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Nothing with Strings: NPR's Beloved Holiday Stories Audiobook
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(3.08) - 173 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
For more than a decade, Bailey White has delivered a story each Thanksgiving to National Public Radio's All Things Considered listeners. Long awaited by her many fans, Nothing with Strings is the entire collection of these Thanksgiving stories, published together for the first time.
With wit and charm, White writes about an almost-gone little town where a spoon player is a guardian angel, an old woman fears that John James Audubon is living in her attic, and a homely governess wins a baby bull in a raffle and loses her heart. It's the kind of place where Heavenly Blue morning glories grow in through the windows of old houses and funeral food is shared on a Greyhound bus on a fall afternoon. You may not have ever been there, but you will feel right at home. White's beautifully written stories, teetering on the edge of the unreal, are sure to bring back memories you don't really have.
These are the stories that can be found in Nothing with Strings:
"Meals-On-Wheels"
"The Long Black Veil"
"What Would They Say in Birmingham?"
"The Progress of Deglutition"
"The Telephone Man"
"Miss Wigglesworth's Bull"
"Bus Ride"
"Return to Sender"
"Lonesome Without You"
"The Garden"
"Nothing with Strings"
"The Green Bus"
"Almost Gone"
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"Good stories, but all kind of sad in the end. I was hoping for more Christmas themed stories, since it says stories for the holidays, but apparently this is a collection of stories that have been read over the years at Thanksgiving. There is only one story where they actually have a Thanksgiving meal. The rest are just stories of people, and they do make you appreciate your own people, which I guess is the point. I did enjoy them, but I so like a happy ending."
— Emily (4 out of 5 stars)
Nothing with Strings Listener Reviews
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shirley houston, 7/31/2022
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" Interesting collection of short stories, written by White for NPR's. I envy a person who can just jump into their characters' lives and capture a moment, a year, an afternoon and what it stands for. I enjoyed this collection very much. "
— Laura, 2/14/2014 -
" I love Bailey White. I think life is getting harder and momma's quirks reflect something more. I hope she keeps writing. "
— Sarahanne, 2/8/2014 -
" I am not generally a fan of the short story. But this book busted that idea. I loved it. These stories have the classic White "quirkiness" that I so love and they also touch on such the poignancies and complexities of being human with insight and tenderness. Lovely. "
— Jane, 2/6/2014 -
" I love everything Bailey White has written. She is from my hometown and all of her stories and characters are so familiar. I feel as if I've met each one. I cherish most that she see the beautiful quirkiness of common southerners. "
— Kristin, 1/20/2014 -
" It read more like Garrison Keillor than Bailey White. My favorite is still Mama Makes Up Her Mind. It's the best of all! "
— Glenda, 1/18/2014 -
" Though in the last year or so I have read a number of books that were collections of short stories, This is still not one of my favorite genres. These stories were sometimes odd and though the characterizations were complete and interesting, at times I would get to the end and say "Huh?" I did enjoy a few, though. (Especially "Meals on Wheels", "The Telephone Man", "Lonesome Without You") And all of the stories had that Southern character that mixes humor with eccentricity with pathos. I'm wondering if this wouldn't have been a good book to listen to rather than read in order to make the most of that underlying character. "
— Bookreaderljh, 1/17/2014 -
" Bailey White has a great feel for Southern characters and displays it in these stories. "
— Karen, 1/10/2014 -
" I enjoyed most of the short-stories in this book and think they're an excellent way to while away short blocks of time. "
— Barbara, 1/9/2014 -
" I've been a big fan of Bailey White and was excited to see this audio in the library. Most of the stories were actually quite depressing. It wasn't what I expected. "
— Pam, 1/8/2014 -
" It's been awhile since I read the work of Bailey White. I love her gentle Southern humor and excellent writing. These are stories she's shared at Thanksgivings on NPR (All Things Considered). My faves are Bus Ride and Nothing with Strings, the title of the collection. "
— Ann, 1/3/2014 -
" I adore Bailey White! I 'met' her reading her own work on NPR, sought out her Sleeping at the Starlite Motel and have read ever bit of her work I can find. In fact, this is my second reading of Nothing with Strings. "
— Mary, 1/1/2014 -
" A modern Faulkner. Bailey White is a genius. "
— Chip, 1/1/2014 -
" Be warned that this may be subtitled as a book of holiday stories, but only one story even mentions the holidays, and that in passing. A collection of enjoyable, mostly poignant, generally memorable short stories covering a range of characters and settings--from hippies to alzheimer sufferers. "
— Kelly, 12/14/2013 -
" As with her other books this is one of short stories about people from very ordinary walks of life. She can see in each one a unique personality. The stories seem simple but one finds them returning to mind for years. "
— Teresa, 12/9/2013 -
" Very sweet essays - not my favoite Bailey White book, but still lovely. "
— Donna, 6/12/2013 -
" NPR's Bailey White revisits her favorite Thanksgiving stories. Not as engaging as MAMA MAKES UP HER MIND. 2.5 stars "
— Moondance, 1/15/2013 -
" Not my cup of tea. "
— Becky, 1/9/2013 -
" Why are these stories beloved? I found them real downers and didn't even finish the book! "
— Angela, 12/23/2012 -
" LOVE Bailey White. Wonderfully written short stories. "
— Betty, 1/20/2012 -
" This book had the text "NPR's Beloved Holiday stories". I'm sad to say this is very depressing. I've read other Bailey White short stories, but these stories are just a bummer. "
— Jeanie, 11/2/2011 -
" Collection of White's annual Thanksgiving stories for NPR. They're lovely on the page, too. I didn't notice the Thanksgiving connection until I read the book flap, after finishing the book. I just gulped them down as lovely short stories, not noticing that Thanksgiving is mentioned in a few of them. "
— Janet, 10/20/2011 -
" Good stories. Somewhat surreal in a very American way. Most are fairly depressing. My favorite was "Miss Wigglesworth's Bull". "
— MB, 8/25/2011 -
" This was interesting to listen to. It was hard to know when one story ended and another began. "
— Desi, 3/21/2011 -
" Love Baily White. Her quirky Southern characters are so real, funny, sad, poignant. There is nothing romanticized about them. Yet, you don't hate them but just feel compassion. "
— Edie, 2/17/2011 -
" Love Baily White. Her quirky Southern characters are so real, funny, sad, poignant. There is nothing romanticized about them. Yet, you don't hate them but just feel compassion. "
— Edie, 8/28/2010 -
" LOVE Bailey White. Wonderfully written short stories. "
— Betty, 4/23/2010 -
" I adore Bailey White! I 'met' her reading her own work on NPR, sought out her Sleeping at the Starlite Motel and have read ever bit of her work I can find. In fact, this is my second reading of Nothing with Strings. "
— Mary, 12/25/2009 -
" I am not generally a fan of the short story. But this book busted that idea. I loved it. These stories have the classic White "quirkiness" that I so love and they also touch on such the poignancies and complexities of being human with insight and tenderness. Lovely. "
— Jane, 10/20/2009 -
" It's been awhile since I read the work of Bailey White. I love her gentle Southern humor and excellent writing. These are stories she's shared at Thanksgivings on NPR (All Things Considered). My faves are Bus Ride and Nothing with Strings, the title of the collection. "
— Ann, 7/8/2009 -
" I love everything Bailey White has written. She is from my hometown and all of her stories and characters are so familiar. I feel as if I've met each one. I cherish most that she see the beautiful quirkiness of common southerners. "
— Kristin, 5/16/2009 -
" Interesting collection of short stories, written by White for NPR's. I envy a person who can just jump into their characters' lives and capture a moment, a year, an afternoon and what it stands for. I enjoyed this collection very much. "
— Laura, 1/21/2009 -
" As with her other books this is one of short stories about people from very ordinary walks of life. She can see in each one a unique personality. The stories seem simple but one finds them returning to mind for years. "
— Teresa, 1/12/2009 -
" Be warned that this may be subtitled as a book of holiday stories, but only one story even mentions the holidays, and that in passing. A collection of enjoyable, mostly poignant, generally memorable short stories covering a range of characters and settings--from hippies to alzheimer sufferers. "
— Kelly, 12/27/2008 -
" Good stories. Somewhat surreal in a very American way. Most are fairly depressing. My favorite was "Miss Wigglesworth's Bull". "
— MB, 12/8/2008 -
" Why are these stories beloved? I found them real downers and didn't even finish the book! "
— Angela, 11/11/2008
About Bailey White
Bailey White was born and raised in Thomasville, Georgia. She has worked as a schoolteacher and a writer. Her essays and stories have appeared in magazines and on NPR’s All Things Considered. She is the author of two story collections, Mama Makes Up Her Mind and Sleeping at the Starlite Motel, and a novel, Quite a Year for Plums.
About Lorna Raver
Lorna Raver, named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year, has received numerous Audie Award nominations and many AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has appeared on stage in New York, Los Angeles, and regional theaters around the country. Among her many television credits are NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Boston Legal, ER, and Star Trek. She starred in director Sam Raimi’s film Drag Me to Hell.