The Lace Reader Audiobook By Brunonia Barry cover art

The Lace Reader

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The Lace Reader

By: Brunonia Barry
Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
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In the tradition of The Thirteenth Tale, Brunonia Barry’s bewitching gothic novel, The Lace Reader, is a phenomenon. Called “[a] richly imagined saga of passion, suspense, and magic” by Time Magazine, it is a haunting and remarkable tale told by an unforgettable, if strangely unreliable narrator—a woman from an enigmatic Salem family who can foretell the future in patterns of lace. The Lace Reader was a runaway New York Times bestseller—hitting the top lists in major cities across the country, from Boston to Chicago to Los Angeles—and has immediately established debut author Brunonia Barry as a major force in contemporary American fiction.©2006 Brunonia Barry; (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers Genre Fiction Gothic Historical Horror Mystery Psychological Women Sleuths Exciting Heartfelt
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A classic plot of troubles and transformation with a cast full of women of all ages and in all stages of life make this a fun read.

Light but thoughtful chick-lit

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Great performance by Barry--lilting voice but not sing-song. Didn't grate on my nerves. Story was terrific with a bit of a twist. Characters well drawn and sympathetic (even Cal!) I'll look for my by the author and the reader!

Compelling but not addictive

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New England is always a great venue for a tale, this was an interesting read, unfortunately I am one who likes ends tied up and I was left not quite sure about a lot of the story.

New England history

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The book was wonderful. Listen once, and then listen to it again with a new understanding after "Reading the Lace".

Unbelievably Wonderful

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I didn't read this book when it first came out because it sounded sort of chick-lit-ish. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing and for what outstanding characters Barry created. I wanted to know what had happened to them, was surprised by what did happen and was deeply drawn into the story. Excellent book.

Unexpectedly riveting

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I found the idea that the intricacies of lace could hold clues to one's future rather intrigueing. The book captured my imagination and did not disappoint. I did not suspect what the end would be until I was almost there; it made me go back to to start so I could understnad everything better. I had forgotten what Towner had said about lying.

engrossing

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If you can navigate the irritating quotes from the "Lace Readers Guide" without purposely running your boat into the rocks, just to end it all, and get to the final chapters, you will be well rewarded and want to read this book again.

Repetitive but rewarding

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I enjoyed this story and the characters. It kept me intrigued enough to listen to the entire book in one sitting.

I listened all night

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Towner is an example of an unreliable narrator. From the beginning you suspect that her judgments of the events from the past and the present are distorted. The ending was a surprise that I didnt see coming. It was riveting as much as it was hard to stomach. I would recommend this book to anyone familiar with the North Shore and Salem lifestyle and history, but only if you can stand a virulent plot thread of meanness, murder, and the foulest of abuse. The authors genius is the tapestry of images that is woven as a back drop to the story. The Eastern Yacht Club, Hamilton Hall, Derby Street, the witches, the tourists, the common, even the restoring of the ship off Pickering Wharf, it is all there and described so well that I could smell the sea air mixed with street vender sausage and peppers.

Difficult but good

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A compelling story with a good, surprising ending. The type of book that leaves you mulling it over in your head long after the narrative has ended.

As a crafter, I chose this book because of its apparent topic of lace making. However, I found that the story doesn't particularly pertain to or revolve around the handcrafting, but rather uses the tradition and history of handmade lace as a rich background from which to draw parallels and metaphors. It's artfully done.

The narrator of the audio version does a great job with the voices, including older women, cops, and adolescents. My one complaint: she doesn't pause enough between sentences or paragraphs, so it's a little difficult to find a good stopping point.

enjoyable

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