Swimming Between Worlds

By: Elaine Neil Orr

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

From the critically acclaimed writer of A Different Sun, a Southern coming-of-age novel that sets three very different young people against the tumultuous years of the American civil rights movement...

Tacker Hart left his home in North Carolina as a local high school football hero, but returns in disgrace after being fired from a prestigious architectural assignment in West Africa. Yet the culture and people he grew to admire have left their mark on him. Adrift, he manages his father's grocery store and becomes reacquainted with a girl he barely knew growing up.

Kate Monroe's parents have died, leaving her the family home and the right connections in her Southern town. But a trove of disturbing letters sends her searching for the truth behind the comfortable life she's been bequeathed.

On the same morning but at different moments, Tacker and Kate encounter a young African-American, Gaines Townson, and their stories converge with his. As Winston-Salem is pulled into the tumultuous 1960s, these three Americans find themselves at the center of the civil rights struggle, coming to terms with the legacies of their pasts as they search for an ennobling future.

Exquisite book; narrator’s pseudo-southern accent annoying in parts

Loved reading and listening to this story. In the former, I imagined Tacker’s East-Carolinian accent to sound more authentic than his audiobook voice. But overall, the narrator read beautifully. I liked her Kate-voice. Gaines’ character too, sounded true to life.

Interesting story about desegregation, late 50's.

I found the plot compelling and the details about the protagonist's experiences in Nigeria were nicely intermixed with scenes in Winston-Salem. Usually I enjoy this narrator but her portrayal of Kate, a main character was awful! She sounded like an elderly, hesitant, depressed wallflower. The story would have had an entirely different tone if she sounded like the strong career woman who was emerging as the story unfolded.

Awesome! Perfect in every way

I loved this book. Excellent storyline. Superb narration. Happy, sad, emotional. Prejudice during the 1950/60s in the South. So sad it’s over.