The Nutmeg Tree Audiobook by Margery Sharp (Review)

Posted by on Oct 12, 2018 in Reviews | 16 comments

Review of: The Nutmeg Tree Audiobook
Audiobook:
Margery Sharp

Reviewed by:
Rating:
4
On October 12, 2018
Last modified:August 24, 2022

Summary:

The Nutmeg Tree Audiobook

By: Margery Sharp

Narrated by: Anna Parker-Naples

Published by Tantor Audio 08/28/2018

The Nutmeg Tree Audiobook

4 Hearts rating image Hot Listens

6 hrs and 34 mins

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The Nutmeg Tree Audiobook Sample

The Nutmeg Tree Audiobook

4.0 Hearts

This modern historical written in 1936 and re-released in audio caught my eye when I read the blurb. I had visions of the old classic romantic comedy romp, Auntie Mame and I just had to give it a listen. A was in the mood for a delightful female protagonist full of whimsy who stymied everyone around her even while making their world a brighter place. And, I was spot on.

Julia Packett decides to do it up right when she comes to her estranged daughter’s rescue. She’s not been a respectable woman in all her life, but she was an actress so she will pull this off for Susan’s sake. Straight-laced Susan is preparing to marry someone unsuited to her and contacts Julia to back her up when it comes to her guardians from Susan’s father’s side. Julia is determined to help, but is surprised when she encounters the prospective groom. Its up to Julia to sort things out in a way that the headstrong and always right (no really, she is) Susan will not suspect.
Naturally, Julia attracts trouble from the outset and all along the way, but it is when she meets Sir William Warren that she knows she’s really in for it. Sir William is a debonair, upstanding man of distinction. He’d never tolerate her past or her shenanigans, right?

I had not heard of Margery Sharp before, but I am thrilled to have stumbled over her book. Her writing had that old-style sparkle that books from that period possess. Julia was such a colorful and vivid personality that nearly everyone else was gray and flat in comparison. She sees herself as a bad sort because she’s not conventional. She loved working the theater, entertaining people, and being entertained, but there’s not a mean bone in her body. Not that she hasn’t crossed the line a few times or pulled some tricks to make her way along. There is excitement in living by her wits and wiles without a penny in her pocket. She’s worldly without being jaded. Her heart is warm and she’s plucky.

It was fun listening to Julia’s scrapes and adventures and seeing her undone when true love strikes her. Julia was so charming that I was on her side even when she was at her lying, scheming best. The other characters are her foils more than anything else, but they too were engaging in their own way.

I enjoyed that this was set in the French countryside outside Aix and there was a villa/village/resort town feel to it all.

My only real niggle was that this ended abruptly. Julia’s storyline was wrapped up and so were the others, I realized, when I gave it some thought. But, it just stopped rather than did a wrap up. This too was the way of some authors at that time whom I’ve read.

In summary, it sparkled and had a little old-style sass. Those who enjoy light and romantic modern historicals written from a contemporary of the times should definitely give this one a go.

The Nutmeg Tree Audiobook Narration

4 Hearts

The narrator was new to me, but I enjoyed the way Anna Parker-Naples fit the story’s era and tone. She did well with both genders and the social class accents along with the French as well as English. I thought she was a brilliant match for Julia which was crucial since Julia’s POV was the main one

Margery SharpMargery Sharp was born Clara Margery Melita Sharp in Salisbury. She spent part of her childhood in Malta.
Sharp wrote 26 novels, 14 children’s stories, 4 plays, 2 mysteries and many short stories. She is best known for her series of children’s books about a little white mouse named Miss Bianca and her companion, Bernard. Two Disney films have been made based on them, called The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under.
In 1938, she married Major Geoffrey Castle, an aeronautical engineer.

Narrator Anna Parker NaplesAnna Parker-Naples is an experienced Award-Winning Audiobook Narrator. Her work was recognised in May 2015 when she received an Audiofile Earphones Award, and was a finalist in two categories of the Voice Arts Awards in Nov 2015 for Best Romance Audiobook and Best Teen Audiobook.

Anna regularly works with best-selling titles and award-winning authors.  She has many titles available on Audible, and more awaiting release, having worked with top audio publishers, Audible, ISIS, White House Sound, Harper Audio and Brilliance Publishing.

In addition, Anna is an official Talking Books Narrator for the Royal National Institute for the Blind. 

Anna trained with The Actors Company, London, and in her early career toured nationally and internationally with theatre productions.  She went on to establish herself as one of the UK’s top female Voiceover Artists, with clients such as Coca-Cola, BMW, FC Barcelona, Mothercare and Superdrug, among many others. In both 2012 and 2013 her voice landed her as finalist for Piehole’s Demo of the Year.

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My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by

Sophia Rose Signature

  • 4
    editor rating
Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.