Testimony: A Novel
by Anita Shreve
Published by Little, Brown and Company (October 21 release)
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Sharon Broom
In this audio, a prestigious private school in Vermont is a powder keg ready to explode. Avery Academy’s privileged students are carefully screened prior to entry and are the cream of the crop. While parents send their children to Avery to ‘avoid’ the problems of public school system, the parties, alcohol, drugs and sex exist–and even the privileged are not exempt from trouble.
Mike, Avery’s headmaster, has in his possession: a sex videotape. The people on the tape are underage students. The tape’s very existence wrecks havoc with the school, students, parents and the community. Nothing will ever be the same.
The story is told from multiple points of view (students, parents, and a reporter) and Shreve’s talent speaks to the success of her choice of storytelling methods. Only occasionally did I become confused with the numerous narrators. The story is primarily told from the perspective of Silas (basketball star), Noelle (a talented musician) and Mik,e the headmaster. The sex scandal raises questions, some that don’t have answers–and we learn that it is only part of the story.
The beginning of the story is extremely graphic and may negatively impact the listener/readers. Keep going, and as the story develops, the harshness of the beginning will fade.
Shreve’s novel is compelling, frightening and told in a manner that invites the reader to continue to listen as events unfold. I got lost in the story.
There are numerous narrators and their portrayals gave me the feeling of listening to a radio program. It was delightful and a good choice by the publisher. It’s not that one narrator couldn’t have done a good job, but the numerous voice actors added so much.
Armchair Interviews says: Another winner by Anita Shreve.