Fair and Tender Ladies

By: Lee Smith

Narrated by: Kate Forbes

Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Author of many novels and short stories, best-selling writer Lee Smith has received numerous awards for her works, including two O. Henry Awards. Fair and Tender Ladies is an epistolary novel that traces the life of Ivy Rowe, born in the isolated Virginia mountain community of Sugar Fork.

Twelve-year-old Ivy writes her first letter to a Dutch pen pal, who never replies. She also writes many more to her sister Sylvaney, who is mentally disabled and illiterate. Gaining more from writing than receiving any replies, Ivy continues a colorful stream of letters during her long life. Through births and deaths, marriages and funerals, the decades of Ivy's life are captured in a rich dialect that carries the sounds and sights of the Appalachians in each syllable.

Lee Smith's genius lies in her ability to create the landscape of a character's mind with economy and grace. Perfectly complementing Smith's talent, narrator Kate Forbes provides a unique voice for Ivy.

©1988 Lee Smith (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Readers will be thoroughly captivated by Ivy Rowe, the narrator of this epistolary novel, and will come to the end of her story with a pang of regret. Smith has produced her best work here, creating a fully rounded heroine and other vivid characters who inhabit Virginia's Appalachia region....In the old tradition of oral storytelling, Smith has fashioned a dramatic, magical, poignantly true-to-life tale." (Publishers Weekly)
"Ivy writes with a verve and immediacy which prove that her creator, Lee Smith, is a storyteller supreme." (School Library Journal)

Completely entertaining

What an enjoyable story about a woman in Appalachia, full of adventure and pluck and strength. Kate Forbes was wonderful as the voice of Ivy in her letters.

These are people you'll enjoy knowing

I loved this book, a fictional account of a woman's life in rural Virginia. The performer narrating the book did such a wonderful job -- she brought Ivy Rowe to life and I loved how her voice changed as the years passed and the character grew older. Very nuanced. I also really enjoyed that the entire book was told in letter form and I think that format is served especially well by being narrated.

I wish I could visit.

Listening to "Fair and Tender Ladies" was wonderful. I loved the reader and the tale told. I am not so sure I understand the title.

Great for a road trip

My 19 year old daughter and I listened to this on a 1000 mile get-there-in-a-hurry road trip and loved it. The narrator does a great job and has an authentic accent (I know because I spent about 10 years in the south although I am not a native of that accent.)

On the way home, we had to drive till 1 am to get to a place with an open motel booking and hardly noticed our fatigue because it is such a good story even though told in the form of letters to various people.

I hate this book so much.

this book is the story of ivy Rowe. it is a boring slog that will make you struggle to finish it. I'm pretty sure the only reason I finished it is I binged it over the course of two days. the story starts out promising and remains that way for quite some time. but before you get to chapter 10 the book becomes unbearably horrendous. I like the protagonist for the first five chapters and after that I kind of lost interest. towards the end I ended up growing to hate her. she has the thought process of a 20 something that doesn't know what they want. and trust me I would know I'm a 20 something that doesn't know what they would want. however the actual person reading the audiobook does an amazing job and at least tries to keep it interesting.

Fair and Tender Ladies

I was unfamiliar with the works of Lee Smith until I listened to this audiobook. My family roots are in Appalachia, and I was immediately transported back to my childhood. The speech patterns and idioms brought my grandmother vivdly to mind. I have since read the book, and I don't think I would have done so if I hadn't first listened to it. The narrator does a superb job; anyone interested in the history of Appalachia would love this reading.

Wonderful sweeping story

Great characters and an interesting story in this life of this extraordinary woman. Enjoyed the reader.. the accent was charming. My first Lee Smith book.. and I'll look for others. She's got the Southern thang just right.

Bittersweet

I really enjoyed listening to this story since I am of an age to appreciate all the stages of life described in this book, The author does a wonderful job of describing the bitter and sweet found in the main character's life and that is found in all our lives. The story is just plain beautiful!
The narrator does a superb job with her dialect and her adherence to the flavor of the story. I got both the written and audio versions and found the audio version more engaging and easier to follow than the written because, I believe, how the words sounded was very important in this story. I did not want the story to end!

Holy Shi*

This was unbelievable. So so amazing. The narrator actually aged her voice as the years passed in the book. Smith does the most incredible job of allowing her character to grow and expand, exploring a full and intense life span. I don't usually gush but this was profoundly enjoyable and deep.

original.addicting.entertaining

If you could sum up Fair and Tender Ladies in three words, what would they be?

original format kate forbes makes it great

Who was your favorite character and why?

ivy, of course.

Which scene was your favorite?

the return after her infidelity.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

letters to mine.

Any additional comments?

i can and will listen to kate forbes whenever possible.she is so gifted as a narrator.