close
Cart 0
Audiobooks >  > The Land of Laughs
The Land of Laughs (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Jonathan Carroll Play Audiobook Sample

The Land of Laughs Audiobook (Unabridged)

By: Jonathan Carroll
The Land of Laughs (Unabridged) Audiobook, by Jonathan Carroll Play Audiobook Sample
Currently Unavailable
This audiobook is no longer available through the publisher and we don't know if or when it will become available again. Please check out similar audiobooks below, and click the "Vote this up!" button to let us know you're interested in this title. This audiobook has 2 votes
Read By: Edoardo Ballerini Publisher: Neil Gaiman Presents Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 5.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.38 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN:
3.00958004158004 out of 53.00958004158004 out of 53.00958004158004 out of 53.00958004158004 out of 53.00958004158004 out of 5 (3.01) - 2,405 listener ratings
Wishlist (add) Share
More by Author More by Narrator

Other Audiobooks Written by Jonathan Carroll: > View All...

The Ghost in Love Audiobook, by Jonathan Carroll
Fritz Pollard: Pioneer in Racial Advancement Audiobook, by Jonathan Carroll

Publisher Description

Award-winning author, narrator, and screenwriter Neil Gaiman personally selected this book, and, using the tools of the Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), cast the narrator and produced this work for his audiobook label, Neil Gaiman Presents.

A few words from Neil on The Land of Laughs: I chose The Land of Laughs for Neil Gaiman Presents because I love Jonathan Carroll's books and want to bring them to as wide an audience as possible. I suspected the character of Thomas Abbey would be both a challenge and an opportunity for the right narrator. Edoardo Ballerini conveys a certain wistfulness and vulnerability underneath Abbey's grumpiness.

Thomas Abbey is a man stuck in a rut. An English teacher in a small Connecticut prep school, Abbey is in a crisis. His career is unfulfilling, he has no social or love life to speak of, and he cannot break out of the shadow of his famous father, the actor Stephen Abbey. To kick-start his life, he takes a sabbatical to work on a biography of his favorite writer, Marshall France. France's books were the only thing that kept Abbey sane during his childhood, and though he was renowned for his lyrical and imaginative children's books, nearly nothing was known about the writer's life.

Although Abbey has been warned that France's daughter, Anna, has blocked all previous attempts at her father's biography, he and Saxony Garder - an intense woman also obsessed with France's life - head to Galen, Missouri, with high hopes of breaking down Anna's resistance. They are surprised to find Anna the soul of small-town hospitality and quite excited about Abbey's proposal - even eager to get the project finished as soon as possible.

Even stranger than Anna's behavior is the town of Galen itself. On the surface, all is as a small Midwestern town should be. But the people of the town seem to know what their future holds - freak accidents and all - down to the hour and are as eag...

Download and start listening now!

"This is a book that I bought because it was recommenced by Neil Gaiman and I love his books. I didn't know much about the book when I started except it was a professor who took a leave to write a biography about his favorite author. The story starts there and then takes off. It is interesting and takes lots of weird twists and turns all the way to the end."

— Niki (4 out of 5 stars)

The Land of Laughs (Unabridged) Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.95652173913043 out of 53.95652173913043 out of 53.95652173913043 out of 53.95652173913043 out of 53.95652173913043 out of 5 (3.96)
5 Stars: 7
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 6
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I really liked this book in the beginning. The premise was original and tantalizingly developed. It turned into a totally different book toward the end, though, and it ruined the whole thing for me. "

    — Blaire, 2/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Not my favorite of his, but still good. "

    — Kris, 1/27/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I picked this title out because it is in the "Neil Gaiman Presents" lineup on Audible and the premise sounded interesting. It's incredibly well-written, but I spent most of the book disgusted with the main character, and that usually ruins books for me. It got an extra star from me because of the ending (which I know many people disliked, but which I thought tied a nice evil little bow on the story). "

    — Lisa, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Engaging, surprisingly surreal, and a tad creepy. Within a few chapters made Carroll one of my favorite authors. "

    — Lura, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this quirky novel. It's a fantasy book that's not too over-the-top. Well...maybe a little, but it's great. Book jacket blurb states, "Jonathan Carroll is a cult waiting to be born." Could not agree more. "

    — cristina, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Great author of magical realism. "

    — Michael, 1/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " wow! you won't forget it...that's for sure. Wish I owned a copy. It's billed as Sci Fi...and it is, i guess...but more along the lines of strange things happen, so time warps or oxygen freezs or anything. "

    — Laura, 12/5/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Excellent character development and story line. I like a book I can get lost in, which is pretty much the whole premise of this book. Clever. "

    — Alicia, 12/5/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Carroll's idiosyncratic writing style is extremely smooth and readable. Although some moments were somewhat cutesy for my taste, I rather enjoyed this book. I'd give it 3.5 stars, if I could. "

    — Gregor, 10/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another really strange one. I haven't read anything else of his, but I'm definitely going to now. "

    — Gina, 10/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I just finished listening to the newly-released audiobook of The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll. It's been one of my favorite books since I first discovered it a few decades ago and the audiobook doesn't disappoint. It's well read and the story's slow build works as well ever. "

    — Jim, 6/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It's just OK for me. I guess I expected too much. "

    — Yukari, 12/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " se mettiamo tra parentesi il finale un po' troppo americaneggiante, il resto del libro è evocativo e ordinato, quasi perfetto! "

    — Haunt, 11/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I just finished listening to the newly-released audiobook of The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll. It's been one of my favorite books since I first discovered it a few decades ago and the audiobook doesn't disappoint. It's well read and the story's slow build works as well ever. "

    — Jim, 11/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Not the first novel I've read, it is probably one of the last by Mr. Carroll. The only thing I can say is that Carroll had talent back then, as much as he has now. I love all of his novels... If you're looking for magic, Carroll is what you need... "

    — Blanca_luz, 9/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Interesting book about books, but certainly not as well written as the many imaginary books it contains. "

    — Susanna, 8/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Read this ages ago... Fun book... seriously weird ending... perfect, though. "

    — Elisa, 7/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Recommended on the shelf at Powells. Super enjoyable read. The ending feels a little rushed, but totally forgivable for a first novel. Excited to keep reading Jonathon Carroll's stuff. "

    — tish, 5/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Carroll's idiosyncratic writing style is extremely smooth and readable. Although some moments were somewhat cutesy for my taste, I rather enjoyed this book. I'd give it 3.5 stars, if I could. "

    — Gregor, 5/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I'm generally not a Jonathan Carroll fan. I find that his premises are often more interesting than the narrative itself. But the twist ending - and the fact that I didn't see it coming - bumped my rating up a star. And I'll probably give Jonathan Carroll one more try.... "

    — Spacedaisie, 4/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another great book about books. My only regret is that I read Inkheart before I found this book. Still, this was a very enjoyable read, and I'll likely pick up another Jonathan Carroll book soon. "

    — Jerry, 4/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of my all time favorite books of Jonathan Carroll's, this and Bones of the Moon. "

    — Danielle, 1/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I think I was a little too hard on this book. It's got some pretty solid characters and is an enjoyable read, but I couldn't help but be a little bugged that it all led up to a couple of "gotcha" moments. "

    — Jeff, 12/1/2010

About Jonathan Carroll

Jonathan Caroll’s novel The Wooden Sea was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2001. He is the author of such acclaimed novels as White Apples, The Land of Laughs, The Marriage of Sticks, and Bones of the Moon. 

About Edoardo Ballerini

Edoardo Ballerini, an American actor, director, film producer, and multiaward–winning narrator. He has won several Audie Awards for best narration, including for 2019’s Best Male Narrator of the Year. He was named by Booklist as winner of their 2023 Voice of Choice Award, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, from classics to modern masters, from bestsellers to the inspirational, from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners to spine-tingling series, and much more. In television and film, he is best known for his roles in A Murder at the End of the World, The Sopranos, 24, I Shot Andy Warhol, Dinner Rush, and Romeo Must Die. He is also trained in theater and continues to do much work on stage.