Lark and Termite

By: Jayne Anne Phillips

Narrated by: James Yaegashi

Winner of an Academy Award in Literature, a pair of National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, and the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips is a master storyteller. Her first novel in nine years concerns a West Virginia family facing the spectre of the Korean War.©2009 Jayne Anne Phillips (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"This poetic novel alternates between the last hours of Robert Leavitt, a corporal in the U.S. Army, pinned down in a tunnel in South Korea, in 1950, and the story of his disabled son, Termite, who, nine years later, is living with his half sister, Lark, and their aunt in West Virginia." (The New Yorker)
"Through Robert and Nonie's stories and by exposing the innermost thoughts of each character, Phillips creates a wrenching portrait of devotion while keeping the suspense at a palpitating level." (Publishers Weekly)

Hard to Follow

I've tried listening to this book twice now since it has gotten good literary reviews but trying to follow the narrations from the Korea portion of the story or those told from Termite's perspective are just too hard to follow.

Poetic prose

This is a beautifully written, very literary (echoes of Faulkner) novel that slowly unspools the secrets of its lovely characters. Because the strength of this book is its language, this is one I think I might have preferred to read.

Extraordinary writing

I listened to this after also listening to two other books by Phillips — “Night Watch” and “Quiet Dell.” All 3 novels are dark and haunting , traversing the line of life and death, evil and innocence. They seem to move slowly but each line is portentous and rich. I’m usually not drawn to the darkness of these novels but find each haunting and memorable with characters who will remain with me.

Loved it

Beautiful characters and excellent narration make this wonderfully written story a lovely listen.

Death by Narration

James Yaegashi's narration caused the final demise to this already unevenly written novel. Pass.