A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl Audiobook By Susie Finkbeiner cover art

A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl

Pearl Spence Novels, Book 1

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A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl

By: Susie Finkbeiner
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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Where you come from isn't who you are.

Ten-year-old Pearl Spence is a daydreamer, playing make-believe to escape life in Oklahoma's Dust Bowl in 1935. The Spences have their share of misfortune, but as the sheriff's family, they've got more than most in this dry, desolate place. They're who the town turns to when there's a crisis or a need - and during these desperate times, there are plenty of both, even if half the town stands empty as people have packed up and moved on.

Pearl is proud of her loving, strong family, though she often wearies of tracking down her mentally impaired older sister or wrestling with her grandmother's unshakable belief in a God, who Pearl just isn't sure she likes. Then a mysterious man bent on revenge tramps into her town of Red River. Eddie is dangerous, and he seems fixated on Pearl. When he reveals why he's really there and shares a shocking secret involving the whole town, dust won't be the only thing darkening Pearl's world.

While the tone is suspenseful and often poignant, the subtle humor of Pearl's voice keeps A Cup of Dust from becoming heavy-handed. Finkbeiner deftly paints a story of a family unit coming together despite fractures of distress threatening to pull them apart.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2019 Susie Finkbeiner (P)2019 Oasis Audio Christian Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural Heartfelt Witty Feel-Good Inspirational Fiction English Authors Mystery
Engaging Historical Fiction • Heartwarming Family Story • Exceptional Narration • Authentic Historical Details
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This narrator is by far the best I've ever heard! So many good novels can be ruined by bismal narration. Engaging, descriptive writing that made me do some more historical reading. That's what most authors' aim is, do inspire more reading, right? Finkbeiner is excellent at this.

Excellent!

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The narrator did a very good job of making each character sound unique and identifiable. She put emotion where there needed to be emotion and just did a great job overall. The story was a bit predictable but still a nice little story that seemed realistic for Dust Bowl times.

Great narration of a good story!

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The narrator was especially talented, I felt all the emotions. Engaging story & narration.

Excellent voices, very engaging!

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This was a great story to listen to, great performance, I Would highly recommend it

Loved it!

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The storyline from a 10-year-old girl’s point of view was fantastic. I was mesmerized by Pearl’s sometimes humorous, sometimes chilling, but always poignant and perceptive, observations. This was one of my favorite Dust Bowl stories, and I highly recommend it.

Highly recommend

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The performance was amazing! I have never listened to a narrator that good. This is the first time I have listened to this author. This is the story of very hard times. Be warned that it is tragic, parts are very violent and extremely sad . Would I listen to this again?
No, because it was very depressing, but the story was so intense I had to know what happened. This author was amazing and the characters that made up the Spence family were strong Christians and never lost their faith in God.

Vicky J

Intense

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A Cup of Dust is my first introduction to Susie Finkbeiner. The story is intense and heartwarming I loved the details and full character development. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books!
.Listening to this book being read by Tavia Gilbert really made the experience come alive.
She is brilliant in her gifting. I will search for other books read by this narrator.

First book is a winner

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Good expressive reading , characters really come to life in this very Interesting historical fiction , well worth the read

Great narration

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This was a very tough story to get through. But I guess that's what makes it so good. Listening to these people live through one of the worst man made natural disasters in history should be hard to take in. But definitely worth it!! It was so beautifully written!!
The narrator was absolutely amazing - one of the best I have heard!! She brought each character to life - male and female alike! I will certainly look for her other reads!

Harrowing, realistic. Best narrator ever!!

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I liked how the story showed how love can prevail even during the worst of times. The narrator was simply unbelievable as she is so amazing. She brought the book to life. I also liked how even people who do very evil things have some good in them and it comes through just at the right time.

A love story

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