It's 1964 and 10-year-old Felix is sure of a few things: the birds and the bees are puzzling, television is magical, and this is one Christmas he'll never forget. LBJ and Lady Bird are in the White House, Meet the Beatles is on everyone's turntable, and Felix Funicello (distant cousin of the iconic Annette!) is doing his best to navigate fifth grade - easier said than done when scary movies still give you nightmares and you bear a striking resemblance to a certain adorable cartoon boy.

Back in his beloved fictional town of Three Rivers, Connecticut, with a new cast of endearing characters, Wally Lamb takes his listeners straight into the halls of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School - where Mother Filomina's word is law and goody-two-shoes Rosalie Twerski is sure to be minding everyone's business.

But grammar and arithmetic move to the back burner this holiday season with the sudden arrivals of substitute teacher Madame Frechette, straight from Québec, and feisty Russian student Zhenya Kapakova. While Felix learns the meaning of French kissing, cultural misunderstanding, and tableaux vivants, Wishin' and Hopin' barrels toward one outrageous Christmas.

From the Funicello family's bus-station lunch counter to the elementary school playground (with an uproarious stop at the Pillsbury Bake-Off), Wishin' and Hopin' is a vivid slice of 1960s life, a wise and witty holiday tale that celebrates where we've been - and how far we've come.

Listening Length

4 hours and 41 minutes
Author

Wally Lamb
Narrator

Wally Lamb
Audible release date

10 November 2009
Language

English
Publisher

HarperAudio
ASIN

B01N0X1MV0
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	4 hours and 41 minutes
Author	Wally Lamb
Narrator	Wally Lamb
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	10 November 2009
Publisher	HarperAudio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B01N0X1MV0
Best Sellers Rank	109,718 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 930 in Coming of Age Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) 1,412 in Humourous Fiction 1,991 in Family Life Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

5 star		57%
4 star		24%
3 star		13%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

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Jacqueline Jukes j jukes

My favourite author

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 May 2013

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I would read anything by Wally Lamb and have read all of his books to date. He is so clever at characterisation and you very quickly want to know how his characters move on. This is very different from anything of his I have read previously but am enjoying the simplicity and looking forward to it developing as not yet completed it.

readmorebooks

Light Xmas Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2010

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I love Wally Lamb and his books are often dark and challenging, but this was light enough to read over the festive season, yet still had enough challenge to be worth reading. I loved the "american graffiti" style epilogue too. The New England setting is fun and the Christmas play scenes are vividly rendered.

7 people found this helpful

Anon

Perhaps better for a younger age group

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2014

Verified Purchase

I have loved most of Lamb's novels so really looked forward to this . However it was about the lives of teenagers and did not hold me. Lovely edition of the book though.

Lovely Treez

Light and Fun

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 January 2013

Verified Purchase

A good seasonal read from Wally Lamb. I have enjoyed some of his other novels which are deeper and more challenging but if you like to immerse yourself in a light, nostalgic read around Christmas time this is ideal.

Julie Ward

Laugh out loud

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 January 2014

Verified Purchase

I love this author. Read, "I know this much is true" and "She's come undone". Quirky writer. Wishing and Hopin' . Very engaging story.
I loved school so good subject matter for me. Love how new girl, Zenya, the Russian, speaks about the Nuns, "Wot zees pinguins know abowt keesing?" Just sat reading my kindle and laughing out loud.

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Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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