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House of Sand and Fog Audiobook
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(3.00) - 50,318 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In this riveting novel of almost unbearable suspense, three fragile yet determined people become dangerously entangled in a relentlessly escalating crisis. Colonel Behrani, once a wealthy man in Iran, is now a struggling immigrant willing to bet everything he has to restore his family's dignity. Kathy Nicolo is a troubled young woman whose house is all she has left, and who refuses to let her hard-won stability slip away from her. Sheriff Lester Burdon, a married man who finds himself falling in love with Kathy, becomes obsessed with helping her fight for justice.
Drawn by their competing desires to the same small house in the California hills and doomed by their tragic inability to understand one another, the three converge in an explosive collision course. Combining unadorned realism with profound empathy, House of Sand and Fog marks the arrival of a major new voice in American fiction.
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"I read this book in college. The actual book and how the author wrote the plot is great, I just hated the character's terrible decisions. That's why I was torn with this book. Love the way it was written, but I wanted to strangle the main characters."
— Sharon (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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"The most rending kind of war is not between two hatreds, but between two hopes. Dubus sets out the growing confrontation with chilly ingenuity and a remarkably observant compassion. A fine and prophetic novel."
— Los Angeles Times -
"A page-turner with a beating heart."
— Boston Globe -
"It is rare these days to encounter a novel that follows the rules of Greek tragedy. Dubus is a taker of risks. A craftsman of character and dialogue, Dubus has dared to push his limits."
— San Francisco Chronicle -
"An utterly believable, riveting journey. Dubus has written a story that one cannot help but care about."
— San Diego Union-Tribune -
"A mixture of classical tragedy perfectly imbued with film noir … The work of a writer who is the real thing."
— Baltimore Sun -
"A poignant drama that is engrossing. A book full of longing, a vivid and exquisitely realized snapshot of America's underside."
— Seattle Weekly -
"Elegant and powerful … An unusual and volatile literary thriller."
— Washington Post Book World -
"Exceptional storytelling, true to life—searing and insightful. You can't help but be impressed."
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
"Dubus's chronicle of the American Dream gone awry is distinguished by his sympathetic delineation of lower-middle class life."
— Publishers Weekly -
“Dubus's attention to detail and realistic prose style give the narrative a hard-edged, cinematic quality, but unlike many movies, its outcome is unexpected. Recommended for all fiction collections.”
— Library Journal -
"Dubus proves himself both an exquisitely careful craftsman and a painstaking recorder of society."
— Boston Magazine
Awards
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An Oprah’s Book Club Selection in 1999
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A #1 New York Times bestseller
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A Book Sense Book of the Year
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A #1 USA Today bestseller
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An ALA Notable Book Finalist for Fiction
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A 1999 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist for Fiction
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A 1999 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Fiction
House of Sand and Fog Listener Reviews
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" Loved it....kept my interest to the end. "
— Mary, 2/19/2014 -
" Too much/many unnecessary sex/sexual references, characters weren't very likeable. Overall a total downer, and not in a pleasantly melancholy way. "
— Monica, 2/13/2014 -
" Oprah gushed about this book which is why I decided to read it. I really didn't see what all the fuss was about. I found it quite sad really that the original owner Kathy lost the house and the new owners anticipated bright future was so clouded by her past. Two desperate people pushed to their limits to hold on to what we all cherish most. Life made better by our hard work and perseverance. "
— Linda, 2/11/2014 -
" utterly depressing, frustrating, and desperate. But in a completely beautiful way. "
— Jennifer, 2/1/2014 -
" A real page-turner. Not the best-written book, but plotted well. Seems a bit derivative, but when I think about it, most of the stories it resembles came around after Sand and Fog, so maybe this book is more influential than it immediately seems. It struck me a little like a poor-man's kite runner. "
— Rick, 1/30/2014 -
" Wow, one of the most depressing books I have ever read. I was exhausted after reading it and had no interest in the movie. It was well written, just an incredibly depressing story. Angelas Ashes was in the same league "
— Michael, 1/30/2014 -
" This was really well written, and I'm glad I read it, but it was a bit depressing. "
— Laura, 1/23/2014 -
" would not recommend it because it is so depressing. but i have a hard time with people who make bad choices. "
— Christina, 1/19/2014 -
" Another book club selection. One of the blurbs called it a modern Greek tragedy, and the story arc definitely fits that description. A bit over-written in places, but a solid work overall. "
— Steven, 1/18/2014 -
" I liked the movie and the book. "
— Rebecca, 1/12/2014 -
" i will note however that this is easily one of the most depressing books i have ever read "
— Curious_courtesan, 12/16/2013 -
" Normally not a book I would read however I had to read it for school and I found that it was very good and loved it. I would recommend that everyone read this book because it will take you where you can't believe. "
— Lisa, 11/12/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. Couldn't put it down and read it in two days! I would now like to see the movie "
— Bmorrison, 10/30/2013 -
" Dubus puts some very interesting characters into an untenable situation that starts out slow but barrels toward disaster. A great read and a good lesson. There aren't always good guys and bad guys. "
— Sandy, 10/8/2013 -
" Loved this book! Intriguing characters and suspense galore. Couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I had a hard time liking any of the characters, and throughout the book wasn't sure which one I should be routing for. Great read. "
— Joan, 9/9/2013 -
" I might give this book to the next person who asks me why in the I voluntarily moved to Boston. BAY AREA REAL ESTATE RUINS LIVES. "
— Jenn, 8/29/2013 -
" Could this book be more depressing? Who needs a drink. . . "
— Rochelle, 3/22/2013 -
" Excellent. Sadness, tragedy and ensuing train wrecks all around but beautifully written. I couldn't put it down and it haunts me to this day. "
— Maria, 9/18/2012 -
" enjoying this book a lot "
— Suzan, 7/4/2012 -
" Good book, interesting commentary on just how far some people will go to hold onto things and one another. Suspenseful and unexpected turns. "
— Valerie, 9/25/2011 -
" A very well written, tragic story. "
— Jean, 5/8/2010 -
" The descriptive writing in this book was phenomenal. I could smell the smoke and taste the anger. While reading, I was split between loving and hating the book. In the end, I had to love it. "
— Elaine, 8/25/2009 -
" What a FANTASTIC book! I could read this one over and over again. Great story, great ending. All around, a great book. Will guarantee you won't be able to put it down! "
— Jessi, 6/25/2009 -
" Sad story but excellently written. (Yes the book is better than the movie) "
— Xiomara, 3/6/2009 -
" Meh. It's hard to feel much for a story where you don't actually like or empathize with any of the characters. Some interesting parts. Some annoying parts. Overall sum total: meh. "
— Jim, 4/15/2008 -
" Really liked the film version. "
— Melissa, 12/19/2007 -
" Have read it a couple of times, and seen the movie at least twice. It's disturbing and thought provoking. "
— Beth, 12/21/2006
About Andre Dubus
Andre Dubus III is the author of the highly acclaimed, award-winning memoir Townie, a New York Times bestseller, and of the #1 New York Times bestseller House of Sand and Fog. Townie made the list of the best books of 2011 for Esquire, Salon, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Washington Examiner, and AudioFile. House of Sand and Fog, the basis for an Academy Award–nominated motion picture, was a fiction finalist for the National Book Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, a Book Sense Book of the Year, and an Oprah Book Club selection. His other works include a collection of short fiction, The Cage Keeper and Other Stories, and the novels Bluesman and The Garden of Last Days. His work has been included in The Best American Essays of 1994 and The Best Spiritual Writing of 1999. He has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Pushcart Prize, the National Magazine Award for fiction, and was a finalist for the Rome Prize Fellowship from the Academy of Arts and Letters. A member of PEN American Center, Dubus has served as a panelist for the National Book Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, has taught writing at Harvard, Tufts, and Emerson College, and is currently a full-time faculty member at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. He is married to the performer Fontaine Dollas Dubus. They live in Massachusetts with their three children.