THE SONG OF THE BLUE BOTTLE TREE
by India Hayford

Narration by, Zura Johnson, Matt Godfrey, and Laura Jennings was very good.

3.5 stars
A haunting Southern gothic story with sprinkles of magical realism, that takes place in rural Arkansas in 1967. Genevieve, at a young age has lost her mother, father and grandmother and after suffering abuse from trusted family, decides she must find her way in life on her own. She returns back to her childhood home where she discovers that her own need for healing is part of a larger tapestry of suffering.

Exploring themes of family, loss, fundamentalist religion, the resilience of women, and folk magic. I like reading Southern gothic stories and with the magical realism thrown in made this debut a good read. At times I didn’t understand the reasoning and choices some women chose, but after reading an article of how the author created her story, helped me to understand. Her writing is good and I look forward to reading more from her.

Thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC of this.

Genevieve Charbonneau is a complex, strong, and interesting FMC. This multi-POV story needs to come with some major TW's but is worth the discomfort.

I don't typically read historic fictions, but a dose of magic and the FMC description drew me in. If you're someone who is disturbed by sexual abuse, domestic abuse, violence, murder, child abuse, and religious abuse, you might want to skip this one. However, this powerful story is one of justice and strength with a dash of magic. This book was disturbing to read at times. The TW's were definitely what made these characters so complex and interesting. However, I did find myself cringing a lot. Would I recommend it to my book club? Maybe? I think that the reader should really consider the TW's and their comfort level with reading about those things. They are prevalent and graphic. It made my heart hurt. Regardless, it was a fantastic story, well written, and interesting to the very end.

I always enjoy a good work of historical fiction, and this audiobook was no exception. The narrators, Zura Johnson, Matt Godfrey, and Laura Jennings did an excellent job of telling this story and representing the different characters throughout. The flow was easy to listen to and follow, and the different perspectives of the characters keeps you engaged and wanting to know what comes next.

This book touches on many topics, such as abuse, loss, and religious trauma. Despite these themes, the overall story doesn't drag you down, but lifts you up and shows that you can find the light on the other side. The addition of two MCs being able to see ghosts (one a bunch, and the other just one) was a nice addition to the plot, and definitely made things interesting. I real enjoyed the ending, though I won't spoil it for anyone reading this.

If you like historical fiction with a touch of paranormal mixed in, I highly recommend this book.

I just finished a great audiobook. The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree by India Hayford was amazing and is available soon.

Thank you NetGalley! A very good debut! Genevieve, a stolen name, is a woman whose life has been filled with loss and survival. When she meets Mercer, a Vietnam vet dealing with his own demons, they attempt to try and normalize their lives. Both are haunted (literally) by their pasts. John Luther, his father, is an over zealous church preacher who has many dark secrets but feels self-entitled and hides his dark deeds behind his faith. Mercer’s mother and sisters suffer until Genevieve determines enough is enough and vows to safeguard her newly rediscovered cousins. Felt the audio narration was ok. Genevieve’s reader was very good but felt the male’s voice didn’t fit into the story as well. Still, very good debut.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the narration. I would love to give this a try as a physical read!

The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree follows Genevieve Charbonneau, a name taken from a tombstone through very difficult times. She returns to her hometown just for one quick look but finds companionship in a recently returned Vietnam vet. She attempts to help him through very difficult times as well as his family. But there is so much more going on behind those closed doors.

Trigger Warnings: abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, murder, inappropriate use of religion

I listened to the ALC and the narrators do a phenomenal job portraying the characters.

The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree is a stunning and emotionally charged journey. Set in the South, it tackles some of the most difficult themes-religious abuse, sexual and physical trauma, and the long-lasting effects of the Vietnam War. The pacing is perfect, keeping you on edge while the writing itself is lyrical and haunting.
At times, it was incredibly hard to read, but that’s a testament to how deeply the author dives into the pain and resilience of the characters. While emotionally draining, this book is an unforgettable experience.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Under the disguise of a time and a new name harvested from a gravestone, Genevieve Charbonneau visits her grandmother's home in rural Arkansas. In the hopes of discovering some answers to old questions, she meets her cousin, a Vietnam veteran and through his friendship, she meets many of her former family members, including a hypocritical, abusive, snake-handling preacher. She inspires his wife and daughters to shake off the chains of abuse and become empowered, independent women.

The engaging plot is beautifully executed. One cannot empathize and cheer for the strong female main character as she finds her way alone through the difficult 1960s when women in the South were to "be seen and not heard". One of the best books I have read in awhile. I would strongly recommend it.

Gorgeous - beautifully written and well paced. Flawed but beautiful characters. Hard to read in places (but worth it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very frustrating but amazing book. The story takes place in the 1960s with the main character Genevieve, who has a unique personality and talks to ghosts. She's traveling around the south with a circus escaping issues from her past and meets a Vietnam vet also struggling with his past, and he takes her into his home to provide a place of safety.

She then meets a family whose father is a preacher, and we find that the family has been suffering abuse at the hands of the preacher. The book is written so well. It reminded me in a way of Where the Crawdads Sing. The author combined the magical realism of the ghosts well with the story, and the abuse that these poor characters endure throughout the story elicit such a strong response you feel for them and want to get justice for them.

I definitely recommend this book. It came out on March 25th, so add it to your April TBR if you're in for an emotional ride!

Wow can't believe all of that was in there without any warnings.

Other than the abuse. It was a very interesting story