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Désirée: The Bestselling Story of Napoleon’s
First Love Audiobook Review
by admin on February 22, 2013
Désirée: The Bestselling Story of Napoleon’s First Love by Annemarie Selinko
Narrator: Nicole Quinn
Nicole has a natural voice that is either liked or it isn’t. While this should apply
to any narrator, in her case, there is a tremble quality to her voice to which some
may not be able to adjust. I had no issue with it all. For me, her narration of
Desiree is Exceptional. Time and again, she moves effortlessly between various
male and female characters in a given scene. Her ability to convey in her reading,
the description stated by a speaker’s tag is among the best I have heard. Her masculine
voices sounded as though there were a male narrator, hidden in there somewhere.
Her performance of this story is like a stage full of actors.
to any narrator, in her case, there is a tremble quality to her voice to which some
may not be able to adjust. I had no issue with it all. For me, her narration of
Desiree is Exceptional. Time and again, she moves effortlessly between various
male and female characters in a given scene. Her ability to convey in her reading,
the description stated by a speaker’s tag is among the best I have heard. Her masculine
voices sounded as though there were a male narrator, hidden in there somewhere.
Her performance of this story is like a stage full of actors.
I especially enjoyed the way she is able to create an equally sensual, yet subtle distinction
between the voices of Bernadotte and Bonaparte when the two men discourse. Her female
voices are whatever emotion or pitch or depth they are called on to be. In a word, her
reading is Exceptional.
between the voices of Bernadotte and Bonaparte when the two men discourse. Her female
voices are whatever emotion or pitch or depth they are called on to be. In a word, her
reading is Exceptional.
I do want to add that her male voices, at times, did sound the same for some of the many
minor characters, but she maintains a uniqueness with those of the principal male players.
minor characters, but she maintains a uniqueness with those of the principal male players.
The Story:
Selinko’s interpretations of the real-life individuals in her book, naturally enhances them
with feelings, mannerisms, and traits that remain consistent throughout. These attributes
are so convincing that I reached a place where I could anticipate practically each major
character’s reactions in almost any situation. Like the backdrop of a movie, Selinko’s
descriptions and focus on details take the reader into Desiree’s world. Coupled with
Nicole’s reading, it was wonderful to be so integrated into a fiction of this magnitude.
with feelings, mannerisms, and traits that remain consistent throughout. These attributes
are so convincing that I reached a place where I could anticipate practically each major
character’s reactions in almost any situation. Like the backdrop of a movie, Selinko’s
descriptions and focus on details take the reader into Desiree’s world. Coupled with
Nicole’s reading, it was wonderful to be so integrated into a fiction of this magnitude.
Desiree’s greatest distinguishing quality is her ability to be herself, despite whatever i
s going on around her. She is non-pretentious and fits no romantic stereotype. She is a
New-Age woman who freely acts and speaks exactly as she desires and a woman who
cares little for her ignorance concerning major political issues or the whereabouts of any
place or country in the known world except Paris.
s going on around her. She is non-pretentious and fits no romantic stereotype. She is a
New-Age woman who freely acts and speaks exactly as she desires and a woman who
cares little for her ignorance concerning major political issues or the whereabouts of any
place or country in the known world except Paris.
Yet, when the stakes are high, she asks enough questions about both politics and
locations to keep readers connected with how these two aspects are influencing her fate. I
liked her very much for her humanism, her candor, and above all, her compassion. I disliked
her for her indifference and selfishness in a situation, where she should have been much more understanding and supportive. An incident that takes place, sixteen hours in the story, made
me want to express-mail a letter to her, freely voicing my serious displeasure with the way
in which she is behaving.
locations to keep readers connected with how these two aspects are influencing her fate. I
liked her very much for her humanism, her candor, and above all, her compassion. I disliked
her for her indifference and selfishness in a situation, where she should have been much more understanding and supportive. An incident that takes place, sixteen hours in the story, made
me want to express-mail a letter to her, freely voicing my serious displeasure with the way
in which she is behaving.
Throughout the book, her relationship with Napoleon is a broken cord of first love that
is never truly severed. The interaction of the two in any given occurrence bears out this
fact.
is never truly severed. The interaction of the two in any given occurrence bears out this
fact.
As for historical accuracy, Selinko’s coordination of important dates, battles and events
into the everyday lives of her characters gives this story a consistent rope of tension and
pumps life into the often distancing non-fictional accounts of Napoleon’s reign.
into the everyday lives of her characters gives this story a consistent rope of tension and
pumps life into the often distancing non-fictional accounts of Napoleon’s reign.
In fact, were I forced to study this period in history, I should like very much to have a
couple of good historical-fiction books on it. After all, it is those one or two soldiers whom
we met before as a maid’s or relative’s son that bind our emotions to the fate of all the sons,
husbands, fathers, and relatives on the battlefield.
couple of good historical-fiction books on it. After all, it is those one or two soldiers whom
we met before as a maid’s or relative’s son that bind our emotions to the fate of all the sons,
husbands, fathers, and relatives on the battlefield.
I wasn’t familiar with many of the events surrounding Napoleon’s rise to and fall from
power. Often I found myself verifying a few dates (not all of them) and checking the progression
of Napoleon’s and Bernadotte’s actions, against non-fictional sources. When the tension
was high, I refused to read about what had actually happened, but would read the
non-fiction account once I was passed that point in the narrative.
power. Often I found myself verifying a few dates (not all of them) and checking the progression
of Napoleon’s and Bernadotte’s actions, against non-fictional sources. When the tension
was high, I refused to read about what had actually happened, but would read the
non-fiction account once I was passed that point in the narrative.
This audiobook is twenty-five hours long, yet I found myself so involved with the life of
Desiree and Jean Baptiste that I didn’t want the book to end. Still, when I did further
investigations into their real lives, I accepted that Selinko chose the right time to conclude
this epistle.
Desiree and Jean Baptiste that I didn’t want the book to end. Still, when I did further
investigations into their real lives, I accepted that Selinko chose the right time to conclude
this epistle.
I praise this book as an entertaining fictional world expertly bound to one of history’s most
famous timelines in a way that makes it definitely worth listening to.
famous timelines in a way that makes it definitely worth listening to.
Bibliography: Desiree: The Bestselling Story of Napoleon’s First Love by Anne Selinko
Length: 25 hrs. 48 minutes (unabridged)
Publisher: ©8-14-2012 Bluebarn Productions
Length: 25 hrs. 48 minutes (unabridged)
Publisher: ©8-14-2012 Bluebarn Productions
An audio sample and download details are available.
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