Bree Barton

Delicious! Depraved! The best book of 2021

Revisado: 03-04-21

Ladies and gentlemen—and everyone of indeterminate feelings and genitalia—please put your grubby mitts together, for our very own delicate glass unicorn; the picture of literary perfection, hilarity, and grace; the eternally exquisite:

DEATH AND THE BURLESQUE MAIDEN!

I’ve spent the last week of my life falling madly in love with… laughing hysterically at… unable to get any work done thanks to… this phenomenal book. If I were to erect (pun enthusiastically intended) my own cabal of formidable Harpies, my BOO would include:

Clem, alias Miss Twinkle Buns. Skills: fighting; dancing; farting on demand; looking like she can’t and never would do two of those things; great with mechanicals. Clem is a fighter. A survivor. She's got the legs AND the jaw for the part.

Nora, alias Mutiny Belle. Poet-cum-revolutionary. Previous experience includes inciting a rebellion, masterminding a mass escape from an asylum followed by political pressure-pointing until said asylum was closed down, etc. Big, bold, beautiful. A reminder that public servants can sometimes have the most ferocious hearts beating beneath the tweed.

Lil, alias Slutty Nutcracker. Skills: Trumpet; accents; acting; conning people for ultimately good reasons; Academy-Award-worthy performances of Chastity Rockbottom, Bernice Bones, et al. A total badass who loves sex and won't apologize for it.

And last but CERTAINLY not least: Imogen, alias Not-That-Kind-of-Church Lady. Skills: 5-star audiobook narration; feminist genius; razor-sharp wit; unsung hero of macabre theme songs; looks great in sparkles; debut author of the never-before-seen hybrid of thriller, noir, mystery, comedy, and parody (they call it burlesque for a reason, folks). In sum: she wrote the best book of 2021.

Meanwhile, some narration.

DatBM has something for everyone. Fierce, feminist, queer female leads who have brains, beauty, AND crystal nipple tassels? Holy Eleanor Roosevelt, yes! A heart-pounding mystery with a sinister villain who is the evil, ulcer-oozing embodiment of the twisted patriarchy? Thank Wollstonecraft! Utterly hilarious burlesque routines punctuated by trumpeting farts that will make you laugh out loud when listening with earbuds at 1am, thereby awaking your poor innocent partner sleeping beside you? ABSO-VAGINA-TRUMPET-LUTELY.

And at its warm and gentle heart: a chosen family whose love is so strong, so powerful, it restored my hope in humanity. One moment I’d be laughing; the next, tears were welling up from some deep place inside me. This is a story about sisterhood; about how even when the whole world is pitted against you, if you join forces with your sisters you can fight evil, fight misogyny, fight racism, ableism, murderism. Add to all this a light sprinkling of gore (pinkie sized), some truly unforgettable side characters (if I die, please don’t ring Reginald Spam), and a naughtily cheeky unreliable narrator (I call her Nookie von Sweet Mics), and you'll begin to see the charm. Gather round, punters: the Coochie Hole doth provideth!

I am so grateful that this story, these characters, this spellbinding narrative exists. I felt kinder after reading it, more open, more in love with the world. What a tremendous gift. Imogen Church, who has lent her voice to so many of our favorite stories, has now done us one better: lent us her voice AND her endless imagination, dazzling mind, and wise and witty soul to spin the best yarn yet.

For the love of Amelia Earhart, head on over to 12 Rumpus Street and let your greedy ears slurp up this delicious, depraved, delectable book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Gorgeous story, gorgeously told

Revisado: 11-19-19

What a delightful, decadent, utterly gripping audiobook. I’d listened to Diane Setterfield’s newest novel, Once Upon a River, and loved it, so promptly began The Thirteenth Tale. The mystery at the core of this book is even richer and more complex. Both narrators do an excellent job; having Bianca read Margaret and Jill read Vida Winter was a brilliant choice. So much layer and nuance, and they tackle it with aplomb. Highly recommended!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Feminist fairy tale for the ears

Revisado: 10-02-19

Am I allowed to review my own book? Devon Sorvari is an INCREDIBLE narrator, and she took what I'd put on paper and made it ten times better with her talent. Loved the flourish and flair she gave to each character and the way she lent her voice to this story. I'd give her ten stars if I could!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

The perfect fairy tale!

Revisado: 10-02-19

What a lovely, moving, fluid novel. Juliet Stevenson is astonishingly good; at some point I checked out the physical book from the library so I could consume the story faster, but I missed her narration so much, I switched back to the audio book after a few chapters! Loved the characters, the river, and the way all the tributaries intertwined. Full disclosure: I cried.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña