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My Old True Love Audiobook
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(4.00) - 305 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The Stantons and the Nortons were families in the truest, oldest sense: extended networks of kin stretching across the mountains, everyone within hiking distance. They'd come from the British Isles and settled in the Appalachians of North Carolina during the 1700s, bringing with them their dearly loved songs and their clannish ways, their ties to the land ultimately becoming as strong as their ties to one another." "So when Larkin Stanton is left parentless at birth in the 1840s, he is taken in by his cousin Arty Norton and, true to the family way, starts singing before he starts talking. As Larkin grows up, he hungrily learns every song he can, as well as the subtleties of ballad singing: how the songs are about the joys and the horrors of life, and how the best singers can produce a song that will summon tears. Going head-to-head with Arty's brother, Hackley, the cousins' competitions to produce the finest song soon spill over into the wooing of the finest girl in the community, Mary." When Hackley wins Mary and then leaves to fight in the Civil War, Larkin, still too young to enlist, finds himself uncontrollably drawn to the woman who's held his heart for years. What he does about that love defies all he has learned about family and loyalty - and reminds us that these mournful ballads didn't come just from the imagination, but from imperfections of the heart.
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"I've read this book multiple times. The old English ballads and appalachian setting touch something deep inside of me. I feel as if I were a mountain woman in a past life. Well written but it might be hard for some to read since it's written in dialect."
— Summer (5 out of 5 stars)
My Old True Love Listener Reviews
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" Really loved this book and read it in one day. Beautiful storytelling about a time when life was harsh, but lightened by a music-loving appalachian culture during the civil-war era. "
— Shelli, 2/12/2014 -
" This was a wonderful book that I could not put down. A love story, a story of strength and perseverance and betrayal all wrapped up in one great book. "
— Taylor, 1/28/2014 -
" Has kinda a Cold Mountain feel to it. Very well written in a colloquial sorta way. Good book, stupid ending. "
— Kathryn, 1/27/2014 -
" I adored this book. Sheila Kay Adams is a wonderful storyteller. "
— Crystal, 11/25/2013 -
" The story of a family, set in the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains just before the Civil War. "
— Christine, 11/21/2013 -
" Her music is equally amazing! "
— Alyssa, 11/11/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. My only reason for not giving it 4 stars is because of the ending. Arty was such a great narrator and i loved her story and wanted mo of her story. The ending felt forced and nit in keeping with the rest of the book. Was this book worth reading? Absolutely. "
— Linda, 11/8/2013 -
" Civil War era story that takes place near home. I loved the history aspect of it. Pretty good story. "
— Tammy, 11/6/2013 -
" I couldn't stand reading in the first person narrative along with the dialect. Just slogged along and finally quit after first two chapters. I'll never know what happened to Larkin. "
— Sandi, 11/4/2013 -
" Sheila Kay is a master storyteller, both in print and in person. Loved this book "
— Mary, 9/20/2013 -
" Loved the language and the description on life in the mountains. "
— Phyllis, 6/27/2013 -
" I enjoyed this, but it didn't hold my attention the way I like books to. "
— Crystal, 8/23/2012 -
" Great story, vivid realism and memorable well-developed characters make this book special. "
— Mick, 5/21/2012 -
" Oh, the drama.... I kind of liked most of this book, but the last quarter of it just got too deep for my shallow self. "
— Ellis, 2/3/2012 -
" This is a powerful story about the people and songs of the Appalachian mountains, written by an author who grew up there and intimately knows these songs and their history. "
— Lindsay, 12/15/2011 -
" for book club, great writing, storyline was a bit slow in parts, but overall enjoyed reading it because it described the effects of the civil war on families and individuals, felt the ending was a bit abrupt and left me feeling empty "
— Ruth, 10/29/2011 -
" I loved, loved this book! I wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars. "
— Lisa, 8/25/2011 -
" Beautiful. And if you listen on audio, you get to hear the ballads. "
— Tiffany, 7/12/2011 -
" This would have gotten 4 stars from if it hadn't been for the ending. I thought it was extremely out of character for Larkin and struck a strange and out of place note to the end of the book. Otherwise, a very readable book with a likable narrator. "
— Jen, 7/8/2011
About Kate Forbes
Kate Forbes, winner of four Earphones Awards for audiobook narrating, is a professionally trained actress who has appeared on Broadway, in regional theaters, and with a renowned touring company. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, where she was active in theater, she completed an MFA at New York University School of the Arts. With this training, she launched into a successful acting career.