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)

wow

the story was great. but it was amazing because of the narrator. she pulled you in.

Dark and sad but entertaining

I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would. The main character, Ree, is a clever, resourceful, no-nonsense character that I couldn't help but immediately fall in love with, and cheer her on from the sidelines as she scours all of kingdom come looking for her father, who used their house as collateral when he posted his jail bond.

This story gives a dark look into rural poverty as Ree is basically the head of the household, even though she's sixteen. She cares for her two younger brothers and her mentally-ill mother. She's fiercely loving of them all and would do anything to protect them and continue to provide for them. Hence why she goes on a wild goose chase to track down her father.

Ree comes across many unsavory characters in her hunt, but she is determined. She is extremely strong willed and will stop at virtually nothing until she gets the answers she's looking for, even if that means putting herself in danger.

This book was dark and haunting, showcasing the lowest of lows, almost to the point of being unrealistic. My heart breaks at the thought that families like Ree's exist in America today.

The main character is strong and plucky, making her an enjoyable character to read about. The prose of the book was very poetic at times, and though for the most part it was beautiful, there were some spots where it was a little too flowery or over-the-top.

This book was a quick listen, made incredibly enjoyable by the narrator. She got right into the characters with the outstanding drawling dialect. I really loved her narration style and would probably listen to this book again some time in the future.

Incredible Book

Loved this book. Very similar to the movie, which I also like. If you liked the movie you will love the book.

Bootleggers of the 21st Century

What did you love best about Winter's Bone?

The main character is believable, likeable, and admirable. Ree Dolly navigates us through a longstanding secretive culture as she seeks out help from extended family members in her community, none of which are kind. Her persistent self sacrificing made her the best strong female role model I have met in a while.

What did you like best about this story?

The story stayed focused and didn't get bogged down with too many details. I could easily visualize the characters as people I had seen in rural communities. I loved the matter of fact tone the writer uses when addressing shocking choices, reasonings, and behaviors. It all seems so natural.

What about Emma Galvin’s performance did you like?

I loved her reading! Her accent was not too harsh and made me believe she was possibly native to the area. Her pace was perfect. I felt like I was sitting on a front porch listening to a great story being seamlessly remembered.

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

When Ree Dolly set out to walk through the yards, woods and caves describing her ancestors plight and planning how she might have to survive or hide there while raising her brothers and caring for her Mother - I couldn't help but feel her desperation.

Any additional comments?

The story is easily listened to in one sitting.

Interesting but sad story

Very dramatic story with a lot of unnecessary detail. It's a sad story about people who choose to live deplorable lives. Depressing.

Accurate Depiction of Drug Subculture/Poverty

Winter’s Bone tells an all too realistic story of a 16 year old girl’s struggle to provide for her 2 young siblings and a mentally incapacitated mother in a poverty stricken Ozark community when her father, a reknowned meth cook, disappears just before he is due to appear in court. His failure to appear will result in the family home and property being forfeited to the local bondsman, and will essentially leave them out on the street. Her efforts to discover his whereabouts are strongly, evenly violently, discouraged. The author accurately captures the feel of these small, impoverished communities where feuds and bad feelings endure over generations, and one’s conduct is strictly governed by unwritten codes that are just as enduring. They are hard people who live hard lives and they do hard things to sustain those lives without apology. The narrator was perfectly cast and gave a great performance. Well done in all regards. #DrugCulture #Poverty #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

Wow! Captivating read. Mesmerizingly stark and descriptive prose. Great narrator.

This book surprised me. I didn’t expect to find an author with such compelling prose. I listened to it over and over again. Sometimes I would fall asleep to it and the next day would just listen to the part I had already heard the night before. The author’s description of events and thoughts is unique. It is rare for me to discover a writing style which mesmerizes and pleases me so much. It was fulfilling to hear his descriptions of people and nature and interactions. Additionally, there was an interesting vein running through the story of truth, what I mean by this is that everything is stark and bold and primitive and communication takes place up front, no pussyfooting around a subject or protection of people’s feelings or diplomacy, what is just is, if that makes sense. I will have to think about the story for a long time and will probably listen to it a few more times before I can digest it fully. The voice of the narrator is very pleasing and she did a wonderful job. The producers could possibly have gotten a narrator with a more regional accent to lend he narration local flavor, no are usually don’t like it when a narrator does this, my preference being just a straight narration in which I can fill-in any details with my own imagination, but this book would have benefited from a little more authentic Ozark accents for internation and certain expressions, but that is absolutely nitpicking and this narrator was really talented. I look forward to hearing more from her and reading more by this author.

Stark and compelling

The novel fills in many gaps the movie left unanswered. The author’s descriptions of people, places and things are vivid. The reader’s voice captures the tone and feeling of the story.
From beginning to end, the narrative moves the listener through the dark storyline.

Stunning words & images

A simple story, told beautifully, performed flawlessly, a highly pleasurable listen. Enjoyed the audiobook so much, now I'll go give it a read.

Hated to see it ending

I loved this book. The story and performance are both riveting. I only wish it was longer. Really excellent book.