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The Rain Heron
- Narrated by: Jessica Douglas-Henry, Zoe Carides
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Ren lives alone on the remote frontier of a country devastated by a coup. High on the forested slopes, she survives by hunting and trading - and forgetting. But when a young soldier comes to the mountains in search of a local myth, Ren is inexorably drawn into her impossible mission. As their lives entwine, unravel and erupt - as myths merge with reality - both Ren and the soldier are forced to confront what they regret, what they love and what they fear.
Robbie Arnott’s stunning second novel remakes our relationship with the natural world. The Rain Heron is equal parts horror and wonder and utterly gripping.
Shortlisted, Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize (for Flames), United Kingdom, 2019
Shortlisted, Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Fiction (for Flames), 2019
Longlisted, Indie Book Awards for Debut Fiction (for Flames), 2019
Shortlisted, UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing, NSW Premier's Literary Awards (for Flames), 2019
Shortlisted, Queensland Literary Awards: University of Queensland Fiction Book Award (for Flames), 2018
Shortlisted, Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction (for Flames), 2018
Shortlisted, Katheen Mitchell Award, 2019
Longlisted, ALS Gold Medal, 2019
Longlisted, Miles Franklin Literary Award, 2019
Shortlisted, Tasmania Book Prize, Premier's Literary Awards, 2019
Shortlisted, Margaret Scott Prize, Premier's Literary Awards, 2019
Longlisted, Voss Literary Prize, 2019
Critic Reviews
"Robbie Arnott is singlehandedly reinventing Australian literature. The Rain Heron is a soaring feat of the imagination." (Bram Presser)
"The Rain Heron is exquisite. It is both fantastical and deeply true." (Jane Rawson)
"The Rain Heron is genuinely and completely magnificent - a magical thing." (Robert Lukins)
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What listeners say about The Rain Heron
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Fangman
- 09-01-2023
Interesting Concepts
I thoroughly enjoyed the book which was so different and intriguing. It joins the early related lives seamlessly.
I was a little disappointed with the conclusion but it does open itself up for analysis and discussion.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Eddie May
- 27-08-2021
fantastic work
loved this book. beautifully written superbly read. distressing as the reason for the story unfolds but so poetic in parts that I had to continue.
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- Tania
- 20-04-2022
Beautiful
The authors play on words and descriptions took on the journey in the story. Narration was brilliant and is perfect for this story.
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- Maggie
- 29-06-2023
a very original story
good to hear a story so different. part fantasy but with very real characters. plenty left to your imagination and never sure where the story is heading but worth reading/listening to. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-07-2020
Beautiful writing, rich and lyrical.
Narration was excellent. I really enjoyed the descriptive writing, I could smell the smells and feel the feels. Brilliant, uncomfortable, painful and sickening in parts. But also some uplifting, redemptive moments. Well paced, a bit sparing.
I wanted more of all of it, more of the rain heron, more of Ren and Daniel and Zoe. Overall it was thought provoking and melancholic. I really enjoyed it, highly recommend!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 26-09-2023
Storyteller of immense talent.
Wow! 2nd novel I have read by Robbie Arnott-simply brilliant.
Lyrical , compelling , brutal , uplifting, fanciful but believable -what a voice this young man has.
I wanted more.
Cannot wait to see what he produces next.
Talent in bucket loads.
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- Debbie George
- 20-06-2020
Brilliantly beautiful
First time I have read this author, Arnotts writing has left me wanting more. Sadly Flames, his first novel not available on Audible.
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2 people found this helpful
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- R Earl
- 29-08-2020
A masterpiece!
Beautiful, strange, scary, poetic! This story was outstanding & left me wanting more. The narrator was great!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Carinna Mahoney
- 09-08-2021
Four part tale weaves characters place and past
The structure gives this book and story interest, particularly enjoyed the section about the Northerner and squid ink farming, quite removed from the main narrative of the Rain Heron’s journey. In many ways this book left me with more questions about purpose, motive and this is not a bad thing, but propelled me forward. Unfortunately I did not enjoy the change in narrator, at the end of the story. Wonderful characters and sense of place, setting and time were sort of mystic, futuristic and a little apocalyptic, contrasting the stunning descriptions of the Heron’s physical appearance. I would have liked to know more about the origin of the bird!
Wonderful original story with great female protagonists, well considered and created with no stereotypes.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 10-07-2023
Hard-edged magical realism
The crossover between a reality we know and one we don’t is exciting and credible. The story behind human beings who do terrible things in brutal times is expansive and riveting. The women characters are powerful. Both narrators are brilliant.
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