E.B.

Underwhelming.

Revisado: 10-01-18

This was a strange one for me, in that I didn't care much about the plot or the two main characters, but enjoyed the supporting characters enough to read on. Even so, can't say I recommend it, on the whole. The "suspenseful" conclusion, supposedly the book's big draw, seemed inevitable to me.

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Excruciating narration

Revisado: 08-30-18

I don't feel like I should even be reviewing the story itself, because I might have enjoyed it more if I'd read it instead. The narrator is amateurish, largely monotonous, speeds through important transitions which blunts whatever emotional impact there might have been... do not listen to this book. Maybe get a hard copy from the library.

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Surprisingly mediocre

Revisado: 05-10-18

What a wasted opportunity. Lindhout could have used her book deal to delve into some big issues here*, and instead she gives us a dry, amateurish blow-by-blow without offering any greater insights than what we glimpse of her own narcissism. One uncomfortable moment toward the end even hints at a Christianity > Islam sensibility that, frankly, isn't helpful. Both Lindhout and her fellow captive are emphatically unlikable; and worse, Lindhout is not a strong writer (though her co-author did a fine job of forcing this self-indulgent stream of consciousness into an actual narrative).

Having Lindhout narrate this memoir herself was extremely poor decision-making on someone's part. She reads about as well as a freshman undergraduate, which is to say that even the most harrowing moments of this book were dull, emotionless. Her narration lends a quality of monotonous mediocrity like I would never have expected from a book about a violent kidnapping, read by the victim herself.

*One particularly striking moment comes when one of Lindhout's rapists describes her as "open," in comparison to Somali women who undergo Female Genital Mutilation. Since Lindhout tells us over and over and over (and over) that she wants to be a journalist, wants to make Somali lives better by "shining a light" on their circumstances, wants her life to "mean something" after her ordeal, you'd think she might, at this point, explain what she's talking about.

She does not.

Instead, I had to stop listening and go do some research myself; and it turns out that my confusion came from the fact that Somalia is one of a handful of countries that practices a much more extreme version of FGM than what most of us are familiar with. Seems like the kind of thing to shine a light on, but then again, Lindhout only barely makes an effort to portray herself as something other than self-involved.

I do not understand why this book won so many awards.

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Almost as great as expected.

Revisado: 12-13-17

What made the experience of listening to Her Body and Other Parties the most enjoyable?

The stand-out story of this collection is easily "The Husband Stitch," and makes this book worth reading all on its own. Amy Landon's narration of every story is perfectly matched to its tone, I think.

Have you listened to any of Amy Landon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I'm not sure if this is her fault, but the lack of a definitive pause between stories was incredibly off-putting.

Any additional comments?

"Especially Heinous" seriously takes away from the overall effect of the book. If it were about 1/5th shorter it would have been fine. As it stands, it's a real slog and drags the rest of the book down with it.

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Almost perfect

Revisado: 02-06-15

What did you love best about The History of Love?

Leo, as a character, as a mood, as the soul of the book. I loved not knowing exactly where the story was going. And I love that once I figured out where it was going, I loved it anyway.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending. Also:

2. WHAT I AM NOT

My brother and I used to play a game. I'd point to a chair. "THIS IS NOT A CHAIR," I'd say. Bird would point to the table. "THIS IS NOT A TABLE." "THIS IS NOT A WALL," I'd say. "THAT IS NOT A CEILING." We'd go on like that. "IT IS NOT RAINING OUT." "MY SHOE IS NOT UNTIED!" Bird would yell. I'd point to my elbow. "THIS IS NOT A SCRAPE." Bird would life his knee. "THIS IS ALSO NOT A SCRAPE!" "THAT IS NOT A KETTLE!" "NOT A CUP!" "NOT A SPOON!" "NOT DIRTY DISHES!" We denied whole rooms, years, weathers. Once, at the peak of our shouting, Bird took a deep breath. At the top of his lungs, he shrieked: "I! HAVE NOT! BEEN! UNHAPPY! MY WHOLE! LIFE!" "But you're only seven," I said.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Leo! Oh, Leo. Perfect.

If you could rename The History of Love, what would you call it?

I wouldn't.

Any additional comments?

I didn't love the narrator for Alma Singer, but, I also didn't love Alma Singer as a character, who reminds me too much of Jonathan Safran Foer's Oskar in _Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close_. No surprise, I guess, since Foer and Krauss are married. It's just that I didn't really like _Extremely Loud_.

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