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A review by bethreneereadsbooks
There Came a Contagion by Doug Ingold
4.0
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
There Came A Contagion tells the story of the Helgen family, residing in a small German village when the witch hunts occur. One character notes the phenomenon that the overwhelming frenzy to find and kill “witches” it is like a “contagion”- a madness that grows unchecked among the madness to turn against one another in order to protect oneself. Aside from this character, few have much if any courage to speak of this perspective, instead valuing self-protection over any critique of the trials.
I was eager to read this fictional tale of a real time in history, but I came away with mixed feelings about the story. I had a difficult time getting into it, and wasn’t feeling terribly engaged by the narrative until well past the halfway point- but it did get more interesting from there.
I had some difficulties with the narrators of the audiobook as well- they spoke clearly but some of the voices they put on- again, especially earlier on in the narration- reminded me somewhat of how a parent might narrate a story to a young child, in that slightly exaggerated and cartoonish way. This too did improve as the story progressed- either that or I became accustomed and stopped noticing it.
Still a worthwhile listen, if not one I can give a rave review.
* I received an arc of this audiobook from NetGalley and Wolfenden in exchange for an honest review.
There Came A Contagion tells the story of the Helgen family, residing in a small German village when the witch hunts occur. One character notes the phenomenon that the overwhelming frenzy to find and kill “witches” it is like a “contagion”- a madness that grows unchecked among the madness to turn against one another in order to protect oneself. Aside from this character, few have much if any courage to speak of this perspective, instead valuing self-protection over any critique of the trials.
I was eager to read this fictional tale of a real time in history, but I came away with mixed feelings about the story. I had a difficult time getting into it, and wasn’t feeling terribly engaged by the narrative until well past the halfway point- but it did get more interesting from there.
I had some difficulties with the narrators of the audiobook as well- they spoke clearly but some of the voices they put on- again, especially earlier on in the narration- reminded me somewhat of how a parent might narrate a story to a young child, in that slightly exaggerated and cartoonish way. This too did improve as the story progressed- either that or I became accustomed and stopped noticing it.
Still a worthwhile listen, if not one I can give a rave review.
* I received an arc of this audiobook from NetGalley and Wolfenden in exchange for an honest review.