Nightwoods

A Novel

By: Charles Frazier

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

The extraordinary author of Cold Mountain and Thirteen Moons returns with a dazzling new novel of suspense and love set in small-town North Carolina in the early 1960s.

Charles Frazier puts his remarkable gifts in the service of a lean, taut narrative while losing none of the transcendent prose, virtuosic storytelling, and insight into human nature that have made him one of the most beloved and celebrated authors in the world. Now, with his brilliant portrait of Luce, a young woman who inherits her murdered sister’s troubled twins, Frazier has created his most memorable heroine.

Before the children, Luce was content with the reimbursements of the rich Appalachian landscape, choosing to live apart from the small community around her. But the coming of the children changes everything, cracking open her solitary life in difficult, hopeful, dangerous ways.

Charles Frazier is known for his historical literary odysseys, and for making figures in the past come vividly to life. Set in the 20th century, Nightwoods resonates with the timelessness of a great work of art.

©2011 Charles Frazier (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR CHARLES FRAZIER: “Natural-born storytellers come along only rarely. Charles Frazier joins the ranks of that elite cadre on the first page of his astonishing debut.” ( Newsweek on Cold Mountain)

“Prose filled with grace notes and trenchant asides ... a Whitmanesque foray into America: into its hugeness, its freshness, its scope and its soul ... such a memorable book.” ( The New York Times Book Review on Cold Mountain)

“Frazier works on an epic scale, but his genius is in the details - he has a scholar’s command of the physical realities of early America and a novelist’s gift for bringing them to life.” ( Time on Thirteen Moon)

dont miss it

beautifylly written but really brought to life by the best narrator ever..Will Patton..love him

good story

another good story that kept my interest til the end. will patton does an amazing job narrating.

great reading but the end was not an end

great read but the end left too many matters open. I like finality and resolution

Beautiful writing and powerful narration

I absolutely love Fraizer's style of writing and Patton's narration. I found myself rewinding to hear passages over again because I was totally charmed. Listening to this book, I recall long gone relatives, who had a winking way of saying things that bespoke an intelligence that might not have been immediately apparent to outsiders, until they let go with a quip that summed up a person or situation perfectly. Fraizer deftly captures that dry humor and eloquence in the characters that populate this story, and Patton's delivery is flawless. Yes, It's a little dark but never gratuitously gruesome or especially difficult. In fact, I like the way that certain unpleasant things were implied and not dished out in detail. Also, part of why I love this book (and Fraizer's other books), is that the NC mountains are dear to me, and I can't get enough of his descriptions of the the mystery and beauty of the place, and the ways of the people, that have all but vanished.

Another great novel by Charles Frazier

Great characters, plot and setting. Wouldn't be surprised if this novel makes it to the "silver screen" very soon.

Lovely

Such a sensitive portrait of the lives of damaged souls healing as their lives intertwine.
Will Patton does a stellar job

I loved Will Patton's narration.

This was a great listening/reading experience. Will Patton's narration added several more layers to the already deep humanity of Charles Frazier's characters. His interpretation and understanding of the complicated emotional lives kept me engaged from beginning to end, wanting more after the last track. Really great piece of literature and performance.

Anticipation that is too much to bear

What did you like best about this story?

Charles Frazen is quite the language artist. He draws just beautiful pictures that paint exact paintings in your mind. You can see the beauty of the surroundings - the characters and there actions. He also paints fear. When I wasn't listening I was fearful for what would happen next. Not wanting to hear the tragedy that I feared I didn't rush to listen at every chance. Just when you think you can't stand it - he lays on something more to think and worry about.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

He did a great job performing as the most evil to the most meek.

If you could rename Nightwoods, what would you call it?

Stillwater

Any additional comments?

I chose this book because of the wonderful comments about the author. I too was quite impressed with his work and will be looking for other work done by both.

This book was worth the money. A story I will be thinking about for a long time.

Characters remain

Too much description in the beginning, not enough movement, but stayed with it just to listen to Will Patton. In the end, a few days after finishing, I found I missed the characters.

What a treat.

Listening to this while driving makes the trip slide by enjoyably. All of Mr. Frazier's books are a treat.