Avery Academy is a private school for the privileged. Holding its standards high, the school is shaken to its core foundations when a sex tape starts circulating involving three members of the basketball team and a freshman girl. The scandal revolves around one night of poor choices that seems to grow tentacles as it spreads through the school, the homes, the families and lives – much like a disease – infecting all those involved.
As each chapter unfolds a different character speaks – from the boys involved, to the girl, the parents, head master, and the investigator. What slowly comes to the surface is a deep revealing of what is buried deepest within our souls, the darkness that slowly can devour even the strongest of people.
I listened to this on audio and fair warning – the beginning is harsh. Harsh is actually too light of a word. The beginning was… graphic. I was listening to this in my kitchen and immediately turned the volume down as the words rushed out of the speakers, bringing me right into the core of the story line.. the actions of the night that changed so many lives forever.
As each narrator took on a characters voice – from one of the students involved, to the headmaster, to the parents… I started to feel this story shed its layers like an onion… each layer bringing me closer to the center of an underlying truth…
While the events that bring this book to be called Testimony work their way through the characters I am fascinated with the way each chapter overlaps with the last – building the mix of those involved so carefully that you never lose the point. Anita Shreve’s unique telling of a hideous crime is only the tip of the iceberg as families are destroyed in the aftermath. A less talented author would not have been able to pull off such a tale, but Anita Shreve does this in a near flawless way.
I enjoyed the different narrators taking on the characters, it really added to the story as each character shared their side of the story. My only regret is that I felt some of the story lines could have went deeper – I never felt I fully understood the girls story from that night, as she seemed to remain more surface than the boys telling of what happened.
Over all a deeply moving story that demonstrated how one night can change lives forever, lives that you never thought would be even be touched by another persons choices. I applaud Anita Shreve for taking on such a topic and leaving me in the end –
breathless.
Amazon Rating
The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include Testimony
I borrowed this from my local Library
suggested by my friend Angie (By Book or By Crook)
Here is a link to Angies review
Book Journey 
I have had this book on my wishlist for a very long time. Guess I’ll look for it and read it. It does look good. 🙂 great review!
I probably would not have read (listened to) this book if not for the recommendation of a good bookish friend Karoline. I am a sucker for book recommendations! 😀
Wow, this sounds intense. I agree with you that a story like this in the hands of a less talented author could be a disaster.
When it started out right away with the crime of the night I was shocked and thought this may not be for me… but once that was out of the way… the book moved along with the background stories and played out nicely.
I think the shock of the opening is part of the draw… Anita Shreve opened with, made it horrifying enough that as readers we deeply understood what was a ta stake, and then smoothly went on to the rest of the story.
I have not heard about this book but your review makes me want to read it. I know you listen to quite a few audio books and I am just slowly starting to enjoy audios…
Kavyen I bet this year audio will make up for half of my reading. I can listen to audio while I am actively doing something else… I find now that I crave the story line when I am working in the kitchen or driving…. I am a multi tasker at heart 🙂
I am also a big sucker for great narrators and as my friend Angie told me when she recommended this, the narrators are incredible!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, just as I’ve loved most of Shreve’s creations.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
You read this right Laurel? How did you feel about the beginning in the book? I think if I would have read this I would have lingered at the sheer horror of the beginning reflecting back to it as I read to see who was who again… I am thankful in the audio I was unable to do this 🙂
I just love Shreve’s writing and after reading so many mixed reviews of this novel I’m happy to see that you enjoyed it. I can’t wait to pick this one up!
I have not read any reviews of it at this point Jo Jo – I am curious as to what people did not like about it.
I read this book last year. It was quite an interesting book but very intense, I thought.
Oh yes – totally intense Rosanne!
I heard this on audiobook and read it. It was really sad.
Which did you prefer?
I agree it was so sad in the end…. it really makes you think…
I have a copy of this book that I won…sounds like a page turner!!
Staci I would love to read your review! 😀
I loved this book, it was my first by AnitaS, I definitely want to read more by her. I really enjoyed the multiple voices telling the story. Great review Sheila.
Do you have a favourite by her?
Marce it is funny that you mention that, I was trying to recall today if I have read anything else by her. I own a few more titles but I have not read them as of yet. I think this may be my first by her although I have heard wonderful things about her writing.
Sorry Sheila, I forgot to warn you about the graphic opening, so I’m glad you warned your readers and I’m glad you stuck with it. I’m also thrilled you liked it! I really think it wouldn’t have had quite the impact reading it as listening to it.
I think so too Angie – it was very – real. And the way it all wrapped together… I think how often kids will say “it doesn’t effect you” when it comes to their choices but this is a fine example of yes, yes it does. It is also a very good example of how things can be survived, and how they can overpower if you let them.
Here is my review if anyone needs a little extra nudge:
http://bybookorbycrook.blogspot.com/2010/02/testimony-by-anita-shreve-audio-book.html#comments
Oh good Angie thank you! I am going to add this to my post as well 🙂
I’ve never read anything by Shreve.
I think this may be my first one Hannah, I can not think of any of her others that I had read. 🙂
Hm, interesting! (Not sure why, but that struck me as particularly interesting. Maybe I need more coffee?) 😀
LOL – who knows Hannah, I may have read her years ago and forgot. In this case I am not sure if the coffee works for or against me 😛
I know that feeling! :p
This sounds very intriguing! Thanks for sharing, Sheila….
Sure Julie 🙂
That sounds like a contemporary subject and an interesting one at that. Hope your week is going great! 🙂
Thanks Sami, the week is going to get busy today and tomorrow but Friday should settle down again and into the weekend 🙂
Sounds like an interesting book. I read The Pilots Wife by the same author, it was good also.
I thought the Pilots Wife was by a different author…. I think I am thinking of a different book.
This wasn’t my favorite Shreve novel (and I’ve read them all except the most recent two) but I thought it was good. Shreve always does a great job creating interesting characters and juggling multiple viewpoints and heavy themes. I agree about wanting more when it comes to the characters, though.
I will have to try another of her books Anna, I have a couple on the shelves. 🙂
I didn’t care for this one much, but I was complely wowwed by the beginning. I read a lot of graphic stuff, but you’re right, that was on a whole other level!
The beginning was _ WHOA Stacy 🙂