Homeland and Other Stories

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrated by: Barbara Kingsolver

Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

Barbara Kingsolver has written these five short stories with the same wit and sensitivity that characterize her highly praised and beloved novels Animal Dreams and The Bean Trees. Spreading her characters over a variety of colorful landscapes, she tells stories of hope, momentary joy, and powerful endurance. In every setting, her distinctive voice, at times comic, but often heartrending, rings true as she explores the twin themes of family ties and the life choices one must ultimately make alone.

This collection includes:

• "Homeland"
• "Blueprints"
• "Quality Time"
• "Extinctions"
• "Rose-Johnny"

©1996 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. (P)1996 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., All Rights Reserved, Harper Audio, a division of HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"Kingsolver is an extraordinary storyteller." (Chicago Tribune)
"A dazzling array of short stories...Kingsolver's knowledge of human nature, and especially domestic relationships, is breathtaking." (Publishers Weekly)

Another great book by Kingsolver!

Barbara Kingsolver narrates this book herself and it was very enjoyable to listen to her. The stories are only about 45 minutes in length so great short listens for busy people who don't have the time to get into a long novel.

abridged version

The stories in Homeland are absolutely wonderful. I had read this book many years ago and purchased the audible because I wanted to hear the author read the stories in her own voice. I was disappointed to find that some of the stories were missing from this version. I was so looking forward to hearing one I believe is called "Bereaved Apartments." it is not there. Sadly.

Heartbreaking light in dark corners

Poet and anthropological word-magician Kingsolver takes us by the hand as a child would a trusted cousin, walking back through dark corridors, telling family stories of American regular folk in a momentary intimacy.

The most horrid truths are not exposed but discreetly unveiled through children's memories and innocent eyes, laying bare the brutality of all the -isms that smother the beauty of family and farm values in America.

Through these touching and relatable stories we reach an understanding of the ancestry of bigotism and racism that reaches down through the decades, exposing the sad honesty of inherited pain and handed-down hatred. Told by her characters who are immediately recognizeable as our own innocent inner children and sisters in a fight to learn to live a decent life, these stories lay bare the open wounds that will surely heal if air, compassion and forgiveness can be allowed to envelop the perpetrators of hand-me-down cruelty. Kingsolver gives us the tools and space to breathe that hope as we briefly visit these small, silenced real lives.

Homeland stories that run deep

Barbara kingsolver words resonate deeply and her stories paint a beautiful image .
A simple story that creates a depth of emotion.

Another book I will listen to again and again.

Mrs. Kingsolver never fails to touch my heart and soul with her writing and reading of same. Her analogies are simple, insightful, and complex. The imagery never fails.
This book should be taught in schools to provide the human side of our history.

Heartfelt

This was a lovely story of days gone by. A time in history , that I can remember.

Homeland

A ten all the way around in many levels very moving. She knows how children think!

Great short stories

Loved the stories and the reading. Only complaint is that it felt like some of them ended abruptly, and the next one started too quickly. I was involved with the characters in one story, and then suddenly their story was over and the next one had begun. A couple of times I found myself pausing the recording to digest a story before continuing to the next one. But over all, it was excellent. I am a Barbara Kingsolver fan, but had never heard of this book, great surprise.

I love the way Barbara Kingsolver weites

the layers of little details create such amazing story tapestries. She is such a treasure.

Great collection of stories.

This collection carried me to many diverse worlds and times, which is exactly what I have come to expect from Ms Kingsolver. Her voice brought the stories to life in a way far different than the printed page can. She makes you think hard about things and makes you want to be a better person.