Three Daughters

A Novel

By: Consuelo Saah Baehr

Narrated by: Karen Peakes

Length: 23 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

From the fertile hills of a tiny village near Jerusalem to the elegant townhouses of Georgetown, Three Daughters is a historical saga that chronicles the lives, loves, and secrets of three generations of Palestinian Christian women.

Born in rural Palestine, just before the dawn of the 20th century, Miriam adores her father and is certain his love will protect her, but she soon finds that tradition overrides love. Uprooted by war, Miriam enters a world where the old constraints slip away with thrilling and disastrous results. Miriam's rebellious daughter, Nadia, is thrilled with the opportunity for a modern life that her elite education provides. But when she falls in love with an outsider, the clan reins her back with a shocking finality. Nijmeh, Nadia's daughter, is an only child and the path her father, the sheik, sets for her is fraught with difficulties, yet it prepares her for her ultimate journey to America, where she finds her future.

Each woman, in her own time and in her own way, experiences a world in transition through war and social change... and each must stretch the bounds of her loyalty, her courage, and her heart.

©2014 Consuelo Saah Baehr (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Get ready...

Get ready for a ride of a time in your life. Three Daughters hooked my interest in the most surprising way. I am more inclined to read (or listen) to adventure stories. But the way Karen Peakes read the portion of this book as offered, I realized an invitation was being offered to remember life as the most belittled adventure of all. She offered a most delicious read to a book the was so well written that her appreciation of Saah Baehr's story telling was an honored responsibility. The journey I was taken on I could not pack for. Three Daughters had placed me in three generations of distance and time that rewarded my attention with introductions to amazing women. As I experience my own life I find it full with women of courage, substance, love, forgiveness, understanding and acceptance. To know these women exist in places where my feet may never touch ground is not merely transporting but identifying. There are many things I am thankful for in my lifetime. Reading this book or hearing this book read by this reader, has become one of them.

Generational saga set in Palestine and the USA

The first paragraph of the publisher's summary is an excellent short description of Three Daughters: "From the fertile hills of a tiny village near Jerusalem to the elegant townhouses of Georgetown, Three Daughters is a historical saga that chronicles the lives, loves, and secrets of three generations of Palestinian Christian women." The story is set in the last half of the 19th century. It's a good, but not close to great, contemporary fiction novel. There are multiple gratuitous sex scenes that add nothing to the story. In retrospect the 23 hours spent listening to this book could have been better spent listening to good mysteries and thrillers.

Beautiful novel of love and loss

The description of the book is pretty accurate. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the narrator, who really brought the rich characters to life. I also enjoyed the historical touches, gaining insight into another culture, and brief history lessons. I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 for 2 reasons. First, parts of it dragged - although by the last few hours, I was dying to know how the story ended. Second, the ending left a few too many loose threads for my taste.

Excellent.

The best read in a long time and can't say enough. Provides a glimpse into a different culture as well as some background into the Israel /Palestine conflict.

Riveting

I couldn't put this down. The deep unpredictable characters kept me coming back for more. This beautiful story twists and weaves and forces you to the edge of your seat. Highest praise to Consuelo Saah Baehr.

Karen Peakes provides a narration that is nothing short of perfection. I could see the faces of the characters she voiced as she fluidly paints this remarkable tale.

Wonderful read. History and dynamic families.

Would you listen to Three Daughters again? Why?

Absolutely. The history was very interesting. May have lost focus on history the first time while listening to the characters.

Blown away

Any additional comments?

Im not in anyway an expert in literature, but I think I have a fair eye for talent. This writer has it in spades. I felt each individual deeply. Total immersion in a story that is layered and deep. I felt like crying when the story ended, I had become so invested in the final 'daughter'. Ive also lived in Israel, and could easily picture the scenes described...which was a road to nostalgia in and of itself. The narration was spot on. The story was greatly enhanced by the narrators accents and voice. I have no idea how narrators and stories are matched together, but this match was made in Heaven. Be prepared for very real scenes and expressions of feelings of grief, sex, anger and intrigue. This is an honest and real tale.

Beautiful stories...

Strong women and insight into culture unknown to me. Loved it so much. Would read again.

Great Story line

I really liked the setting, story, and narrator however; I didn't like all the graphic sex parts ( that kind of stuff just sticks in my head).Other than that great book!

Great story but ....

I loved the story right up until the last 15 minutes. A weak ending that felt like the author got sick of writing it!!