When the Jessamine Grows

De: Donna Everhart

Narrado por: Tiffany Morgan

Talk of impending war is a steady drumbeat throughout North Carolina, though Joetta McBride pays it little heed. She and her husband, Ennis, have built a modest but happy life for themselves, raising two sons, fifteen-year-old Henry, and eleven-year-old Robert, on their small subsistence farm. They do not support the Confederacy's position on slavery, but Joetta considers her family to be neutral, believing this is simply not their fight.

Her opinion is not favored by many in their community, including Joetta's own father-in-law, Rudean. A staunch Confederate supporter, he fills his grandsons' heads with stories about the glory of battle and the Southern cause until one night Henry runs off to join the war. At Joetta's frantic insistence, Ennis leaves to find their son and bring him home.

But soon weeks pass with no word from father or son and Joetta is battered by the strain of running a farm with so little help. As the country becomes further entangled in the ramifications of war, Joetta finds herself increasingly at odds with those around her—until one act of kindness brings her family to the edge of even greater disaster.

©2024 Donna Everhart (P)2024 Tantor

The story of a southern American Civil War era woman who wishes to remain neutral during the war.

First, the performance. I often like hearing the regional accent of a setting, and this story is no exception. I liked how Mr. McBride and Joetta’s voices brought them to life. Second, the story. We rarely hear the story of a person in the civil war south who was a dissenter but not involved in the Underground Railroad. The main character, Joetta, wishes to remain neutral, but the sympathies of her friends, family, and community cause them to turn on her. Joetta is stoic in the face of their criticism and initially tries to placate them. Initially I couldn’t relate to her, and I wanted her to be either more honest or more conniving. I really liked when she decided to care for the boy. It showed her kindness. My one wish is that Joetta expressed more emotions, but overall her strength of character comes through in her actions. A good story, the kind where you hope the character lives happily ever after.

Poor narration

The narrator's cadence and inflections are so weird that this is very difficult to listen to. It is very disappointing since I am liking the story - but I am only a quarter of the way through and I just cannot listen to it anymore. I will have to get the book from the library and read it to find out what happens.

Mr. McBride

I enjoyed it all but the ending fell flat. I would’ve liked to see if Henry came back or they knew he had passes.

Great story

I almost didn’t finish the book because the narration was odd. At first, I even thought it was a virtual voice. But I kept listening and am glad I did. A heartwarming story of resilience, strength and forgiveness. The author brilliantly conveys the struggles of the characters to the listeners and beautifully portrays how conflict can bring out the best and the worst in people.

Just okay

The story was easy to follow. I think my apathy may be due to the performance. Her voice was very sing-songy and it grated on me as I listened.

Great story, poor narrator

A very different story about regular people during the Civil War. The narrator reminded me of listening to a first grader read a book. The words were spoken but not in context with the sentence.

I can see why there were so many sides to the war.

The story put you in the shoes of several different people and their view of the Cival War in the 1860’s & the hardships it caused.

Excellent

I loved this book. There are so many historical novels about WWII but few about the American Civil War. This book tugs at a large range of emotions and at one point had me sobbing. it is very well written and the narrator did and excellent job. i highly recommend this book.

AI sucks!

Audible used AI instead of hiring an actor. I am utterly disappointed. Book was so hard to listen to with such a terrible audible experience.

Fabulous Civil War era story

I love all of Donna Everhart’s books of women overcoming adversity, set in different times of American history, this one included.
Unfortunately, the narrator was one of the worst I’ve ever heard, and I’ve listened to hundreds of Audible titles. It’s still worth the listen, but it was painful at times.