The People in the Trees

By: Hanya Yanagihara

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, BD Wong

Listeners of exciting, challenging, and visionary literary fiction - including admirers of Norman Rush's Mating, Ann Patchett's State of Wonder, Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, and Peter Matthiessen's At Play in the Fields of the Lord - will be drawn to this astonishingly gripping and accomplished first novel. A decade in the writing, this is an anthropological adventure story that combines the visceral allure of a thriller with a profound and tragic vision of what happens when cultures collide. It is a book that instantly catapults Hanya Yanagihara into the company of young novelists who really, really matter.

In 1950, a young doctor called Norton Perina signs on with the anthropologist Paul Tallent for an expedition to the remote Micronesian island of Ivu'ivu in search of a rumored lost tribe. They succeed, finding not only that tribe but also a group of forest dwellers they dub "The Dreamers", who turn out to be fantastically long-lived but progressively more senile. Perina suspects the source of their longevity is a hard-to-find turtle; unable to resist the possibility of eternal life, he kills one and smuggles some meat back to the States. He scientifically proves his thesis, earning worldwide fame and the Nobel Prize, but he soon discovers that its miraculous property comes at a terrible price. As things quickly spiral out of his control, his own demons take hold, with devastating personal consequences.

*This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF that contains a map and the Appendix from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Hanya Yanagihara (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"One of the year's best books.... Driven by Yanagihara's gorgeously complete imaginary ethnography on the one hand and, on the other, by her brilliantly detestable narrator, this debut novel is compelling on every level - morally, aesthetically, and narratively." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"[The People in the Trees] is exhaustingly inventive and almost defiant in its refusal to offer redemption or solace - but that is arguable one of its virtues. As for Yanagihara, she is a writer to marvel at." (The New York Times Book Review)

"The People in the Trees is a haunting story of moral absolutes confounded by a seemingly empirical understanding of the merciless caprices of nature.... A standout novel, a debut as thrilling as it is disturbing." (The Wall Street Journal)

Beautiful literary graphics and voice

The complex scientific re-telling, truly as if faithful historical rendition, for me overshadowed by the realistic portrayal of possible sexual misconduct in too unlikely reflection of the possible scientific contradiction. I felt likewise betrayed by Norton and author. Mixed emotion, but relieved at the final, final outcome and coming, as it were. Thank you.

Difficult

The story was well written, I just have trouble reconciling with a character I do not like. I am uneasy after finishing the story. I have more thoughts, but I’ll save them for a two sided conversation.

Narration was perfect.

Brilliant writing

A tropical landscape has never enjoyed such attention from an author. The superb prose and deep psychological description in Yanagihara’s work is at its best here.

Plot just drags you in

Narrative style- plot development- characters you want to love but hate…twists and fantasy/realism/search for truth in between

Another Ending in Mind?

I started out not liking this book. I didn’t like one reader…his minor lisp I found annoying. That’s honest. I started reading the book itself and I trudged through all of the family history. I did not really enjoy this part. But Once he arrived on Ivu Ivu I got engaged and began listening again. The ending was a disappointment although I expected something that was outside of acceptable norms I felt that the history of the villagers might have provided an ending that was more “understandable “. Trying to be be objective without giving away the novel. Literally stunning however and beautifully written with fully developed characters and I believed these places, people, cultures and animals really existed. Incredible literature.

Amazing but not for everyone

One of the best performances of any audiobook I've listened to but very hard to stomache

Great read

The words thrilling or riveting are not words I would use to describe this book. To me, it was unsettling, unnerving, almost macabre. Loved the story though. Prose flowed very well. The narration was superb.

Awesome narration

This was the best narrated audiobook I’ve listened to so far but the credits called a production, not an audiobook, so that makes sense. I’m glad that I got audiobook vs regular book, because there are LOTS of ‘footnotes’ that I would’ve found tedious to read. The last 30 minutes is a real shocker, definitely not appropriate for children.

Conflicted.

Brilliant writing. Captivating narration. Intriguing plot. Horrific, triggering ending. I would not recommend to anyone with history of trauma.

Brilliantly disturbing

This audible edition of The People in the Trees is brilliantly disturbing and intriguing. This author does not disappoint.