Madapple

By: Christina Meldrum

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

The secrets of the past meet the shocks of the present.

Aslaug is an unusual young woman. Her mother has brought her up in near isolation, teaching her about plants and nature, and language - but not about life. Especially not how she came to have her own life, and who her father might be.

When Aslaug’s mother dies unexpectedly, everything changes. For Aslaug is a suspect in her mother’s death. And the more her story unravels, the more questions unfold. About the nature of Aslaug’s birth. About what she should do next. About whether divine miracles have truly happened. And whether, when all other explanations are impossible, they might still happen this very day.

Addictive, thought-provoking, and shocking, Madapple is a pause-resisting exploration of human nature and divine intervention - and of the darkest corners of the human soul.

©2008 Christina Meldrum (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"There is much to ponder in this enthralling achievement from a debut author." ( Booklist)

A second time read

This is my second time reading this book. The first was when I was in high school in 2014.

This book has never left my mind, and i’m very glad I found it again. I love the surrealness of the story, you feel the confusion, curiosity and knowledge that the character feels. The back and fourth between chapters paints the story before the story even gets there and it’s a perfect insight into what’s coming.

Dark, bittersweet & mysterious coming of age tale

What made the experience of listening to Madapple the most enjoyable?

Christina Meldrum's style is very descriptive which lends itself to world-building and setting the mood of the story. She is perceptive and subtle in her construction of her characters which are very 3-dimensional for the most part. Although, far-fetched, the narrative and character-behaviour felt realistic. I really cared about the heroine, Aslaug, and was completely drawn into the story.

What about Kirsten Potter’s performance did you like?

Her pronunciation of the Danish words sounded authentic. Also, I feel that she accurately portrayed Aslaug's voice - her naivete and intelligence.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several moments which touched on emotions, however, the 'tender' moments in the story such as the love scene between Aslaug and Rune, and the points when Aslaug gives birth, and when she is kept from her child were also particularly emotional. Also, during scenes with Sara and Sanne, I felt anger and incredulity.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book, although it was a long book, and slow moving for the first half, and at times, fraught with confusion and injustice. However, the ending felt slightly abrupt, and I would have appreciated more explanation around Aslaug's paternity, why her mother was as bitter and reclusive and as obsessed with religion and myth as she was, and Rune's thoughts and feelings, particularly towards Aslaug and the two pregnancies he fathered.