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The Book of Jonas Audiobook
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(3.02) - 752 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Jonas is fifteen when his family is killed during an errant U.S.
military operation in an unnamed Muslim country. With the help of an
international relief organization, he is sent to America, where he
struggles to assimilate—foster family, school, a first love. Eventually,
he tells a court-mandated counselor and therapist about a U.S. soldier,
Christopher Henderson, responsible for saving his life on the tragic
night in question.
Christopher's mother, Rose, has dedicated her life to
finding out what really happened to her son, who disappeared after the
raid in which Jonas's village was destroyed. When Jonas meets Rose, a
shocking and painful secret gradually surfaces from the past, and builds
to a shattering conclusion that haunts long after the final sentence. Told
in spare, evocative prose, The Book of Jonas is about memory,
about the terrible choices made during war, and about what happens when
foreign disaster appears at our own doorstep. It is a rare and virtuosic
novel from an exciting new writer to watch.
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"The Book of Jonas is an elegantly written book that stimulates thought and emotion while challenging conventional viewpoints on war and religion. While I didn't necessarily agree with the actions or beliefs of the main characters, I was fascinated and empathetic. The sparse prose and short chapters meant no word was wasted and the story moved quickly between past and present and various points of view. I was profoundly moved by this engrossing book that packed a powerful punch in nearly poetic fashion."
— The (5 out of 5 stars)
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“With its spare prose and nuanced plot that loops back and forth chronologically, Dau’s first novel is an absolutely compelling account of the damage done to all sides by armed conflict. An essential addition to the literature of war.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
A sobering and accomplished read meant to prick the conscience; highly recommended.
— Library Journal -
“Dau’s novel offers deeply resonating truths about war and culture, about family and loss that only art can reveal. A literary tour de force.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Narrator Simon Vance brings the brittle and tremulous text into a heartbreaking, blooming presence.”
— Library Journal (starred) Audio Review -
“Intriguing characters reveal the effects of war on both victim and victimizer, and raise important questions about the emotional implications of modern warfare.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Narrator Simon Vance infuses urgency into the sparse prose and gripping events…He delivers the narration at a rapid pace that mimics the turbulent thoughts of the main character as well as the unfolding of elements of the plot.”
— AudioFile -
“A sobering and accomplished read meant to prick the conscience; highly recommended.”
— Library Journal
The Book of Jonas Listener Reviews
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" Couldn't get note rested enough to complete it. Pretty slow moving . "
— Marie, 1/22/2014 -
" I listened to this book on round trip between Waterloo, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois. What an enjoyable drive! The Book of Jonas tells the story of a war refugee from the middle east. The story is a mix of memories from Jonas' youth, events of the war, and his struggle to cope in the US. It is brilliantly writen. The author knows just what to leave out, if that makes sense. He gives clues, but lets the reader put the puzzle together. It would be a wonderful discussion book! "
— Ann, 1/19/2014 -
" Heartbreaking look at war through the eyes of a Muslim teen and a young GI after a village is mistakenly targeted and innocents are killed. This is one of my favorite new books!! "
— Pam, 1/13/2014 -
" Interesting literary style! A book that combines events with an exploration of memory and the mind. "
— Heather, 1/4/2014 -
" This was a good book. It had some confusing parts and a little hard to follow at the beginning, but once you get into it, it starts making sense. "
— Lisa, 12/16/2013 -
" 5+ stars, amazing storytelling! two points of view told, from a Muslim teen and an American soldier...will leave you with much to think about once you have finished "
— Jo, 12/15/2013 -
" Sparse and deep but not very entertaining. I listened to the audiobook. Might have been a better read for me. "
— Faith, 12/11/2013 -
" Awesome. In every way, this is my kind of book. Short chapters, vignettes really, that swirl about and yet connect the events and characters in awakened ways. Highly recommended! "
— Brian, 12/8/2013 -
" This is why I read. "
— Mike, 12/4/2013 -
" I liked it. Probably closer to 4 stars, but there's other books (for example, What is the What) that do it better, so I had to knock it down. "
— Gayle, 6/28/2013 -
" i loved this book. very moving, beautiful story and yet very sad also. hard to stop thinking about it. "
— Susan, 5/25/2013 -
" A great debut novel by a very talented writer. Was very impressed and look forward to reading more from Dau. "
— Carol, 3/29/2013 -
" A worthy read, Afghan kid sees family wiped out, comes to America, self destructs because he can't work through something he did, eventually achieves some sort of resolution. "
— Tom, 1/20/2013 -
" It was a pretty good story, but I thought it lingered a bit on setting up Jonas's present world instead of the emotional struggle going on inside of him. "
— Mercedes, 1/1/2013 -
" Beautifully written with a powerful anti-war story, this is a book that will make you think & stay with you long after you finish the last page. "
— Amy, 12/4/2012 -
" Although it was a serious subject, this was a quick read, and enjoyable. I didn't find the characters or the story especially memorable. Not bad. Not wonderful OK. "
— Nancy, 9/27/2012 -
" This novel didn't captivate me at all. The storyline had the potential to go places but instead fell flat, and the character of the soldier wasn't developed enough for me to get a sense of who he was. I finished this novel and felt annoyed more than anything. "
— Shana, 8/26/2012 -
" Pretty dark, very pertinent themes to the current world situation. "
— Pam, 3/16/2012
About Stephen Dau
Stephen Dau worked for ten years in postwar reconstruction and international development prior to studying creative writing at Johns Hopkins University and Bennington, where he received an MFA. His work has appeared in McSweeny’s, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on MSNBC, and elsewhere. The Book of Jonas is his first novel. Originally from western Pennsylvania, he currently resides in Brussels.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.