Flight Behavior

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrated by: Barbara Kingsolver

Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

Indie best seller

Barnes & Noble best seller

National best seller

Amazon Best Book of the Month

Indie Next Pick

Best book of the year: New York Times Notable, Washington Post Notable, Amazon Editor’s Choice, USA Today’s Top Ten (#1), St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kansas City Star

Prize-winning author: Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Dayton Literary Peace Prize (Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award), Orange Prize for Fiction

Prize-winning author: National Humanities Medal, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Orange Prize for Fiction, Dayton Literary Peace Prize (Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award)

"Kingsolver is a gifted magician of words." (Time)

The extraordinary New York Times best-selling author of The Lacuna (winner of the Orange Prize), The Poisonwood Bible (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver returns with a truly stunning and unforgettable work.

Flight Behavior is a brilliant and suspenseful novel set in present day Appalachia; a breathtaking parable of catastrophe and denial that explores how the complexities we inevitably encounter in life lead us to believe in our particular chosen truths. Kingsolver's riveting story concerns a young wife and mother on a failing farm in rural Tennessee who experiences something she cannot explain, and how her discovery energizes various competing factions - religious leaders, climate scientists, environmentalists, politicians - trapping her in the center of the conflict and ultimately opening up her world.

Flight Behavior is arguably Kingsolver's most thrilling and accessible novel to date, and like so many other of her acclaimed works, represents contemporary American fiction at its finest.

©2012 Barbara Kingsolver (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Slow to start but well worth the investment of your time

I always feel like it’s a special treat to listen to an author narrate their own book - to be able to hear the inflections in their voice, emphasis on certain syllables, and weighty pauses between words all bring what’s written on a page to life in a more meaningful way. While slow to start - I think I had to go back and read the first 3 chapter three times before I pushed through the initial sleepiness to become at first interested, then engaged with the characters - it ended up being well worth the investment of one’s time.

Queen of the descriptive metaphor, Kingsolver does such an excellent job drawing the reader into the confines of Dellarobia’s small world you don’t see the zig-zags in plot coming ... making them all the more delightful upon each encounter. Dellarobia’s metamorphosis led me to recall the Anais Nin quote: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Fly, girl, spread your wings and FLY. Nothing will ever be the same as it once was ... thank goodness.

A Joyous, Serious Major Novel

Too often when major novelists write on topical subjects it's not their best work. Barbara Kingsolver is a great writer who has given us another great book with Flight Behavior. Perhaps nothing could match Poisonwood Bible, but why waste space on meaningless comparisons? Flight Behavior is rich in information on climate change, but you care about every character as if it were your own family. How does she do that? Kingsolver--as a superb writer of daily contemporary Appalachian hardships and as a superb narrator--has a genius for teleportation of the reader!

Poignant, timely, absorbing.

Barbara Kingsolver is one of the finest living writers, and this story of a Tennessee farm couple confronting global climate change doesn't disappoint. the characters are fully formed and relatable; culture clash is in context. the gentle satire and social messaging are never preachy , and never interfere with the story. she also narrates her work well.
An enjoyable listen.

What a pleasant surprise!

If you could sum up Flight Behavior in three words, what would they be?

Climate Change-Yikes!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Flight Behavior?

Discovery of mega-colony of Monarch Butterflies "wintering" in the wrong place.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. Story, characters, and science drew me in.

What an amazing way with words

If you could sum up Flight Behavior in three words, what would they be?

global warming novel

What other book might you compare Flight Behavior to and why?

I haven't ready anything else similar to this book

Which character – as performed by Barbara Kingsolver – was your favorite?

I loved Dellarobia. I liked watching her grow and expand during the novel.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The pivotal moment when Dellarobia first saw the butterflies.

Any additional comments?

One of my favorite writers; she has such an amazing way with words

Kingsolver is a master of nature and human poetry

Kingsolver in her own and unique voice (literally) tells a vivid story of a woman entangled in a life she didn't choose with a sudden swirl of uncommon natural beauty arriving at her door step calling her to fly out into the world. Beautifully written and narrated, I was in a trance throughout. thank you Barbara, again!

A book to build bridges

I loved this story. I particularly appreciate Barbara's ability to weave scientific details into a story of intimacy and social complexity. I mostly read scientific creative nonfiction, so for a fiction book, this really hits the mark. I learned so much about rural Appalachian communities, about butterflies, about clashing world views. She portrays her characters perspectives with dignity and true human compassion, allowing readers from an educated, liberal, urban background a window into rural, poor, conservative people, their lives and concerns and full humanness. In a world where these two groups are often pitted against one another in an us versus them mentality, this story helps build bridges of understanding simply through honoring the wisdom and complexity in the rural Appalachian characters and lifestyle. It becomes clear that there are many things that the rural people know that the urban environmentalists could stand to learn. This is a story of climate change, of coming together as different people, of and personal awakening and empowerment from the main female character. Beautifully done.

Good read

Love all of Kingsolver's books, but this one was a strong 'like. Good and entertaining.

My first aduio book

Where does Flight Behavior rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I can't really compare it with any other audio books because this was the first one I ordered and I have just started book number two.

What did you like best about this story?

The theme of this book was revalent and interesting.

What does Barbara Kingsolver bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I discovered that by listening to a book rather than reading it, I was better able to visialize the people and scenery as I was listening. Her discription were vivid and detailed.

Who was the most memorable character of Flight Behavior and why?

Delarobia was the most memorable character. I was able to see her from several perspectives--mother, wife, friend, daughter in law---also a person who knew there was more to life than she was experiencing and she came to realize that things had to change. The world was changing and she couldn't be content with her current life situation.

Any additional comments?

I ordered this book by accident as I was learning about the aduio options and I am so glad I did. It has depbt and a moral message without being preachy.

Thought provoking, insightful and entertaining

I love how Barbara Kingsolver developes her characters, so vivid and complex. She has a way of giving us insight into who people may really be. She always makes a statement that is a contribution to humanity.
I love her work and recommend this book.