Lucy

By: Jamaica Kincaid

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

The coming-of-age story of one of Jamaica Kincaid's most admired creations

Lucy, a teenage girl from the West Indies, comes to North America to work as an au pair for Lewis and Mariah and their four children. Lewis and Mariah are a thrice-blessed couple - handsome, rich, and seemingly happy. Yet almost at once, Lucy begins to notice cracks in their beautiful façade. With mingled anger and compassion, Lucy scrutinizes the assumptions and verities of her employers' world and compares them with the vivid realities of her native place. Lucy has no illusions about her own past, but neither is she prepared to be deceived about where she presently is.

At the same time that Lucy is coming to terms with Lewis' and Mariah's lives, she is also unraveling the mysteries of her own sexuality. Gradually a new person unfolds: passionate, forthright, and disarmingly honest.

In Lucy, Jamaica Kincaid has created a startling new character possessed with adamantine clear-sightedness and ferocious integrity - a captivating heroine for our time.

©2002 Jamaica Kincaid (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Startlingly beautiful, memorable, and funny

One of the best audiobooks I’ve experienced so far. The writing is gorgeous! No word is wasted. The imagery is startlingly beautiful, memorable, and makes you laugh.

The author gives the main character incredible depth and complexity for such a short read. By way of Lucy’s perceptiveness and brutal honesty, the book offers up incisive social commentary and just generally truths about our human condition.

Loved it, and will re-listen to savor the writing.

Timeless.

This book is brilliant and I felt like it’s honesty hugged me with hope. We are lucky to have this book.

Excellent

Really enjoyed this book, the performance from Robin Miles was outstanding to say the least

Lucy

A good book about a young Caribbean woman who works in the U.S. as a nanny for a wealthy American family. She learns a lot about herself and life in general during this time.

I had a bit of trouble adjusting to Robin Miles speech in this audiobook as she usually reads with a flat American accent. This book would be better performed by a person with an authentic Caribbean speech pattern.

Mixed feelings

I considered giving the book two stars but gave it three because I wanted to hear the ending. I couldn’t not finish. The narrator would have been excellent for the right book but her voice is far too mature for a 19yr old. I did not like the main character at all. I felt like she lived up to her name. This book is probably amazing fir some and terrible for others

Jamaica Kincaid

This is the first full length book I have read by an author whose unapologetic voice about what it means to be oneself is so refreshing.

I liked it

I liked it more than I thought I would. I read a summary of the book before I listened to it and it was WAY better than the summary let on. The universal themes were comforting and I LOVED the ending. I found myself cheering for her in the last sentence like a crazed sports fan.

Also, she made a few points about society that had me saying, "oh...I hear it now." 😳 Yeay for uncomfortable growth!

hmm...sometimes you just have to listen to a story

I just ran across this book when it popped up. I didn't realize what type of book it was. If you are a normal guy and eithe have a daughter or a girl sees you as a father figure then just be aware there are parts that will make you a bit uncomfortable. I would have marked it lower yet as another reviewer put it, I just have to listen to the book all the way though. Maybe it's a good thing to hear things to expand your awareness of people's lives. This isn't like a fake agenda story. It's just, even if fake, a coming of age story that feels as though these were the real thoughts and feelings. I think maybe these might be best for people that have been a bit sheltered or need to hear what others have gone through. I could be wrong. Maybe it's not for people that want to remain ultra conservative/religious then. For everyone else, I hope you enjoy the story

Must read!

I enjoy the story line. If Robin Miles narrates the story it’s always beautifully performed. Great book!

Love is a myriad of things

When the ones we love most disappoint us: love can become a most distorted monster that robs us of ever loving anyone; especially ourselves. Great book!