The Leopard's Spots

A propaganda tract for white supremacy wrapped in a romantic novel

(5 stars)

Peter

To be read as a historical document expounding bigotry and historical myths and, as such, worth reading to grasp the power of words to polarize society. Ms. Fry’s over-the-top performance fits the novel’s pathos perfectly and brings out all the irony of the characters Dixon created to expound his creed of racial superiority. So 5 stars for the impassioned reading and 0 stars for the ideology.

in many ways...

(4.5 stars)

Stephen Lowe

the entire country currently seems to be undergoing a 'reconstruction' similar to post civil war. hypocrisy, collision, voter fraud, violence are neighbors to us all. I did not learn much about carpetbaggers other than economic exploitation but they brought a lot of evil in those small bags.

good story. Hands down, The Best Reader

(5 stars)

Anewelding

I could listen to Michelle fry read a cereal box and would be interested. I've enjoyed all of JOC's books

unusual title

(4 stars)

Michele Fry

What a civil war does to a people is worth remembering. Both sides have their truths to tell. Good and bad people get ruined.

Summary

(5 stars)

Michele Fry

I, an amateur narrator, dared to record this book because living in the Deep South myself, it was a point of view I wanted to understand. Like with most things, there are two sides to be reckoned with. Freeing the slaves was of course the right thing to do. But the manner in which it was done was another hideous crime, reminiscent of our inept withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2020, which cost so many lives and is still doing so. Great cultural change requires thoughtful planning, keen awareness, and care for all concerned. This book tells a story of what happens when these are missing, thus i think is a valuable if painful story that needed telling.

First can be last

(2.5 stars)

TLast

Although listed as the first of a trilogy, it can be read last or not at all. It’s the weakest of the three volumes.

History which should not be repeated

(2.5 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

This text disgusted me on so many levels, but I had to finish it once I started as I assumed (hoped?) there would be some sort of effective resolution, sense, a movement towards greater good...as in the characters would learn a valuable set of lessons and move towards a positive and progressive nation, in the end. I was wrong. This novel never ended with a discussion of "showing what we should not do, and how we can be mindful so we progress peacefully together" etc. as I had hoped. It is unashamedly apologetic and sympathizing (even more so the further it goes) full of trash sentiments, corruption of every avenue, and white supremacy. I do appreciate the reader as she did take the time to record this. For those who would never physically read something like this, a recorded version still serves as a lesson / reminder that many persons did feel this way. My comfort is that at least today the majority would be just as disgusted with this writing as I was. Keep fighting for progress.

(2 stars)

Great book, great narrator. Loved every page.

Easily as bad as it's emulator of about a hundred years later, Marching Through Culpeper by Virginia Beard Martin. Both were saccharine exercises in vacuity, both embarrassing apologia of homesickness for a slaveholding Dixie that is more the product of fevered brains than good fiction based upon historical reality. And this comes with a terrible narration too, as a bonus I guess.