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Bittersweet  By  cover art

Bittersweet

By: Nevada Barr
Narrated by: Linda Stephens
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Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Nevada Barr delights contemporary mystery fans with novels like Deep South and Blood Lure. In Bittersweet, she departs the mystery genre for a touching story of hardship, perseverance, and love in the old West.

When strong-willed schoolteacher Imogene Grelznik is forced from Philadelphia by scandal, the only position she can find is in rural Pennsylvania. There she meets Sarah, a beautiful young student whose bright light of potential is on the verge of being extinguished by her father's arrangement to marry her off to an abusive, unfeeling man. Branded as lovers, Imogene and Sarah must flee to Nevada amidst suspicion and accusation. In a place of utter desolation, the two women struggle to love and care for each other as they seek freedom from prejudice and intolerance.

Bittersweet showcases Nevada Barr's powerful storytelling and strong, compassionate characters. Linda Stephens' heartfelt narration captures all the emotional depth of a story featuring life at its harshest, and at its most beautiful.

©2004 Recorded Books (P)2004 Recorded Books
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

Critic reviews

"Barr has drawn on women's diaries from the Old West to bring detail to this unusual romance. The result is an intriguing story, sensitive and authentic-sounding, and far different from what is usually considered a Western novel." (The Miami Herald)
"The novel...is tender and gentle in its exploration of commitment between two women, especially in days when females were expected to live out their narrow lives doing exhausting work and obeying their husbands." (St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch)
"A solid, unabashed piece of writing that glows with authenticity." (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

What listeners say about Bittersweet

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Good, but not what I expected

Overall I liked the content of the book. I REALLY wish the relationship between the two women was more detailed. I am a lesbian and found
myself always hoping more passion would be revealed, but thought the time period may be partly responsible. It is fairly depressing, but hey, life back then wasn't a peach! :) I definitely recommend it and hope Audible adds more to their gay/lesbian list.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Perfect Title for a Lovely Book

As with all of Nevada Barr's work, she creates a world that one wants to live in for as long as possible. I've been a fan or her Anna Pigeon series for a long time and approached this book with a little trepidation, knowing that the format and style would be completely different. My concern was unwarranted. This is one of the loveliest books I've ever read. Indeed, there is discomfort and unpleasantness, but her characters are so believeable that you push through the pain to find redemption. These characters will live in my memory for a long time.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

I'm sad....I miss them....

I was absolutely enthralled by this book and loved the characters - I miss them and just finished the book. I understand a lot of the information was actually taken from women's diaries of this time period - it makes me sad to realize how women have been treated throughout history. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a good story and a peak into history. I gave it only 4 stars because I did feel it was a little drawn out at times - droned on and on in some areas that there was no need - and some of the facts were a little off. Other than that I highly recommend - ENJOY!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

bittersweet

I started this audiobook while on vacation in Panama City. At first I thought it was a little slow and then as I settled in and gave it a chance........well, it has been a remarkable read.
First of all this is set in a time of human unrest and the way people think is interesting.
I thoroughly enjoyed this 'read'. I know you laugh when I say 'read', but honestly as I sit and listen to these audio books I get much more out of them by listening than I ever did from actually "reading: them.
I liked the book and I will probably give this author another chance also.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Bittersweet

While richly written with vivid characters, this is one of the most depressing books I've ever read.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Lesbians in 1780s Nevada

While I really have enjoyed the Anna Pigeon series, this book was not to my taste. I think this was much more autobiographical, and I'm not really interested in lesbian relationships. If you are, maybe this will appeal to you. But it was too long and the ending was much, much too abrupt. The characters are clear, but they don't develop and grow as do those of someone like PD James.

I listened to the whole thing, but I can't say I really enjoyed it.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting but slow

I really enjoy Nevada Barr's books, and enjoy historical fiction. I thought it was interesting to see how these women dealt with the pressures of the time, but felt it was a bit long. It felt very autobiographical, in that there was a lot of details about different periods of their lives and you were led from one event to another, not sure when it was going to end. Although it was slow, I thought it was worth it to get an original story that showed with compassion the lives of two individuals who had to make hard choices to survive in a time not remotely accomodating for gays and lesbians.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

This is a wonderful book, opens eyes to what life must have been like for a large group of people in history. It is sad to me that Audible seems to have chosen this one book to represent Lesbian Fiction. Hope it sells well so that Audible will open up to more.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully Written!

Nevada Barr's ability to describe the scenery as well as the womens thoughts and feelings are impecable! Although I still "want more" I can also find an ending that is acceptable in my own mind. Great book!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Truly Bittersweet

This book was hard to get into at the beginning. But, about half way through it picked up. I didn't particularly like the ending, but I found that the book haunted me. I actually missed the characters when I had finished the book. I wanted to know more about them and continue with the story. The author seemed to spend too much time telling stories that didn't relate to the overall idea of the book. The author was able to make me feel for and care about the characters. Even though I thought she took too much time telling the story. I would recommend it.

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3 people found this helpful