Five Smooth Stones

A Novel

By: Ann Fairbairn

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

David Champlin is a Black man born into poverty in Depression-era New Orleans who achieves great success and then sacrifices everything to lead his people in the difficult, day-by-day struggle of the civil rights movement. Sara Kent is the beloved and vital White girl who loved David from the moment she first saw him, but they struggled over David's belief that a marriage for them would not be right in the violent world he had to confront.

Likening the struggle of Black Americans to the "five smooth stones" the biblical David carried against Goliath in lieu of arms, this novel's range encompasses decades and continents - but that range is insignificant compared with the intimate picture of its hero's irresistible warmth and inner conflicts. First published in 1966, this epic has become one of the most loved American best sellers.

©1966 Ann Fairbain (P)2021 Tantor

Extraordinary story & production

So glad I stumbled on this book in 2 for 1 sale. Reminds me why I keep slogging through so many lesser works… There is yet a chance to be mesmerized, awed and enlightened! Five Smooth Stones will stay in my bones & move me ever after.

Powerful Story

I first read this book in the late 60’s and it remained one of my all time favorites. Now to listen and be reminded of why I loved these characters was very emotional. It will remain on my favorites list 55 years later. A must read❣️☮️🙏

The characters had so many distinct personalities.

It felt as though I personally knew the characters. They will stick in my mind for a while, as thought they are people I know and I will wonder how they are doing. And then I will remember that they are characters in a novel. The writing was excellent and the narrator did an outstanding job. The last one-third of the book was very depressing, to the point that I was ready for it to end.

Holds up after all these years.

I read this book in college and remembered how much to affected me. When I read it now I still got the same feeling. I truly loved this book. And the narration was superb. The narrator captured the voices just like I heard them in my head. He was extraordinary!!

Reading

All the characters come through very authentic except Sara and this is a great pity

Five Smooth Stones

So grateful to have stumbled on to this book. How had I never heard of it before?! Beyond worth the listen. Highly recommend. Well written. Well performed. Powerful, moving story.

Read this in my late teens

Now at 71 I know why it stayed with me.,it touched my inner soul.

Maye

Great read, couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend. Kept my interest. The reader was also excellent.

An old favorite

I read this when it first came out and loved it. Still do. But an editor should have explained to Fairbairn that there are no tigers, burning bright or otherwise,, in Africa.

Very nice job on the narration.

If you liked this, you might want to track down a copy of the long out of print book, That Man Cartwright, also by Fairbairn. It has Chuck as a fairly important character. Deals with the California farm workers struggle. It’s somewhat better written than Five Smooth Stones.

One thing that surprised me on this rereading (well, listening) was that during David’s college experience, being accused of homosexuality was considered to be an absolute horror (the homosexuality, not the accusation). I remember thinking nothing of that when I first read the book; seemed right to me. Times change.

Special book

Fairbairn only wrote a few books before her sudden early death, a definite loss to the literary world. This is the story of one man who lived through the civil rights movement in the South and is an excellent and thought provoking book. Loved it in print and now on audible. Hope to find its audible sequel, "That Man Cartright", that takes a character from here and takes him through the grape workers movement in California. Both excellent and I highly recommend them to those interested in intelligent, motivated, and compassionate characters. Include both sense of humor at times as well as exposure to important periods of USA history. Like life, they do include periods of sadness and regret.