves her in possession of the credit card belonging to one Ellis Norton of Fort Myers, Fla., whose name is conveniently not gender marked. Using the card to fund the trip, Geena tracks down Ellis, ostensibly to stay on the road, and then pay him or her back. Ellis turns out to be a 60-something savantlike Thomas Edison fanatic and lifelong bachelor. A resourceful, fast-talking fibber, Geena poses as a reporter wanting to do a feature on Fort Myers, and slowly and amusingly worms her way into Ellis's life, such as it is, while taking stock of her own. Meanwhile, Ellis is fixated on the inner lives of Edison and his wife, Mina, which allows further meditations on marriage and loss. Hudler, a Fort Myers resident, has written two other lite novels, Househusband and Southern Living. His ability to balance romantic and comedic scenes, and his intriguing presentation of the biographical material about Edison, smooth over most of the rough edges. The whimsical plot frequently strains credulity, though, and the surprise ending lands heavily indeed. (On sale Jan. 31)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

“Simply enchanting. There is a quiet kind of magic in this poignant novel. Ad Hudler’s prose swoops effortlessly between the voices of two brilliantly conceived characters, between past and present, between loss and triumph.”
–Bev Marshal, author of Right as Rain and Hot Fudge Sundae Blues

“One of the freshest voices in women’s fiction is coming from a man. . . . Funny, moving, insightful, sweet, and immensely satisfying.”
–Susan Elizabeth Phillips, author of Ain’t She Sweet? --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 429 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (June 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786286075
• ISBN-13: 978-0786286072
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,355,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Plain Enjoyable, May 30, 2006

By 

Linscott Hanson (Park Ridge, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All This Belongs to Me: A Novel (Paperback)

Ad Hudler is a fine story teller. He develops characters that you like, even if you can't quite believe them. This book makes you feel good every time you pick it up, and you don't really want to put it down. Just plain fun.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spot on content, very enjoyable, September 14, 2010

By 

Cathy L. Cummings (Wilson, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All This Belongs to Me: A Novel (Paperback)

Well-written, humorous and a quite enjoyable read. Hudler's portrayal of the area is spot on from someone who grew up in the town he brings to life. Remembering that I was one of the kids he describes, who used to run ram-shod around the Edison Estate years ago, brought back oodles of memories. I'm on to my next Hudler book and I only hope he continues to provide reader's entertainment, for many years to come.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Had to read more of Ad Hudler, August 21, 2010

By 

Marilyn Huck "SWLA Pulpwood Queen Kay Huck" (Sulphur, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All This Belongs to Me: A Novel (Paperback)

Our book club, Southwest Louisiana Pulpwood Queens, read Ad Hudler's Man of the House and were even blessed with a wonderful visit by the author. So naturally I wanted to read more of his books.

I began with All This Belongs to Me because I found it in large print (LOL - okay I'm over 29)

I thought it was going to be a read about some star-crossed lovers, instead I found a self-discovery about people owning up to who they really are inside and being true to that self.

Geena could not longer stay with her husband in Colorado and continue to live a suppressed life, especially after her son dies. She simply drives away leaving no forwarding address. Through circumstances she ends up in Fort Myers, Florida befriending a 80 year old gentlemanly man, Ellis who a docent at the Thomas Edison estate.

Together they bring out each others strengths and become comfortable with who they are and heal each other's life wounds.