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Vinegar Girl
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Wonderful characters
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Barnaby Gaitlin has been in trouble ever since adolescence. He had this habit of breaking into other people's houses. It wasn't the big loot he was after, like his teenage cohorts. It was just that he liked to read other people's mail, pore over their family photo albums, and appropriate a few of their precious mementos. But for 11 years now, he's been working steadily for Rent-a-Back, renting his back to old folks and shut-ins who can't move their own porch furniture or bring the Christmas tree down from the attic. But it looks as though his world may fall apart again....
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4 out of 5 stars
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So much to like... but a little cheesy.
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Meet Macon Leary--a travel writer who hates both travel and strangeness. Grounded by loneliness, comfort, and a somewhat odd domestic life, Macon is about to embark on a surprising new adventure, arriving in the form of a fuzzy-haired dog obedience trainer who promises to turn his life around.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Extraordinary How Underwhelmed I Am
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,369
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At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent!
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Publisher's Summary
Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty, and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies.
Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister, Bunny? Plus, she's always in trouble at work - her preschool charges adore her, but their parents don't always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.
Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There's only one problem: His brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost.
When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he's relying - as usual - on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: This time he's really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men's touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hope
- 07-20-16
Well worth a listen
Any additional comments?
I bought this audiobook for two reasons; I was curious about what would be done with such a problematical plot in a current setting and I know Anne Tyler as a very good author. I don't usually read Anne Tyler; I have had enough angst and deep sorrow in my own life that I choose to read books that don't put me through it.
If I had had to rate Vinegar Girl in the middle of reading it I would probably have given it 3 stars. There is a lot of family dysfunction and I didn't love the characters. I was pretty uncomfortable; it was not happy reading, but it never reached the point where I thought seriously about not finishing. I am so very glad that I did finish. Anne Tyler really did take The Taming of the Shrew and make it work and beyond that, she made it make sense.
If you know Shakespeare, you know the plot; Tyler certainly deviates from the original; she has to in order for the plot to make any sense in today's world. She does hit the high points of the play but I really had no idea how she would bring it all together at the end, but she does, and it is brilliant. I was completely charmed by her ending.
I want to mention that I also appreciated that she kept the book very tight; it is short as audiobooks go these days, but it was the right length for what she accomplished; there was no filler in it. It is so much harder to skip filler in audiobooks than in print; I have sometimes loved the plot and characters in a book and have just been worn out by all of the extras thrown in. Thank goodness for a disciplined author and for good editors.
Kirsten Potter was brilliant all the way through. I have heard her read before and she is one of the audio narrators who really shines in the profession.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ZH
- MD, United States
- 10-11-16
Hilarous and clever
The narrator did a wonderful job. I found the book witty and quite funny.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michelle D.
- 06-21-17
Family quirks and cross-cultural romance!
I laughed out loud at some of the cultural and language clashes in this story, and at Kate's social awkwardness and sweetness. Such a fun story of family dynamics and love!
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Robin Wardle
- 05-05-17
An Unexpected Pleasure
Thoroughly enjoyed this audible book. Loved each character and the narrator's wonderfully witty performance! The story was engaging and cleverly written. Can't wait for our Brooklyn discussion.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Darren
- Macon, GA, United States
- 10-27-16
I really appreciated this version!
The story is very cute and frustrating, but the characters are lovable. I have recommended this for a fun short read!!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gretchen
- Salinas, CA, United States
- 05-01-18
WELL DONE!
This book was a joy to listen to. The characters were quirky, and socially awkward, but they each had gifts to offer that enriched others' lives. I found this story humorous, cleverly written and ultimately uplifting. The narrator was just the right person for these voices.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Joy Schwabach
- 06-03-17
Funny and Fun
It was so enjoyable listening to this while I did yoga. The reader is amazing, the plot hilarious. Overall, it's a nice take on Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lynn Maudlin
- 10-17-19
Excellent Performance and Entertaining Retelling
I do a fair chunk of moderately long-distance driving, so I've come to really appreciate audiobooks. As VINEGAR GIRL started, I wasn't immediately engaged - but that didn't last long, so I'm glad I pushed through my initial resistance.
Kirsten Potter's narrative style is a perfect touch for this very entertaining retelling of The Taming of The Shrew by William Shakespeare. It's not a strict retelling but I think it really works, and I found myself wondering how Anne Tyler was going to resolve this issue or develop that conflict, and that only added to my pleasure. I think the story works fine for those who aren't very familiar with The Taming of The Shrew - but I suspect it's even more fun for those of us who are.
I also loved the epilogue - it made me very happy. I finished the book and immediately listened again, as it's a short read and I wasn't quite ready to leave these people.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Antonette
- 01-21-19
It took me a minute, but...
I kept forgetting this was a retelling of the Taming of the Shrew. but one I remembered this story became delightful. the readers accents were a little muddled to me especially close to the end.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- intendyourlife
- 06-28-17
Diagloue weak but enjoyable story to hear.
Character development not particularly good. Classic story and great performance makes it a nice way to pass time.