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Palindrome Hannah
Enter a cruel palindrome world: a symmetric place where disturbing situations displace the common; where good acts transmute to evil ones; where windows and mirrors are interchangable. Within, characters influence each other through macabre arrangements of involuntary happenstance, and learn the inevitabilities of coincidence. A segmented story of a mother and daughter intertwines the others. This hidden sixth story, assembled from the five separate narratives, uncovers the sad life of a child who carries a palindrome name, and her struggling teenage mother. With five stories heading one direction, and Hannah traveling the opposite, the story unfolds like a palindrome. A puzzle within a puzzle.
318 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
21 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Michael Bailey
129 books68 followersMichael Bailey is a recipient and ten-time nominee of the Bram Stoker Award, a five-time Shirley Jackson Award nominee, and a three-time recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Award, along with several independent publishing accolades. He has written, edited, and published many books of various genres. His latest is Righting Writing, a nonfiction narrative used as curriculum for aspiring writers, and Silent Nightmares: Haunting Stories to Be Told on the Longest Night of the Year, an anthology co-edited with Chuck Palahniuk to be published by Simon & Schuster in fall of 2026. He is also the screenwriter for Madness and Writers, a creative documentary series about writers, and a producer for numerous film projects. Find him online at nettirw.com, or on social media @nettirw. He is represented by Lane Heymont of the Tobias Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 5, 2010
Michael masterfully created characters that weave in and out of each others stories. I will think about these characters for many years to come. Bravo!
May 23, 2010
Not my usual genre, but very intriguing. I enjoyed the separate, yet connected, stories.
September 9, 2024
I liked some of the stories, others were just OK. It was the overarching story that I didn't get. I know this was supposed to be some type of BIG ARCH uniting everything but I just didn't get it.
September 17, 2022
This audiobook was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This was an interesting little suspense story with layers of interwoven characters and plots split into five parts. The story started a bit slow, in my opinion, as I couldn't seem to make sense of what was actually happening in the first of the short stories. I pushed through it, though, and I'm glad I did because the subsequent stories were much faster-paced and more exciting. Each story had its own unique plot, and they were all suspenseful in their own interesting ways. All the characters had unique and engaging perspectives, and Bailey can clearly write a wide range of perspectives. I also loved the way they all kind of came together at the end. After the first story, I was always interested to see what would come next and how it would fit into the puzzle.
The narration was okay. His range of voices was very limited, and he tended to fall flat during some of the most suspenseful parts. I would have loved more variation to really make the horror elements come to life.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I would be interested in Michael Bailey's other works. I would recommend this book to mature fans of suspense and horror.
This was an interesting little suspense story with layers of interwoven characters and plots split into five parts. The story started a bit slow, in my opinion, as I couldn't seem to make sense of what was actually happening in the first of the short stories. I pushed through it, though, and I'm glad I did because the subsequent stories were much faster-paced and more exciting. Each story had its own unique plot, and they were all suspenseful in their own interesting ways. All the characters had unique and engaging perspectives, and Bailey can clearly write a wide range of perspectives. I also loved the way they all kind of came together at the end. After the first story, I was always interested to see what would come next and how it would fit into the puzzle.
The narration was okay. His range of voices was very limited, and he tended to fall flat during some of the most suspenseful parts. I would have loved more variation to really make the horror elements come to life.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I would be interested in Michael Bailey's other works. I would recommend this book to mature fans of suspense and horror.
May 18, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"Some memories never seem to go away."
This is a strange book, separate stories which move around each other, occasionally touching. This reader found it initially difficult to relax into, but this soon changed and the first section was reprised as the ending approached. All too soon: it could have continued for much longer.
Narrator Lawrence Alexander is superb, his soft, mix tonal voice reading with full recognition of the text and voicing any protagonist individually and with appropriateness. With good pacing, cadence and a lightness so well suited to the text, his is an excellent performance.
I was freely gifted a complimentary copy of Palindrome Hannah, at my request, by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. Although I finally intrigued merely by the title, I soon discovered so much more to draw my attention to the diverse characters, briefly becoming involved in their lives, and wanting more. It was a book which not only brought me pleasure in the listening but also made me think. It is a book I know that I will revisit again in the future, something I only very rafely do, and it is a book I would be happy to recommend to all but the youngest of readers.
"Some memories never seem to go away."
This is a strange book, separate stories which move around each other, occasionally touching. This reader found it initially difficult to relax into, but this soon changed and the first section was reprised as the ending approached. All too soon: it could have continued for much longer.
Narrator Lawrence Alexander is superb, his soft, mix tonal voice reading with full recognition of the text and voicing any protagonist individually and with appropriateness. With good pacing, cadence and a lightness so well suited to the text, his is an excellent performance.
I was freely gifted a complimentary copy of Palindrome Hannah, at my request, by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. Although I finally intrigued merely by the title, I soon discovered so much more to draw my attention to the diverse characters, briefly becoming involved in their lives, and wanting more. It was a book which not only brought me pleasure in the listening but also made me think. It is a book I know that I will revisit again in the future, something I only very rafely do, and it is a book I would be happy to recommend to all but the youngest of readers.
June 25, 2014
Yeah, my review title is a palindrome. The first part of the story was intriguing but I felt a little bit like I was reading the film MEMENTO. The second part of the story had me hooked right away. Wow! It was my favorite, along with the last part. The whole novel is set up into different parts rather than chapters, and there are different sections/chapters within the parts, all from characters who play different roles in the story as a whole. I loved it. I enjoyed the play on palindromes too. I'll admit the bold printed words were a little bit distracting, but I understood where the author was going with it--stories within the story. Overall, I highly recommend this book. Very entertaining and some serious horror. The author doesn't hold back with his characters as far as who does what and who stays and who goes, which are my favorite kinds of stories. It's also very well written. I look forward to reading more by this author.
May 1, 2019
I received a free audiobook copy for an honest review.
I always hate coming across 5-star books that have only a few reviews. It's sad. On that note, I loved this audiobook! The stories were any combination of dark, creepy, sad, and even some funnies (porn pop-up windows), and all of them were interesting. I always love reading or listening to a book that takes multiple short stories and, in the end, combines certain aspects; typically a character from one story will be present in another story. I had no issues keeping track of what was going on or who was talking. I was totally focused on this story, as in, even when it was time for bed, I didn't want to stop listening. I think the author did an amazing job with this batch and the narrator definitely added to it..
The narrator did a great job as well. I'd definitely listen to and read anything by either of these men.
I always hate coming across 5-star books that have only a few reviews. It's sad. On that note, I loved this audiobook! The stories were any combination of dark, creepy, sad, and even some funnies (porn pop-up windows), and all of them were interesting. I always love reading or listening to a book that takes multiple short stories and, in the end, combines certain aspects; typically a character from one story will be present in another story. I had no issues keeping track of what was going on or who was talking. I was totally focused on this story, as in, even when it was time for bed, I didn't want to stop listening. I think the author did an amazing job with this batch and the narrator definitely added to it..
The narrator did a great job as well. I'd definitely listen to and read anything by either of these men.
July 12, 2019
As always, I have to state that this book was given to me for free in exchange for a review.
I always like to state that this does not impact my review or my opinion of the book. My reviews are honest and my own opinion of the story, performance, and overall thoughts on the book.
I think this author did a fantastic job of showing how some of us experience life.
I really connected with this piece but I also felt that it had similar connections and styles as other novels I have read in the past. I still connected really well to the story and was hooked pretty much after the second part.
Having different parts of a novel is intriguing. I really enjoyed the play on palindromes. It was a bit of a story within a story.
If you are a fan of horror this book will be a joy for you.
I always like to state that this does not impact my review or my opinion of the book. My reviews are honest and my own opinion of the story, performance, and overall thoughts on the book.
I think this author did a fantastic job of showing how some of us experience life.
I really connected with this piece but I also felt that it had similar connections and styles as other novels I have read in the past. I still connected really well to the story and was hooked pretty much after the second part.
Having different parts of a novel is intriguing. I really enjoyed the play on palindromes. It was a bit of a story within a story.
If you are a fan of horror this book will be a joy for you.
April 18, 2019
I loved this
I enjoyed all 5 story’s the way the author blends elements of each story really kept it interesting
a great idea I found myself going back several times just so I dident miss a reference
Lawrence was spot on narrating a large cast of characters highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
I enjoyed all 5 story’s the way the author blends elements of each story really kept it interesting
a great idea I found myself going back several times just so I dident miss a reference
Lawrence was spot on narrating a large cast of characters highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
July 19, 2012
Bailey is actually a friend of mine and I think that's he's captured an essence to how some of us experience life; all relatable. Cautionary tales are what he does best and this was a slam dunk for sure. I couldn’t put the damn thing down, good job Mikey!!
February 14, 2019
I finished it but could never explain what it was about or what happened. Yet, the writing was so exquisite and the characters so vivid that I couldn't stop listening to this audiobook.
Weird. That's the best I can say to sum it up.
Weird. That's the best I can say to sum it up.
June 17, 2019
I really should read the blurbs better.This book wasn't what I expected,and though it was well written with sympathetic characters,I did not care for it. Lawerence Alexander was a fine narrator.
I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
January 8, 2013
Interesting stories, not really my usual genre of book. There are some messed up parts that a lot of people wouldn't like.
May 28, 2013
Fantastic book!
February 11, 2019
This was weird. Very, very weird. Although, it did have some moments of horror. Some.
September 9, 2019
3.5 stars. Well executed and intriguing. I didn’t know where the story was going and it felt new and fresh. Very clever spin I g on these stories and I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews