Darenna

I must have a different sense of humor than the New York Times reviewers because I found this book depressing and not remotely amusing. The story drags as the narration bounces from one character to the next; there are times when it isn't clear who is narrating. There is also singing, which was unexpected. I thought the songs should move the story forward but instead I found myself wishing I could fast forward. The person reading and singing is the author, Suzan-Lori Parks. She's not a great singer and her southern accent is inconsistent. In my two years with Audible, the books I've found the most enjoyable are read by a person with an engaging voice and the ability to do accents. I gave the book two stars rather than one because there were a couple interesting bits, but all told, it was a disappointment.

This book is excellent. The story moves. The dialogue is great. And I thought the details about life in Bangkok were interesting. But the best part is, BD Wong reads it. He does a phenomenal job with the accents. This is one of a handful of books I've downloaded that I'll listen to again.