Play Audiobook Sample
The Outlaw Album: Stories Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.03) - 1,548 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Twelve timeless Ozarkian tales of those on the fringes of society, by a "stunningly original" American master (Associated Press).
Daniel Woodrell is able to lend uncanny logic to harsh, even criminal behavior in this wrenching collection of stories. Desperation-both material and psychological -- motivates his characters. A husband cruelly avenges the killing of his wife's pet; an injured rapist is cared for by a young girl, until she reaches her breaking point; a disturbed veteran of Iraq is murdered for his erratic behavior; an outsider's house is set on fire by an angry neighbor.
There is also the tenderness and loyalty of the vulnerable in these stories -- between spouses, parents and children, siblings, and comrades in arms-which brings the troubled, sorely tested cast of characters to vivid, relatable life. And, as ever, "the music coming from Woodrell's banjo cannot be confused with the sounds of any other writer"-Donald Harington, Atlanta Journal Constitution
"Twelve timeless Ozarkian tales of those on the fringes of society, by a "stunningly original"-Associated Press, American master.
Download and start listening now!
"Southern Gothic fiction -- and I'm thinking now also of the stage play-cum-film "Killer Joe" -- is fascinating in part because it's so hard to tell if it is "good". As in, is it art/literary. (I would also add the qualification "moral" in the sense that John Gardner uses it.) If a book is beautifully written, as this is, or a movie beautifully directed and acted, as Killer Joe is, but is really just delicious nastiness without redemption... can it be high art? Dennis Lehane and GIllian Flynn, whom I'd consider literary thriller writers, also have some nasty pieces. If you can't discern the meaning of a text, is this a disservice to the reader? Does it count as meaning if the author intended the meaning to be obscured (the meaning is to look for meaning where there isn't any)? If I'm thinking about something and asking all these questions after reading it, is that its value? I suppose it's a matter of opinion, one that comes down to: are you entertained or at least intregued by translucently gleeful depictions of violence, as long as they are skillfully rendered? I can't deny that I am, and so I enjoyed The Outlaw Album."
— Kate (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
Woodrell's Old Testament prose and blunt vision have a chilly timelessness that suggests this novel will speak to readers as long as there are readers.
— David Bowman, The New York Times Book Review -
Despite the roughness of the content, Woodrell has a poet's sense of how to turn a phrase. . . . Seek him out now, throw down fifteen bucks, and bend your face to the page. You'll come away as I do--darkly changed, begging for another.
— Benjamin Percy, Esquire -
The lineage from Faulkner to Woodrell runs as deep and true as an Ozark stream in this book...his most profound and haunting work yet.
— Denise Hamilton, Los Angeles Times Book Review
Awards
-
A 2011 Kirkus Reviews Top 25 Book
-
A 2011 Guardian Best Book of the Year
The Outlaw Album Listener Reviews
-
" There's some dark material here. I liked the writing style but I don't think I'd like to have the author as a guest in my home. I expect he's moody. "
— Richard, 2/20/2014 -
" There's some dark material here. I liked the writing style but I don't think I'd like to have the author as a guest in my home. I expect he's moody. "
— Richard, 2/20/2014 -
" Not my favorite Woodrell, but I struggle with short stories. Very dark, some humor. "
— Jessica, 2/2/2014 -
" Not my favorite Woodrell, but I struggle with short stories. Very dark, some humor. "
— Jessica, 2/2/2014 -
" This is the best book I've read in a long time. I read the entire thing 3 times before giving it back to the lender. Daniel Woodrell writes in a way that makes you both love and fear him as a human being - which I enjoy. The Missouri/Ozark settings of these stories made it very interesting to me and one finds an accurate if not flattering portrait of the region. Heavy, dark and often sad - but truly great. "
— Lauren, 2/1/2014 -
" This is the best book I've read in a long time. I read the entire thing 3 times before giving it back to the lender. Daniel Woodrell writes in a way that makes you both love and fear him as a human being - which I enjoy. The Missouri/Ozark settings of these stories made it very interesting to me and one finds an accurate if not flattering portrait of the region. Heavy, dark and often sad - but truly great. "
— Lauren, 2/1/2014 -
" I loved Winter's Bone (and found it very authentic). But--and I say this as someone who grew up about twenty minutes from where these stories are set--the characters in this book did not ring true to me. The writing is lovely, but I don't believe it. "
— Gayla, 1/30/2014 -
" I loved Winter's Bone (and found it very authentic). But--and I say this as someone who grew up about twenty minutes from where these stories are set--the characters in this book did not ring true to me. The writing is lovely, but I don't believe it. "
— Gayla, 1/30/2014 -
" Southern Gothic fiction -- and I'm thinking now also of the stage play-cum-film "Killer Joe" -- is fascinating in part because it's so hard to tell if it is "good". As in, is it art/literary. (I would also add the qualification "moral" in the sense that John Gardner uses it.) If a book is beautifully written, as this is, or a movie beautifully directed and acted, as Killer Joe is, but is really just delicious nastiness without redemption... can it be high art? Dennis Lehane and GIllian Flynn, whom I'd consider literary thriller writers, also have some nasty pieces. If you can't discern the meaning of a text, is this a disservice to the reader? Does it count as meaning if the author intended the meaning to be obscured (the meaning is to look for meaning where there isn't any)? If I'm thinking about something and asking all these questions after reading it, is that its value? I suppose it's a matter of opinion, one that comes down to: are you entertained or at least intregued by translucently gleeful depictions of violence, as long as they are skillfully rendered? I can't deny that I am, and so I enjoyed The Outlaw Album. "
— Kate, 1/23/2014 -
" Powerful and well written though slightly samey stories set in the bleak rural landscapes of America, from the author of 'Winter's Bone' "
— Paul, 1/7/2014 -
" Powerful and well written though slightly samey stories set in the bleak rural landscapes of America, from the author of 'Winter's Bone' "
— Paul, 1/7/2014 -
" A spectacular book of short stories that are very emotional and engaging. His style is sharp and stinging and to the point, and the themes he touches upon - history, small town life, war - are fascinating. These are haunting tales, sad, redemptive, and human. I wanted to read more and more. "
— Spencer, 12/23/2013 -
" A spectacular book of short stories that are very emotional and engaging. His style is sharp and stinging and to the point, and the themes he touches upon - history, small town life, war - are fascinating. These are haunting tales, sad, redemptive, and human. I wanted to read more and more. "
— Spencer, 12/23/2013 -
" this book was written exactly for me. One of the best collections I've ever read. "
— Russ, 12/20/2013 -
" this book was written exactly for me. One of the best collections I've ever read. "
— Russ, 12/20/2013 -
" I have to admit, I didn't like all the stories. A couple near the end dragged a bit for me personally, but I'm still giving four stars because the majority were fantastic. Woodrell is amazing. This is only the second book of his I've read, and I can't wait to read more. "
— C., 12/3/2013 -
" I have to admit, I didn't like all the stories. A couple near the end dragged a bit for me personally, but I'm still giving four stars because the majority were fantastic. Woodrell is amazing. This is only the second book of his I've read, and I can't wait to read more. "
— C., 12/3/2013 -
" About halfway in, and all I can say is WOW at this time. Wrenching indeed. "
— patty, 11/3/2013 -
" About halfway in, and all I can say is WOW at this time. Wrenching indeed. "
— patty, 11/3/2013 -
" Terse, violent but not without haphazard poetry (like the people of the Ozarks they describe), these stories are a wonderful example of form tailored to subject. "
— Luke, 11/19/2012 -
" Terse, violent but not without haphazard poetry (like the people of the Ozarks they describe), these stories are a wonderful example of form tailored to subject. "
— Luke, 11/19/2012 -
" I am IN LOVE with the way this man writes. "
— Cait, 11/17/2012 -
" I am IN LOVE with the way this man writes. "
— Cait, 11/17/2012 -
" One of the best things I have ever read. Great stories, amazing writing, pure delight. "
— Ken, 10/16/2012 -
" One of the best things I have ever read. Great stories, amazing writing, pure delight. "
— Ken, 10/16/2012 -
" Good stuff, like a cross between Raymond Carver and Donald Ray Pollock, but not on a par with Winter's Bone, which I'm beginning to suspect was the distillation of everything he had to say and in which he said it all best, and Woe to Live On, which was just damn lyrical and lovely. "
— Kurt, 9/17/2012 -
" Good stuff, like a cross between Raymond Carver and Donald Ray Pollock, but not on a par with Winter's Bone, which I'm beginning to suspect was the distillation of everything he had to say and in which he said it all best, and Woe to Live On, which was just damn lyrical and lovely. "
— Kurt, 9/17/2012 -
" Disturbing, beautifully written, many sentences I wanted to read aloud. "
— Laura, 8/22/2012 -
" Disturbing, beautifully written, many sentences I wanted to read aloud. "
— Laura, 8/22/2012 -
" This is a brilliant series of dark, violent short stories from a remarkable writer. My only complaint - it's too short. Can't wait for his upcoming novel. "
— Michael, 12/14/2011 -
" This is a brilliant series of dark, violent short stories from a remarkable writer. My only complaint - it's too short. Can't wait for his upcoming novel. "
— Michael, 12/14/2011 -
" A wonderfully well written book. It is so well written you would think it was written by one of the great writers of all time. We may well be looking at one of the next all time greats. "
— Mark, 11/9/2011 -
" A wonderfully well written book. It is so well written you would think it was written by one of the great writers of all time. We may well be looking at one of the next all time greats. "
— Mark, 11/9/2011 -
" Daniel Woodrell. Easily the best American writer of the past 50 years. "
— Benjamin, 11/3/2011 -
" Daniel Woodrell. Easily the best American writer of the past 50 years. "
— Benjamin, 11/3/2011 -
" Not my favorite Woodrell, but I struggle with short stories. Very dark, some humor. "
— Jessica, 10/27/2011 -
" Not my favorite Woodrell, but I struggle with short stories. Very dark, some humor. "
— Jessica, 10/27/2011 -
" pulpy 'zarksploitation fables, uncomplicated, decent in small doses "
— Noah, 10/26/2011 -
" pulpy 'zarksploitation fables, uncomplicated, decent in small doses "
— Noah, 10/26/2011 -
" Excellent. Hard to put down (I read it practically all in one sitting). Plus, I learned that he's written like 8 novels already. That's a lot to look forward to! "
— Ian, 10/12/2011 -
" Excellent. Hard to put down (I read it practically all in one sitting). Plus, I learned that he's written like 8 novels already. That's a lot to look forward to! "
— Ian, 10/12/2011 -
" Don't think I'll plan to visit the Ozarks any time soon. "
— Mike, 10/10/2011 -
" Don't think I'll plan to visit the Ozarks any time soon. "
— Mike, 10/10/2011 -
" Really enjoyed this collection. in a word, gritty. "
— Maureen, 10/8/2011 -
" Really enjoyed this collection. in a word, gritty. "
— Maureen, 10/8/2011 -
" Uncle was my fave. Loved this book "
— Roxy, 9/28/2011 -
" Uncle was my fave. Loved this book "
— Roxy, 9/28/2011 -
" Really interesting! I like the series of short stories. They were all unique and I like the living outside the law concept they have. I think the story, The Echo of Neighborly Bones was my favorite just for the idea alone! Definately worth a read. "
— Pyxipyro, 9/6/2011 -
" Really interesting! I like the series of short stories. They were all unique and I like the living outside the law concept they have. I think the story, The Echo of Neighborly Bones was my favorite just for the idea alone! Definately worth a read. "
— Pyxipyro, 9/6/2011 -
" A wonderfully well written book. It is so well written you would think it was written by one of the great writers of all time. We may well be looking at one of the next all time greats. "
— Mark, 9/5/2011 -
" A wonderfully well written book. It is so well written you would think it was written by one of the great writers of all time. We may well be looking at one of the next all time greats. "
— Mark, 9/5/2011
About Daniel Woodrell
Daniel Woodrell lives in the Missouri Ozarks near the Arkansas state line. His five most recent novels were selected as New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and Tomato Red won the PEN West Award for the Novel. Two novels have been adapted as major motion pictures: Woe to Live On, filmed in 1999 by Ang Lee as Ride with the Devil, starring Tobey Maguire and Skeet Ulrich, and Winter’s Bone, a 2010 film accepted to the US dramatic competition category at the Sundance Film Festival.
About the Narrators
Leslie Bellair is a voice-over artist, stage and film actor, trained singer, and certified speech-language pathologist. Her voice can be heard on the iPhone application “Diss Crazy!,” the online game “Back to the Cubeture 2,” various audio books published for Audible, Inc., Carina Press, and Oxford Press, as well as the short animated Christmas movie An Elf’s Story. Her professional musical theater work in the Atlanta area has greatly contributed to the characterizations and versatility she brings to the voice-over mic.
Brian Troxell is an audiobook narrator and Atlanta-based actor and voice talent who can be seen and heard on television, film, radio, podcasts, and the live stage. He is a regular cast member of the Sketchworks sketch comedy troupe and performs regularly with the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company. He can also be heard as a cast member of the Harry Strange Radio Drama.