Family Linen Audiobook

" A cast of quirky family members get together for their mother's funeral. The oldest sibling has been hypnotized and thinks the father was murdered and buried in the backyard. Each tells their own history, reveals their own skeletons and the story unfolds. I would recommend this book. "

" I want to like it more than I did, though I'm wavering between one and two stars. Tries to be all psychological/ Freudian and comes across crude and clunky. The "mystery" is all on the surface and obvious, the characters are stereotypes or parodies, none of them are likeable. Nothing much to say. Don't waste your time. "

" This was such an easy story simply written , yet interesting and entertaining . Thanks Diane ! "

" The plot was interesting enough, but I needed a character to like. There were too many family members at the center of the story, so none of them were sufficiently developed. "

" This was a fascinating book; the characters were well-developed, the story was interesting, the pace suited me, the writing was good. This book - the author - really got inside the strange but believable story that was at the heart of this family's issues. "

" I really don't have much to say...snoring boring...& then the happy ending. Not my kind of book. "

" Entertaining, humorous and outrageous at times! Love Lee Smith's style and way of making her characters flawed but admirable... "

" A very enjoyable read with an intriguing plot. I didn't like it quite as much as Smith's "Oral History" - it wasn't quite as charming and timeless. It also uses mulitple narrators to tell the story of one family's dark history, which adds a lot of complexity to the way the story unravels. "

" The ending was a little flat, but otherwise book enjoyable "

" I just love Lee Smith. This is one of my favorites. "

" This was definitely not my favorite of her books. Very dark and too much unnecessary swearing... "

" Nice story. I am beginning to notice a pattern in her characters though........ "

" After thoroughly enjoying a couple of Lee Smith's books, this was a disappointment; my rating wavered between a one and two. Mostly I listened to this one on tape; but kept the book handy. "

" There's nothing like digging into sordid pasts of people who do their best to appear perfect. This was the second book I've read by Lee Smith, and hopefully not the last. A great story that sucked me in, and I enjoyed all the characters, although there were a few too many at times. "

" Lee Smith does not disappoint. "

" Another excellent Lee Smith book. "

" A dated but very enjoyable book about a Southern family, their connections, their flaws, and their public faces. "

" The perspective shifts so that the reader gets to see the character's perception of her/himself and then we see how others see them. Why the wedding at the end? To lighten it up? Good story, fun to read. "

" a woman remembers seeing her father murdered and then her mother passes away leaving all of the children to retell the family "laundry" Interesting but predictable. "

" A very good book, well-written. Lee Smith is one of my favorite writers, maybe because Appalachia is part of my early childhood. "

" LOVED this book. And loved Lee Smith when I got to meet her. "

" A little like a soap opera. "

" This is a great story of family secrets by one of my favorite authors. "

" I'd like to give more stars because I really enjoyed the book about 160 pages in. But 160 pages is a lot to ask of a reader before the book gets good. I think this was a good story from a talented writer that would've benefitted from a really skilled editor. "

" My bookclub read this one. It is a bit of a strange book. I didn't really like it but it was interesting, about a sub-culture I know nothing about. (Churches that do snake "charming" etc.) I guess in the end I found the main character kind of annoying. "

" read for Southern Lit, spring 11 "

" Smith owes a huge debt to O'Connor, but at least she acknowledges it. The ending feels flat, but genuine to the character of Grace. "

" Great book! The text flows easy and freely. The characters are realistic as well. "

" This is a great book. It's a little strange and depressing, but totally worth the read. "

" This book is wonderful. The story comes full circle; each section is distinctly different and unpredictable (except for the parts that the narrator wants us to know); and the end leaves you wondering and wanting more. A++++ "

" A wonderful character and disturbing story. Such vivid fiction you feel like you're in the middle of a documentary about Appalachia, snake handlers, and fundamentalists. "

" My good friend passed this on to me. A fascinating book about believers in "signs" like snake handling in Appalachia. Lee Smith makes her characters so believable. "

" Love this writer. Even though I don't normally read this type of book, she brings a poignancy to her stories that make it hard to put down. "

" Interesting story of the about fundamentalist belief. Humility and humanity are present everywhere in this novel. "

" Another different view of someone's life. Not too intense, very interesting and I really enjoyed it. It was a random pick up from the library. I would like to read more by this author. "

" interesting read about poor applachian girl who's dad is a snake handler fanatic. yeah, i'd say read this one "

" The first half, it totally had me captive--well-written, vivid characterization and good story. The second half, it went off the deep end a bit, and I was a little disappointed. But it was truthful. I recommend Gods in Alabama if you liked this book. :) "

" One of the most depressing, sad books I have ever listened to. "

" I really wanted to like this book! I liked Grace but everyone else in the book seemed distant. Rich characters but it was hard to like or empathise with any of them because their flaws were so raw. "