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Title: Ms. Hempel Chronicles
Author: Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Format: Unabridged
Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
Language: English
Release date: 06-25-09
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
Publisher's Summary:
Sarah Shun-lien Bynum finds characters at their most vulnerable, then explores those precarious moments in sharp, graceful prose. From this most innovative of young writers comes another journey down the rabbit hole to the wonderland of middle school, memory, daydreaming, and the extraordinary business of growing up.
Critic Reviews:
"Bynum's second novel provides a narrative voice as unique and engaging as that in her award-winning debut, Madeleine Is Sleeping." (Booklist)
"Bynum writes with great acuity, and the emotional undercurrents in this sharp take on coming-of-age and growing up will move readers in unexpected ways." (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)
"Such a beautiful book is Ms. Hempel Chronicles, the kind that gives its reader profound insights into ordinary, everyday life. . . . [D]eeply affecting." (Los Angeles Times)
Members Reviews:
Beautifully Observed, Truthful
This is a beautifully observed novel tracing one young teacher's -- you will come to know 'Bea' -- sojourn standing in front of middle schoolers. The prose is a joy; Ms. Shun-lien Bynum achieves that near-impossibility of capturing the emotional weight of a moment by drilling down to what is seen, heard, and felt ... it reminds me of Hemmingway's maxim to watch the fish flop from the water ... what delights you about it? What made you want to laugh? How can you render that in truth by grafting it in concrete experience. Very few young writers are grounded in that ability (or pursue that end with such vigor). In essence, she captures the fabric of life felt.
A Gem of a Book
A delightful read, somewhat quirky, at times whimsical, Ms. Hempel Chronicles is always entertaining. It is an insightful, often amusing look at the dual worlds of middle school teachers and the family life of one who, young and single, remains closely connected physically and emotionally to those roots. The main character, a 29-year-old seventh-grade teacher, is vividly portrayed. Likewise, her mother, and especially the 11-year-old sister, come alive, and teachers and pupils alike are familiar, yet unique, to anyone, young or old, who has experienced the pleasures and tribulations of spending his or her youthful years in the public schools â which is to say, most of us. It is apparent that Bynum has drawn on her own experience as a teacher and on her Asian-American family roots in formulating her characters so convincingly. That she delivers an engrossing novel, divided into several stories, sans violence or even heightened dramatic discord, is testament to her talent.
Bob Brink, author, Breaking Out, a novel
A Truly Enjoyable Read
Ms. Hempel Chronicles is an a wonderful collection of short stories that chronicles the life of a teacher through different stages of her life. Though the stories are disparate, Shun-lien Bynum fleshes out the character of Ms. Hempel fully. She creates a real person, with depth and personality that you want to know more about. I was sad when it was over, and there were no more vignettes to draw me in to her world.
Great read for young or old of any gender.
If you have ever been a teacher, a student, a dropout, or all three, this book is full of tasty tidbits which will keep you nibbling to the end. And they are really healthy -- good for the circulation and other vital systems! I remember one Ms.
