I was not sure if I would leave a message about the book... This is my family. Fanny is my 3rd great aunt. I don't know her, but I was raised with her story. I'm thankful for the reader and the new version of the book. I could not take the first one. I feel asleep after a page or two. Aunt Fanny was great as a reporter of facts, but not a writer. My family still is in the area of Geneva. They shared the homestead with the Indians every spring. They traded items for my great grandma's bread. They were nothing like the Indians that took Fanny. They witched for the well and dug it by hand for the family. My great grandma even adopted a daughter that was part indian. I'm so glad this history was written down for others to read.
Thank you for the details. What state is Geneva in? There's a town of Geneva in the Finger Lakes area of New York near me, but it seems too far east for this story.
Its an amazing story. I think that the "reader" is not human . The weird word endings odd pronunciation and lack of emotional intonation is the give away.
This woman is absolutely amazing and has amazing faith! With all that she experienced and saw she still shows compassion to her captors, and 'sees' beyond the suffering. What an inspiration!
@Vicki McCuneeven today humans lack the ability to consider other cultures. As for that time in history almost the entirety of the nation saw natives as savages. Even those who did not ever personally engage the natives. A story of this nature would most certainly one sided , especially if any part of it is non fiction. Proud or not it is the history of the settlement of our country. Living in our recent times it is impossible to determine how different our actions would be in their place, as these people certainly should be seen as a different culture as opposed to ours.
@Vicki McCune Maybe it had something to do with them dancing around with human scalps on a pole. Or maybe she just doesnt get the wonder of cultural diversity. I dont know.
@@painelarson There is nothing fictional about this book. It is her first hand account of her own experience. Considering that they slaughtered her friends kidnapped threatened and beat her its a pretty even handed account.
What a insightful story... From a anthropology perspective, I have no issues with the reader. Mrs. Kelly’s time in captivity and her articulation of that experience reveals an in-depth study of the Sioux culture. We who love history are in her debt.
Very difficult to adjust to her cadence but I stuck with it to the end. I’m glad I did because the story was interesting. The term Noble Savage has a new meaning for me.
The strength @ tenacity of BOTH SIDEs....never ceases to amaze me. Not too many folks These Days could barely withstand the raw elements of Winter, let alone all the other atrocities performed from both sides.
What a great story! This lady may very well be the only person who volunteered to read this entire book out loud for those who can’t or choose not to read it themselves. People need to be aware that she is not a robot. She has feelings. If you don’t care for the way she reads a book then read it yourself. You have not paid her for her service so either suck it up and listen or move along. I can’t even imagine how the conversation would go as you try to explain the torture you suffered .......”Oh what a horrifying day I experienced!I I listened to an audio book so that I wouldn’t have to read it myself and I didn’t like the way she read it. She didn’t use the correct inflections! Oh the HORROR”! With all that is happening in this world today, I would think that there would be more pressing issues that you could complain about!!
@@porkypig2971 There is no question whether she did it "right" or not-she read the words correctly and understandably. What's at issus is whether or not people find her voice pleasing, which has nothing to do with her, and everything to do with them. Her voice is not objectively irritating, as many here enjoyed how she read the book.
I didn't notice that her voice or reading style was ODD. Reading out loud for an audience can be DIFFICULT. I'm just happy I could close my eyes and LISTEN.
This is the greatest book on Indian captivity.Totally love it. I love Fany , Jumping Bear, and Red Cloud. The great defender of his Nation. Cary in Tucson and Phoenix xxx and Hawaii and lots of otra places.
Very suprised by the comments. I have listened to this many, many times. I LOVE the narrator. She makes this story, for me, I can't imagine another voice doing this AND...I will listen to it MANY KIRE times. Well done, narrator, I say!!!
@GrS I applaud her efforts as well and I don’t mean to denigrate her personally but the singsong nature and cadence of her speech bothers me as well. It’s nothing to do with any accent. Accents don’t bother me at all. In fact I enjoy them. They add variety and spice to the English language. I’m American by the way. Born and raised in the northwest corner of Washington State, near the Canadian border.
@@rumplestiltskin3268 I found the pitch to be moreso very "earthy" "old-timey" "fact-close" derived from a slower life, as slow as the crops grow. Not an uncertainty with the high-pitch, tonal 'period' that you might hear in the valley.
Amazing story of survival and a historical glimpse into the daily life of the Indians of the times. I got used to the voice and translated it into the written word in my mind. It is not an machine reading, she stumbled on a few words.
At first wasn’t sure of the Narration, but later this was version I liked best and fall asleep too. Love the amount of history mainly available in this story about the Sioux every day life foraging as they constantly move their camp.
I greatly appreciate this audio account. To those criticizing the peculiarity of the intonation, it is the story that’s most important and I find it best to ignore the voice and listen to what is recited.
Even if Fanny had read this herself, do you expect her to express a two second account of her father's death from decades ago like a hollywood actor? This is way more real than faked emotion. I get suck too much into the visual to hear the voice, personally, but I liked her voice (I rarely can get through a six hour story but this was easy)
The narration is very good. I learned a lot about Indian customs and the history of that era. The robotic voice served the purpose of letting the writer’s words tell the story, rather than being emotionally influenced by voice inflection.
What a story! Very interesting on many levels. I noted, looking a bit into Ms. Kelly, that there was question as to her (not really in the book but implied) having never been sexually assaulted. She later said, I read, that she never was but others doubted. Of course I have no idea but will take her at her word. What a world!
Loved the story! The poor choice in the reader however made it like a suffering all of its own. But I did it!! Little bits at a time until I couldn’t stand it anymore. Then wait 24 hours and listened an hour more. Would be a great torture device for enemies. I really appreciate these stories, and hope they find a story teller soon.
Orange Man Always Wins Isn't it more the bizarre way kids are taught to speak today? ( Not to mention, not giving back to others). They put question marks where not required, when speaking, also. The late Canadian Peter Jennings, surely knew, how to deliver. I can remember Raymond Burr's exquisite delivery, of speech. And also, all the past Canadian Musicians. I can't imagine Gordon Lightfoot and the rest ever singing their songs this way. Its just as bad in the US. A sign of the de-evolving, human race.
@@ivangranger8494 Don't get me started on the way many young people talk today. I love RU-vid as a source of information, but can hardly stomach the speech patterns of many young video makers. I almost wish I wasn't wired this way, but I'm extremely bothered by it. I'm not even sure how to describe it, but it's a distinct pattern of ending each phrase in a question mark of sorts. Each sentence can end up with 4-6 question marks. 😳
Well, she's an autogenerated voice. Listening is a form of torture. It sounds sing-song to me with false inflections and predictable intonations. Da-da-DA-la-LA-da-DA...
Wonderful account of her experience with captivity. Want to read more about this time in history. I too had had a negative experience with the reader, however the content soon overcame the accent. Thank you so much for this.
Though an interesting story, it's difficult to concentrate on it due to the bizarre habit of the narrator to strangely accent the end of each sentence.
@@AztecViking84 As stated at the beginning it is a librivox recording. I guess we must decide whether it is the voice or the content which is more important. For me it is the content.
Fascinating tragic story of both cultures struggle to maintain dreams along with away of life. It’s disheartening that humanity has not learned from their past.
Very interesting story and I like the reader's voice. I don't get the listeners' comments about a "Valley Girl" inflection. I dislike Valley-Girl-Speak and I don't hear it from this reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Much thanks.
I would really love to hear the whole thing but the narration is horrid to my ears , i just can't get past 10 min. Its sad, i hope its AI i really hope its AI. If its not no offense please its just how can you actually trail up every 4th word? and sound like your not at all connecting to the words whatsoever
This was a truly amazing story. I drive throughout the northern midwest and it put everything I see into a different light. My question is, why on earth did they stay on the frontier after all this?! Wouldn't you move back east and never leave your peaceful little town ever again?
DEdwards To love words, sentences pauses for and pacing becomes spellbinding. I love it more than cinema or reading. I hope the narrator will study the art of storytelling.
Yes, the narration is somewhat mechanical, but such an endeavor with no promise of royalties is a tall one, so I appreciate the opportunity to listen. Although I recognize the limits of the veiwpoint of a victim of this distinctly American tragedy occasioned by those who set in motion this clash of cultures, it is insightful to hear her perspective and to have a glimpse of the past.
It bothers me that the kidnapped lady did not keep her child with her and later admits her child was killed she later is very articulate in her recounting
I know her voice is grating with the intonation butttt if you can get past it, the writing for this account is really worth the read or listen. Very detailed and interesting. I love her descriptions of landscape, and experiences.
Libravox is a free service so one doesn’t get proffessional quality narrators. Although not the greatest narrator, the power of the story and the richness of Fanny Kelley’s prose and poetry made my experience transcend the narration. We live in an age of dull, shallow thinking, so I found it so refreshing to be exposed to such a educated, expressive and articulate mind. 😎👍.
Another thing about the narration I found is that I was traumatized because I did listen to long sections of it. I noticed I could not get it out of my head--it took a couple days to recover. I couldnt sleep that night because the sound of the wording I couldnt keep replaying it. I will have to get councelling and medication for ptsd now.
the person reading this out loud is a Minnesotan.. that is her accent you hear.. I K because I grew up there and know the accent well... but only became aware of it when I moved to MO. lol
Incredible comments here criticizing the narrator. The story is so compelling that I became mesmerized by the suspense. The narrator is speaking in an archaic fashion, which I believe could be similar to how the author may of spoken.
Jeeze... At first the narrator drove me nuts. But, sometimes it made the Victorian understatement even more understated, which added to the humor. This was a really well written and remarkable story about a remarkable time and a remarkable women.
Glad I am a indiscriminate listener. I enjoyed the narrative. Perhaps one of the previous complainers will exhibit their talent by recording the book for us.
bruce c I’m not sure it’s unfair for one to critique the narrator. It’s an oral presentation. If it were a film that was voiced-over, you could be engaged by the video, but when it’s purely audio, it’s reliant upon the narrator to present the information in an interesting manner. I am muddling through, because I value the content, but the producers should know that it would be easier for many, if the narrator were less monotone. Also, we most certainly can critique tis aspect of the oral book, and not have to be better at it. Have you never bought something and been disappointed, complained? Say a car, or an electronic device? Are you not allowed to critique it unless you can make it better? That makes no sense.
@@samanthaowen008 You don't think it would have killed the feeling of those ancient winds on you if it wasn't read in styles more befit to older times?
It took me awhile, but For some reason the narrator helps me focus on the story’s content-maybe because she speaks so clearly. At first, it was torturous.
Ms Kelly seems to understand the Sioux without speaking their language ,so how much of conversations she heard did she invent ,she refers to whites as "superior race" when she sees mixed race children etc, I like to hear the attitudes and history of the time as well as the Sioux customs ,interesting book well read.
what an amazing story,,,,,,,,,,,,i love her description of the silence and beauty ,,,,,,,,,,,long before cellphones, tv's, wifi, electric lights,,,,,,,,,,,maybe the intonation is meant to replicate the way ppl talked back then,,,,,,,,the diaogue is equally different than ours,,,,,,,,
That was my thought. It's one of my favorite narratives purely for this fact, hearing old things spoken by very modern voices (even if it's impossible to know the accent, we know it's different, and can at least deduce ways in which the voice may differ) is grating, it's almost disrespectful to put a different world in familiar tone, as if it is something so familiar to us.
People, it seems by reading several of the comments here, are so critical of others, always looking at the negative. Perhaps be thankful the narrator is giving the opportunity to experience this interesting nonfiction account. I do however, applaud those those naysayers were interested in the topic.
Imagine how hard it would be to hold back laughter watching the indian men adorn themselves with women's clothing upside down and in all mannors feeling prideful and hansom.
I never made it past the introductory. The way she breaks up 1long sentence into several short ones with her rhythm had me needing to pause and figure out what she was trying to say.
Hello.... As a teacher, i listen to readers of varying levels. Some readers might have physiological reasons for reading in a certain style. Reading is also a psychological and emotional experience. When a young person reads to me, I observe the child's level of comfort or anxiety. We do not know what courage it might have taken this reader to make such a great presentation.
A first-hand account of being captured by Sioux Indians. Fascinating. Edit - I have really tried to listen to this narrative but the delivery is so intensely irritating that after 49 minutes I've given up.
TOO many complainers here....if you're REALLY into some REAL stories about SOME of our american history, its No big deal, to deal w this womans voice. U can save ur negative replies. I love the 1st True Americans. Wakan Tanan Kici Un. 🌵 🌲 🐢 💖
