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North Woods

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North Woods

By: Daniel Mason
Narrated by: Arthur Morey, Billie Fulford-Brown, George Newbern, Jason Culp, Jayne Entwistle, Kirsten Potter, Mark Bramhall, Mark Deakins, Michael Crouch, Mr Simon Vance
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About this listen

A sweeping novel about the transformation of a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabited it across the centuries - a daring, moving tale of memory and fate from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner.

When a pair of young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and inhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths a mass grave - only to discover that the ancient trees refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister conman, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: as each inhabitant confronts the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.

In his transcendent fourth novel, Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason delivers a magisterial and highly inventive tale brimming with love and madness, humor and hope. Following the cycles of history, nature and even language, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we're connected to our environment, to history and to each other. It is not just an unforgettable novel about buried secrets and inevitable fates, but a way of looking at the world.

2025, International Dublin Literary Award, Short-listed

2024, American National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, Nominated

©2023 Daniel Mason (P)2023 Penguin Random House Audio
Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural Destiny Witty Inspiring

Critic Reviews

Virtuosic, astonishing, gorgeously vivid (Alison O'Keeffe)
All stars
Most relevant  
Very interesting and wonderful story.
Would listen to more books by this author. Looking forward to more from this author

Excellent!

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A magical, mesmerising story of a little yellow house in the New England woods. Fear, horror, humour, beauty, wonder & love, all are found in this wonderful tale. Outstanding narration.

Spellbinding!

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A poetic, humerus and vast journey of people and time told through one place. I loved the book and will listen to it again.

Beautiful observation of life

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Excellent narration all except one very early on who is a bit flowery and melodramatic. She’s only got a very short bit, though, so push through. A wonderful tale through the ages.

What a fabulous story!

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A very unusual novel which I enjoyed very much. It was clever, amusing, haunting, sad and creepy. It told many stories and broke with expectation with no character growth. But I have a new perspective on life and generations. Worth reading.

Extraordinary

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I’ve not come across a book like this for years. I’ve listened to it twice now and the 2nd time round I picked up on so many hints and clues that connected the dots (people and events) throughout the book. A journey through the centuries based around a little yellow house in the woods, the writing is brilliantly detailed and the performers captured the essence of each generation superbly. I loved this! I suspect I will be listening to it again and again.

An awesome journey through time!

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Tediously written and read. Sorry I did not enjoy this book at all. Couldn’t wait for it to end

Nope

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Felt like a bizarre collection of short stories with barely any interconnection bar having all once inhabited the same house in North Woods.

Boring

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.