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    Hannah's Dream
    Hannah's Dream
    Hannah's Dream
    Audiobook10 hours

    Hannah's Dream

    Written by Diane Hammond

    Narrated by Laura Flanagan

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    An elephant never forgets . . . but can she dream?

    For forty-one years, Samson Brown has been caring for Hannah, the lone elephant at the down-at-the-heels Max L. Biedelman Zoo. Having vowed not to retire until an equally loving and devoted caretaker is found to replace him, Sam rejoices when smart, compassionate Neva Wilson is hired as the new elephant keeper. But Neva quickly discovers what Sam already knows: that despite their loving care, Hannah is isolated from other elephants and her feet are nearly ruined from standing on hard concrete all day. Using her contacts in the zookeeping world, Neva and Sam hatch a plan to send Hannah to an elephant sanctuary—just as the zoo's angry, unhappy director launches an aggressive revitalization campaign that spotlights Hannah as the star attraction, inextricably tying Hannah's future to the fate of the Max L. Biedelman Zoo.

    A charming, poignant, and captivating novel certain to enthrall readers of Water for Elephants, Diane Hammond's Hannah's Dream is a beautifully told tale rich in heart, humor, and intelligence.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateNov 25, 2008
    ISBN9780061778872
    Hannah's Dream
    Author

    Diane Hammond

    Diane Hammond is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Seeing Stars, Hannah's Dream, Going to Bend, and Homesick Creek. She served as a spokesperson for the Free Willy Keiko Foundation and the Oregon Coast Aquarium and currently lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and their three Pembroke Welsh corgis.

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    Reviews for Hannah's Dream

    4/5

    95 ratings15 reviews

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    • 4/5
      What a touching story that leads to so much thinking: religion, love, leadership styles, and so much more. I really enjoy the relationships in this story: animal/human, adult/adult/, adult/child, employer/employee, friend/friend, parent/child).The relationship between Max (Maxine) and Miss Effie and their lifestyle reminds me so much of the lifestyle that existed at Topsmead in Litchfield, CT during roughly the same time frame (early - mid 1900s). At one point, when Harriet is trying to act as Max, Harriet states about Miss Effie: "She wasn't important" (100). Corinna had asked who would be playing Miss Effie and that was Harriet's answer. How wrong Harriet was about Miss Effie not being important.Poor Harriet had no idea how to have relationships with others. She couldn't have relationships with others because she didn't understand them at all. Several of the statements in this novel are so true: "Well, maybe that's so, sir [how Sam refers to Maxine], but I'd [Sam] rather appreciate what I've got than die of wanting what I can't have" (129).This story will stay with me for a long time. I wish Hammond would write another book about Max's trips abroad.
    • 2/5
      I was expecting to love this book, but it's no Water for Elephants. I found many, if not all, of the characters irritating, and the overall story is just...maudlin. Very sappy. Water for Elephants has an edge to it, with a truly villainous villain. The villain in this book is weak. What I also don't understand is why Hammond chose to provide background information on the villain and especially on Martin Choi. It seems unnecessary, and it's as if she wants the reader to dislike the villain but sympathize with her at the same time. The romance in this book also lacks oomph, and that's disappointing. In my opinion, the best books have a strong romance. It took me forever to get through this book because the story is not riveting enough that I looked forward to reading it each night. The plot idea is a decent one, but Hammond's execution could have been better.
    • 5/5
      I loved this novel .I loved all the characters. Sam, the simple, devoted elephant keeper and his wife Corinna, who treat Hannah , the elephant like their child. I loved the matriarch of the Zoo Max Biedelman, a woman who really was a man. And there is Truman and his son Winslow and their pig Miles who are delightful characters although apparently you never remember Truman no matter how many time you meet him. The villian in the story is Harriet who dresses up at Max Biedelman and cannot even get being a villian right. Don't forget Johnson Johnson who makes the drum set for Hannah. They are all supporting characters for Hannah the elephant . Her story and the story of her "family" is told with warmth, sweetness and great humor.
    • 4/5
      I thought this was a lovely, heartwarming story. It is a light read with enjoyable characters and an easy to read story line. I enjoyed the interactions of the characters as they all cared for an ageing elephant. It was very touching and I cried some at the end. Very sweet.
    • 4/5
      3.5***

      Sam Brown has been caring for Hannah, an Asian elephant, for over forty years, since shortly after she came to the Max Biedelman Zoo in the small agricultural town of Bladenham, Washington. Max Biedelman was really Maxine, the daughter and heiress of a wealthy lumber tycoon. She loved animals and nature and had quite the private collection of exotic animals. She willed her property, including the zoo and all its animals, to the city. But now a new zoo director has arrived, and Harriet Saul is determined to turn this place around. Unfortunately, her goals don’t have anything to do with proper care of the animals and Hannah will be the one to suffer most. Unless Sam and his colleagues and friends can find a way to save her.

      This was a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it. But then, if a book has an elephant in it, I’m bound to be a fan. I really liked Sam, his wife Corina, and Neva Wilson, the young zookeeper who comes to help.

      The story moves back and forth in time, sometimes going to the early days when Max Biedelman was still alive, and Sam first came to work as Hannah’s keeper. The writing isn’t stellar, and the characters are out of central casting. But the basic story line was still enjoyable and kept me turning pages. There’s a subplot dealing with Max’s relationship with the charming, if frail, Miss Effie, that does little to advance the main plot, but which was handled sensitively.
    • 3/5
      I listened to the audio version of this book and I liked it. I think I might have enjoyed it more if the reader had been able to convey some of the characters more convincingly. It's the first time I've been aware, while listening to a book, that the reader isn't doing it justice. It's something to keep in mind. Just as I don't like to watch movies of books that I love or expect to love, some books are probably better read than heard.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed "Hannah's Dream." I became very involved with all the characters and was charmed how their relationships evolved. They all care deeply about Hannah, the aging elephant in a run down zoo and work together to assure the remainder of her life is lived peacefully. The characters are all lovable (except one) and the story is wonderful. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to get lost between the pages of a truly lovely story.
    • 5/5
      This book was amazing. There isn't a lot more to say about it. She captured what all of us who work with animals already know about how brilliant they are, and how very like us... Beautiful. Every animal lover should read this.
    • 4/5
      Loved this book, and loved Hannah. Well written and emotional.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful story! I read this as part of a challenge where I had to find an "elephant" book, and who would have ever guessed I would find one this engaging and this moving?

      It is truly a love story on so many levels. Hannah is an aging African elephant who has been cared for over the past 41 years by her keeper, Sam. Their friendship knows no bounds. We are introduced to many secondary characters that all have their own little quirks, and all play a role in doing the best for Hannah.

      I have to admit, one of the comic relief characters that I adored was Miles, the potbellied pig and the constant stream of thought that perhaps a dog would have made a better pet choice. Hee Hee.

      It is a feel good story. Not drama ridden, not violent, just filled with unconditional love. If you are an animal lover to ANY degree, you'll adore it.
    • 4/5
      I love books about elephants so this one was right up my street. It tells the story of Hannah, an elephant who has lived in the Max L Biedelman zoo for 41 years, with no contact with other elephants. She has a devoted keeper in Samson Brown, who has been with her all the time she has been at the zoo, and he and his wife absolutely adore Hannah. However, Sam isn't in good health and needs to retire but won't leave Hannah at the zoo on her own so a plan is hatched to get her into an elephant sanctuary. The director of the zoo isn't pleased about this as Hannah is her biggest attraction.

      This is a lovely story. It's quite sugary at times (in a Fannie Flagg kind of way) but I really enjoyed it. Hannah is a lovely elephant and Sam's love for her shines through in the story. It's a heartwarming tale and I gave an 'aah' at the end.
    • 5/5
      A touching read about an elephant caretaker who must retire for his own health but cares too much for Hanna, the elephant he has taken care of for 40+ years. The backstory as it is revealed is interesting and keeps one reading. It is one of the books I begin to read more and more slowly as it gets closer to the end because I don't want to part with it.
    • 5/5
      This is a story about an enduring love from beyond the grave, from a committed lifelong caretaker, his wife, and the community. The zoo where Hannah the elephant has lived most of her life is no longer suitable for her health, and the declining health of her primary caretaker creates an urgency to relocate Hannah before it's too late. A triumphant story of love, compassion and commitment. I loved this story!!
    • 4/5
      I don't believe that I've ever read a novel that told of a love story between an animal and humans. But this book covered that, and did it in a way that I loved it throughout it. Hannah's character is just so loveable that I found myself rooting for her and wanting to really go into the book to see her in action. And this is something definitely out-of-character for me. Mostly because I'm afraid of all animals. I think I like animals in the way that all kids do, when they choose their "favourite animal"-- it's for the most part, from afar. But to actually be near an animal scares the wits out of me. Anyways, back to the novel, I loved the idea of a pig bonding with the organized father and son pair. It's a funny thing to imagine yet totally captivating. Definitely a book worth reading for those who haven't yet.
    • 5/5
      On the surface "Hannah's Dream" is the story of a motley crew of characters who come together to save an elephant living in a run-down zoo. On a deeper level it's about how we find and choose the people who will become a part of our life's story.
      I can't say strongly enough how much I loved this book! For me, it was all about the characters. I simply fell in love with each of them and became immersed in their story. From Johnson Johnson the eccentric artist to Truman the precise and careful accountant, Neva the expert elephant handler and Sam the intuitive one, even Miles the pig was irresistible! I was not ready to let any of them go by the end. This is a funny, generous, warm book that will leave you feeling good.