Bleeding Kansas Audiobook

" I like the fact that Paretsky tried to do something different. As usual, her writing was good. The underlying plot was interesting too. Although I was getting annoyed with the characters, I did stay up late to finish it. "

" This book started out promising. I enjoyed the historical background the author gave regarding the KS/MO border wars. However, the writing and plot became scattered and disjointed. It's also billed as a mystery, which it most definitely is not. "

" A little Hatfield and McCoys... all gossip though. I thought it was all over the place. Didn't really care too much about the plot. It could have been a lot better, my interest was peaked because of the history behind it but in my opinion there wasn't enough on the subject. "

" Interesting story, but V. I. Warshawski novels are Paretsky's strongest books. "

" How did I not add this earlier? This was dark, and sad, and honest -- totally unlike her VI Warshawski novels, but lovely all the same. "

" It started out with so many names from different generations that I got lost and bored in the confusion. But halfway through the book, I was finding it compelling reading, although not very realistic. I wonder if Paretsky really thinks Kansans are so stereotypical. The characters were charicatures, and most of them were not likeable. The book painted liberals, conservatives, and religious people alike with the color of hatred and/or simplemindedness. The library labels it as mystery, but it's more about wacko religious nuts than any mystery. "

" This was a really enjoyable book that I listened unabridged while travelling on the road. I really connected with the characters, but while I think we're supposed to like Susan, I found her generally extremely annoying. The story demonstrated very well how history still impacts current generations, and was very attention grabbing. My only issue was the extreme behaviour of the factions Paretsky was representing. Everybody was too far into the attitude that she had placed them - to the point where you catch yourself occasionally rolling your eyes. However, it was still an interesting story and I would certainly read more of Paretsky's work. "

" Excellent read, but the ending was a bit disappointing, almost like she decided, "OK, that's enough pages, let's wrap up the lose ends" "

" This author writes V.I. Warshawski, private investigator, sotries that that are hip fast paced and fun. But this is a completely different type of book about three families with deep roots in Kansas history. Includes some radical religion and a good story line. I enjoyed the book. "

" Conflict between two farm families near modern Lawrence Kansas with references to the pre-civil war history of the area. Paretsky tries to capture some of the paradoxical politics and religion of a state that is simultaneously liberal and conservative/fundementalist Christian and Wiccan. "

" I loved this book about 3 farm families in NE KS and how they deal with racial prejudice and idealism as well as loss. Some of it was a little trite, but most of it felt very true to me and I kept turning pages. I definitely enjoyed this one more than Ghost Country. "

" I listened to this book. Quite different from Paretsky'd usual mysteries. Set in Kaw River Valley, where Paretsky grew up, it's the story of 2 families whose histories have been intertwined since before the Civil War. "

" As demonstrated in this book, the Americans have a long history of religious fundamentalism and an anti-science bias. this book was a good read. "

" A mix of historical and contemporary issues; in fact at one point I wondered how many issues could be included in one book! While a bit long, the novel is interesting and has a fairly satisfying ending. "

" A moving story, excellent for the politically or psychologically minded reader. "

" Flat characters. Gave it a good 100 pages because of a starred PW review ... "

" This felt like a rural rehashing of "Ghost Country". The writing is evocative but the characters are flat. There are three plot threads, and only one is (mostly) resolved. I suppose in real life we don't get all the answers, but I read fiction for that certainty. "

" Light reading with a good story. Although the title might suggest Kansas in the 1850s, the story touches on the period just tangentially. "

" This is one of my favorite novels of the past year. Sara Paretsky does a Wonderful job of writing about two different eras in Kansas. So many novels that attempt to do that seem choppy to me - not this one. This novel integrates the two eras and stories extraordinarily well. "

" A very Important historical novel. "

" An unusual book for Sara Paretsky, not her usual heroine, but her characters are always terrific and this is a good read. "

" audio -- I seem to pick books with like mind themes. this book is about growing up poor and restricted/ about death and the right to go on. "

" A little much by the end but very enjoyable. "

" Interesting story, but V. I. Warshawski novels are Paretsky's strongest books. "

" She should have stuck with mysteries. "

" A yarn about life in rural Kansas focusing on the lives of the families on four neighbouring farms. Deals with coming of age, war, death + gossip. Okay but I had hoped for a little more mystery. "

" I listened to this book. Quite different from Paretsky'd usual mysteries. Set in Kaw River Valley, where Paretsky grew up, it's the story of 2 families whose histories have been intertwined since before the Civil War. "

" The writer is awesome but I wasn't fond of the story's subject matter. "

" I love Paretsky. Have read all of her books so I plodded through this one. Deeply disappointed -- kept waiting for it to get better -- got to the end and it didn't get any better at all! "

" Interesting fictional account of descendants of families who survived Quantrill's raid in Northeast Kansas. The book interweaves several storylines that explore religious, political, mental health, and familial issues. "