kimbacaffeinate
Written on Jun 23, 2017
Our protagonist May Bedloe a seamstress for her performing cousin, soon finds herself displaced when the steamboat they were aboard sinks. This tragedy has her cousin Comfort working with an abolitionist named Flora Howard. Howard hands May some funds and sends May on her way. May finds work on Hugo and Helena's Floating Theatre. The tale that unfolds pushes May and alters her completely.
The story is rich in detail and meanders along the river at a leisurely pace sharing May's story, the demands of Mrs. Howard and the transformation in May. I loved the inner workings of the theater and the quirky characters on board. May soon finds herself pushed into situations she isn't comfortable. Her dealings with a horrible woman on board the ship and crossing the river at night to rescue babies drive May out of her comfort zone and mold her into a brave, independent young woman.
Conway's characters are colorful from Mrs. Howard who seems to point her nose down at you, to a young black woman of fourteen who has seen the darkest side of humanity. The tale unfolds calmly with a few bends in the river, and for some, it may seem to move slowly. However, I found the characters and story to be rich in detail, and the pacing allowed me to savor it.
Hillary Huber narrated the tale and did justice to the story. She captured May's personality and different accents of the period. Her timing and pacing allowed me to slip into the story easily and I will gladly listen to her again.
Audiobook provided by publisher This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer