Warm and Willing

By: Lawrence Block

Narrated by: Emily Beresford

Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

An emotionally and sexually frustrated divorcée explores her mounting attraction to women.

Rhoda’s divorce has her thinking that romance is not for her. But maybe she just needs to look in a new direction. Megan is an attractive blonde who instantly sees what Rhoda’s love life has been missing: a woman’s touch. As Megan guides Rhoda into the sensuous - but hidden - world of women who love women, the two unlock a passion that may be too hot to contain. There are a lot of beautiful women in the Village, and Rhoda’s just begun her adventure as a freewheeling lesbian.

©1965, 2010 LB Productions (P)2014 LB Productions

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Any additional comments?

Warm and Willing is the story of Rhoda, a new divorcee, who is on her own in the Village in New York City. This is a story of exploration and finding out who Rhoda really is. It turns out that Rhoda wasn't frigid as much as the fact that she didn't know that she was a lesbian. We journey with Rhoda as she first meets Megan, a beautiful blond who helps her figure out who she is. The story shows us what it was to be a lesbian in the 1960's.

This story really showed the 'underground' like atmosphere of being homosexual during the 60's. A time where woman didn't walk down the street holding hands or showing public displays of affection. Neither did men for that matter. It was really an eye opener.

This is the 3rd book narrated by Ms. Beresford that I have listened to. She is truly a gifted narrator. She has a way of making each character their own. She really knows how to draw you into the story and makes you want more.

I would recommend this book.

Well told, but very much of its time

Is there anything you would change about this book?

No. A book would have to be appallingly bad before I would consider it proper to tell the author how to do their job.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The portrayal of the 1960s lesbian underground was the most interesting element for me.

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

No.

Do you think Warm and Willing needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. It stands alone as a complete story.

Any additional comments?

In the 60s, the young-ish Lawrence Block - one of my very favourite writers - created a character called Jill Emerson. Jill wasn't a private eye, an alcoholic, a burglar or even a hitwoman - at least not that I know of. Jill Emerson was a writer - a persona used by Block even in communication with Jill's publishers - and she wrote frequently lesbian fiction. Knowing this, WARM AND WILLING is not quite what I expected. It's not the fluffy wanton girl-on-girl soft porn titillation its title suggests - although it has its moments. It's a little more literary at heart. An attempt to write a Lesbian Novel with merit beyond the boob, the butt, and whatever mysteries may lie beyond. Briefly, Rhoda (24) leaves a loveless marriage ("I never refused him") and is eventually persuaded by a more experienced woman who just *knows* that Rhoda's marriage failed because - unbeknownst to the lass herself - she is a clear and present lezzer. Albeit out of uniform - no short hair or dungarees.

Sex follows.

Manhattan moves.

Rhoda quotes TS Eliot.

And Block explores both her character and a largely dysfunctional lesbo-underground within the heart of his old familiar New York.

Listening to WARM & WILLING, it's clearly very much of its time. The attitudes and era it describes are long gone. And the idea that lesbians must dwell in the "the world of shadows, the twilight world" is alien to me. This isn't something that happens when I'm reading other works - almost as old - by Block so it maybe says more about me than about the book. Either way, there was a little distance between me and the story, and I found myself often listening more as an exercise in analysis and comparison than in simple enjoyment of a story well told.

However, it is well told. The narrative is, as you might expect, detailed and precise. The dialogue, crisp. The relationship dynamics, shaded in grey. And the performance by Emily Beresford accentuates all the above.

A relaistic look at the life of a Lesbian.

WOW, great story! It made me look at the lesbian life in a whole new light. I had no idea that relationships didn't last as long as heterosexual, nor did I even think of how others would see it. It is always good to view life from all sides.
This is a story about a woman who's marriage was annulled due to her being frigid which turned out that she is a lesbian and didn't know it. We follow along with Rhoda as she explores the world of being a lesbian and into self discovery.
The author, Lawrence Block did a great job portraying the story here with a realistic look at the lives of several lesbians. The narrator, Emily Beresford did a great job with the reading. I love how she can do so many different voice and nail accents and all. This book opened my eyes. Good job to you both!

Vintage Block - A Coming of Age Lesbian Story

Where does Warm and Willing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Warm and Willing is in the top quarter of all the audiobooks I've listened to. Being a Lawrence Block fan, I enjoy all his writing. His wide range of subjects and depth is incredible.

What other book might you compare Warm and Willing to and why?

I would compare Warm and Willing to Thirty, another Lawrence Block coming of age erotica novel.

What does Emily Beresford bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emily Beresford brought the story to life. Her voice is sweet and very feminine - perfect for this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It didn't make me laugh or cry just made me a little sad. It reminded me that people who are different are born that way. Their lives are made more difficult by society.

Any additional comments?

Solid, entertaining story without being preachy.

wow

I'm having a hard time describing just how wrong this story feels. From start to finish. Just ridiculous plot on top of more ridiculous plot.

Dated

Anytime I can get an audio that focuses on Bi or lesbian women I make sure to get it. This was an especially good month with this book as well as Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult. Normally it's very difficult to find a book by a mainstream author with a lesbian theme. Okay, perhaps in it's day this was probably a highly progressive look at a scorned and feared minority. Unfortunately that was fifty years ago and the text comes off as hopelessly out of date in atmosphere, as well as attitudes. If you're an older GBLT member or supporter this book might be a reminder of just how far we've come. I on the other hand, am a 34 year old bisexual woman and the fear and self hatred expressed in this book turned me off in a hurry and eventually I gave up on it and decided that in the future I would take a much longer look at an audio before I spend too much time on it.

ummmmm?

not sure if this was Disney porn.... it was like, sleeping beauty, Cinderella, old lady likes highschool..... this was awful. I lost interest at chapter 3.