Book Summary and Reviews of The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

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Janine_S

Magical realism meets historical fiction
Based on a true story of Axis diplomats being housed in America during WWII, this novel combines "magical realism, romance, and war time intrigue." Set in West Virginia at the posh Avallon Hotel which is situated over a magical mineral springs that takes on all the myriad elements - people, food, spices, emotions - that comprise the life of this exotic and exclusive resort as it "listens" to its inhabitants. The book is a study in 1930s-1940s luxury - as the author's note at the end points out. June Hudson, an orphan, is the general manager and caretaker for hotel owned by the rich Gilfoyle family. June is an enchanting and delightful character who imbues the story with humor, pathos and charm. The book finds Axis diplomats arriving to take up residence as WWII. They are an interesting group too (Germans, Italians and Japanese diplomats, sexy FBI agents, and a silent girl that intrigues June). I listened to this most interesting and delightfully read book.

labmom55

Poor magical realism
The Listeners is a historic fiction (with a heavy emphasis on fiction) about the need during 1942 to detain the diplomats from Axis countries until a swap could be arranged. While it’s loosely based on real events, and does include some real occurrences, historical fiction is almost a misnomer. It’s heavier on romance and fantasy than it is on history.

The Avalon is a luxury hotel in West Virginia, similar to the Greenbriar, which makes an arrangement with the State Department to be where the diplomats are held. June Hudson is the hotel’s general manager and a local gal who has a feel for the “sweet waters” of the local springs. I am generally not a fan of magic realism and this book didn’t do it well. I really didn’t see the need for the fantasy of these magical waters (which are never explained) and thought the story would have been stronger if it had kept itself more rooted in reality.

The character development was done well. June was the typical plucky FMC. I was more invested in Tucker, the head of the FBI contingent. I appreciated the quandaries that he faced, especially given some of the moral dilemmas that arose. But overall, I felt at a remove from all the characters. The book moves at a rather glacial pace and I felt it covered a lot of the same territory multiple times. It was too much about hotel employees being forced to serve people they had no reason to respect. I felt the bureaucracy of the swap rang true. As did the dilemma of Hanalore and what her mother, Sabine, was willing to do.

I listened to this and Erin Bennett did a good job narrating. The Listeners is a historic fiction (with a heavy emphasis on fiction) about the need during 1942 to detain the diplomats from Axis countries until a swap could be arranged. While it’s loosely based on real events, and does include some real occurrences, historical fiction is almost a misnomer. It’s heavier on romance and fantasy than it is on history.

The Avalon is a luxury hotel in West Virginia, similar to the Greenbriar, which makes an arrangement with the State Department to be where the diplomats are held. June Hudson is the hotel’s general manager and a local gal who has a feel for the “sweet waters” of the local springs. I am generally not a fan of magic realism and this book didn’t do it well. I really didn’t see the need for the fantasy of these magical waters (which are never explained) and thought the story would have been stronger if it had kept itself more rooted in reality.

The character development was done well. June was the typical plucky FMC. I was more invested in Tucker, the head of the FBI contingent. I appreciated the quandaries that he faced, especially given some of the moral dilemmas that arose. But overall, I felt at a remove from all the characters. The book moves at a rather glacial pace and I felt it covered a lot of the same territory multiple times. It was too much about hotel employees being forced to serve people they had no reason to respect. I felt the bureaucracy of the swap rang true. As did the dilemma of Hanalore and what her mother, Sabine, was willing to do.

I listened to this and Erin Bennett did a good job narrating.

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