The Little Friend Audiobook, by Donna Tartt Play Audiobook Sample

The Little Friend Audiobook

The Little Friend Audiobook, by Donna Tartt Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Karen White Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 17.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 13.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: September 2002 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780736698894

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

25

Longest Chapter Length:

77:14 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

11 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

62:09 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

4

Other Audiobooks Written by Donna Tartt: > View All...

Publisher Description

The second novel by Donna Tartt,  bestselling author of The Goldfinch (winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize),  The Little Friend  is a grandly ambitious and utterly riveting novel of childhood, innocence and evil. The setting is Alexandria, Mississippi, where one Mother’s Day a little boy named Robin Cleve Dufresnes was found hanging from a tree in his parents’ yard. Twelve years later Robin’s murder is still unsolved and his family remains devastated. So it is that Robin’s sister Harriet—unnervingly bright, insufferably determined, and unduly influenced by the fiction of Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson--sets out to unmask his killer. Aided only by her worshipful friend Hely, Harriet crosses her town’s rigid lines of race and caste and burrows deep into her family’s history of loss. Filled with hairpin turns of plot and “a bustling, ridiculous humanity worthy of Dickens” (The New York Times Book Review), The Little Friend is a work of myriad enchantments by a writer of prodigious talent.

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"I liked this, I hadn't read anything by her before and picked it up free at a garage throwout. I liked the slow buildup of sweaty Southern atmosphere and the ever growing threat that the wonderful lead character, a girl who doesn't want to grow up, must face. Enjoyed it even though the ending which didn't necessarily provide closure, but made sense as life moves on. Which I don't usually like in a book ending, either, but it didn't feel wrong in this as well."

— J (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • This extraordinary book [has] a main character, a twelve-year-old girl named Harriet Cleve Dufresnes, who ranks up there with Huck Finn, Miss Havisham, Quentin Compson, and Philip Marlowe, fictional characters who don't seem in the least fictional . . . If To Kill a Mockingbird is the childhood that everyone wanted and no one really had, The Little Friend is childhood as it is, by turns enchanting and terrifying.

    — Malcolm Jones, Newsweek
  • Breathtaking . . . A sublime tale rich in religious overtones, moral ambiguities, and violent, poetic acts . . . From its darkly enticing opening, we are held spellbound.

    — Lisa Shea, Elle
  • Readers are easily swept up in [a] darkly comic novel that . . . broadens to examine Southern racial and social strata, religious and generational eccentricities, and the passion of youth that gives way to the ambivalence of age. At times humorous, at times heartbreaking, The Little Friend is most surprising when it is edge-of-your-seat scary.

    — Dennis Moore, USA Today
  • A sprawling story of vengeance, told in a rich, controlled voice . . . Tartt has written a grownup book that captures the dark, Lord of the Flies side of childhood and classic children's literature.

    — James Poniewozik, Time

Awards

  • One of the 2002 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Fiction

The Little Friend Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.96875 out of 52.96875 out of 52.96875 out of 52.96875 out of 52.96875 out of 5 (2.97)
5 Stars: 3
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 7
1 Stars: 5
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: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Like 'The Secret History' this novel is also somewhat of a mystery, drama, pseudo-philosophical piece of work. "

    — Cat, 2/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I have never not finished a book after I was over half way through, but that is what I did with this book.... Dont watse your time, I was in the 400 page range, and just could not take reading about nothing anymore. I am not even curious about what happened (although I did read a spoiler review, which just let on about what you never find out, it didn't give away anything that actually happened).... While I was still reading it, I found that I was dreading reading it. "

    — Andrea, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " A little disappointin after The Secret History. Big yuck factor. Love the meth . . . "

    — Wesley, 1/22/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The main character, Harriet, was fascinating and I enjoyed learning more and more about her. It wasn't as fast paced as I thought it was going to be but still enjoyable. "

    — Sydney, 1/21/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " This book was a total disappointment following the gripping read of "The Secret History"! "

    — Dorothee, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Tartt does have a great talent for creating a place and putting the reader in it. I didn't like how she tends to introduce events or people and then just when you're getting interested in them, drops them. You may hear of them briefly again in the story but only marginally. Still, a pretty good read. "

    — mickiegoc, 12/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The ending isn't as strong as it could have and should have been after such buildup, but this book is amazing for it's characterizations and mood setting. "

    — Sherry, 12/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This book is a masterpiece. It is so beautifully written and funny and exciting that it makes me never want to write another word. "

    — Caitlin, 12/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " What a shame... This is beautifully written and grabs your attention right at the beginning but it only goes downhill from there. I actually didn't manage to finish this book! Way too slow, way too much detail in setting the scenes... Only 2 stars, sorry, Donna. "

    — Karolina, 11/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I liked this, but found myself wanting more information at the end; it didn't tie up the loose ends, however it kinda suited the theme of the book. "

    — Kat, 11/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I was disappointed by Tartt's second novel. I loved Secret History, but this one was lukewarm. "

    — Paige, 9/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " this was fantastic summer reading. it breaks 500pgs, tho, and not enough closure for my taste.. but you can tell Harriet is just like Donna. "

    — Jerman, 9/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I'm anxiously awaiting more from Donna Tartt. A unique, engrossing literary voice. Can't put her books down! "

    — Eric, 8/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " The story kind of dragged on and really didn't end. Not my favorite read. "

    — Mary, 7/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Not nearly as good as The Secret History. "

    — Ela, 11/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I was really not so happy with this book. It was anti-climatic. I wanted more, I wanted a better ending. It was sort of a let-down. "

    — Julie, 10/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " How disappointing after the wonder of The Secret History. Deeply boring. Unsatisfying ending. "

    — Jac, 9/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Suffused w/phenomenal passages but ultimately underwhelming as a whole. "

    — Sam, 7/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Donna Tart delivers a great story about a young girl and her summer adventures. These adventures are a lot more adult than most 12 year old kids as she tries to make sense of the murder of her older brother several years earlier. I liked this book quite a lot. If only Donna Tart wrote more books! "

    — Brennan, 7/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is one that comes back and haunts you (in a good way) many years later, and then you go and read it again, not dissapointed. Terrific!!!! "

    — Zeeaapjae, 7/3/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Wonderful book that just kind of ends. But that's OK. "

    — Matthew, 6/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " The character of Harriett is worth reading this novel. Excellent character development and portrayal of this rebellious, yet insightful and deeply caring little girl. The onlly problem I had with the novel is that it ended abruptly; I felt like the story wasn't finished yet. "

    — Vicki, 5/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book has the kind of ending that just pisses me off. Can I get pass that anger to admit it was an enjoyable, well-written, thickly layered tale? Probably not. "

    — Zinna, 1/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A wonderful read, as good as her last, though I the ending didn't quite deliver in the way that I had hoped. But still, highly recommended. "

    — Chris, 12/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I am afraid I didnt like or understand it. "

    — Kagama-the, 10/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Another great read from Donna Tart. Her brilliant descriptive style sucks you in so you are with her characters every step of the way "

    — Jeanette, 5/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I read it all hoping for a bigger payback. There are many wonderful Southern gothic elements and the book seemed to promise a lot, but it didn't deliver. "

    — Adele, 4/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " What happened to this book? At the beginning it was great. Spooky, southern gothic in the style of Faulkner (a little). And then it became a book about a girl having a boring summer? But I could handle that even if the ending hadn't been so . . . existential? "

    — Joe, 4/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " This book badly needs a ruthless editor. The beginning was good, then I slogged through the rest because I was trapped on a plane, then I finished it because I was too close to the end not to. It's 20% plot and 80% logorrhea. "

    — Syzygous, 4/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good story but it's one of those that you want to throw across the room when you're done. "

    — Amanda, 3/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was an odd but compelling book. Very different from her first and yet engrossing. "

    — Kelly, 3/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I liked everything but the ending. "

    — Bridget, 3/11/2011

About Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt is the author of The Goldfinch, which was awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, as well as other major awards. Her novels The Secret History and The Little Friend have been translated into thirty languages. She was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, and is a graduate of Bennington College.

About Karen White

Karen White has been narrating audiobooks of all genres since 1999. Honored to be included in AudioFile’s Best Voices, she’s also a four-time Audie Finalist and has earned multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards and Library Journal starred reviews.