Helpful Score: 3
This isn't my typical type of book at all. But I work with a facility that once used to be a TB retreat in PA so the summary caught my attention.
I listened to this as a book on CD, again, because it wasn't my normal type of story to choose.
I was fascinated with the story though, and enjoyed it more than I expected to. However, my only complaint is that the ending was a bit disappointing. There was no clear conclusions made by the end and it was sort of left hanging. None of the characters seemed to have a clear cut ending written.
Leo was a very endearing character and you get pulled into his story and the troubles that follow him and the unfairness of the way things were back then.
I listened to this as a book on CD, again, because it wasn't my normal type of story to choose.
I was fascinated with the story though, and enjoyed it more than I expected to. However, my only complaint is that the ending was a bit disappointing. There was no clear conclusions made by the end and it was sort of left hanging. None of the characters seemed to have a clear cut ending written.
Leo was a very endearing character and you get pulled into his story and the troubles that follow him and the unfairness of the way things were back then.
I read about 80 pages and put the book down, could not get through it. a bit anti-climatic
Andrea Barrett is quickly becoming my favorite living author. It would take most of us a lifetime to accumulate the history and vocabulary of one of her books. That she can write on so many historical topics -- from shipping to turn-of-the-century tuberculosis cure facilities in the Adirondacks -- is a tribute to her incredible research. Yet, her writing and character development are her crowning achievements. When I read her books, I am there. I am living the life of her characters and feeling their rebellions and heartaches. "The Air We Breathe" is a particularly compelling read as it pulls us through the care of patients and the poverty and incendiary politics of this era. I am stunned by the quality of Ms. Barrett's writing. May she live the longest of lives and continue writing books to be treasured.
