A Sight for Sore Eyes

By: Ruth Rendell

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Having published 45 books, Ruth Rendell is an internationally popular mystery writer. She has won four Gold Dagger and three Edgar awards. She has been presented with the Commander of the British Empire honor, and named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. In A Sight For Sore Eyes, Ruth Rendell’s exceptional literary talent shines from each word. Teddy Brex is a handsome young man. Raised by parents who never loved him, he has grown to put his trust in objects. Things rarely disappoint him the way people do. Francine Hill is a lovely sight. And, like Teddy, she carries deep psychological scars. What brings these two young people together, however, isn’t beauty. It is death. As Ruth Rendell probes the dark forces childhood has created in Teddy’s and Francine’s lives, an emotionally gripping story unfolds. Narrator Jenny Sterlin voices all the subtle layers of suspense that are the hallmark of Rendell’s incomparable work.

©1998 Kingsmarkham Enterprises (P)1999 Recorded Books, LLC

I love how Ruth Rendell develops her stories

This is one of her non-Wexford psychological stories that I've read several times, and listened to at least twice. It is delicious to see how the broken characters, who Rendell paints so carefully in the first half of the book, come together and lead to inevitable tragedy. It's the effect of watching a train crash in slow motion, knowing that there is nothing that can stop the crash, but recognizing the human failings that led to all the steps that brought about the downfall.

What an interesting read!

Never knew it would end that way! Haven't read one that twisting and turning in a while!

Gets you hooked right off

I was so interested and drawn into Teddy's pschy. Being an artist I am sympathetic to his dislike for ugliness. It is chilling when the sympathy and understanding turns into pity and then disgust. It is a very good writer/performer that can make you feel so in tune like that. All in all, it seemed pretty believable to me the way ones enviroment can shape their future self.
I agree with one of the other reviewers about the ending, I liked it, but it was somewhat off...maybe just cut short a bit? Somehow It was a tad lazy or lacking, after the build up to it. If not for that, this could be a 5 start book, for me.

Interesting Book

This is a well written, well narrated book. I'd have given the story a 5 but the ending missed slightly for me. If you are looking for something different, read this one.

Reader emits noises that are distracting

It's unkind, but whether it's a result of a dry mouth or popping sinuses, there are noises associated with the reader's voice that are terribly distracting. These noises combined with her strange interpretation of many characters' voices make it difficult to listen to this recording. This is a very enjoyable R. Rendell book, but the reader definitely detracts.

Full circle

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I wish Teddy had had just an ounce of humanity in him. But he was a pure psycho.

What was most disappointing about Ruth Rendell’s story?

The depravity of Teddy. And the ending was unsatisfying. I usually adore Ruth Rendell's books, but this one, not so much. The whole story just made me feel very sick and sad inside.

What about Jenny Sterlin’s performance did you like?

She was actually very good.

Was A Sight for Sore Eyes worth the listening time?

I wish I hadn't read it. It was so disturbing to me.

Any additional comments?

I loved Francine. If there was anyone who could've been Teddy's polar opposite, it was she.

Ruth Rendell Depressing Excellence

Ruth Rendell is one of my favorite authors. She creates complex characters. Her writing style is timeless, very sophisticated. This book is a great example of her excellence.

Sight for Sore Eyes is a very oppressive story. The characters are weighed down with all manner of psychological issues. They are fascinating.

Francine is a fragile girl, stunted at seven years old by the murder of her mother. She is sweet and obsessively over-protected by her Step Mother, Julia. Julia evolves into an astonishingly shocking character. Then there's Teddy--so creepy, so solopsistic, so psychopathic. Wow!

Julia and Teddy spin around Francine in a frenzy of control. Francine is maddeningly unaware of the two chaotic forces whirling around her. Ultimately, the forces clash and crash in spectacular ways.

Wonderful narration by Jenny Sterlin.

Can't guess the ending til the end

Only Rendell can make a reader understand, empathize, and even and root for a homocidal sociopath.

Not what I expected, but still worth a listen

Would you consider the audio edition of A Sight for Sore Eyes to be better than the print version?

No idea as I have not read the printed version.

If you’ve listened to books by Ruth Rendell before, how does this one compare?

This was my first Ruth Rendell I have listened too.

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

No.

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

Not really.

Any additional comments?

The story line was not what I expected. I did enjoy the way the reader covered the various characters.

As usual, rendall is a great storyteller but...

Some parts a bit on the gruesome side and hard to read. She is an amazing writer. Always the surprises!!