Play Book Tag discussion

Unpopular opinion time: I did not enjoy this book.

It's obvious Geraldine Brooks did extensive research both on the real life Caleb, but also the Puritan way of thought, and the times syntax. this is executed very well. I think the audiobook didn't do this any favors- but I had a hard time 'caring' for these characters and this book as a whole. Listening to this felt more like a chore to me than an enjoyable experience. I'm not sure if it's because of the language- maybe that it felt like a book I was forced to read in high school? All of the above?

The plotline seemed really appealing to me, a girl growing befriending a Native American and evesdropping for an education? How progressive for the times! Unfortunately that's not how it panned out for me. The book's called Caleb's Crossing, but it really isn't about Caleb at all- he's more of a minor character. We follow Bethia growing up unable to learn and gain access to education because she is a girl. The first part was the most interesting- the building of characters, the overlying themes of the Purtian world. The problem was that I just didn't care about any of the characters, and they seemed unreal to me (which is funny, since it's based off a TRUE Story).

The number one reason why I think I should have read this instead of listened to the audiobook is because of Bethia's voice. Bethia starts out at like 12 or 13 years old. Bethia's voice in the audiobook sounded like she was 55 THE ENTIRE TIME. I'm thinking this might have ruined the entire book for me. I understand that the language and syntax is normal of a 12 year old at the time- but when she sounds like a 55-65 year old librarian telling me to shusshhh the whole time? It's not even the language, but just the way her voice sounded. Why didn't the producer get a younger woman to voice the first person narrative of a young adult? I didn't like Bethia from the start.

Me not liking Bethia could have been fine. I love novels with unlikable characters. The problem was I didn't CARE about Bethia. I felt no sympathy towards her, despite her frankly shitty situation. That with the subplots that go nowhere (view spoiler)[Bethia and Caleb in a relationship? Everyone dies in a shipwreck. WTF Harvard Library sex with a suitor? Caleb never has any problems? (hide spoiler)] is what made this a 2-star read for me.

I haven't read this one, but I got really turned off by her when I read Year of Wonders. I gave it 2.5 stars. I'm often tempted to read People of the Book based on its premise. But, then I have flashbacks to how put out YOW made me! I, too, am in the minority on my view of her work.

ouch Caleb's Crossing wasn't my favorite book, the title is definitely misleading. But I did like it better than you did.

Regina - I do think you might like People of the Book. I like it the best of her books. It's also told as a series of linked short stories, which, at a stretch, might qualify for December's tag.

This probably would be a poor audiobook choice and if the narrator did Bethia in an annoying manner it would be disastrous. Too late to go back and read it but maybe try a different book by the author.