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Publisher:
HarperAudio / HarperCollins |
Release
Date: November 4, 2003 |
ISBN:
006057514X |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Audio Cassette/Unabridged edition |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Fiction/Historical |
Reviewed:
2004 |
Reviewer:
Brenda Weeaks |
Reviewer
Notes: Mature theme; racial slurs; violence; sex ; sexual
content, including with an adolescent |
Copyright
MyShelf.com |
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Paradise
Alley
By Kevin
Baker
Audio Reader: Kevin Baker
Today
the draft is a sensitive subject, as it was in the Vietnam Era.
Another famous time for the draft was 1863. The reaction in New
York at that time was rioting. Lincoln had decided to create the
draft law and those rich enough to buy themselves out of it, did.
Those less off -- mainly immigrates (Irish) -- reacted in historical
violence and no one was excluded from their anger, including an
orphanage for black children.
The
novel follows Ruth, the wife of a slave, Deirdre, the sister of
Johnny Dolan, and Maddy, the mistress of a Tribune reporter. At
the time of the riots, they live on Paradise Alley, which is a passageway
or street of sorts. Each has much to over come in a time that was
hard to survive, even before the war and the riot. Readers will
find their stories of survival remarkable, not to mention heart
wrenching.
The
subplots in this historical tale are exceptional. The many scenes
are engrossing and gritty. Some are too graphic, making them hard
to take. I am impressed with Baker's ability to bring it all together.
I was also amazed at how he used various characters to bring the
story to the reader - or in this case, the listener, although it
was a bit confusing at times on the audio, causing me to rewind
here and there. Actually, there is enough going on in the storyline
to make this audio set worth listening to more than once. The author
reads his own stories, which was fine, but just think how much more
entertaining it would have been to have various voices read for
the main characters.
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