Winter's Bone

A Novel

By: Daniel Woodrell

Narrated by: Emma Galvin

Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

The sheriff's deputy at the front door brings hard news to Ree Dolly. Her father has skipped bail on charges that he ran a crystal meth lab, and the Dollys will lose their house if he doesn't show up for his next court date.

Ree's father has disappeared before. The Dolly clan has worked the shadowy side of the law for generations, and arrests (and attempts to avoid them) are part of life in Rathlin Valley. With two young brothers depending on her and a mother who's entered a kind of second childhood, 16-year-old Ree knows she has to bring her father back, dead or alive. She has grown up in the harsh poverty of the Ozarks and learns quickly that asking questions of the rough Dolly clan can be a fatal mistake. But along the way to a shocking revelation, Ree discovers unforeseen depths in herself and in a family network that protects its own at any cost.

©2006 Daniel Woodrell (P)2010 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Like his characters, and especially his teen characters, Woodrell's prose mixes tough and tender so thoroughly yet so delicately that we never taste even a hint of false bravado, on the one hand, or sentimentality, on the other. And Ree is one of those heroines whose courage and vulnerability are both irresistible and completely believable - think of not just Mattie Ross in True Grit but also Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird or even Eliza Naumann in Bee Season. One runs out of superlatives to describe Woodrell's fiction. ( Booklist)

“At its best, the novel captures the near-religious criminal mania pervasive in rural communities steeped in drug culture. Woodrell's prose, lyrical as often as dialogic, creates an unwieldy but alluring narrative that allows him to draw moments of unexpected tenderness from predictable scripts.” ( Publisher’s Weekly)

“In spare but evocative prose, Woodrell depicts a harsh world in which the responsibilities for survival ultimately give Rees meaning and direction. He depicts the landscape, people, and dialects with stunning realism. A compelling testament to how people survive in the worst of circumstances.” ( School Library Journal)

Ambivalent

Some nice prose. But overall faintly annoying . Yes some people are like that in that area, but the stereotype is quite tiresome. Not much depth to the story.

Intense

This author really transports you to where you feel you know the characters and feel their despair. Nothing is sugar coated. Great read!

Dark and Powerful

My only complaint here was that the book was longer. I was sad when it ended so quick and wanted more! #tagsgiving #sweepstakes #clanfamily #powerful #childprotagonist

A Little Overdone

Extra wordy in places like a teenager"s angst. It packed the rollercoaster ride feel I usually enjoy in books suggested for me here. Decent story but more like a tv episode rather than movie in terms of the ride.

Beautifully Written Tragedy, A New Favorite

This is possibly one of the most beautifully written books I've listened to, and could be an epic, classic story of the struggles of living in the Ozarks.

Surprisingly Enjoyable

What makes this a great audio book is the narration by Emma Galvin--her voice is what brings the character to life. Perfect choice.

Too much detail, but very realistic!

Would you consider the audio edition of Winter's Bone to be better than the print version?

yes , brought feeling to characters

What did you like best about this story?

Ree came out on top after all she sufferd

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

Feelings & emotion

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

I was angry @ what they did to Ree

Any additional comments?

Believable

Very Good

Well written, very well read. Gives insight into life in the Ozarks where survival means doing whatever it takes. Family loyalty can mean you just do what needs to be done.

couldn't stop listening

What did you love best about Winter's Bone?

the author makes you feel like you are right there in the scene witnessing all the sights, senses and emotions of each character.

What did you like best about this story?

no matter how bad things looked, you had faith that things were going to be ok

Have you listened to any of Emma Galvin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no, but it was a good reading

Who was the most memorable character of Winter's Bone and why?

the main character - so mature and street-wise but still young and innocent and determined to make a home and

Any additional comments?

have family in Appalachian country - this story sheds light on a life deep in the hills and hollows that most people never see or hear about. it's simple, sad, heart breaking and sometimes beautiful and redeeming.

enthralling, like the movie

First I saw the movie. A great movie, kept me on the edge of my seat. Talking about oscars, the oscars deserved this movie. But I didn't get everything, didn't understand why things went as they went. So I bought the audiobook. Read by Emma Galvin, it took me some time to get used to her voice, her intonations. Listened to her reading the book, in my car commuting, twice. I got enthralled by it.