TALMADGE FARM

The rich, evocative voice of Justin Price conjures the members of three North Carolina families who live on a tobacco farm during the '50s and '60s. One family is the Talmadge family, landowners and wannabe local gentry. Two sharecropper families, one Black and one white, also capture the interest of listeners. This enthralling family saga includes episodes of racism, cruelty, addiction, misogyny, and other social ills, all set in a landscape that is changing. Some characters prosper with that change, and some can't cope. Price reflects their passion and conveys a sense of place. The most memorably crafted character is the bigoted landowner and banker Gordon Talmadge. Price creates a man who is insufferable--yet evokes empathy. This is a notable debut novel and listening experience. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]