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Prodigal Summer cover art

Prodigal Summer

Written by: Barbara Kingsolver
Narrated by: Barbara Kingsolver
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Publisher's Summary

Prodigal Summer weaves together three stories of human love within a larger tapestry of lives in southern Appalachia. At the heart of these intertwined narratives is a den of coyotes that have recently migrated into the region. Deanna Wolfe, a reclusive wildlife biologist, watches them from an isolated mountain cabin where she is caught off-guard by Eddie Bondo, a young hunter who comes to invade her most private spaces and her solitary life.

Down the mountain, another web of lives unfolds as Lusa Maluf Landowski, a bookish city girl turned farmer's wife, finds herself in a strange place where she must declare or lose her attachment to the land that has become her own. And a few more miles down the road, a pair of elderly, feuding neighbors tend their respective farms and wrangle about God, pesticides, and the possibilities the future holds.

Over the course of one long summer, these characters find connections to one another, and to the land, and the final, urgent truth that humans are only one piece of life on earth.

©2000 Barbara Kingsolver (P)2000 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

What the critics say

"Readers will be seduced by [Kingsolver's] effortless prose." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Prodigal Summer

Average Customer Ratings
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

just can't listen anymore

I got this right after Where The Crawdads Sing and even though I listened to the sample the authors voice became more intolerable. there is a slight overly sweet and strange affect and the p's just started to make me want to throw the phone. I'm sad because it is probably a good story. as a voice over actor myself I know how important voice is on an audiobook or on educational materials. it has to be almost unnoticeable.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • C
  • 2023-01-24

Wonderful stories woven together

Prodigal Summer was immensely enjoyable. The characters were real and believable. Barbara Kingsolver was heavily invested in their stories.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

I enjoyed every minute. Masterfully written. And to have Barbara read it with her amazing use of the dialects was an extra treat.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully narrated

The story was both captivating and enchanting. It’s narrated beautifully by the author. I highly recommend.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Such a beautiful listen!

I loved this book so much. I such wonderful characters. I only wish there was more.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning and captivating and engaging

Barbara Kingsolver weaves absolute beauty through this story. Her narration is perfect, too. Will captivate the reader with each word

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Slow evolving story

Felt it dragged on.
Positively detested the birds tweeting and chirping at every chapter break.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

The book was really enjoyable and the readers voice was great. She didn’t change her voice very much which was confusing at first when the stories were switching. I figured it out and it is great!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enlightening and entertaining.

A mostly female cast of characters who were strong and independent, capable and informed, but often preachy and sanctimonious. The male characters may leave a reader feeling emotionally unsatisfied. A well told story showing human scarcity consciousness and animal abundance consciousness.

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