Swamplandia!

By: Karen Russell

Narrated by: Arielle Sitrick, David Ackroyd

From the celebrated 29-year-old author of the everywhere-heralded short-story collection St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves (“How I wish these were my own words, instead of the breakneck demon writer Karen Russell’s...Run for your life. This girl is on fire” - Los Angeles Times Book Review) comes a blazingly original debut novel that takes us back to the swamps of the Florida Everglades, and introduces us to Ava Bigtree, an unforgettable young heroine.

The Bigtree alligator-wrestling dynasty is in decline, and Swamplandia!, their island home and gator-wrestling theme park, formerly number one in the region, is swiftly being encroached upon by a fearsome and sophisticated competitor called the World of Darkness. Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, has just died; her sister, Ossie, has fallen in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, who may or may not be an actual ghost; and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, who dreams of becoming a scholar, has just defected to the World of Darkness in a last-ditch effort to keep their family business from going under. Ava’s father, affectionately known as Chief Bigtree, is AWOL; and that leaves Ava, a resourceful but terrified 13, to manage 98 gators and the vast, inscrutable landscape of her own grief.

Against a backdrop of hauntingly fecund plant life animated by ancient lizards and lawless hungers, Karen Russell has written an utterly singular novel about a family’s struggle to stay afloat in a world that is inexorably sinking. An arrestingly beautiful and inventive work from a vibrant new voice in fiction.

©2011 Karen Russell (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“[Russell] has thrown the whole circus of her heart onto the page, safety nets be damned. . . . Russell has deep and true talent.” ( San Francisco Chronicle)

“Vividly worded, exuberant in characterization, the novel is a wild ride. . . . This family, wrestling with their desires and demons . . . will lodge in the memories of anyone lucky enough to read Swamplandia!” ( The New York Times Book Review)

“The bewitching Swamplandia! is a tremendous achievement.”( Entertainment Weekly)

Interesting. Not my favorite

It kept me interested throughout, but just wasn't the outcome I hoped so strongly for. Hard to listen to at some points, but features real life struggles for many people/families.

Beautiful stage, not much else

The first half of this book is so delicious. Sadly, all the intricate and lovely world building does not seem to go anywhere.

Spoiled by bad reading.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book was hard to stick with. The sentences were read in a repetetive dropping cadence that did nothing for the rich vocabulary of the writing. The young girl reading had no training or editing, mispronouncing many words.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The story was interesting, the descriptions were unusual and conveyed emotion and intelligence. Wish I could have read it instead.

Was Swamplandia! worth the listening time?

Had to do it to fulfill a Book Club requirement while traveling. It was vexing.

Any additional comments?

As others have stated, I'm annoyed with Audible, and the book publishers,for this poor effort.

Tough

I enjoyed so many aspects about this book but it was a tough tough tough story.

Much more than gator wrestling

What did you love best about Swamplandia!?

The prose was crisp, the characters believable. I enjoyed the exotic location in the Florida swamps and the unique perspective offered by the characters with little exposure to the modern/outside world.

What did you like best about this story?

The perspectives of the teenage boy and how he adapted to the difficult situation.

Read by a whiny little girl

Would you try another book from Karen Russell and/or Arielle Sitrick and David Ackroyd ?

I tried listening to this book, but couldn't stand listening to the whiny girl that read it. I finally read it (on my Kindle), and absolutely loved the book!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Swamplandia!?

Ava Bigtree's Huck-Finn-like trip through the world of the swamp in Florida. But really, the most memorable part of the book was not a "moment" but the overall use of language, which is amazing! It is colorful, inventive, clever, evocative, fun and beautiful!

How could the performance have been better?

Well, it could have been a different reader for Ava.

Did Swamplandia! inspire you to do anything?

Stay away from Florida!

Any additional comments?

I truly think this is one of the best books I've ever read. "Read" not "listened to."

Quirky and Wonderful!

This book was on a lot of "Best Books Of the Year" lists, so I thought I would give it a try and I was not disappointed. The first time I tried to listen I cut it off after a half hour, but stick with it!!! It is a quirky, character driven, wonderful book and you will love the narrator. Best Buy!

Great Storytelling

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, absolutely. A well-crafted, expertly written coming of age story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Swamplandia!?

Like all good writing, there isn't just one pivotal scene, but nuggets throughout that strike you.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

If you enjoy just a great story with good writing, this is worth checking out.

Unexpectedly good!

Would you listen to Swamplandia! again? Why?

No - I have a good memory and do not usually reread (or relisten) to books. But, if I did, I would listen to Swamplandia again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Swamplandia!?

I don't think the memorable moments, for me, were as much about the story as about the language. Karen Russell is able to "turn a phrase." I especially thought the things she said about what children feel about a lost mother were beautiful and rang true..

Have you listened to any of Arielle Sitrick and David Ackroyd ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you could rename Swamplandia!, what would you call it?

I like the name.

Any additional comments?

Beautifully written book. I did not expect to like it as much as I did given the topic, but it was engrossing and I could not stop listening.

Worst performance Ever

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

I could not get past this narrator's voice. She sounds like a high schooler and not in a good way. Her diction is terrible. Her voice is so nasal it gave me a headache. I am so disappointed they would ever choose someone so inept to narrate.