Saints

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Emily Janice Card, Stefan Rudnicki, Paul Boehmer

Length: 25 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

This is an epic of independence and devotion, of hardship and fulfillment, of a woman so strong that knowing her could change your life.

When 10-year-old Dinah Kirkham saw her father leave their Manchester home in the middle of the night, she asked when he would be back. “Soon,” he replied. But he never came back. On that night in 1829, John Kirkham laid the foundation of his daughter’s certainty that the only person Dinah could ever really trust was herself.

From that day forward, Dinah worked to support her family, remaining devoted to their welfare even in the face of despair and grinding poverty. Then one day she heard a new message; a new purpose ignited in her heart, and new life opened up before her.

©1984 Orson Scott Card (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Card’s magnum opus deserves a wider readership than it has hitherto enjoyed. Best known for his fantasy fiction…Card does an excellent job of depicting the Dickensian horrors of England undergoing industrialization in the early 19th century as well as the early trials of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints as experienced by his heroine…Not just for the LDS faithful…this ambitious novel will appeal to anyone interested in a sensitive examination of the roots of religious feeling.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Orson Scott Card is a powerful storyteller with the gift of making mundane things sparkle…an engrossing epic.” ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Lack of honor to Prophet

Could not finish this book. depiction of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Emma was too offensive. First part on England was good.

Not What I expected

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Nothing could have helped this book - unless I was looking for a historical novel regarding the Mormon Church.

What was most disappointing about Orson Scott Card’s story?

I kept waiting for the story line to develop a normal Orson Scott Card bend, but it never happened

What aspect of the narrators’s performance would you have changed?

The narrators did fine with the story.

Any additional comments?

I need to remember to always look for the genre, not just assume by the author that it would be in his normal story lines.

Offensive

I truly believed that this would be an inspiring book coming from such an author as Orson Scott Card.
I believe that when writing fiction one should not cross a certain line of taste and decency. I am disappointed and guarded now when considering another work by Mr. Card.

Too long

this story could have finished ages ago....it was much too long. it became a chore that i was so stubborn i had to finish. goodbye Dinah.

Fiction pretending to be history

I like many of Card's books, but this one just didn't work for me. It is historical fiction - kind of. That is the biggest problem I have with it: It is a series of hypotheses based on the extrapolation of sketchy historical documents at the time of Card's writing of this novel. Since Card wrote this book, most of his major plot twists and events have now been shot down and are "very improbable" or just flat out wrong. It was a nice try (and maybe plausible) at the time of his writing of this novel based on the facts that were known at the time, but now it is almost laughable. If you do read this book, do yourself a favor and google - particularity search for "fair lds wiki" and you will see what I am talking about...

I would like to return this one!

Would you try another book from Orson Scott Card and/or the narrators?

No

What could Orson Scott Card have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

It was too gruesome.

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I would like to return this book...too cruel and crude for my taste!