Mary

Mrs. A. Lincoln

By: Janis Cooke Newman

Narrated by: Anne Buelteman

Length: 26 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

A fascinating and intimate novel of the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, narrated by the First Lady herself.

Mary Todd Lincoln is one of history's most misunderstood and enigmatic women. She was a political strategist, a supporter of emancipation, and a mother who survived the loss of three children and the assassination of her beloved husband. She also ran her family into debt, held séances in the White House, and was committed to an insane asylum - which is where Janis Cooke Newman's debut novel begins.

From her room in Bellevue Place, Mary chronicles her tempestuous childhood in a slaveholding Southern family and takes listeners through the years after her husband's death, revealing the ebbs and flows of her passion and depression, her poverty and ridicule, and her ultimate redemption.

©2006 Janis Cooke Newman (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Somewhat Disappointing

I was very interested in the main subject of this book, Mary Todd Lincoln's confinement to Belleview Hospital for the Insane, which was granted by her son Robert's petition to the court. I wondered if being present at her husband's assassination had driven her mad, and I had heard that much of Robert's motivation was to get his hands on her money.

Newman does a good job of depicting life in the asylum, and, as a reader, I was frustrated by the restrictions put upon Mary. She could not spend a penny, move a foot, have a single visitor, or send a letter without Robert's express permission--a situation that must have been hard on the former first lady. The author takes us back through events in Mary's life that strongly influenced her: the death of her mother and her father's remarriage to an unaffectionate stepmother who sent her off to boarding school; family resistance to her engagement to Lincoln; the death of her sons; newspaper attacks; the assassination; etc. But on the whole, Mary does not come off sympathetically. She's depicted mainly as somewhat of a nymphomaniac; Lincoln complains that her passion is too strong and makes her promise to withhold it, and he is often so repelled by it that he avoids her bed (which of course only makes her more sexually frustrated). Mary later concludes that this suppression is the reason her son Robert is so unaffectionate. In addition, she's a neurotic shopaholic. During the war, when thousands are suffering and dying, she wracks up bills that her husband simply cannot pay, squandering tens of thousands of dollars on jewelry and silver tea services "because they will last." She stashes the goods in the attic and visits them as totems that will keep her husband and sons alive. If that isn't crazy, I don't know what is!

The thing I hated most about the book was the sex scenes. Don't get me wrong: sex can be good, and I don't mind it in most novels, as long as it's appropriate. But I really, REALLY did not want those detailed graphic descriptions of sex between Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, both in younger days and their middle age. Some things you just do NOT need to visualize! Newman also details a one-night stand Mary has with a New York escort; whether this has any basis in fact, I do not know, but I could have done without it.

If, like me, you'd like to know more about the subject matter, I'd advise you to skip this one and find a credible biography. It raised a lot of questions for me about Mary's political influence and her confinement that really weren't satisfactorily answered for me here. I'm giving the novel three stars, mainly because it did raise questions, and because the first half or so did keep me engaged.

The reader was fine enough, but there are a number of glitches in this recording--at least six instances where a line is flubbed and repeated. Very annoying!

Disappointed

I hated how the book had Mary seduced Lincoln and that caused him to fall into depression. First, there is no way she would have had sex in his room. Second, it would have went against every thing she was raised.

I also hated the sex scene described when Robert was conceived.

Wonderful Narration of a tragic life

Would you consider the audio edition of Mary to be better than the print version?

Yes, much better, because the best thing about this version is the superbly clear and passionate rendition of Anne Buelteman, the narrator. It is a difficult story to hear because the life of Mary Todd Lincoln is so relentlessly tragic that I almost put it away a couple of times, but what kept me listening was the beautiful, compassionate and intelligent performance of the narrator. Each character was vivid and Mrs. Lincoln, in particular, had great depth and sympathy.
It was wonderful to learn something about Mrs. Lincoln other than that "she was insane". It was a deeply moving story of her life. Well worth the listening.

If you’ve listened to books by Janis Cooke Newman before, how does this one compare?

This was my first.

Have you listened to any of Anne Buelteman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have. I think this is her best, though I have always enjoyed her work. It is witty and detailed, as well as passionate.

If you could take any character from Mary out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Abe Lincoln, for obvious reasons. What a profound, kind and enigmatic man. Anne captures his "reedy voice" perfectly without making him unappealing.

Any additional comments?

My only criticism is that I wish the editor had done his job as well. The last two parts were not cleaned up, so the "pick ups" were left in. You feel like you're in the recording studio.

study in mental illness

poor Mary Lincoln endured so much loss and pain, and was so misunderstood and misdiagnosed due to the time she lived in.

Great performance made book even better!

Would you listen to Mary again? Why?

I don't normally listen to books more than once. But I really enjoyed this book and reading.

Excellent book!

Where does Mary rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Mary is quite good. I was never bored. The story is excellent.

What does Anne Buelteman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed Anne. She sounded just as I imaged Mary would sound.

Who was the most memorable character of Mary and why?

Robert. What a sad and tragic character he was.

Any additional comments?

Good book, well worth listening to.

Intriguing and well-written, Worst editing EVER.

This story is compelling as a possibility of the lives of the Lincolns. It really made me think about the Civil War from a woman's perspective, including the fear and anxiety that must come from having your home and family threatened constantly, as well as the overwhelming grief of losing so many family members in such traumatic ways. I believe historical information contradicts some of the story, particularly how dispassionate and almost loveless Abraham appears towards Mary. The author also omits certain notable aspects of Mary's emotional breakdowns. Even so, I did appreciate the alternative possible explanations of Mary, her motives and her actions, which I think is sorely lacking in a lot of historical reports. The narrator did a great job. BUT (and it's a big one), this is the worst edited story I've ever listened to. A large section from Part 1 is missing (starting just after Eddie passes), jumping to when Willie and Tad are 5/6 years old, This important part suddenly reemerges at the beginning of Part 2, interrupting the story as it is leading to Lincoln's election. This makes it disjointed and hard to follow. Also, at least five times, you hear the narrator say "going back" or "pick up" when she flubs a line. I've never heard such poor editing in a book.

Somewhat unrealistic

Parts of the story, such as what happened in Batavia, are an interesting interpretation. And the author did a good job with the historical aspects that are known. But the author's interpretation as to how the Lincolns finally got together and the issues in their early life were not realistic, in my view. I do not think that Mary was the aggressor in their relationship, and I do not think she had to constantly hold back her passion at the risk of making him insane.

Mrs. Lincoln shares her life uncensored

If you could sum up Mary in three words, what would they be?

HeartwrenchingPassionateRevealing

What did you like best about this story?

Mary Lincoln comes to life in all her charm, shortcomings, forthrightness, and fortitude. Her very public humiliations are laid bare for all to judge.

Have you listened to any of Anne Buelteman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first audiobook by Anne Buelteman, and I will seek out her narration regardless of title.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I could barely stop listening, often taking it to bed with me. The performance by Anne Buelteman made this a powerful piece of theatre, and I felt as close as one could be to both the joys and the sorrows of Mary Todd Lincoln.

Any additional comments?

An entire chapter (part 2, chapter 2) is out of order, and belongs after part 1, chapter 7. It was irksome to piece it together. Also there are at least half a dozen instances where the editor did not hear the narrator say "going back" or "pickup" when a correction was necessary. This is the first Audible recording I've heard with these irregularities.

Better title: "The Sex Life of Mary Todd Lincoln"

Insulting to both the Lincolns and anyone who admires the lives they led. Author has written a novel based on 21st Century morality and applied the names of Abraham and Mary Lincoln along with a few historical events they lived through, and she calls it a historical novel. Not worth the time to download this book!!!