Bittersweet

By: Nevada Barr

Narrated by: Linda Stephens

Best-selling author Nevada Barr delights contemporary mystery fans with novels like Deep South and Blood Lure. In Bittersweet, she departs the mystery genre for a touching story of hardship, perseverance, and love in the old West.

When strong-willed schoolteacher Imogene Grelznik is forced from Philadelphia by scandal, the only position she can find is in rural Pennsylvania. There she meets Sarah, a beautiful young student whose bright light of potential is on the verge of being extinguished by her father's arrangement to marry her off to an abusive, unfeeling man. Branded as lovers, Imogene and Sarah must flee to Nevada amidst suspicion and accusation. In a place of utter desolation, the two women struggle to love and care for each other as they seek freedom from prejudice and intolerance.

Bittersweet showcases Nevada Barr's powerful storytelling and strong, compassionate characters. Linda Stephens' heartfelt narration captures all the emotional depth of a story featuring life at its harshest, and at its most beautiful.

©2004 Recorded Books (P)2004 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Barr has drawn on women's diaries from the Old West to bring detail to this unusual romance. The result is an intriguing story, sensitive and authentic-sounding, and far different from what is usually considered a Western novel." (The Miami Herald)
"The novel...is tender and gentle in its exploration of commitment between two women, especially in days when females were expected to live out their narrow lives doing exhausting work and obeying their husbands." (St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch)
"A solid, unabashed piece of writing that glows with authenticity." (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

NOT “Lesbian Drama” Sexual assault trigger warning

I listened to this book, took me about 3 days of housework to get through it and I’m glad it’s done. The performance is fine, nothing special but nothing to complain about really.

The story, I didn’t like. Twice there are violent male on female sexual assaults and they are as graphic as any romance gets. This is a “lesbian drama” in the barest sense- two women with an ill-described and poorly explored sexual / romantic relationship fighting against the patriarchy of the day.

I don’t know if it’s because of the time period or even the years when the author was writing this but the fact that *****************spoiler one person dies and they sub the other, the other is only ever referred to as the first which blows my mind.

I don’t think I would be as upset about this if it wasn’t being advertised as a lesbian drama by Amazon.

The relationship between the protagonists could have been developed so much more, the story is just big events that happen over about 15 years and then it’s over. I’m glad I only listened to this as part of the romance package so I didn’t actually spend money on it. I’m not trying to be mean, but honest.

2nd times the charm.

I read this book many yrs ago. When I heard the teacher was fired,a light went off in my memory. Now I’m hooked and had to listen until the end. Yes, I cried again. Glad it wasn’t my life, back then, I’m not that strong. Great book, Hallmark movie?

Truly Bittersweet

This book was hard to get into at the beginning. But, about half way through it picked up. I didn't particularly like the ending, but I found that the book haunted me. I actually missed the characters when I had finished the book. I wanted to know more about them and continue with the story. The author seemed to spend too much time telling stories that didn't relate to the overall idea of the book. The author was able to make me feel for and care about the characters. Even though I thought she took too much time telling the story. I would recommend it.

Interesting but slow

I really enjoy Nevada Barr's books, and enjoy historical fiction. I thought it was interesting to see how these women dealt with the pressures of the time, but felt it was a bit long. It felt very autobiographical, in that there was a lot of details about different periods of their lives and you were led from one event to another, not sure when it was going to end. Although it was slow, I thought it was worth it to get an original story that showed with compassion the lives of two individuals who had to make hard choices to survive in a time not remotely accomodating for gays and lesbians.

What a hard life women endured.

Brutal life, what one strong woman’s life adventures take place in effort to strive to be excepted, respected and make a life in a difficult earlier period of time. The author takes you through many journeys of unfolding events with fine details.