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The Winter Vault Audiobook
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(3.02) - 953 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In 1964, a newly married Canadian couple settle into a houseboat on the Nile just below Abu Simbel. Avery is one of the engineers responsible for the dismantling and reconstruction of the temple, a "machine-worshipper" who is nonetheless sensitive to their destructive power. Jean is a botanist by vocation, passionately interested in everything that grows. They met on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, witnessing the construction of the Seaway as it swallowed towns, homes, and lives. Now, at the edge of another world about to be inundated, they create their own world, exchanging "the innocent memories we don't know we hold until given the gift of the eagerness of another."
But when tragedy strikes, they return to separate lives in Toronto: Avery to school to study architecture; and Jean into the orbit of Lucjan, a Polish émigré artist whose haunting tales of occupied Warsaw pull her further from Avery but offer her the chance to assume her most essential life.
Stunning in its explorations of both the physical and emotional worlds of its characters, intensely moving and lyrical, The Winter Vault is a radiant work of fiction.
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"I had the strange impression that this piece of writing was sculpted patiently out of a huge block of stone just as the giant statues of the pharaohs were sculpted in the Nubian desert. I felt that there were many more bits of writing that had been chipped away and discarded and what we were left with was the pared down shape which Michaels had carefully sculpted for us. I was fascinated by the engineering details relating to dam construction and the impact of man-made lakes on local communities. Michaels linked this theme of destruction of entire communities to the invasion of Poland by the Germans and the Russians but that part worked less well for me."
— Fionnuala (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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Exquisite.... A tender love story set against an intriguing bit of history is handled with uncommon skill.
— Publishers Weekly Starred Review -
“Profound loss, desolation and rebuilding are the literal and metaphoric themes of Michaels’s exquisite second novel…A tender love story set against an intriguing bit of history is handled with uncommon skill.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Winter Vault Listener Reviews
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" I'd give at least 4 stars to the first half of the book - I loved the commentary on place and loss. The second half of the book just didn't work for me. I got tired of the heavy language and found Lucjan an unbelievable and slightly annoying character. The review at Quill and Quire sums the book up perfectly. "
— KatherineJ, 2/16/2014 -
" Such a moving story - written will little joy but lots of deep feeling. The writing was beautiful. "
— Tamara, 2/9/2014 -
" Stunning prose that is clearly that of a poet. I really liked the characters but the plot fractured towards the end in a way that I didn't feel the writer built up to enough. Definitely worth reading if only for that beautiful prose. "
— Lauren, 2/8/2014 -
" An exploration of personal loss and universal devastation _ and how we carry within ourselves a secret place where we store our sorrows until the world around us thaws sufficiently for us to bury them. Brilliant. "
— Carlene, 1/31/2014 -
" very poetic; great read in small chunks; especially like references to St. Lawrence Seaway & plants "
— Martha, 1/26/2014 -
" Another beautiful book by the award winning author of Fugitive Pieces. Although there is not much plot, or even story, the characters are so haunting, and the setting are so vivid. Michaels is a poet, and her powers of description are incredible. It took me a long time to read this novel because I kept stopping to reread passages, then read then out loud to my poor DH! "
— Ruthie, 1/21/2014 -
" This looked like it would be a good book, but I found it so very boring, that I only made it to page 110. Much of the writing was lyrical but I had trouble following the story and often couldn't tell who was talking. Maybe I've too much going on now or too many other books to read, but ugh! "
— Kathy, 1/15/2014 -
" Anne Michaels is a poetic and descriptive writer. She seems to understand the interior of the human heart like Frank Gehry understands architecture. "
— Andrea, 10/14/2013 -
" Fascinating book for me as I had just visited Egypt. Story is about a Canadian couple who travel to Egypt as the husband is working on the moving of Abu Simbal. Story of a couple as they grow apart. "
— Linda, 10/11/2013 -
" Moments of genius in this book. Really I'd give it about 3.75 stars because there were moments it lost me. That said I could not get into the first book at all which lead me to this one. Sorry to say. Pretty okay for me. "
— Ellen, 10/11/2013 -
" Interesting book relating to "man's" sense of place. Slow placed and thought provoking. "
— Fibrelady, 10/2/2013 -
" can't remember much about this book---poetry like prose. Read fo a book club. "
— Brenda, 7/30/2013 -
" a disappointing and difficult read about a Canadian couple who alter land to move water and in this and their personal lives are always dealing with great loss. "
— Louise, 7/23/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this story, I love Anne Michaels writing style, each paragraph a vignette. I found this story was like a whisper, I needed quite, I needed to concentrate on the voices, to hear the story being told. I will read it again. "
— Samantha, 3/27/2013 -
" What an amazing read!!! I loved the fact that some parts were based in Montreal and Toronto I always find that heart warming, to be able to identify with a specific place. The details were incredible I almost felt like I was in egypt as they were there.... "
— Elenio, 2/19/2013 -
" Easily one of the most lyrically crafted works I've read this decade. Stunning. "
— Danae, 2/12/2013 -
" i loved the writing, but found it hard to engage with the storyline. "
— Kari, 2/23/2012 -
" Ok, tried and tried to get through this book. Almost quit at page 70 but plugged away for another 50 pages. Not enough dialogue for me. Too much stuff that I really didn't care for. Other people have commented on reading a few pages and then "reflecting". I just want to read a good page turner. "
— Evelyn, 2/15/2012 -
" Very deep, thought provoking novel about love, loss, forgiveness. I have to admit I was scared of reading the end of the book, the topic that was being discussed was very haunting, but in the end, it was a remarkable read, not for the faint of heart for sure. "
— Serendipitous, 10/4/2011 -
" Compelling and beautifully written. Leaves the reader with much to think about. "
— Linda, 9/17/2011 -
" Worth waiting 10 years for - my God this woman can write. "
— Nadine, 9/3/2011 -
" i loved the writing, but found it hard to engage with the storyline. "
— Kari, 5/21/2011 -
" very poetic; great read in small chunks; especially like references to St. Lawrence Seaway & plants "
— Martha, 4/27/2011 -
" 2009 Giller Short list. Well written with an intriguing story of love and loss. All of the short listed books were well worth the read. "
— Greg, 4/13/2011 -
" Beautiful poetic prose. I will reread this treasure "
— Lauren, 4/3/2011 -
" Good holiday read about life in Egypt. "
— Rosemary, 1/28/2011 -
" Perhaps the most beautiful book I've ever read... "
— Meara, 12/12/2010
About Anne Michaels
Anne Michaels is an author whose books have won dozens of international awards, including the Orange Prize for Fiction, the Guardian Fiction Prize, and the Lannan Literary Award for Fiction, and have been short-listed for many other major awards. Her novel Fugitive Pieces was adapted into a feature film. From 2015 to 2019, she was Toronto’s poet laureate. She lives in Canada
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.