Title: The Little Stranger
Author: Sarah Waters
Narrator: Simon Vance
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0143144804
Pages: 358
Audio: 15 hours
Year: 2009
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Source: Library
Rating: 2.5/5
My Thoughts:
Ever since Jennifer from The Literate Housewife started raving about him, I have wanted to experience an audiobook narrated by the great Simon Vance. I put a few on hold at the library and The Little Stranger was the first to arrive. Sarah Waters has also been on my list of authors to try and I generally love a good Gothic novel so I was excited to begin.
When Dr. Faraday returns to Hundreds Hall, where his mom once worked as a maid, he becomes endlessly entangled in the lives of the Ayres family. When things start to go wrong – Jib, their the calm dog, attacks a girl, objects move from their normal places, small fires start – Dr. Faraday tries everything to help the family.
Unfortunately, it was not the amazing experience I was hoping for. I thought Vance did a great job with the narration but the story was just too slow for me. It felt like lots of little things were always happening but I kept waiting for more. And at 15 hours, it was a lot of waiting. I can’t really put my finger on what it is that didn’t grab me but something was missing.
I know a lot of other people who loved this book so it may just be me. Have you read it? What did you think?
[Note: I am skipping the “Others’ Thoughts” and “Buy It Now” sections for audiobook week only. They will return soon.]
Join the fun and head on over to Devourer of Books for all of the Audiobook Week goodness.
my books. my life. 
I have this book on my shelf and I want to get the chance to read it. I am sorry to hear it was not what you were expecting and that the book was mildly disappointing.
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It definitely wasn’t fast paced, but the eerie gothic thing worked for me.
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This is the only Waters I really didn’t enjoy all that much. I agree, the pace was just too slow. Definitely give her other books a shot–I loved Affinity, Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet.
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I read this one in book form but liked it quite a bit. I liked the slowness… seemed like it matched the lifestyle. On audio though I’d probably be bored to tears.
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