The Patron Saint of Liars

De: Ann Patchett

Narrado por: Julia Gibson

A New York Times Notable Book

Acclaimed author Ann Patchett's debut novel, hailed as ""beautifully written . . . a first novel that second- and third-time novelists would envy for its grace, insight, and compassion” (Boston Herald)

St. Elizabeth’s, a home for unwed mothers in Habit, Kentucky, usually harbors its residents for only a little while. Not so Rose Clinton, a beautiful, mysterious woman who comes to the home pregnant but not unwed, and stays. She plans to give up her child, thinking she cannot be the mother it needs. But when Cecilia is born, Rose makes a place for herself and her daughter amid St. Elizabeth’s extended family of nuns and an ever-changing collection of pregnant teenage girls. Rose’s past won’t be kept away, though, even by St. Elizabeth’s; she cannot remain untouched by what she has left behind, even as she cannot change who she has become in the leaving.

The best!

This reader is outstanding! This story absolutely comes to life With her reading it. It is my all-time favorite audio book! I’ve listen to it four times and could definitely listen four more.

Secrets and Lies

Since I'm just discovering Ann Patchett and her earlier novels (and have recently gotten hooked on Dani Shapiro's "Inheritance" memoir and subsequent "Family Secrets" podcast), this kind of story is ripe for 'Cecilla' to discover her family secret and have some peace in the unraveling of her story. A convenient plot twist to have another character dye her hair to give her a new look – hoping to cheer her up after her mother disappears and before her - [*SPOILER ALERT COMING" } - her "bio" dad unexpectedly shows up and they can't recognize that they might possibly be related - leaves me unsatisfied.

However, those were the secrets kept back in the 60s/70s and 80s and this is a fictional story - not a real one. All of Ann Patchett's novels are wildly different - although this story could have been created from someone she knew or had heard about. Nonetheless, (no pun intended), the story tries to examine that a child can grow up with love from strangers and establish a healthy sense of self – even if they don't get it from their biological parents. But, a lack of parental love can really screw someone up and the damage it does when it could be preventable leaves me feeling the lead character was selfish and hard to relate to.

Best Patchett novel

My only complaint is the music in this recording that serves as a break between sections. I found the choice of notes unsettling. Other than that, read perfectly. And, of course, the story was mesmerizing. I feel heartbroken in a way.

I found myself stopping and rewinding so I could hear words, sentences, passages again and again. Ann Patchett is a wizard with the English language, putting words together in a way that won’t leave a reader.

I’ve never read a story if a character so flawed who is not a villain. As a mother, and a daughter, I wanted to hate her, and there were moments when I did, but somehow those moments faded.

Rose is the most flawed character ever who wasn’t also just terrible. The way patchett balanced that concept is nothing short of miraculous.

I’m a reader from Kentucky…

And I have to say I was a little disappointed in the mispronunciation of Cadiz by the narrator. It would have been fairly easy to find out the correct pronunciation. Overall, I enjoyed the story, though it ended abruptly for me.

Disappointed

The story was entertaining but the ending was abrupt. Most of the characters are hard to relate to n they his book. The musical transitions where annoying.