Enemy Women

By: Paulette Jiles

Narrated by: Reba Buhr

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

As lyrical and poignant as Ahab’s Wife and Cold Mountain, here is a wondrous tale set against the tragedy of the American Civil War.... 

“Jiles carries her gifts with deft precision.” (New York Times Book Review) 

The Colley family is made of modest farmers in the Missouri Ozarks. Although Southerners, the Colleys try to remain neutral, a fact ignored by the Union militia who confiscate their livestock, burn their farm, and arrest their daughter, Adair, on charges of “enemy collaboration”. 

Yet as this innocent young woman soon discovers, fate can have a double edge. While imprisoned, she falls in love with her interrogator, a Union major who helps her escape. Transferred to the front lines, he promises he will survive and marry her. And Adair, now an escaped convict, must begin her own harrowing journey through the wilderness and enemy territory to find the family she left behind. In unsentimental yet elegant prose, Paulette Jiles reveals the universal horrors of war and its irreparable damage and introduces a wonderful new character in a memorable, touching story.

©2002 Paulette Jiles (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Might be better to read this one

I love Paulette Jiles’ writing. This is no exception; meticulously researched historical fiction at its best, an original Civil War tale focusing on the end of the war in the very divided state of Missouri, and a heroine that is complex and lovable. Loved it. BUT - the book is organized with snippets of original source material at the opening of every chapter. These “interludes” were very interesting and provide the reader with insights that enhance the overall content. As an Audible listen though, they disrupt the content and flow of the story telling. The ear/mind had to keep adjusting as it wasn’t always clear when the narrative stopped and the snippets began. If this does not bother you then listen away.

The Narration made the book!

I tried to read this book on my kindle but was struggling due to the author’s stylistic choice to not use quotation marks. I am so glad I chose to listen on audiobook instead!

This is hands down the best audiobook narrator I’ve ever encountered! I’ll be looking for other work by her. She had a myriad of voices for characters, and she allowed the main characters’s wry humor to glimmer through in a most charming way! Excellent performance of an excellent text!

Terrible narration!

Paulette Jiles is a very gifted story teller. She weaves history and story so vividly. This is the first audible book I’ve used for Paulette Jiles. The narrator uses horrible voices. She should stick to just using her own voice without changing into character voices. She fails at that. All the men sound like course idiots, and sometimes the women sound like a shrill cartoon mouse. I can’t take it. Please! Just plain read!!!

For those who read for style...

I frequently read or listen for style. This book is beautify read, but for the style alone, it deserves to be read. It’s the third Jiles novel I’ve listened to, but I’ll definitely be getting a hard copy as well. The poetic phrasing is unique and beautiful and well worth your time.

Just couldn’t take another minute

I quit this book 3 times. Kept giving it another chance because I like Paulette Jiles; “News of the World” is a favorite.
Made it through chapter 15 when I just had to give up.
There is no flow to the story, the characters are shallow & uninteresting , the dialogue discordant.
Exchanging for something good.

Enemy Women is another great story by Paulette Jules

I have listened to and enjoyed News of the World and Simon the Fidler. Enemy Women is equally engrossing and well written. I didn’t think the performance by Reba Buhr was as good as Grover Gardner for the other two books.

Nice story but narrator should have studied

As a native of the area the pronunciation of the town names were cringe worthy. I almost had to stop. With the availability of resources these days, she could have easily studied. If nothing else, make a few phone calls. More names mispronounced than were correct. Do yourself a favor and read this one instead of listening to audio.

Startling

Great courage in the face of atrocities from an unlikely heroine - an 18 year old girl! Phenomenal writing with quotes from historical sources to back up the accuracy of the situations. The narrator is fabulous too. I was disappointed in the ending because the reader is left to imagine the meeting of two people who have traveled so far to find each other.

Bored

I didn't enjoy this story at all, despite living in the area where the book is set. I knew most of the places the author mentioned and I still was bored with this book.

This book seems to have large story line holes.

This book seemed to be missing large sections of plot line. She is madly in love, but they really haven't spent any time together? I even checked to see if I was reading the abridged version, because that is what it felt like.