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The Final Confession of Mabel Stark
- Narrated by: Betty Bobbitt
- Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins
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The Final Confession of Mabel Stark
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Editor reviews
Within seconds, listeners will realize there’s no one more fit to perform this wild and magical biography than veteran narrator Bobby Bobbitt. With her slight twang and raspy authority, Bobby brings to life Robert Hough’s fantastical version of Mabel Stark’s moving story. The Final Confession of Mabel Stark is an inventive and clever combination of fact and fiction, as Hough’s Mabel looks back on her life as one of the greatest tiger trainers in history. Full of all the romance, tragedy, and conquests that is associated with the real Mabel Stark, this audiobook is an extraordinary marriage of fact and fiction that will have listeners glued to their headphones.
Summary
This vibrant and moving fictional autobiography begins in 1968. Mabel is turning 80 and is about to lose her job. Faced with the loss of her beloved cats, she looks back on her life, her escapades and tragedies, her love affairs with tigers and men. She confronts her darkest secrets, her guilt at committing "the worst thing one person can do to another". Now, with the end of life in sight, there is one thing above all else she needs to do. Mabel wants to confess.
Exuberant and inventive, The Final Confession of Mabel Stark transports its readers to the carnival world of the Big Top to an age before cinema and television, when circus performers were superstars.
Critic reviews
"A marvelous debut narrated with delicious humour and warmth. Just about perfect. One of the most entertaining novels in many a year." ( Kirkus)
"Listeners are treated to Betty Bobbitt's performance of the indomitable, unconventional Mabel Stark....Bobbitt's raspy voice and full-throated chuckle perfectly draw Mabel's sassy attitude, complete with period diction, circus lore, and Kentucky twang." ( AudioFile)
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What listeners say about The Final Confession of Mabel Stark
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Whistling Woman
- 23-02-16
The Old Razzle Dazzle - And How!!!!
This book has long been a favourite of mine and I have read it probably three times in print so I was rather apprehensive to try the audio version. We've all had experience of a terrible narrator mangling a beloved book, haven't we? I need not have worried. In fact Betty Bobbit's performance - for it is a performance rather than bare narration - adds so much to the depth and characterisation of the story that I will probably not go back to the print version. And what a story it is - madness, murder, maulings; typhoid, terror and tiger sex, all set in the American circus in its "golden age" of the early twentieth century. What more could anyone want? The fact that this is a true story just makes it more fascinating. In fact this book, together with "Water For Elephants" by Sara Gruen, has made me eager to read more about the history of the circus. I absolutely unreservedly recommend this audio book as one of the best uses for anyone's credit. Raaaawrr!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss Jacqueline A Weaden
- 10-08-16
first ever audible...brilliant
loved the accent. loved the writing style. loved the story. loved the female character. loved.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Lorraine
- 14-11-08
Book of the Year
This book is absolutely fabulous! The development of the protagonist, Mary/Mabel is cleverly crafted, taking the listener on a journey of emotions towards her of innocence, admiration, pity, elation, fear, and pride. By the time you're half way through this title, you feel as if Mabel is your own long-lost great-aunt! The circuses of the 1920s and 30s must have been incredible and seeing circus life through Mabel's eyes gave it an intimate touch. The narrator plays a large part in the success of this story, in my opinion, with her intonations and amazing accent! I have to admit to sitting in my car, in the garage, long after arriving home in order to hear the end of a section! My Book of the Year!
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2 people found this helpful