How Long to Read The Listener

How Long Does it Take to Read The Listener?

It takes the average reader 3 hours and 10 minutes to read The Listener by Stephen M. Millett

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

In the summer of 1964, seventeen year old Simon Hughes is left with his grandparents in small-town Sweetwater, Indiana while his parents travel out west. At first, Simon feels abandoned and very resentful. But over the course of the summer, his grandfather tells him stories of Sweetwater in the 1920s which become more and more intriguing and downright shocking. Simon's grandfather, Dr. James B. Lester, is a highly respected retired physician who saved the small county seat of Sweetwater, Indiana, during the great Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918. Dr. Lester gradually reveals his family and personal secrets to his grandson, including his involvement in the Indiana Ku Klux Klan. He describes the Klan's 100% Americanism, pro-Prohibition, anti-corruption, anti-Catholic, and anti-immigrant, especially anti-Irish, sentiments, which he shared. He also tells Simon stories about his leadership role in the local Klan, about his attendance at the largest Klan konklave at Kokomo on the Fourth of July 1923, and about his participation in the sensational rape and murder trial of Grand Dragon D. C. Stephenson in 1925. As Simon searches for the reasons for his grandfather's involvement in the Klan, he hears his domineering grandmother's point of view on Dr. Lester's career, as well as the recollections and point of view of various town residents of that era, including the old town newspaper editor who was intimidated by the Klan and the attorney who represented his grandfather after a tragic accident. Simon gradually discovers that his grandfather had ulterior motives for participating in the Klan and that the old gentleman suffered from the remorse of life-shattering incidents that were deeply personal. This book provides a fictionalized history of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana during the 1920s and how it exploited people's fears for its own political power and financial gain. As many as one-out-of-three white, native-born, Protestant Hoosier men may have belonged to the Klan, which at one time controlled the state government. A sub-plot deals with the young man's experiences during the summer of 1964, which was a turbulent year including the Civil Rights movement, the British Invasion, and the beginnings of our future involvement in the Vietnam War.

How long is The Listener?

The Listener by Stephen M. Millett is 190 pages long, and a total of 47,500 words.

This makes it 64% the length of the average book. It also has 58% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read The Listener Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 4 hours and 19 minutes to read The Listener aloud.

What Reading Level is The Listener?

The Listener is suitable for students ages 10 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy The Listener?

The Listener by Stephen M. Millett is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

To buy The Listener by Stephen M. Millett on Amazon click the button below.