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Vinegar Girl
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Series: Hogarth Shakespeare, Book 3
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 06-21-16
- Language: English
- Publisher: Random House Audio
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $22.40
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With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, author Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files, and documents. The focus is on the explosive debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Air Force One, and the White House residence.
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Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office.
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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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Overall
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4 out of 5 stars
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Overall5 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.
7 of 7 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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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.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Nancy H
- 04-25-17
Mispronunciation Ruined Story
What would have made Vinegar Girl better?
Narrator using correct pronunciation of Russian character's name.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
I usually like Anne Tyler stories. I might have enjoyed it if I had read it myself, but the narrator's continual screwing up the pronunciation of Pyotr just hurt my ears.
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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
- Zoe
- 03-12-17
This Novel Surprised Me
I didn't expect this novel to be so moving and entertaining. I listened to it over one weekend and was sorry when it ended. I found it to be creative and engaging.