The Furrows

A Novel

By: Namwali Serpell

Narrated by: Kristen Ariza, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Dion Graham

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award • One of the New York Times’ Ten Best Books of the Year • Longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize

“A triumph.”—New York Magazine

From one of the most celebrated new voices in American literature, a brilliantly inventive and “enthralling” (Oprah Daily) novel about the eternal bonds of family and the mysteries of love and loss—“already earning its author comparisons to Toni Morrison” (Lit Hub).

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, Oprah Daily, Time, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Esquire, Vulture, Ms. Magazine, Vox, Mental Floss, BookPage, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly

I don’t want to tell you what happened. I want to tell you how it felt.

Cassandra Williams is twelve; her little brother, Wayne, is seven. One day, when they’re alone together, there is an accident and Wayne is lost forever. His body is never recovered. The missing boy cleaves the family with doubt. Their father leaves, starts another family elsewhere. But their mother can’t give up hope and launches an organization dedicated to missing children.

As C grows older, she sees her brother everywhere: in bistros, airplane aisles, subway cars. Here is her brother’s face, the light in his eyes, the way he seems to recognize her, too. But it can’t be, of course. Or can it? Then one day, in another accident, C meets a man both mysterious and familiar, a man who is also searching for someone and for his own place in the world. His name is Wayne.

Namwali Serpell’s remarkable new novel captures the uncanny experience of grief, the way the past breaks over the present like waves in the sea. The Furrows is a bold exploration of memory and mourning that twists unexpectedly into a story of mistaken identity, double consciousness, and the wishful—and sometimes willful—longing for reunion with those we’ve lost.

©2022 Namwali Serpell (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A triumph . . . so visceral it leaves the reader breathless.”—New York Magazine

“A novel that reclaims and refashions the genre of the elegy, charging it with as much eros as pathos.”—The New Yorker

“With warmth and dexterity, Serpell has crafted a narrative that underscores how loss can show us the depths of our love.”—Time

The Furrows

I tried and tried. Stopped listening, went to podcasts and came back and there is just nothing in this book to keep me. 2 more hours that I need to devote to something worthwhile. I just never got the plot.

disjointed story goes nowhere; excellent writing

I can count on one hand the number of books I am unable to force myself to finish, this was one of them. the writing was excellent, the story was a jumbled mess of beautifully written pieces. so if you need the story to have meaning or make sense or come together in any way, this isn't for you. I got through 3/4 of it, then skimmed to the end. disappointing.

Maybe try reading it?

I think this would be a better book to read rather than listen to. I had a difficult time staying focused and repeatedly went back several minutes to try to figure out what was going on and kept thinking it would all come together in the end - but it didn’t for me. I really felt as though I had no idea what I had actually listened to.

Skill without Soul

This book is very well written. The story is incidental to Feelings, so although the story changes the feelings are paramount.
If I want a disjointed story I would read the news. I cannot recommend this book.

Interesting portrayal if unresolved grief

Very beautifully written portrayal of unresolved grief. Some confusing introduction of character Will. Was he Wayne at an earlier time? Otherwise what was the point in including him? C’s profound need to support her mother was realistic and well portrayed.

Very interesting

Very different and unique book. I enjoyed this book and sometimes was a bit perplexed. Definitely recommend.

Appreciate the effort, but not a fan

The book attempted to raise many themes , but fell short in establishing the significance of many of those themes. This was often punctuated by what I experienced as almost excessive description of details or too much time spent on tangents that were weak in their connection back to the storyline. The feelings of loss, grief, confusion, uncertainty, etc are clear; however, some of the descriptions and incidents were simply too random and didn't need the amount of time devoted to them. I do appreciate the creative expression of the many faces of grief and unresolved trauma on individuals and family. This was not the book for me from a style and structure perspective. There was substance, but there was too much of a gap in focus/direction in my opinion.

Disappointing!

This book was mentioned as a new read on the Today Show. The story line seemed interesting, but hard to follow with other characters in and out, and the story just seemed to drag on!

Absolutely brilliant!

An unusual story told in an unusual way. I was completely immersed in the narrative and loved the reader’s performances.

Highly recommend this book!!

Why did I read this book?

Kept listening to the end to see if the “story” would show itself but it didn’t. A good premise that devolved into an overwrought and confusing narrative. Don’t waste a credit on this one.