Mobility

A Novel

By: Lydia Kiesling

Narrated by: Kelli Tager

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A propulsive novel about class, power, politics, and desire by the celebrated author of The Golden State.

The year is 1998, the End of History. The Soviet Union is dissolved, the Cold War is over, and Bunny Glenn is an American teenager in Azerbaijan with her Foreign Service family. Through Bunny’s eyes we watch global interests flock to the former Soviet Union during the rush for Caspian oil and pipeline access, hear rumbles of the expansion of the American security state and the buildup to the War on Terror. We follow Bunny from adolescence to middle age—from Azerbaijan to America—as the entwined idols of capitalism and ambition lead her to a career in the oil industry, and eventually back to the scene of her youth, where familiar figures reappear in an era of political and climate breakdown.

Both geopolitical exploration and domestic coming-of-age novel, Mobility is a propulsive and challenging story about class, power, politics, and desire told through the life of one woman—her social milieu, her romances, her unarticulated wants. Mobility deftly explores American forms of complicity and inertia, moving between the local and the global, the personal and the political, and using fiction’s power to illuminate the way a life is shaped by its context.

©2023 Lydia Kiesling (P)2023 Zando

Interesting international story

Was an interesting story about a girl becoming a woman with an international background. Interesting kind of slice of the world.

Enjoyable

At first I thought I'd download a YA novel with all the details of make up and fashion with angst of a of a teenage, but stuck with it and enjoyed the last half much more.

Traveling Abroad and in Time

Beginning was not my favorite and then I was hooked literally to the end! Story weaves women’s issues climate change geopolitical issues and relationships.

Good Cautious Tale

Regarding the reader’s performance, she had the challenge of lots of accents and names and places from around the world. She got a number of them right but glaringly missed on a few place name pronunciations. Those were a distraction from an otherwise engaging reading.

Having no talent for identifying types of makeup, hair cuts, fashion designers and statement pieces, I learned a lot about the feminine world I’ve never wanted to immerse myself in. I’m just a mascara and lip balm gal. Bunny’s focus on the superficial is a clever character trait that helps move the plot and actually deepens the theme of the novel.

Great listen!

An engaging linear narrative with a very relatable (at least for this millennial) protagonist that manages to grapple with global sociopolitical themes. Thought-provoking and entertaining!

Well told and thought provoking

The book: well told blend of coming of age, and from international oil to energy transition and a preview of the future. Intricate details surely borrowed in part from the authors personal experience but this lends authenticity. I listened to this story while traveling to work with energy companies, and spent time in Baku, where the story starts, and it brought back memories.

The audio book: reading generally worked well for voice of protagonist Bunny/Elizabeth. But - several recurring mispronunciations are distracting, particularly as the book highlights the pronunciation of Schlumberger, Errors include “Armaco” instead of “a-RAM-co,” “Ka-zak-a-stan” instead of “Kaz-akh-stan” the Texas city Vidor should be “Vie-der” but also noted on “promulgate” and a few other non-proper nouns.

Really Sent Me Down the Rabbit Hole

… and least of all because the protagonist’s name is Bunny. I’m really grateful for this telling of the current state of the world, and its inevitable forecasting. For a while (ok, most of the book), Mobility feels like a crash course in the history of the oil and “energy” industries from the point of view of a vapid, I even found myself thinking “stupid”, and maligned woman throughout the course of her life. I found with a shattering realization that I am basically Bunny, trapped in consumerism and selectively uninformed. This ended up being a very emotional piece for me in spite of my initial annoyed appraisal, and having read it I feel, in a way, like I’ve been unplugged from the Matrix.

Mobility

This story is interesting but not that compelling. Spoiled teenage girl who is not the least bit interesting grows up to be ambitious and eventually successful adult who finally turns her back on a diabolical business to become a surprisingly decent person and mother.

A timely tale with an enigmatic protagonist

I really enjoyed this book. I learned about it by listening to a podcast where the author was on and speaking about her new book. The main character, Bunny, is a relatable, and sometimes challenging character, because her daily struggles with trying to figure out what is “right“, is relatable in this age of extreme uncertainty. Never overly sentimental and with no trite, expected-for-drama outcomes… This book is a worthy read.

Diplomatic lives - Real Story

Amazingly accurate, intelligent tale of a diplomatic family…full of insight and nuance. Uncanny eye for detail, and a truly authentic voice detailing a generation.