Sunday Wild Child by Ethel Cook-Wilson Narrator: Reagan Boggs
Published by Self-published on 07-03-17
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Author
Buy on Amazon/Audible
Goodreads
Overal Rating:
A story of a Florida family's trials and triumphant during the first-half of the twentieth century. Bonnie Blithe and Dixie Jo lend their voices to their tales of loss, love and hope as they deal with a domineering husband and father. Their journey from one destitute town to another, as well from one personal challenge to another is full of faith, true grit and determination. Dixie Jo embodies the spunk all young people need to overcome adversities.
Bonnie Blithe, the daughter of an accommodated couple from Florida, thinks she has found the love of her life, and going against her father’s wishes, she marries Elijah and leaves her home for good. But things are not what they seemed at first. Elijah is never home, never takes responsibility, and the only times he comes home, gets Bonnie Blithe pregnant, again and again. This is the story of Bonnie Blithe and one of her children, Dixie Joe, a wild and misunderstood soul.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction, set in the first half of the twentieth century. It somehow reminded me of Angela’s Ashes, but set in Florida instead of Ireland. The poverty this family lives in is real and sordid, the misery, neverending. Elijah is never there for them, and soon enough they stop caring. We witness some crude racial conflicts tinctured with violence and intolerance. Dixie Joe had great potential but was soon limited and prejudged by her mother due to Dixie Jo being his father’s daughter. Both women evolve separately with the hope of meeting halfway one day. This is a heartfelt tale, a coming of age story, intimate, sweet, and sour, in equal parts.
This book had all the right ingredients to be an amazing read, and it was, but I think I expected to become more emotionally attached to the characters, and somehow it did not completely happen. Something that I noticed is that both characters, Bonnie Blithe and Dixie Joe, described her life as something “on display”. I am not sure if this was intended or just an accident, as both had very different lives, and I was, for a moment, able to see the author in both characters, which momentarily broke the suspension of disbelief.
The narration was beautifully done by Reagan Boggs. She used subtle differences to voice both women, so it was easy to recognize who was talking. All characters were amazingly interpreted and brought to life. Boggs did also great with male voices. It definitely added value to the text.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.| Story (Plot) |
 |
| Narration |
 |
| Overall: | |
My name is Elena. Since I was a little child I loved science fiction and fantasy, and I can’t resist a good novel. In 2015, while wait I started to listen to audiobooks and I discovered the pleasure in being able to read while doing my daily tasks, so there’s always an audiobook playing on my phone. If you see me with my Bluetooth headphones on, please be gentle, I get easily startled.
I live with my boyfriend, which I met during my six-year stay in Belgium, four cockatiels, eight lovebirds, and a hamster in Madrid, Spain; and I like to spend my free time knitting and sewing while listening to audiobooks.
Good review for a wonderful book. I read it twice.
Thank you, Peggy 🙂