The Chaperone

By: Laura Moriarty

Narrated by: Elizabeth McGovern

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The Chaperone is a captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922, and the summer that would change them both.

Only a few years before becoming a famous actress and an icon for her generation, a 15-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita to make it big in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle is a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip. She has no idea what she’s in for: Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous blunt bangs and black bob, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will change their lives forever.

For Cora, New York holds the promise of discovery that might prove an answer to the question at the center of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in a strange and bustling city, she embarks on her own mission. And while what she finds isn’t what she anticipated, it liberates her in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of the summer, Cora’s eyes are opened to the promise of the 20th century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

©2012 Laura Moriarty (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Wonderful story!

Thoroughly enjoyed. Loved the intricacies of the intertwined tale. The characters came alive via the magnificent narration.

Thoroughly Enjoyed This

What a surprise! Great story, superb narration. I was completely absorbed right from the start.

Charming story about a Cora, narrated by "Cora"

This is an enchanting story about a fictional peripheral character in the life of 1920s bombshell Louise Brooks. The flapper starlet is a big part of the story, but the lead protaganist, Cora, is so charming, I was relieved to discover that the story is really not about Louise. It's about how Louise affected the life of a woman during a time of big societal and cultural change. (Historical note: Louise Brooks was accompanied by a chaperone from Wichita that summer she spent in New York City.)

Elizabeth McGovern, the wonderful actress who plays Cora Grantham on PBS's Downton Abbey, does a lovely job as Cora Carlisle, a respectible wife and mother living a comfortable wealthy life in Wichita, Kan. McGovern has such a quiet style -- she made an enchanting narrator. My only critique is a tiny one -- she used a more upper Midwestern accent (think Minnesota) for the Kansans rather than a central/southern Kansas twang. But that's so small given the enormous charm McGovern adds to the story. She is a skilled pro and in her hands (er, voice?) this story is well cared for.

With today's fast-paced culture and seemingly daily technology changes, it was fun to sink back into a time where the generational gap consisted of shock over young women showing their ankles and not wearing corsets. Society always leaps ahead. And older generations are always shocked. We're no different today.

This is a story that has stayed with me long after the last line was read. It's one that has lingered around afterwards. I loved this story so much, I'm planning to read other novels by Laura Moriarty.

Great story, but narration is sub-par

The narrator captures the emotions and characters well. My biggest problem with her narration is that she seems to use what I'm assuming is supposed to be a Midwestern dialect. However, for a listener from the Midwest, it just sounds like a Fargo-like parody of the Minnesota dialect. No Midwesterners I know (not even the Minnesotans I know) talk like these characters. I found it really distracting. I did notice one other similar review that commented about this...from a fellow Midwesterner.

beautiful story of acceptance & ultimately growth

What made the experience of listening to The Chaperone the most enjoyable?

the evolution from chaperone to student. Cora tries to embody the mores and values of her time and ultimately accepts those of her charge.

What did you like best about this story?

A wonderful story of understanding, acceptance, love and resolution to the reality of life.

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

No

Who was the most memorable character of The Chaperone and why?

Cora - a woman far ahead of her time who battled from birth with adversity but survived as a whole person resolute in her acceptance of her life as it was. She was able to love without judgement and proceed without guilt. A very resourceful woman who dealt the hand she was given with grace, intelligence and resolve.

Exquisite journey back in time

Simply transported into the era of prohibition, orphan trains, the Great Depression and the advent of Hollywood. A personal view, in the eyes of a Midwesterner, with a look at the social and moral values of the time.

You'll Miss Them When It Ends

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

1) Engaging
2) Intimate
3) Woven

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Chaperone?

There were many... I think when Cora begins to see how she has learned from her exposure to Louise.

Which character – as performed by Elizabeth McGovern – was your favorite?

Ms. McGovern did a deluxe job of coloring all the characters.

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

Louise, of course. Why? I think she would be a hell-bending fun character to hang out with.

Any additional comments?

Laura Moriarty did a fantastic job of creating a cast of decent characters. By 'decent,' I mean people with human foibles who confront and deal with them in a ethically conscience manner.

After I finished the book, I missed Louise and Cora on my morning walks.

A Little Preachy

This was a deeply heartfelt book, and I liked the writing style. I enjoyed this book, although there were points where the plot moved very slowly. I felt like it was preaching at me sometimes which was something I didn’t expect when I chose to read this book. It annoyed me. It’s okay with me if novels touch on the flaws of our society and issues of morality in a subtle way, but this book hammers it in over and over. I’m glad I stuck with it though. It takes on a sweeping narrative by the end and lets go of the narrow focus on that one summer to become much more. It lightens up a bit, which I appreciated.

Great book

For me it started out a little slow but it ended up being a great listen!!

4.5 stars if I could!

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

Quite high. I enjoyed Moriarty's debut "The Center of Everything" immensely, but was disappointed by her subsequent books. This book brings the changing social customs of the early 1920s to life with grace, complexity, and humor. It took about an hours to get in to Elizabeth McGovern's performance, but once I got into it, I allowed her soothing, expressive diction carry me along.

What other book might you compare The Chaperone to and why?

"The Other Typist", at least for New York Period details.

Which character – as performed by Elizabeth McGovern – was your favorite?

Oh, her dialogue was amazing! Joseph, Cora, Louise were all drawn with great emotion, accent, expression.

Any additional comments?

I agree with many reviews that Cora's backstory was much more compelling than Louise's present-day one, but there is only so much fiction Moriarty could create for a well-known figure.
This is a welcome addition to my historical fiction library.