2/26/11

A Year in the World by Frances Mayes Cassandra Campbell narrating

A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller
by: Frances Mayes
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins 
Publisher: Books on Tape





A Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller




Cassandra Campbell Narrator
Narrator Cassandra Campbell 

Frances Mayes Author
Author Frances Mayes


Cassandra Campbell reading A Year in the World
I listened to the beginning of  A Year in the World by Frances Mayes read by Cassandra Campbell. The book has many tedious almost academic and boring sections. This was not a good book. Add Cassandra Campbell's voice which is simpering and dripping with maudlin pathos and you have a disaster. This book is not a romance it's a travel and cooking book. I could not make it to the end of this book.

Frances Mayes is a retired professor and her writing reflects her thinking. She makes an effort to throw in expressive emotional phrases over sunsets or pretty scenes. I might be able to ignore the references to obscure authors and long quotes from them which I seemed to miss the relation of those to the story line. Adding Campbell's syrupy voice and it becomes unbearable.

Unless you're an academic, I recommend passing up this boring book and look for something interesting like, A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle.

A Year in Provence