Audiobooks by Ann Patchett

"A beautifully designed edition of number-one New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett’s prized classic, annotated and with an introductionby the author herself. 'A book that works both as a paean to art and beauty and a subtly sly comedy of manners' New York Times First published in 2001, Bel Canto is possibly Ann Patchett’s most beloved novel. Set in an unnamed South American country, at the home of the vice president, it is the story of a lavish birthday party honoring Mr. Hosokawa, a powerful Japanese businessman. Roxanne Coss, opera’s most revered soprano, has enthralled the international guests with a mesmerizing performance. The evening is perfect—until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But in Patchett’s skilled hands, what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots. Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead the characters to forget the real danger that has been set in motion—and cannot be stopped. Now, more than two decades after this bold and artistically daring novel’s debut, Patchett revisits her early work. In this special annotated edition, the acclaimed prize-winning author opens the story to readers, providing enlightening commentary on her original version, including reflections on her narrative choices and style. A mature writer looking back at her younger self, Patchett takes us deep into her creative process and considers her career and growth as an artist, from that novel to her most recent, Tom Lake. Funny, full of insight, informal, and often unexpectedly moving, this annotated edition is an intimate encounter with a celebrated novelist, an opportunity to reconsider a great work through her eyes, and a guide for anyone who wants to understand how a novel takes form."

Ann Patchett (Author), Anna Fields (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Der Sommer zu Hause (Tom Lake)

"Wie findet man das Glück, das ein Leben lang hält Es ist Frühling im nördlichen Michigan. Laras drei erwachsene Töchter kehren auf die elterliche Obstfarm zurück. Bei der Kirschernte bitten sie ihre Mutter, ihnen die Geschichte von Peter Duke zu erzählen, dem weltberühmten Schauspieler, mit dem sie vor Jahren in einer Theatergruppe namens Tom Lake gemeinsam auftrat – und mit dem sie eine stürmische Liebesgeschichte erlebte. Durch Laras Erinnerungen an ihre Jugend sehen die drei Töchter sich herausgefordert, nicht nur die Beziehung zu ihrer Mutter, sondern auch jeweils ihr eigenes Leben kritisch zu überprüfen und liebgewonnene Ansichten und Gewissheiten neu zu denken. »Der Sommer zu Hause« ist eine Meditation über Jugendliebe, Eheliebe und das Leben der Eltern, bevor sie Eltern wurden. Hoffnungsfroh und melancholisch zugleich stellt der Roman die Frage nach dem Glücklichsein in einer vor die Hunde gehenden Welt. Wie in all ihren Romanen kombiniert Ann Patchett erzählerische Brillanz mit nadelspitzen Einsichten in Familiendynamiken. Das Ergebnis ist eine üppige, leuchtende Geschichte, mit einer Intelligenz und emotionalen Subtilität geschrieben, die wieder einmal beweisen, warum Patchett eines der verehrtesten und berühmtesten literarischen Talente unserer Zeit ist. Vom Reese Witherspoon Bookclub empfohlen und besprochen! »Elegant, feinfühlig, fesselnd – es war so leicht in diesen Roman hineinzugleiten und so schwer ihn wieder zu verlassen. Ich hab ihn geliebt!« Bonnie Garmus"

Ann Patchett (Author), Elisabeth Günther (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Das Holländerhaus (ungekürzt)

"Eine Villa zu besitzen - für Cyril steht das für ein besseres Leben. Doch als er von seinem hart erarbeiteten, ersten kleinen Vermögen das hinreißende Holländerhaus kauft, zerbricht seine Welt: Seine Frau erträgt den Luxus nicht und geht. Ein Schock für die beiden Kinder, und Tochter Maeve muss die Mutterrolle für ihren jüngeren Bruder Danny übernehmen. Die Geschwister werden unzertrennlich und sind eigentlich glücklich - bis Cyril wieder heiratet. Die Neue hat zwei eigene kleine Mädchen, denen sie, ganz böse Stiefmutter, das Erbe sichern will, vor allem aber das Holländerhaus ... Aus einer Geschichte, so alt wie das epische Erzählen, wird bei Ann Patchett ein facettenreicher, kluger und ganz und gar moderner Familienroman der Meisterklasse. Regie: Anna-Lena Kühner"

Ann Patchett (Author), Uve Teschner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Escape Goat

"From the international bestselling author of Bel Canto, Ann Patchett, comes a hilarious children’s audiobook about a scapegoat who escapes blame just in time, read by the author! The Farmer family has a big problem! Every day their goat escapes, and every day, Mr. Farmer brings him back. So when things start to go awry on the farm, it must be the goat’s fault. Who’s to blame when Mrs. Farmer’s petunias are trampled? Or when all the cupcakes for Archie’s party disappear? And when the whole bucket of paint is spilled? Of course, everyone blames the goat! But is it really his fault?"

Ann Patchett (Author), Ann Patchett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lambslide

"From the international bestselling author of Bel Canto and Commonwealth, Ann Patchett, comes a hilarious children’s story about a slide made just for lambs. Nicolette Farmer is running for class president, and the rest of the Farmer family tells her she’ll win by a landslide. A pack of overconfident lambs mistakenly hear lambslide and can’t believe there’s a slide made just for them. But when they can’t find one on the farm, there’s only one thing left to do: take a vote! They campaign. They bargain. They ask all the other animals if they, too, would like a lambslide. Will the lambs ever get their special slide?"

Ann Patchett (Author), Ann Patchett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Thalia Book Club: Ann Patchett, Commonwealth

"The acclaimed bestselling author returns to Symphony Space to discuss her latest novel. Told with equal measures of humor and heartbreak, Commonwealth tells the enthralling and tender story of how an unexpected romantic encounter irrevocably changes two families’ lives. In conversation with Emma Straub (Modern Lovers). An excerpt from the novel will be performed by Alan Alda."

Ann Patchett (Author), Alan Alda, Emma Straub (Narrator)

Audiobook

Thalia Book Club: Ann Patchett's State of Wonder

"The author of Bel Canto and Truth & Beauty talks with Jane Hamilton (A Map of the World; The Short History of a Prince) and delves deeply into the backstory of her latest creation, a thought-provoking literary thriller, set deep in the Amazon jungle, with fascinating characters that defy our expectations, and chockful of suspense, romance, and betrayal."

Ann Patchett (Author), Alan Alda, Emma Straub (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bel Canto

"Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award • Winner of the Orange Prize • National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist • New York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century ''Bel Canto is its own universe. A marvel of a book.'' —Washington Post Book World New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett’s spellbinding novel about love and opera, and the unifying ways people learn to communicate across cultural barriers in times of crisis Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening—until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots, intimate friends, and lovers. Patchett's lyrical prose and lucid imagination make Bel Canto a captivating story of strength and frailty, love and imprisonment, and an inspiring tale of transcendent romance."

Ann Patchett (Author), Anna Fields (Narrator)

Audiobook