• Out Stealing Horses

  • By: Per Petterson
  • Narrated by: Richard Poe
  • Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (492 ratings)

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Out Stealing Horses  By  cover art

Out Stealing Horses

By: Per Petterson
Narrated by: Richard Poe
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Publisher's summary

Multiple award-winning author Per Petterson delivers an eloquent, meditative novel.

67-year-old Trond Sander lives secluded in a far corner of Norway. Casting his mind back to 1948, he recalls a horse-stealing prank with his best friend that turned tragic and changed his life forever.

©2003 Per Petterson (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"... on a par with ... Steinbeck, Berry, and Hemingway, and its emotional force and flavor are equivalent to what those authors can deliver, too." - Booklist

What listeners say about Out Stealing Horses

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • KP
  • 01-24-10

Quiet and powerful

I really liked reading this book. I thought the writing was beautiful or that the author did a beautiful job of portraying the main character's life from the vantage point of his old age. I was forewarned that the ending of the book was disappointing, HOWEVER, I didn't feel that way at all! It think the ending was perfect, actually. The author gives the reader just enough info to fill in the blanks but still leave you yearning, in a way. And I am yearning for more info about Trond's mother and Lars' mother... but really the story is COMPLETE the way it is.

It is such a great character study of Trond. His life was so shaped by the summer of 1948 and his dad's involvement in the war. So, it really becomes another story of the far reaching consequences of the holocaust. Trond SO loves and admires his dad. Through his story, we see how he is LIKE his dad. They don't discuss much. I wonder how the whole story would be changed IF the dad had been more communicative? There is just SO much between the lines of their relationship.

I like the way the term "out stealing horses" comes to mean two completely different things, both linked to that summer. I also love that phrase, "You decide when it hurts."Obviously,Trond had made a choice to decide that he would survive the abandonment of his father, and he makes a good life for himself, even though the reader can feel it through and through that he really IS hurt and changed by it.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

That's how life is...

Like so many others, I was almost stunned when the book was over. I was in a grocery store and not paying complete attention when suddenly I heard, "We hope you have enjoyed..." and I fumbled with my iPod to try to find out what happened. Then I realized that not knowing how things turned out is one of the themes of the story. And really - that's how life is, isn't it?
I loved the setting in Norway - something different for a change. Extremely well written book! I enjoyed it very much.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Pleasure of Being Stolen

Extraordinarily well-written narrative that allowed me inside the protagonist's mind and fully stole my attention for it's duration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written and perfect narration

I listened to this book in preparation for a trip to Norway. It is beautifully written with rich detail. The narration is perfect - the narrator becomes the protagonist in the story and I can’t imagine anyone else narrating this story. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

dont bother

What would have made Out Stealing Horses better?

make it a short story.

Would you ever listen to anything by Per Petterson again?

maybe

Did Richard Poe do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

The only character that is clear is the protagonist, a total jerk.

What character would you cut from Out Stealing Horses?

the protagonist seems a total asshole, and the more I read, the more I disliked him.

Any additional comments?

I kept waiting to reach the end, but instead it just suddenly stopped.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

i'd give it a "zero" if there was one

i read the other reviews, and what-da???!!!*%$# heck?? are you people nuts! that was the worst audible book EVER!!! it sucks!! the whole story. what story? it's terrible, not entertaining in any way, not suspenceful, not sad, not happy, just bla. and it sure is not about stealing horses. i finished it only cuz once i start something i have to finish it and i really regret having that as one of my personality traits. i will say one positive thing... the narrator has a good voice

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1 person found this helpful