Mary

I hope this is well reviewed in the literary magazines. Race is complicated in this country, and the more we are able to interrogate it the better. An historical view is perhaps the easiest. Well written, thoughtful and true.

Don't get it, guess the vampire enthusiasts might like, although I don't know enough to determine where this fits in their pantheon of good vs. so-so reads/listens. Some of the details seemed overly-written and gratuituous. But clearly the author is smart and has potential, if she could but wrench herself out of the obvious. Sadly, narrator made the obvious tiresomely more obvious, with enough sarcasm added to the many asides to last a lifetime. I've heard her do much much better. I know I should not pan, given this was my free V-day present from audible.com. I ordered it over other choices with open mind/intent of truly trying to like it, but man, even for a devout (generally literary, but still) fiction reader, what's the deal with this genre? Leaves me cold (pun intended).

Stop over-writing

Someone more heartfelt and less sarcastic

Dumbstruck. Why is this a popular genre? So obvious, so silly, characters so pat.

Hopeful but . . .

Inflections were amazing. Bauer really acted out the story and conveyed the humor as well as the horror.

I find these historical analyses (through fiction) of our complicated history fascinating and helpful even 400 years later. An honest story, of course with an improbable "21st-century" heroine but I'll accept that as long as the details of her conceivable 17th-century life and sensibilities can somewhat match her 21st-century intuition.

A masterful and fascinating interpretation of work by this new "hot" author, and probably much easier to enjoy than had I read. Very well done. Well worth the listen time; gives you a good idea of the power of the current phenomenon of her work.

The narrator captures the true essence of this book, her lovely, full tones creating a sense of caring and nurturing, and the healing beauty of the natural world. I have read and listened, and the audio book truly amplified this timeless, well written and sage story. A must for any lover of contemporary, exceptional fiction.