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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Very contemplative collection of stories that treat human emotion and decision making with so much kindness and clarity. It made me reflect deeply about my life and also put words to so many amorphous thoughts and feelings I’ve had over the years. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book of interconnected short stories has beautifully detailed descriptions that make New England a prominent character throughout.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not even sure how to succinctly tie up this book. It was an impulse audiobook. I do less than three a year. (I usually have a hard time staying focused!) Not true here- I loved every minute - the narrators actors were wonderful and artfully cast.
This is a series of short stories set in New England. I haven't fact-checked this yet, but Shattuck MUST be from the area. The setting was perfectly described. Each story is intertwined. You could listen to them on their own and still find it entertaining, emotional, reflective. But read together- it is moving, powerful.
The title comes from the first short story, about two men, lovers, and their attempt to record folk music. Art, nature, music of the rural NE continues to be braided into the fabric of these stories. I think it's important because that's true for us, too. We feel, we create, we observe.
I spent a lot of time between listens thinking on my own narrative and how it is woven with so many others, and how my life is not a standalone story. It comes from generations before me, with their own joys and losses, all across this nation (no, literally, my family has roots everywhere) and it can still be uniquely my own. It's intimate, made me cry, I laughed out loud many times.
Solidly five stars. Worth your time.
This is a series of short stories set in New England. I haven't fact-checked this yet, but Shattuck MUST be from the area. The setting was perfectly described. Each story is intertwined. You could listen to them on their own and still find it entertaining, emotional, reflective. But read together- it is moving, powerful.
The title comes from the first short story, about two men, lovers, and their attempt to record folk music. Art, nature, music of the rural NE continues to be braided into the fabric of these stories. I think it's important because that's true for us, too. We feel, we create, we observe.
I spent a lot of time between listens thinking on my own narrative and how it is woven with so many others, and how my life is not a standalone story. It comes from generations before me, with their own joys and losses, all across this nation (no, literally, my family has roots everywhere) and it can still be uniquely my own. It's intimate, made me cry, I laughed out loud many times.
Solidly five stars. Worth your time.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Most short story collections have a mix of standout pieces and filler, but The History of Sound breaks that mold—every story is compelling. Ben Shattuck’s choice to structure the stories as couplets adds a unique and creative touch that I truly appreciated.