The Lost Language of Cranes

By: David Leavitt

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Set in the 1980s against the backdrop of a swiftly gentrifying Manhattan, The Lost Language of Cranes tells the story of 25-year-old Philip, who realizes he must come out to his parents after falling in love for the first time with a man. Philip's parents are facing their own crisis: pressure from developers and the loss of their longtime home. But the real threat to this family is Philip's father's own struggle with his latent homosexuality, realized only in his Sunday afternoon visits to gay porn theaters.

Philip's admission to his parents and his father's hidden life provoke changes that forever alter the landscape of their worlds.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of David Leavitt's book, you'll also get an exclusive Jim Atlas interview that begins when the audiobook ends.

This production is part of our Audible Modern Vanguard line, a collection of important works from groundbreaking authors.©1988 David Leavitt (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Fascinating. Lingers in the mind...Mr. Leavitt''s sense of pacing, his graceful sentences and his storytelling ability dovetail nicely." (New York Times Book Review)

"A brilliant, wise first novel. The delight of the book is Leavitt''s style. It flashes with pathos, anger, and camp wit; it rises to a subtle urban lyricism." (Vogue)

"An amazingly perceptive novel." (San Francisco Chronicle)

A book that will stay with you for a long time

Well written, the characters are true and come into your life with real meaning. It has been several months since I read this book but I think about it often, the character stay with you it's a great book with the feelings and gives you a lot to think about

A must read for young gay boy & men

David Leavitt is one of my favorite & most influential authors. His ability to bring you into the lives of his characters is astonishing. I just finished the audiobook version & loved every minute of it. The discussion with the author at the end was a delightful bonus!

Bildugsroman for a gay man

If you could sum up The Lost Language of Cranes in three words, what would they be?

Hopeful, Desperate, Grey. Hopeful because at the end there's a thin veil of hope for all the characters. Desperate because fear is at the basis of many of the relationship in the novel. Grey because that's the color that comes to my mind if I think about the characters, the setting, the plot.

What did you like best about this story?

This is a bildungsroman for a young gay man and, at the same time, for a middle-aged man. They both have their path to follow and in the end they are on the same road.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The Windup Girl. He's a very good performer. With that book I followed along with the text and his work was very, very good.

If you could take any character from The Lost Language of Cranes out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Jerene, of course. :-)

Any additional comments?

For a gay man, this is a must, Like "Maurice" by Forster. Even if you are not gay, there's plenty about relationships that makes the few hours spent reading the book well spent.

Beautifully quiet exploration of Love.

This is a beautiful book with characters who will stay with me for a long time. Owen and Philip are interesting and well-developed. Leavitt uses the fact that both men are gay as a way to show various struggles of coming out and self-acceptance. It is a lovely exploration of the reactions from those we love. As the mother of an LGBTQ child I found myself experiencing many feelings. I was at times sad for Owen, worried for Philip and angry at those they loved.

Completely relatable - with a twist

Very well-grounded coming out tale(s) that reads almost like a memoir.

Set in NYC during the early 80’s, many readers who experienced those times will easily be transported.

The author did the story a great service by not making it *about* the nightclub scene, or the just-breaking AIDS crisis, or other major cultural happenings of the time, but acknowledged them enough to convey they were on the radar.

The family of three in whom the story is based we’re fairly regular Joes and Jane navigating fairly ordinary lives in the midst of the Manhattan maelstrom.

Their experiences were conveyed unsentimentally while including the thoughts, emotions and impressions of the characters involved. Hence, there were more than a few cathartic tears she’d by this humble reviewer during the many poignant moments.

The author interview after the end was a treat, if having a startling beginning. It became immediately clear that the interview itelself was about a different work, yet it progressed into many salient points about writing about coming out, labeling (“gay author” vs “author of gay-themed works”, etc)

Shout-out to the excellent narration!