• Leave the World Behind

  • A Novel
  • By: Rumaan Alam
  • Narrated by: Marin Ireland
  • Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
  • 3.6 out of 5 stars (3,083 ratings)

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Leave the World Behind  By  cover art

Leave the World Behind

By: Rumaan Alam
Narrated by: Marin Ireland
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Publisher's summary

A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

Finalist for the 2020 National Book Award (Fiction)

A Best Book of the Year From: The Washington Post * Time * NPR * Elle * Esquire * Kirkus * Library Journal * The Chicago Public Library * The New York Public Library * BookPage * The Globe and Mail * EW.com * The LA Times * USA Today * InStyle * The New Yorker * AARP * Publisher's Lunch * LitHub * Book Marks * Electric Literature * Brooklyn Based * The Boston Globe

A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong.

From the bestselling author of Rich and Pretty comes a suspenseful and provocative novel keenly attuned to the complexities of parenthood, race, and class. Leave the World Behind explores how our closest bonds are reshaped—and unexpected new ones are forged—in moments of crisis.

Amanda and Clay head out to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a vacation: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter, and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they’ve rented for the week. But a late-night knock on the door breaks the spell. Ruth and G. H. are an older couple—it’s their house, and they’ve arrived in a panic. They bring the news that a sudden blackout has swept the city. But in this rural area—with the TV and internet now down, and no cell phone service—it’s hard to know what to believe.

Should Amanda and Clay trust this couple—and vice versa? What happened back in New York? Is the vacation home, isolated from civilization, a truly safe place for their families? And are they safe from one other?

©2020 Rumaan Alam (P)2020 Harper Audio

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Editor's Pick

Apocalypse now
I was a bit reluctant to add Leave the World Behind to my library. The premise was eerily familiar—a world seemingly in chaos and the uncertainty and isolation that ensue. But it wasn’t easy to ignore the buzz for Rumaan Alam’s third novel, and when I heard that Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts had optioned it for a Netflix film (hello, The Pelican Brief!) I immediately hit “Add to cart.” Brooklynites Clay and Amanda have rented an Airbnb in the Hamptons for a summer vacation with their two teens. Less than 24 hours into their getaway, there’s a knock at the door. The owners of the house, a well-heeled older Black couple, are seeking refuge from a mysterious power outage that has left New York City in the dark. Cue the herd of deer stampeding through the woods and flock of flamingos splashing in the pool (I’m not kidding), all while the Wi-Fi is down and the TV conveniently stops working. Beloved narrator Marin Ireland is a wonder, seamlessly stepping into the head space of each character. Weaving in the characters’ private thoughts and fears around race, class, and privilege, the brisk chapters tick toward an ominous final act. You might want to listen with the lights on. —Margaret H., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Leave the World Behind

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LOVED this book but see why it’s not for everyone

I listened to this book on a recommendation knowing nothing about it and I LOVED it. It caught me totally off guard, which is so rare. I was a little surprised by the number of 1 and 2-star reviews and I think it’s because those readers a quiet book about the apocalypse. If you need something “to happen” this book is not for you. But if you’re comfortable with ambiguity and are interested in stories that explore the human condition, I cannot recommend this book enough. The writing is beautiful and the calm, measured narration is almost unnerving.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ok

Not the best but ok. Had be going for a bit but than there is no “outcome”. Good for when you just want to zone out. A lot of race stuff which I thought was off. Recommend for someone who doesn’t expect anything

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

Best listen I’ve heard in a long time. Timely and poignant. A+. Can’t wait for his next one.

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

Lack Luster

From the very beginning I thought the book was extremely descriptive, to the point that the details were kind of overburdened. The story was very slow to progress and it never reached a point of true interest. I think that the plot of the story was a bit weak. Although I appreciated the detail that was provided it didn’t seem to Strengthen the storyline.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

For this unprecedented time

Timely and entertaining story that eerily relates to our own current situation. Some might lose patience with the characters ruminating on mundane tasks and observations such as shopping lists and your children’s vomit, but I found it struck a chord of recognition and understanding with me. Some troubling holes in the story such as there being a black out in the city, but not in the town where they are vacationing. No internet ,TV or cell service so the characters are going on about have no information or news about the world and can’t contact anyone. No explanation why the land lines would be down if there’s electricity or why the radio would not convey information. None of the characters are particularly well drawn, sympathetic or not, rather one dimensional. I did like the ending however, makes you think that there’s a new evolution coming.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Listened three times back-to-back

Could not let it go. Each chapter a precious gem. Narration wonderful. An intriguing story that will stay inside me.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Mind Changer


Living through Covid 19 and reading this book, I must get serious about emergency preparation.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Just not sure

I’m just not sure if this was good or bad. Truly don’t know if there was enough there. I’m not big into everything being told...all about imagination...but....mmmmm. Just got sure.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

what happens?

really well written but it just stops. so many questions. it's a bummer because it seems like it could be a series if he wanted. maybe it will be?

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    5 out of 5 stars

how did it end? I guess it didn't. sad.

I wish it had an ending. it left me wanting more. great writing though. love the author.

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