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A Place On Earth: A Novel Audiobook
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(4.02) - 661 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The rhythms of this novel are the rhythms of the land. A Place on Earth resonates with variations played on themes of change; looping transitions from war into peace, winter into spring, browning flood destruction into greening fields, absence into presence, lost into found. This brings the revised 1983 edition back into print, the next book in our program to put all of Wendell Berry's fiction into print in revised and corrected uniform editions.
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"This book starts out slowly, but grows, and by the end is very moving. I cried. It's like a good meal that gets better with each bite. My only issue with Berry's writing in general, and in this book, is that it is heavy on content and in my opinion could use a little more artistry of form. He knows what he wants to say and it comes through clearly in the ideas and narrative, but it lacks the lyricism of some writers who make me swoon with well formed sentences."
— Peter (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A Place on Earth is a masterpiece—the best thing Wendell Berry has done, a book not to be missed.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“This is not a book to read at a sitting. It needs to be savored. Written by a craftsman poet, every word is chosen with great care. Many of Berry’s poems reveal the same fascination with the rhythms and cycles of rural living as A Place on Earth, just as his essays reflect his integrity and common sense.”
— Newsday -
“The multiple story lines of loss and redemption weave together at a deliberate pace, much like the agrarian rhythms of planting and harvesting that Berry holds so dear. As always, [narrator] Michael demonstrates a special knack for dialogue, especially the nuances of marriage, family and friendship in a rural community.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred audio review) -
“Paul Michael gives voice to Berry’s beautiful prose, carrying the listener through life’s cycle of birth and death as complicated by the events of WWII…Michael’s subtle characterizations offer emotion and levity in just the right doses. He applies sweet southern accents just as easily as he tosses out amusing colloquialisms. Don’t miss his depiction of Port William’s celebration of the end of the war.”
— AudioFile
A Place On Earth Listener Reviews
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" Another fine novel by Wendell Berry. This is an early novel in the Port William series. Berry does much of the "setting up" for the novels to follow. Berry has an interesting perspective on community that I think needs discussion. "
— James, 2/12/2014 -
" Perhaps my favorite book by Berry. I am in awe of his lyrical movements and how he shaped and revised his novel so many times over the years, trying to get it just right. "
— Dale, 2/1/2014 -
" this was my introduction to wendell berry, so it's still the one i return to most often "
— Marilee, 1/30/2014 -
" What I particularly liked about this book, and Berry in general, is that he portrays the reality of decent people's struggles. He isn't creating caricatures, nor is he showing "the dark side." Both of those things are too dualistic. The struggles that decent people have is intimately related to who they actually are, not some "other." "
— Pastor, 1/28/2014 -
" I almost quit reading after 20 pages--too desultory and staid. I am glad I staid (pun intended) with it. His descriptions of the inner workings of the heart and mind are exemplary. I was surprised and impressed, not having read much of Berry bfore. I liked it Berry much. "
— Brad, 1/27/2014 -
" Wendell Berry is a slow, delightful read. I love about anything I've read that he has written. This book is about a few families in a farming community in the 1930's. Some of my friends find his books slow. Admittedly, I am connected to the farm setting and see the characters in the book that I know in Idaho, and so I'm sure that is what draws me in. It is also refreshing to read beautiful writing about decent people. "
— Corine, 1/19/2014 -
" A fine novel, I've only read Berry's poetry before now. Listening to it may have improved it for me since the reader did a good job and the Kentucky speech and small-town life remind me so much of my hometown in East Tennessee. Lovely writing, real-life characters. "
— Paddy, 1/19/2014 -
" I tried to read this and was overwhelmed by the wordiness of the book. It was too detailed in descriptions and told from a first person, present perspective which I found very difficult to get into. I've heard it's a fabulous book, I guess I'm not patient enough to read through the detailed jargon. "
— Emily, 1/17/2014 -
" I like the picture of community when neighbors still helped neighbors. "
— Jessica, 1/8/2014 -
" Oh! All of Wendell Berry's books about Port William are WONDERFUL! "
— Cindy, 12/24/2013 -
" A beautifully written book that vividly evokes a community, individuals and their relationship to the land and the world around them. Need to read more of Berry's novels and non-fiction. "
— Don, 12/13/2013 -
" Yet another glimpse of life in Port William, Kentucky, as told through Mat, Hannah's first father-in-law. Berry's prose is beautiful, though this story was more melancholy than my favorite, Hannah Coulter and explored some darker sides of WWII's effects on the people in Port William. "
— Kelsey, 12/11/2013 -
" This is one of my favorite books of all time. Wendell's sense of stewardship of the land and connections between people over time is profound. I read this and felt like the folks from Port William were more my hometown folks than the ones I actually grew up with. "
— Tracy, 12/10/2013 -
" 4.5 stars. Not an easy novel in get into--the pace and rhythm take some getting used to--but one to luxuriate in. Slow-moving and hypnotically beautiful. "
— Sarah, 11/14/2013 -
" More great Berry. "
— Dean, 9/18/2013 -
" This book made me feel good, affirmed in the simple goodness of humanity. Hated for it to end. "
— Heidi, 8/18/2013 -
" A beautiful book, a warm collection of interwoven stories. Sense of place, peaceful rhythm, beautiful descriptions. "
— Betsy, 2/2/2013 -
" I really liked Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry and wanted to read more of his work. "
— Vickie, 1/17/2013 -
" It took some time for me to get engaged with this book but it was worth it. The story is a beautiful portrait of interactions of people with each other and their land in ww2 era rural America. "
— Greta, 4/20/2012 -
" about life in Kentucky "
— Suzanne, 4/5/2012 -
" Excellent book: a meditation upon the gift of sabbath rest in the midst of life's persistent losses "
— Dan, 3/28/2012 -
" A slice of life in a rural farm town that is so beautifully written. I love everything I've read by this author. "
— Misha, 9/15/2011 -
" A quiet masterpiece "
— Becki, 3/25/2011 -
" This is probably the most simple and beautiful love story ever written. "
— Lisa, 3/20/2011 -
" A fine novel, I've only read Berry's poetry before now. Listening to it may have improved it for me since the reader did a good job and the Kentucky speech and small-town life remind me so much of my hometown in East Tennessee. Lovely writing, real-life characters. "
— Paddy, 3/3/2011 -
" Excellent book: a meditation upon the gift of sabbath rest in the midst of life's persistent losses "
— Dan, 1/2/2011 -
" This is one of my favorite books of all time. Wendell's sense of stewardship of the land and connections between people over time is profound. I read this and felt like the folks from Port William were more my hometown folks than the ones I actually grew up with. "
— Tracy, 12/27/2010 -
" A beautiful book, a warm collection of interwoven stories. Sense of place, peaceful rhythm, beautiful descriptions. "
— Betsy, 8/6/2010 -
" Another fine novel by Wendell Berry. This is an early novel in the Port William series. Berry does much of the "setting up" for the novels to follow. Berry has an interesting perspective on community that I think needs discussion. "
— James, 5/19/2010 -
" I really liked Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry and wanted to read more of his work. "
— Vickie, 3/25/2010 -
" I actually read the original 1967 version, not the 1983 revision, and loved every paragraph. "
— Bryan, 3/1/2010 -
" I enjoy books without a real "plot" but instead just about real life. This book uses the land a lot and I enjoyed it. It makes me want to farm and live in Kentucky. I also cared about the characters. Not a thriller, just a book to be read at a leisurely pace. "
— Emilydodge, 2/16/2010 -
" Just reread this and appreciated it all over again. A beautiful book. Captures the essence of the characters and the time and place they lived near the end of WWII. A beautiful story of community. "
— Dixie, 10/12/2009 -
" It took some time for me to get engaged with this book but it was worth it. The story is a beautiful portrait of interactions of people with each other and their land in ww2 era rural America. "
— Greta, 9/13/2009
About Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry was born in Henry County, Kentucky, in 1934, and lives and farms with his wife, Tanya Berry, close to the place of his birth. A poet, critic, storyteller, and activist, he has written more than fifty books. He is the recipient of The National Humanities Medal, awarded by President Barack Obama, and was named The Jefferson Lecturer for 2012. He is a winner of the Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
About Paul Michael
Paul Michael, winner of several Earphones Awards, has also won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has acted on stage, radio, television, and in feature films in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. He has had leading roles in series and made-for-television movies and has guest starred in such series as VIP and Alias. He has been nominated for a Canadian Emmy and has recorded over 150 audiobooks, including the international bestseller The Da Vinci Code.