Almost Famous Women

Stories

By: Megan Mayhew Bergman

Narrated by: Lesa Lockford

The fascinating lives of the characters in Almost Famous Women have mostly been forgotten, but their stories are burning to be told. Nearly every story in this dazzling collection is based on a woman who attained some celebrity - she raced speed boats or was a conjoined twin in show business; a reclusive painter of renown; a member of the first all-female, integrated swing band. We see Lord Byron's illegitimate daughter, Allegra; Oscar Wilde's troubled niece, Dolly; West with the Night author Beryl Markham; Edna St. Vincent Millay's sister, Norma. These extraordinary stories travel the world, explore the past (and delve into the future), and portray fiercely independent women defined by their acts of bravery, creative impulses, and sometimes reckless decisions.

©2015 Megan Mayhew Bergman (P)2015 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

" Almost Famous Women is sharp, compassionate, and strong, just like the women depicted in its pages. Megan Mayhew Bergman writes with such precision that we should all quake in her presence. This book only looks like it's made of paper - you are holding priceless diamonds in your hand." (Emma Straub, author of The Vacationers)

"Every one of these stories is as vibrant, as urgent, as surprising as the women therein. What a thrill to listen as they cohere into a chorus of powerful, affecting and often hilarious voices, each unforgettable, together undeniable. Another stunning collection from the brilliant Megan Mayhew Bergman." (Claire Vaye Watkins, author of Battleborn)

"Megan Mayhew Bergman writes with an astonishing force of empathy, a compassion as bright and illuminating as a klieg light. The reader of Almost Famous Women can't help but be seduced by these eccentric, subversive, passionate women who lived their lives with their entire souls and who were furiously unapologetic for doing so." (Lauren Groff, author of Arcadia)

Wanted to like it.

The stories all seemed like they could have been interesting, but definitely didn't draw you in. Had a hard time staying interested. Also on the audio version there wasn't a clear transition between stories. Confusing.

Good book. Terrible as read here.

The book's format does not lend itself to audio format.
There are no breaks between chapters to indicate a change in narrative.
The readers voice makes the characters sound terrible.
Read the book, just not in audio.

Most depressing book in a year

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

This book is so depressing that, even though I'm was a literature grad student, I will never listen to it again. Death, disease, infirmity, sadness, senility....if this pleases the reader, I would recommend the collection of stories. The authors have terrific reputations, but I ended up depressed and dreary.

What does Lesa Lockford bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ms. Lockford reads the stories with as much life and energy as a good narrator could..but the stories are miserable....Her voice does give the difference in inflection and pitch so that the characters are differentiated. I'm sure that she had difficulty making her voice cheerful in the midst of death and misery.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I suppose the stories have literary merit, but I don't listen to books to analyze the authors use of plot, character, setting, and theme..which is what college students do with texts. I don't require that the books I purchase from Audible be all sweetness and light, but this was ridiculous.

Any additional comments?

If you're borderline depressed, avoid this book at all costs.

Almost Famous Women

Would you be willing to try another book from Megan Mayhew Bergman? Why or why not?

I would not be willing to try another book from Ms. Mayhew Bergman because I found this book very difficult to get through, it was just boring.

Do you think Almost Famous Women needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No.

Wonderful, Wonderful

I was riveted. I hated to leave every chapter of this book because the characters were so interesting, and yet I couldn't wait to learn about the next one. And the story-craft and writing are terrific. This is a book I will recommend, give as a gift, and read over and over.