Play Book Tag discussion

Because Of Winn-Dixie – Kate DiCamillo
Digital audiobook performed by Cherry Jones
5***** and ❤

India Opal Buloni is lonely. Her mother has left. She and her father, a minister, have moved to a new town and she hasn’t made any friends yet. But a trip to the grocery store will change everything because there she finds an ugly stray dog. Winn-Dixie is a mutt who is afraid of thunderstorms, howls when left alone too long, but disarms everyone with his big toothy grin.

DiCamillo has written a lovely book that deals with some serious issues. Not only is India lonely, but her father – whom she calls “the preacher” – has retreated into his shell as a result of his wife’s leaving. India is loved and cared for, but her emotional needs aren’t being fulfilled at the beginning of the book. Because of Winn-Dixie India Opal finds friends, love, and some help in dealing with the loss of her mother. No, everything doesn’t turn out perfect in the book (just as it doesn’t in real life). But DiCamillo gives her readers a sense of hope that India (and her father) will come out of this period of their lives with full hearts.

Cherry Jones’s performance on the audio is terrific. Every character – including Winn-Dixie – is given a unique voice. At the end of the last disc, I wanted to just start over and listen again.


Update for re-read … or should I say re-listen, April 2020. I can’t improve on the basic review, nor on my comments re Cherry Jones’ performance on the audio. I did, in fact, listen again.



LINK to my review