The Movement of Stars

By: Amy Brill

Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer

Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

It is 1845, and Hannah Gardner Price has lived all 24 years of her life according to the principles of the Nantucket Quaker community in which she was raised, where simplicity and restraint are valued above all, and a woman's path is expected to lead to marriage and motherhood. But up on the rooftop each night, Hannah pursues a very different - and elusive - goal: Discovering a comet and thereby winning a gold medal awarded by the King of Denmark, something unheard of for a woman.

And then she meets Isaac Martin, a young, dark-skinned whaler from the Azores who, like herself, has ambitions beyond his expected station in life. Drawn to his intellectual curiosity and honest manner, Hannah agrees to take Isaac on as a student. But when their shared interest in the stars develops into something deeper, Hannah's standing in the community begins to unravel, challenging her most fundamental beliefs about work and love, and ultimately changing the course of her life forever.

Inspired by the work of Maria Mitchell, the first professional female astronomer in America, The Movement of Stars is a richly drawn portrait of desire and ambition in the face of adversity.

©2013 Amy Brill (P)2013 Tantor

Ok but a little bit cheesy

Decent but a little bit cheesy. I would not recommend, but if you're curious, it's not a total waste of time.

Wish I could get back 7 of those hours.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Most likely not, it is not my favorite story. It is definitely interesting subject matter and I liked many of the more psychological insights the characters had, but it was just so hard to get into and it just drags on a bit in certain areas. I love historically based fiction too, but this one was just not a keeper for me.

Would you be willing to try another book from Amy Brill? Why or why not?

Probably not...but then again I might.

Would you be willing to try another one of Carla Mercer-Meyer’s performances?

No, honestly I think the book's mostly slow plot line was made worse by the narration. I didn't like the slow, kind of teacher-ish way it was read in at all. And I especially didn't care for the voice she gave to one of the main characters, Isaac Martin. It just got on my nerves the entire time. Also, she took the mostly dull character of Hannah Price and made her even more flat by the almost monotone timid voice she gave her. I don't want to be too harsh though because I'm sure she is talented, but maybe this narrator and this book weren't a good fit.

Was The Movement of Stars worth the listening time?

No, I'd like to at least get 7 of those 14 hours back.