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Leaving Time #0-0.5
Where There's Smoke (Short Story) and Larger Than Life
Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she’s an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have passed. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts. When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage - to both her reputation and her show - Serenity finds that pride comes at a high price.
A researcher studying memory in elephants, Alice is fascinated by the bonds between mother and calf - the mother’s powerful protective instincts and her newborn’s unwavering loyalty. Living on a game reserve in Botswana, Alice is able to view the animals in their natural habitat - while following an important rule: She must only observe and never interfere. Then she finds an orphaned young elephant in the bush and cannot bear to leave the helpless baby behind. Thinking back on her own childhood, and on her shifting relationship with her mother, Alice risks her career to care for the calf. Yet what she comes to understand is the depth of a parent’s love.
©2014 Jodi Picoult (P)2014 Random House Audio
A researcher studying memory in elephants, Alice is fascinated by the bonds between mother and calf - the mother’s powerful protective instincts and her newborn’s unwavering loyalty. Living on a game reserve in Botswana, Alice is able to view the animals in their natural habitat - while following an important rule: She must only observe and never interfere. Then she finds an orphaned young elephant in the bush and cannot bear to leave the helpless baby behind. Thinking back on her own childhood, and on her shifting relationship with her mother, Alice risks her career to care for the calf. Yet what she comes to understand is the depth of a parent’s love.
©2014 Jodi Picoult (P)2014 Random House Audio
4 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 14, 2014
10 people are currently reading
1141 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Picoult
112 books95k followersJodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight novels, including Wish You Were Here, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister’s Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. Picoult lives in New Hampshire.
MAD HONEY, her new novel co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan, is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio on October 4, 2022.
Website: http://www.jodipicoult.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodipicoult
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodipicoult
MAD HONEY, her new novel co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan, is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio on October 4, 2022.
Website: http://www.jodipicoult.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodipicoult
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodipicoult
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 7, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Stars
This was a very difficult book for me to rate. First, the first story Where There’s Smoke, was a very different novel then Picoult’s typical book/short story. I wasn’t a fan. I would rate that story a ⭐️⭐️⭐️Star.
The next story Larger Than Life takes place on a game reserve in Botswana. It is here a researcher Alice, working and studying the elephants that she learns the depths of a mother’s love. Truly touching in so many ways, I cried from beginning until the end. I rated that story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
This was a very difficult book for me to rate. First, the first story Where There’s Smoke, was a very different novel then Picoult’s typical book/short story. I wasn’t a fan. I would rate that story a ⭐️⭐️⭐️Star.
The next story Larger Than Life takes place on a game reserve in Botswana. It is here a researcher Alice, working and studying the elephants that she learns the depths of a mother’s love. Truly touching in so many ways, I cried from beginning until the end. I rated that story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
October 15, 2024
These two short stories were both interesting but were too short for my liking. I like that both are centered around a woman and how they overcame challenges. I am not sure that I would have picked these books out if I had realized they were short stories. I like more character development and getting to know the quirks of each character. I needed more. But that's not the books fault that's mine so That is why I scored them both up!!
August 8, 2024
Listened to these stories as I prepared my classroom for the new school year.
Where There's Smoke: I was sad to hear that trying to help people on her popular show that her psychic readings were off and it ruined her career. I wish this story was further developed because it would be an interesting full-length story.
Larger Than Life: Alice is kind-hearted and wants to save a baby elephant whose mother has been slaughered for her tusks. She knows the baby elephant will die so she brings her back to her hut in the game reserve in Botswana even though it is against the rules. Although she does a lot to save the elephant in the end it dies and Alice is heart-broken.
Where There's Smoke: I was sad to hear that trying to help people on her popular show that her psychic readings were off and it ruined her career. I wish this story was further developed because it would be an interesting full-length story.
Larger Than Life: Alice is kind-hearted and wants to save a baby elephant whose mother has been slaughered for her tusks. She knows the baby elephant will die so she brings her back to her hut in the game reserve in Botswana even though it is against the rules. Although she does a lot to save the elephant in the end it dies and Alice is heart-broken.
December 27, 2021
**3.5 Stars**
Brief Synopsis: Serenity has had psychic abilities since childhood. Now, as an adult, she has a live talk show where she delivers messages from the dead back to their family/friends. During one of these live shows she has visions of a military murder cover-up and info on a missing senator’s kid. Viewers think she is trying to stir up controversy to gain followers, but Serenity is determined to unravel the truth.
Thoughts: This was a super quick read. The characters were realistic and interesting, but the story itself never fully developed. I was quickly drawn into the narrative but then it ended as quickly as it began. I understand that it’s likely to be paired with the larger novel but it still didn’t feel complete as is.
Brief Synopsis: Serenity has had psychic abilities since childhood. Now, as an adult, she has a live talk show where she delivers messages from the dead back to their family/friends. During one of these live shows she has visions of a military murder cover-up and info on a missing senator’s kid. Viewers think she is trying to stir up controversy to gain followers, but Serenity is determined to unravel the truth.
Thoughts: This was a super quick read. The characters were realistic and interesting, but the story itself never fully developed. I was quickly drawn into the narrative but then it ended as quickly as it began. I understand that it’s likely to be paired with the larger novel but it still didn’t feel complete as is.
September 11, 2018
"Where There's Smoke" is a short story, and Larger Than Life is a novella. These two short pieces are mini-prequels to Leaving Time. The first features psychic Serenity Jones, while the second is narrated by Alice, the elephant researcher whose disappearance in Leaving Time forms that book's central mystery.
This was a quick, four-hour listen, and was a bit like accessing DVD extras, filling in some background information on the characters in question. The stories are not essential for readers of Leaving Time--I'm glad I read the novel first, but I don't think that reading in the opposite order would hurt anyone's enjoyment of either work.
This was a quick, four-hour listen, and was a bit like accessing DVD extras, filling in some background information on the characters in question. The stories are not essential for readers of Leaving Time--I'm glad I read the novel first, but I don't think that reading in the opposite order would hurt anyone's enjoyment of either work.
July 6, 2019
The first story, Where There’s Smoke, was good but I preferred the second, which I guess is a prequel to Leaving Time - seems that I love a good elephant story! Leaving time led to to check out the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
https://www.elephants.com (one of my favorite charities to this day). They’re doing amazing work!! ❤️❤️❤️
https://www.elephants.com (one of my favorite charities to this day). They’re doing amazing work!! ❤️❤️❤️
January 3, 2017
I felt like it wasn't a complete story. It needed to be fleshed out a bit more. The ending was abrupt and I had to make sure the audio book didn't cut out.
March 16, 2021
What the heck.. it’s over already!
April 16, 2024
For this one, I did not realize it was a short story, I got so enveloped in it that an hour in, and it was over. I liked the baseline and the thought process around this read, again very easy to follow and quick witted. Left me wanting more!
PS If you’re into all things haunted or psychic, this is a great one to knock out quickly while in the car or doing errands around the house.
“Picoult introduces Serenity Jones, one of the fascinating characters from her eagerly awaited new novel, Leaving Time. Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she's an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have passed. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts. When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage — to both her reputation and her show - Serenity finds that pride comes at a high.”
PS If you’re into all things haunted or psychic, this is a great one to knock out quickly while in the car or doing errands around the house.
“Picoult introduces Serenity Jones, one of the fascinating characters from her eagerly awaited new novel, Leaving Time. Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she's an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have passed. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts. When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage — to both her reputation and her show - Serenity finds that pride comes at a high.”
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May 31, 2025Serenity became aware of her psychic gifts as a young child. She has since gone on to have a TV show where she recounts messages from the dead to their living loved ones. As Serenity seeks to increase her ratings and also her level of fame, she delivers a message that is not in the best interest of her guests.
When Serenity invites a war widow on to her show, she finds herself caught up in controversy no one saw coming. She seeks to right the damage she inadvertently caused while trying to save face.
I absolutely loved this short audiobook, listened to in on sitting on my morning walk. I wouldn't typically say that I'm a fan of magical realism and I would certainly say that I am a skeptic when it comes to mediums and psychic readings but this book drew me right in. The additional sound effects really added to the audiobook with its TV show setting and Serenity's spirit guides were a brilliant addition to the set of characters.
Thoroughly enjoyed Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult. A perfect read for a walk on a summers day.
When Serenity invites a war widow on to her show, she finds herself caught up in controversy no one saw coming. She seeks to right the damage she inadvertently caused while trying to save face.
I absolutely loved this short audiobook, listened to in on sitting on my morning walk. I wouldn't typically say that I'm a fan of magical realism and I would certainly say that I am a skeptic when it comes to mediums and psychic readings but this book drew me right in. The additional sound effects really added to the audiobook with its TV show setting and Serenity's spirit guides were a brilliant addition to the set of characters.
Thoroughly enjoyed Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult. A perfect read for a walk on a summers day.
June 26, 2024
In this short story featuring psychic Serenity Jones of Leaving Time, the acclaimed medium relays a
message to a young war widow on her TV show that, while truthful, is not the type of thing that should be said in these circumstances. Her producer tries to offset the backlash they receive and boost their ratings back up by doing a live broadcast of Serenity finding a missing child, an event that has even more dire consequences than the first.
If this had been the start of a longer story, with Serenity searching into her own depths, it might have made a great nove, but as it stands, it just leaves you hanging at the end, with no closure for any of the characters - or the plot itself.
Skip this one, and go straight to Leaving Time instead.
message to a young war widow on her TV show that, while truthful, is not the type of thing that should be said in these circumstances. Her producer tries to offset the backlash they receive and boost their ratings back up by doing a live broadcast of Serenity finding a missing child, an event that has even more dire consequences than the first.
If this had been the start of a longer story, with Serenity searching into her own depths, it might have made a great nove, but as it stands, it just leaves you hanging at the end, with no closure for any of the characters - or the plot itself.
Skip this one, and go straight to Leaving Time instead.
May 19, 2025
Even as a child Serenity, knew she could speak to the souls of the departed, years later she is an acclaimed medium, in high demand with her own TV show. She has always tired herself on her honesty and been grateful to her spirit guides.
However things start to go worn when a young war widow is invited onto her show and when her husband comes through, the message he gives is not the message his widow expects. Things begin to go from bad to worse for Serenity and she struggles to undo the damage to her reputation.
This is a short story by Jodi, I didn’t realise that when I started to listen and was shocked by how quick it ended
The characters were well written and likeable and the narrator did a great job of retelling the story. I loved the additional sound effects within the retelling.
However things start to go worn when a young war widow is invited onto her show and when her husband comes through, the message he gives is not the message his widow expects. Things begin to go from bad to worse for Serenity and she struggles to undo the damage to her reputation.
This is a short story by Jodi, I didn’t realise that when I started to listen and was shocked by how quick it ended
The characters were well written and likeable and the narrator did a great job of retelling the story. I loved the additional sound effects within the retelling.
February 12, 2018
These two short stories from Picoult were released as a teaser before Leaving Time. One focusses on the fail of psychic Serentity Jones. The other tells the story of elephant researcher Alice and the complicated relationship she has with her mother. These two stories demonstrate Picoult's tremendous ability to create characters that draw in the reader and get us rooting for them. I think I would have enjoyed this story more had I not already read Leaving Time. I also found the writing to be a little over-dramatic at points. Still, this is a nice combo for anyone looking for a little more Jodi Picoult, especially if they haven't read Leaving Time yet.
August 3, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed Leaving Time, so I was quite thrilled to get more stories from that particular novel. Serenity's story was familiar but showed how she lost focus on what was important about her gift and the massive paycheck she got. The connection back to the water poltergiest she encountered briefly on Leaving Time to the fire poltergeist here was great, as both elements are seen as purifying and destructive. Alice's novella was as heartbreaking as much of her other stories were, with the intensity of emotion and depth that the elephants she works with show themselves and bring out in those around them. Good all around.
October 29, 2017
I read each of these because I am currently reading Leaving Time. Both stories introduce characters in Leaving Time. I found both intriguing and disturbing. Larger Than Life is disturbing because the character, Alice, is so reckless for someone with a doctorate from Harvard. Where There's Smoke is disturbing because the physic, Serenity, is very harshly judged for being wrong about something that she was actually partially and very amazingly spot on. It sparks my interest enough to read Leaving Time.
April 20, 2023
This book has two short stories. The first one ‘Where there is smoke’ is about a clairvoyant woman named Serenity who can call and talk to people who have recently died but who have not quite finished their business on earth.
The second story ‘Larger than life’ is about a young researcher in Botswana who rescues a baby elephant calf and nurses the calf becoming like the calf’s mother. The researcher examines her own relationship with her mother as she adopts the role of a mother bonding with the calf.
I loved the second short story!
The second story ‘Larger than life’ is about a young researcher in Botswana who rescues a baby elephant calf and nurses the calf becoming like the calf’s mother. The researcher examines her own relationship with her mother as she adopts the role of a mother bonding with the calf.
I loved the second short story!
July 1, 2019
This is another novella about one of the characters in Leaving Time. Serenity Jones is a psychic who has become popular with her TV show. She has spirit guides who help interpret the afterlife for her. But they abandon her when they feel she hasn't helped anyone but herself and she pays for it when a Senator's son goes missing. Leaving Time was such a good book that I am glad for these short books to continue learning about the characters.
December 30, 2018
I love Jodi Picoult and these two short stories are excellent like an appetizer that makes hungry for more. One of these stories is about a psychic and the other about an orphan elephant. How different and both are fascinating.
May 31, 2019
Loved these two short stories. Didn’t know they existed but so happy I found them. They are prequels or teasers for leaving time which IMO is one of Jodi’s best books. Loved the content too since I love psychics and premonitions
October 27, 2020
I liked this short story and novella. I've had Leaving Time on my TBR list for a while so I'll be moving it up the list now!
March 20, 2024
I really liked "Where There's Smoke." This is a short story introducing Serenity Jones, from another novel called "Leaving Time." My biggest complaint is that I wanted more! I will definitely go on to read Leaving Time soon.
August 13, 2024
Everything I wanted to read has a wait list currently at the library so I got this instead. Two short stories that both seem to relate back or introduce you to one of Picoults novels. The psychic story went too fast without any sense of closure, but the second story was beautiful and heartbreaking
March 30, 2025
I was blown away by this audiobook. The background sounds and enhancements really brought the whole story to life. It’s quite a dark book, about ghosts and spirits. It’s really freaky when the background noises start as it feels like you’re right there in the spirit vision.
Loved this book.
Loved this book.
April 1, 2025
Where There's Smoke by Jodi Picoult and narrated by Amy Finegan was a great quick listen to. I really enjoyed this audiobook. The only problem with it I want more and I love all of Jodi's books, she is a great Storyteller and all her books have been a 5 star read.
May 22, 2025
Two short stories, both developing characters for longer noves. The first about a 'real' psychic who makes a dire wish that comes true. "Be careful what you wish for" being the final lesson. The second, "Larger than Life" fleshes out the life and emotions of elephants.
June 23, 2025
Started off strong! This story had so much potential!! I have always loved Jodi Picoult books, but not this one. The story was entertaining, but it didn’t have much of an ending. I’m not really sure the point or if it was thought through all the way. I would not recommend this one, just skip it.
August 7, 2025
Two novella's ...
Serenity is a medium who hosts a TV show. But when she tries to boost her tratins,all the messaging backfires.
The second story is about a researcher in Botswana studying elephants. She tries to rescue an abandoned baby, and it doesn't work out as she hopes.
Serenity is a medium who hosts a TV show. But when she tries to boost her tratins,all the messaging backfires.
The second story is about a researcher in Botswana studying elephants. She tries to rescue an abandoned baby, and it doesn't work out as she hopes.
August 21, 2017
I wish "Where There's Smoke" was a full-length novel. I would've given more stars for that.
"Larger Than Life" was ok, but I'm not really that interested in elephants.
"Larger Than Life" was ok, but I'm not really that interested in elephants.
December 20, 2017
So. Depressing.
Holy crap.
I gotta go watch a Disney movie or eat a cookie or something.
Holy crap.
I gotta go watch a Disney movie or eat a cookie or something.
December 14, 2019
I haven’t read anything by Picoult before. I really enjoyed these two short stories and now I am very excited to read Leaving Time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews