Pulling Down the Barn

Memories of a Rural Childhood: Great Lakes Books Series

De: Anne-Marie Oomen

Narrado por: Michelle Babb

Pulling Down the Barn eloquently recalls author Anne-Marie Oomen's personal journey as she discovers herself an outsider on her family farm located in western Michigan's Oceana County, in the township of Elbridge - a couple hundred acres in the middle of rural America. Written as a series of heartfelt interlocking narratives, this collection of essays portrays the realities of farm life: haying, picking asparagus and cherries, the machinery of tractors and pickers; but each chapter also touches upon the more ethereal and rarely articulated: the stoic love that permeates a family, the farmer's struggle with identity, and the way land can shape a childhood. With its rich language and style, Pulling Down the Barn engrosses the listener in Oomen's memories - setting beauty and wonder against work and loss - and paints a poignant portrait of growing up in rural Michigan.

Winner of the Michigan Notable Book Awards. The book is published by Wayne State University Press.

©2004 Wayne State University Press (P)2015 Redwood Audiobooks

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Anne-Marie Oomen has written a perfect gem of a book: deceptively quiet, delicately structured, but with the enduring force, strength, and brilliance of a diamond." (A. Manette Ansay, author of Limbo and Vinegar Hill)

" Pulling Down the Barn is a vivid and magical work." (Barbara Hurd, author of Entering the Stone: On Caves and Feeling Through the Dark)

" Pulling Down the Barn is a wonderfully lyrical and evocative memoir." (Michael Steinberg, founding editor of Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction and author of Still Pitching: A Memoir)

Rich use of language sets this apart

If you could sum up Pulling Down the Barn in three words, what would they be?

Insightful, beautiful hardships

What other book might you compare Pulling Down the Barn to and why?

Little House on the Prairie but more modern (and better writing)

Which scene was your favorite?

Describing how her mother interrupts stories and figuring out why.

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

Yes. The anguish of The Tractor.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book and may re-listen again very soon. The narrator took some time getting use to (a bit slow and too careful with diction) but warmed up especially toward the end.
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

Amazing Short Essays

I found this book to contain beautiful essays some sweet while others heart stopping. The writing reminded me of visiting family in South Dakota playing on a farm. I remember growing up having those same feelings and doubts about yourself and the world around you. Michelle Babb brought the story back to me in vivid details with her amazing voices. The emotions a life she breathes into every characters makes them all come to life. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes books with snippets into ones soul. I received this book for free and this is my honest unbiased review.

I struggled to connect to the voice

I think one's story, one's history is the most important book to write and Anne-Marie Oomen does this well. I would suggest reading the book rather than listening as Michelle Babb's performance is almost robotic with clear, clipped tones.

Lots of little tiny stories

Would you listen to Pulling Down the Barn again? Why?

Most likely won't listen to it again. It was ok, and the details were good, it was just sometimes there was too many tiny details that it was easy to get sidetracked from what was going on with the people.

If you’ve listened to books by Anne-Marie Oomen before, how does this one compare?

No i havn't

Which scene was your favorite?

I found the whole party line for the phones pretty cool. My mom had that all while growing up and my grandma still had times where neighbors calls could be heard when she picked up the phone in the mid to later 80s.

I also liked the part where the one brother was hurt by the other brother, yelling to the parents that the one brother had been killed/was dead, and then all the kids getting in trouble even though only the 2 boys did the actions.... so typical for a lot of parents even today.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it was good to listen to a few stories and come back later and listen to a few more.

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

Farm Gods' Rejection

This is (as far as I can tell) a stand alone novel constructed of loosely connected essays.


Michelle Babb's performance makes listening to this book an enthralling and entertaining experience :)


This book was surreal. Listening to the way the girl thought and saw the world was a unique experience. I was caught up in the narrative and fully immersed even when I did not completely understand what the subject matter was :) I really enjoyed this experience!


***This title is suitable for listening(reading) by young adult through adult readers who enjoy historical fiction with a dash of fantasy :)