Burnt Mountain

By: Anne Rivers Siddons

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

From one of our most acclaimed writers comes this dramatic tale of a well-born Southern woman whose life is forever changed by the betrayal of her mother and by the man she loves.

Growing up, the only place tomboy Thayer Wentworth felt at home was at her summer camp - Camp Sherwood Forest in the North Carolina Mountains. It was there that she came alive and where she met Nick Abrams, her first love...and first heartbreak.

Years later, Thayer marries Aengus, an Irish professor, and they move into her deceased grandmother's house in Atlanta, only miles from Camp Edgewood on Burnt Mountain where her father died years ago in a car accident. There, Aengus and Thayer lead quiet and happy lives until Aengus is invited up to the camp to tell old Irish tales to the campers. As Aengus spends less time at home and becomes more distant, Thayer must confront dark secrets-about her mother, her first love, and, most devastating of all, her husband.

©2011 Anne Rivers Siddons (P)2011 Hachette

Southern Snore/Anne River Siddons

I was so excited that I just bought the book without thinking (Anne River Siddons) how could it not be terrific I am a true fan of hers. Found this novel lacking in thought - intelligence - feeling. Yawn - took up too much time listening

Not up to Siddons' usual caliber

The heroine was whiney and annoying, the plot was implausible (more so than usual) and this novel simply fell short of Anne Rivers Siddons usual professionalism. Very disappointed.

Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons

While I didn't truly appreciate the disjointed and perhaps a bit too tragic story I won't stop reading Anne Rivers Siddons because she really is an excellent writer and author.

Good,but more sadness than usual.

If you could sum up Burnt Mountain in three words, what would they be?

Amazing but sad.

If you’ve listened to books by Anne Rivers Siddons before, how does this one compare?

I love her books but this was not her best.It did hold my interest but I did cry a lot. My favorites are Faults Lines and Nora Nora, there are two other but they don't come to mind this minute.

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

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Kate Reading voice. It is lyrical, magical. She can do many voices and you believe she is really that person. I wish she could narrate every book. When I have listened to other books by Siddons, it is not the same if Kate Reading doesn't read them.

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

Many, it makes you think that Ms. Siddons has had a lot of loss in her life. You can't write about it the way she does unless you have experienced it. You would like to beat the mother. The mother is always terrible or missing in all her books.

Any additional comments?

This review may sound a little negative but I'm not sorry I bought it.

Meh

Very weak storyline not one of Anne’s best!
The reader was great! I would not recommend this book. Waste of a good credit.

Not Up to Snuff

I just finished listening to this. I usually love Siddons' books. I loved parts of this one. I hated the finale (just before the prologue) and especially the unsatisfactory explanations (in the prologue). I am so mad right now.

Not so great

As an Atlantan, there are so many inconsistencies in the history, geography, etc. that it was distracting and that is the most minor complaint I have about this book. In general, I am a Siddons fan, but this book seemed to have a meandering plot with no real purpose. The ending, while I won't give it away, was unbearably disappointing and anti-climactic. This is by far one of her worst efforts and not worth the listen.

On the up side, the narrator did a GREAT job with the varying accents that she was given and it was for the narrator alone that I finished listening to the book.

Not My Favorite of Anne River Siddons.

Would you consider the audio edition of Burnt Mountain to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed the performance of the narrator but the print and audio versions are about equal for me.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I thought the ending of this book to be rushed. It left me with many unanswered questions.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked the campfire scene where Nick & Thayer met.

If you could rename Burnt Mountain, what would you call it?

I wouldn't change the title of this.

Any additional comments?

There were a lot of gaps in this story that could have been filled in to make the book better.

Real stinker

ARS needs to put down the pen. Same book over and over with different names and towns. Real stink job.

Kept me turning the pages!

A very different and unique story. Rich characters! I think I will always remember this book.