Nightwoods

A Novel

By: Charles Frazier

Narrated by: Will Patton

The extraordinary author of Cold Mountain and Thirteen Moons returns with a dazzling new novel of suspense and love set in small-town North Carolina in the early 1960s.

Charles Frazier puts his remarkable gifts in the service of a lean, taut narrative while losing none of the transcendent prose, virtuosic storytelling, and insight into human nature that have made him one of the most beloved and celebrated authors in the world. Now, with his brilliant portrait of Luce, a young woman who inherits her murdered sister’s troubled twins, Frazier has created his most memorable heroine.

Before the children, Luce was content with the reimbursements of the rich Appalachian landscape, choosing to live apart from the small community around her. But the coming of the children changes everything, cracking open her solitary life in difficult, hopeful, dangerous ways.

Charles Frazier is known for his historical literary odysseys, and for making figures in the past come vividly to life. Set in the 20th century, Nightwoods resonates with the timelessness of a great work of art.

©2011 Charles Frazier (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR CHARLES FRAZIER: “Natural-born storytellers come along only rarely. Charles Frazier joins the ranks of that elite cadre on the first page of his astonishing debut.” ( Newsweek on Cold Mountain)

“Prose filled with grace notes and trenchant asides ... a Whitmanesque foray into America: into its hugeness, its freshness, its scope and its soul ... such a memorable book.” ( The New York Times Book Review on Cold Mountain)

“Frazier works on an epic scale, but his genius is in the details - he has a scholar’s command of the physical realities of early America and a novelist’s gift for bringing them to life.” ( Time on Thirteen Moon)

Everything you want in a book

Great writing, great story, great narration. Maybe a bit 'simpler' than his other books, but more was not needed. Just perfect and a pleasure to listen to.

Touching story of Rural Life

When I suddenly reached the end of the recording I felt such a deep sadness for its being over. I wasn't ready to leave Luce and her troubled kids.

The writing was beautiful, the characters were well developed, the story was believable. I cannot think of one negative thing to write about this lovely book other than that it just wasn't long enough for me.

a rare 5 stars

This is a wonderful story, beautifully read. The characters are engaging and the plot is exciting.

Great story teller

What made the experience of listening to Nightwoods the most enjoyable?

Charles Frazier is one of my favorite authors. Nightwoods was good start to finish. I could listen to it again, it is so well written. I look forward to his future works. Bravo!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Not Frazier's Best

I love Charles Frazier but this was not even close to "13 Moons" and "Cold Mountain".
Will Patton is, as always, a superb narrator.
The story just doesn't live up to his prior work but I will continue to be a big fan.

Enjoyed, but...

I love Charles Frazier's writings and this book was no exception, however, this one was rather dark for my taste. As for the narration, I think Will Patton is the finest!

Another insightful story by Frazier

Will patton is mesmerizing and perfect narrator for this dark yet beautifully written story. Excellent depiction of the era and well-developed characters.

stoory of foundlings and their benefactor.

a drawling story of a down and out area and a survivor and the children decides to look over ant desperate problems encounte3red, as these are not nice kid, but ones that have a drive to light things afire.

Not your average story line

It's a dark story about the many forms of love overcoming obstacles and evil. Beautiful prose and well read once you get used to the narrator's style. Give it time....

Appalachia at its best

Fun listen set in the mountains of North Carolina. Small town with lots of history is the setting of a tale with good and bad people. The author comes up with a tale where the bad guy comes to the small town looking for money stolen from him, money he had stolen, and he thinks his ex-step kids have it or know where it is. And, he is willing to do anything to get the money back.

No better narrator exists than Will Patton.