The Stolen Child

By: Keith Donohue

Narrated by: Andy Paris, Jeff Woodman

Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

This critically acclaimed debut by breakout author Keith Donohue flawlessly blends fantasy and realism into an utterly unique fable, inspired by a W.B. Yeats poem, that has been described as a bedtime story for adults.

Seven-year-old Henry Day is kidnapped and renamed "Aniday" by changelings, ageless beings who inhabit the woods near his home. The changelings also leave behind one of their own, who flawlessly impersonates Henry except for one noteworthy detail: the new Henry is a prodigiously talented pianist. Both Aniday and Henry settle comfortably enough into their new existences, but both are haunted by vague memories of their former lives.

A fresh take on the search for identity that will appeal to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and J.M. Barrie, The Stolen Child triumphantly announces Donohue as a fresh voice in contemporary fiction.

©2006 Keith Donohue (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

• Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Science Fiction

"An impressive novel of outsiders whose feelings of alienation are more natural than supernatural." (Publishers Weekly)

Interesting & original, but not compelling

Unfortunately, I'm not sure why I do not like this audiobook better. I feel the narration is acceptable, but not praiseworthy. The story is definitely original, but I'm not driven to stay up late to listen longer. I think the author works hard to develop his characters, but I don't connect with them. I still have a few hours left to go, and I plan to finish the book, but I'm already looking forward to my next listen.

Interesting Story

I loved the story! Excellent psychology and character development of the protagonists. Great ending as well.

Loved It!

True, the narration left a lot to be desired - but the plot and interwoven story was heart wrenching. I felt for the characters - on both sides, those in the woods and those with "new" homes. The story made me think beyond the reading, wondering about the family's feelings. I'm delighted for the auther, I feel he did a great job his first time out.

Complex characters, complex plot

I very much enjoyed that this book took energy to listen to. The book spans several decades of the 20thC, and refers to individuals in the mid-19thC. It travels from Europe to California in its scope, and deeply explores the lives of two characters, the two Henry Days.

Having a different narrators for the two characters helped quite a bit in keeping the parallel narratives separate, though I wonder if the accents ascribed to some of the secondary characters were based on 'facts' of the book or were a result of the narrators' creativity.

I agree with another reviewer that Tolkien was a poor comparison. It reminded me most, in style, of Eugenides 'Middlesex' or some works of magical realism. And I liked it because it wasn't heavy fantasy but humanity in a fantastic situation (like the Martian Chronicles) -- the characters were distinctly, deeply human.

touching and charming

I loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I recommend this book to anyone who still has contact with their inner 8 yr old.

Listener beware

I picked this book because its premise intrigued me. While the moral of the story was mostly satisfying, getting to it took perserverance. The story dragged at points and it often seemed that the author strived too hard to be literary instead of focusing on writing a tight manuscript and telling a good story. This would have worked better as a short story rather than a novel. I did, however, like that the recording used two readers.

Haunting and beautifully written

The story to me was very haunting and sad. I think it was beautifully written but you definitely have to be in the mood for it.

Surprised...

I was not expecting to really like this book, but I did. The story took me away and I felt connected to the characters. The story blends elements of "normal" life and fairy tale in a believeable and interesting way. I was left wondering if just maybe...they might be out there!

Highly Recommended

I absolutely loved this book! I plan on listening/reading this book again. The characters are unforgettable, and the narrators do an excellent job. The author has the ability to make even the fantasy world of the "changlings" believable. I can't wait to see what he writes next!

Unique

A very unique story, I'm glad that I chose it. I found it to be captivating and easy to visualize while I was sewing. I only gave it 4 stars because I usually like to purchase 30-40 hour long unabridged tales. Sorry this one stopped, I could have listened to it all week.