North Woods

A Novel

By: Daniel Mason

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, Michael Crouch, Jason Culp, Mark Deakins, Jayne Entwistle, Billie Fulford-Brown, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Kirsten Potter, Simon Vance

Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR

A WASHINGTON POST TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD

A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—“a time-spanning, genre-blurring work of storytelling magic” (The Washington Post) from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.

“With the expansiveness and immersive feeling of two-time Booker Prize nominee David Mitchell’s fiction (Cloud Atlas), the wicked creepiness of Edgar Allan Poe, and Mason’s bone-deep knowledge of and appreciation for the natural world that’s on par with that of Thoreau, North Woods fires on all cylinders.”—San Francisco Chronicle

New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Time, The Boston Globe, NPR, Chicago Public Library, The Star Tribune, The Economist, The Christian Science Monitor, Real Simple, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Bookreporter

When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths an ancient mass grave—only to discover that the earth refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As the inhabitants confront the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.

This magisterial and highly inventive novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason brims with love and madness, humor and hope. Following the cycles of history, nature, and even language, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment, to history, and to one another. It is not just an unforgettable novel about secrets and destinies, but a way of looking at the world that asks the timeless question: How do we live on, even after we’re gone?

©2023 Daniel Mason (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"It makes sense that a story this expansive would employ a wide array of audiobook narrators. The result is too good to miss.... With each tale of shifting inhabitants, the listener is treated to a performance by one of several gifted narrators. Simply put, there is not a weak section in this audiobook. The storytelling itself is original, and each narrator is perfectly cast for their section. Characters and their struggles are thoughtfully portrayed, and each narrator's voice suits the time period depicted. History blends seamlessly with the supernatural and natural worlds, and the performances are consistently powerful to bridge the spaces between." (AudioFile)

“Dazzling...a brave and original book, which invents its own form. It is both intimate and epic, playful and serious. To read it is to travel to the limits of what the novel can do.”—The Guardian (US)

“A time-spanning, genre-blurring work of storytelling magic.... Each chapter germinates its own form while sending out tendrils that entwine beneath the surface of the novel.... As [Mason] floats through thrillers, a bit of comic noir, erotic paranormal fiction and other genres, it’s hard to imagine there is anything he can’t do....”—The Washington Post

“Gorgeous...a tale of ephemerality and succession, of the way time accrues in layers, like sedimentary soil.”—NPR

Will re-listen to this one

Amazing stories. Beautiful writing. Great voices. And you feel it all linked together like the small yellow house in the woods.

Absolutely brilliant!

Loved the premise of the house being at the center of story. Loved the different narrators -all were perfectly chosen for each part. Rich cast of characters and stories. Truly exceptional storytelling.

Stunning

I heard of this book watching an interview with the editor of the New York Times Times book review who cited it as one of the best books of 2023
I can hardly describe how absorbing and enchanting this story is. I can’t recommend it highly enough

North Woods interesting

The performance of this book is amazing. The different voices make the story come to life. The story is so odd though. Not my fav

Poetry

The poetry was heartbreaking. I did not want the description of the forest to end. I Loved all of it just sad for it to end.

Very satisfying read

I loved the overlapping stories and how the characters interlaced. Very satisfying read. Beautiful prose…. And the beatle….

The paradox of place

A remarkable book.
Fascinating use of place and the characters who inhabit it over time, with the indifference of nature overriding all.

North Woods

Enjoyed the weaving of the story and interesting plot lines. Reading was entertaining and engaging

Such beautiful writing!

I loved, loved, loved this book. I also loved the narration. From start to finish, I was so impressed by how much was put into this book. Really grateful to have experienced it! Highly recommend.

The Long View

This book is a masterpiece, centering around the home, one home, what we consider the American dream. The author uses that central theme of home to span hundreds of years from the first settlers of Massachusetts to our inevitable ending. The theme of home is intertwined with the drama of everyday life and death in humanity and in nature. Very beautifully written and narrated, this is a historical novel with many twists and turns.