Play Audiobook Sample
Centuries of June: A Novel Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.00) - 238 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Keith Donohue has been praised for his vivid imagination and for evoking “the otherworldly with humor and the ordinary with wonder” (Audrey Niffenegger). His first novel, The Stolen Child, was a national bestseller, and his second novel, Angels of Destruction, was hailed as “a magical tale of love and redemption that is as wonderfully written as it is captivating” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Centuries of June is a bold departure, a work of dazzling breadth and technical virtuosity. Set in the bathroom of an old house just before dawn on a night in June, Centuries of June is a black comedy about a man who is attempting to tell the story of how he ended up on the floor with a hole in his head. But he keeps getting interrupted by a series of suspects—eight women lying in the bedroom just down the hall. Each woman tells a story drawn from five centuries of American myth and legend in a wild medley of styles and voices. Centuries of June is a romp through history, a madcap murder mystery, an existential ghost story, and a stunning tour de force at once ingenious, sexy, inspiring, and ultimately deeply moving.
Download and start listening now!
"This aptly titled novel, Centuries of June, is an ambitious and surreal dreamscape of adventures through time. In a style that resembles bedtime stories for grown ups this historical fiction spans over 500 years and is filled with wonderfully colorful characters you will fear, loath, admire and love. Remarkably, the story takes place all across America yet somehow never actually leaves the bathroom of the main character's house. The author has an impressively visual writing style that makes the story come to life as if you were watching it all happen before you. He takes the unbelievable and makes you a believer and will keeping you guessing up until the very twisted end. This book is a fun read that I would highly recommend to any reader with an adventurous mind. Most appropriately this book is to be released just in time for June. Happily, I was able to read an advanced copy through the First Reads program."
— Jules (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Donohue’s faultless eye for character and keen sense of humor keeps what could easily become a muddled mess pristine, with members of his quorum shining individually but also acting as cogs in the larger story’s machinery. There are moments when the reader is left to wonder how things can possibly come together, but it’s worthwhile to trust Donohue’s narrators as they lead this puzzling and greatly satisfying trip.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Donohue’s polished prose holds the story together and offers a more than satisfying ending.”
— Booklist -
“A tour de force in its mastery of styles, the book also has moments of high silliness—though toward the end Donohue weaves the threads of plot together in a surprising and affecting way.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Centuries of June Listener Reviews
-
" This is really more of a 2.5. There were parts that I really enjoyed, but I was just not interested in other parts. I was expecting something different, based on the description. "
— Nicole, 2/1/2014 -
" Interesting concept, really underwhelming ending. "
— Jane, 1/23/2014 -
" very interesting, I enjoyed the womens stories, but I thought the end was a bit disappointing "
— Jessica, 1/14/2014 -
" Enjoyed this book as well as the others I have read by this author. He is a good writer. "
— Robin, 1/9/2014 -
" This was on my local library's list of funniest books. There are some good stories woven (very) loosely together, but it's not funny ha-ha or funny strange either, if you ask me. "
— Janine, 1/6/2014 -
" Still tryin gto figure out the ending. "
— Cheron, 12/22/2013 -
" Found this a little difficult to follow but stayed with it to see where it was going. I thought that there would have been a larger moral or something to tie all of the stories together and there sort of was one but not as cohesive as I thought. "
— Pauline, 12/16/2013 -
" Fascinating tale of reincarnation. "
— Candice, 12/15/2013 -
" Meh. Interesting, but not overly compelling. A little too on the dreamy/weird side for me. "
— Jen, 11/29/2013 -
" This happens to be my 17th book for 2012 "
— Tania, 11/9/2013 -
" One of the oddest books I've ever read, can't say I enjoyed it much, a bit of a muddle. "
— Deb, 6/26/2013 -
" This book is beautifully written, but I became bored with the book, basically eight individual stories of wronged woman loosely connected. I loved Donohue's first two books and I'm sure some will love this one. "
— Beth, 5/8/2013 -
" Disappointing since I am a fan on Donohue's other novels. It was very hard to stay interested in the womens' stories since I felt there was very little character development. I just didn't care about anyone in this novel. No one had enough substance to merit my full attention. "
— Amy, 12/15/2012 -
" I found the author's writing style captivating. This is not the type of book I usually read (won on a giveaway), but I liked it more than I thought I would based on the description provided. Didn't end how I wanted, but most books don't. "
— Ashley, 3/9/2012 -
" This book would have been better as short stories for each woman. I still have no idea why the narrator was having dreams (?) about the women. "
— Annie, 6/2/2011 -
" I found the author's writing style captivating. This is not the type of book I usually read (won on a giveaway), but I liked it more than I thought I would based on the description provided. Didn't end how I wanted, but most books don't. "
— Ashley, 3/30/2011
About Keith Donohue
Keith Donohue is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Stolen Child, The Angels of Destruction, and Centuries of June. His work has been translated into two dozen languages, and his articles have appeared in the New York Times and Washington Post, among other publications. A graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Donohue also holds a PhD in English from the Catholic University of America. He lives in Maryland.
About Mark Bramhall
Mark Bramhall has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration, more than thirty AudioFile Earphones Awards, and has repeatedly been named by AudioFile magazine and Publishers Weekly among their “Best Voices of the Year.” He is also an award-winning actor whose acting credits include off-Broadway, regional, and many Los Angeles venues as well as television, animation, and feature films. He has taught and directed at the American Academy of Dramatic Art.