The Whores Child: Stories Audiobook, by Richard Russo Play Audiobook Sample

The Whore's Child: Stories Audiobook

The Whores Child: Stories Audiobook, by Richard Russo Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Various , various narrators Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.50 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.38 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780307967428

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

71

Longest Chapter Length:

09:27 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

24 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

05:43 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

16

Other Audiobooks Written by Richard Russo: > View All...

Publisher Description

To this irresistible debut collection of short stories, Richard Russo brings the same bittersweet wit, deep knowledge of human nature, and spellbinding narrative gifts that distinguish his best-selling novels. His themes are the imperfect bargains of marriage; the discoveries and disillusionments of childhood;the unwinnable battles men and women insist on fighting with the past. A cynical Hollywood moviemaker confronts his dead wife’s lover and abruptly realizes the depth of his own passion. As his parents’ marriage disintegrates, a precocious fifth-grader distracts himself with meditations on baseball, spaghetti, and his place in the universe. And in the title story, an elderly nun enters a college creative writing class and plays havoc with its tidy notions of fact and fiction. The Whore’s Child is further proof that Russo is one of the finest writers we have, unsparingly truthful yet hugely compassionate. “The Whore’s Child,” read by Mark Bramhall “Monhegan Light,” read by Robertson Dean “The Farther You Go,” read by Arthur Morey “Joy Ride,” read by Lincoln Hoppe “Buoyancy,” read by Stefan Rudnicki “Poison,” read by Fred Sanders “The Mysteries of Linwood Hart,” read by John Rubinstein

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"I zipped through this book of stories and I like the Russo I find here. Better than the last two novels, for sure. Much more like Empire Falls and Straight Man, with some of the same characters from those books reappearing. Though not all the stories gripped me, the collection as a whole is even. Really liked the title tale and Poison especially. One thing I'll say about Russo: the man knows how to finish. So many writers don't know how to stop, but Russo always gives good climax."

— Deidre (4 out of 5 stars)

The Whore's Child Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.65714285714286 out of 53.65714285714286 out of 53.65714285714286 out of 53.65714285714286 out of 53.65714285714286 out of 5 (3.66)
5 Stars: 8
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 14
2 Stars: 3
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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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
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Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a good read; ordinarily, I don't enjoy short stories, but this author never disappoints. "

    — Barbara, 2/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A collection of five short stories written by Richard Russo--I enjoyed reading those although a majority of them are told from the kind of annoying perspective of middle-aged men who are at odds with aspects of their life. I mean, who isn't, right? But still--it was often hard to be empathetic. Maybe my own fatal flaw that I have to like the characters to like the book... "

    — Megan, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Richard Russo is the great author of Empire Falls, but everything else I've read from him has fallen short. Some of these stories are worthwhile, but most were about the same thing: a 50 year old man, his wife or his ex-wife, his children, his sexual thoughts, taking a trip...most are writers or professors. Most of the stories are about Richard Russo. That can get tiresome. I was going to read highly acclaimed Bridge of Sighs by him, but that was his last chance with me. He could never top Empire Falls, sorry, but not everyone writes even one masterpiece in his life. "

    — Sunny, 2/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A good collection of short stories. "

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

    " Short stoy collection was good, but I miss the in-depth I get from his novels. All stories were well crafted and well told. I like the simplicity-- the story's revolve on characters, not plot. Stories were: The Whore's Child, Monhegan Light, The Farther You Go, Joy Ride, Buoyancy, Poison and The Mysteries of Linwood Hart "

    — Jessica, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " These are short stories by the well known author, Richard Ruso whose full length stories I have enjoyed. But the stories do not have fully drawn characters---a fault of using the short story for what might have been a good tale. "

    — Tinytextiles, 1/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Um, I learned a lot about middle-aged men dating younger women and being writers. "

    — Christine, 1/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Wonderful wonderful stories. Beautiful moments. Yes, yes and yes. "

    — Bridgit, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Nice collection of short stories. I'd read anything this author writes. "

    — Doneen, 1/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A great collection of short stories and wonderful characters. "

    — Laurel, 12/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A book of short stories. I really enjoyed most all of the stories. I have read several books by Richard Russo and enjoyed all of them. I suggest you give it a try. "

    — Karla, 12/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Short stories. If this is an accurate sampling of Russo's writing style, I'll read more. "

    — Sally, 11/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " One of my first book of short stories.Very interesting (my favorite review, haha). Need to try his pulitzer prize winner Empire Falls... "

    — Amanda, 11/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoyed the title story and the last one, "The Mysteries of Linwood Hart", the best. The middle stories were all very similar in tone and setting and even now are beginning to blur together for me. "

    — Elaine, 11/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The best part of Richard Russo is knowing that when I was a young boy he made that movie Nobody's Fool with Melanie Griffith (while still hot). "

    — Steven, 7/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I love Richard Russo, but this book was not so generous to the humans as his others... nor as funny. "

    — Peter, 5/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " The first short story in this book was awesome, the rest...not so much. "

    — Maria, 4/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I have to say that I like his novels better. I don't see the humor (dark as it is) in the short stories that I do in the novels and I don't feel very attached to the characters. Overall, not a bad read, but not an essential one either. "

    — rinabeana, 3/5/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is what short stories should be. "

    — Kim, 2/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " there are some perfect stories in here. perfect... "

    — Laureen, 11/26/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " My first experience reading Richard Russo. I enjoyed this collection enough to read the whole thing in one sitting, but not enough for any of the stories--with the exception of "Monhegan Light"-- to stick out in my mind the next day. "

    — jtabz, 9/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The story "The Whore's Child" is worth the price of admission alone. Reminds me of "Our Lady's Tumbler," but the nun in this case is something of a Cinderella, with the shoe of the ugly sister on her foot, wrong side, bloody as the original Grimm's fairy tale had it. "

    — Al, 5/27/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " a collection of short stories the first story which is the title of the book was my favorite of the book. "

    — Dody, 3/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Short stories at their best! I am always amazed at the insight of Richard Russo. He turns a simple subject into a subtle lesson. Wonderful reading. "

    — Jemathomp, 12/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A brilliant collection of short fiction. Many of the stories here are expanded into his published novels. It is interesting to see how an idea begins knowing how it later evolves. "

    — Yeti, 12/10/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I fucking hated Empire Falls, I don't care what any of you say, but I loved this book. And I don't even like short stories. "

    — Emily, 11/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The story "The Whore's Child" is worth the price of admission alone. Reminds me of "Our Lady's Tumbler," but the nun in this case is something of a Cinderella, with the shoe of the ugly sister on her foot, wrong side, bloody as the original Grimm's fairy tale had it. "

    — Al, 9/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A nice, thematically-linked collection though Russo does better within the space of a novel where he can more fully develop his characters. Most center on facing maturity (50s not 20s!), marriage, and paradox of knowing/not knowing someone (especially a spouse). "

    — Josie, 7/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a good read; ordinarily, I don't enjoy short stories, but this author never disappoints. "

    — Barbara, 5/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I thought it was okay while I was reading it. Enjoyed it much more when my friends discussed it at Book Club and made me think about each story. "

    — Jane, 4/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " liked it enough to read some of his other books "

    — Laurie, 3/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A good collection of short stories. "

    — Sandy, 1/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Absolutely stunning collection of stories. I had the pleasure of seeing Russo read once, and he's great at that, too. "

    — James, 12/9/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A great collection of short stories and wonderful characters. "

    — Laurel, 11/7/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is what short stories should be. "

    — Kim, 10/1/2010

About Richard Russo

Richard Russo is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, two collections of stories, and the memoir Elsewhere. In 2002 he received the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls, which, like Nobody’s Fool, won multiple awards for its screen adaptation, and in 2023 his novel Straight Man was adapted into the television series Lucky Hank. In 2017, he received France’s Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine.

About the Narrators

Fred Sanders, an actor and Earphones Award–winning narrator, has received critics’ praise for his audio narrations that range from nonfiction, memoir, and fiction to mystery and suspense. He been seen on Broadway in The Buddy Holly Story, in national tours for Driving Miss Daisy and Big River, and on such television shows as Seinfeld, The West Wing, Will and Grace, Numb3rs,Titus, and Malcolm in the Middle. His films include Sea of Love, The Shadow, and the Oscar-nominated short Culture. He is a native New Yorker and Yale graduate.

James Langton, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.