Abide with Me Audiobook By Elizabeth Strout cover art

Abide with Me

A Novel

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Abide with Me

By: Elizabeth Strout
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Olive Kitteridge and My Name is Lucy Barton comes a “deeply moving” (The Washington Post) novel that “confirms Strout as the possessor of an irresistibly companionable, peculiarly American voice” (The Atlantic Monthly).

In the late 1950s, in a small New England town, Reverend Tyler Caskey has suffered a terrible loss and finds it hard to be the person he once was. He struggles to find the right words in his sermons and in his conversations with those facing crises of their own, and to bring his five-year-old daughter, Katherine, out of the silence she has observed in the wake of the family’s tragedy. Tyler’s usually patient and kind congregation now questions his leadership and propriety, and accusations are born out of anger and gossip. Then, in Tyler’s darkest hour, a startling discovery will test his parish’s humanity—and his own will to endure the trials that sooner or later test us all.

©2006 Elizabeth Strout (P)2006 Books on Tape
Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Heartfelt
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Strout has crafted a harrowing meditation of exile on Main Street." (Publishers Weekly)

“Superb . . . a shimmering tale of loss, faith, and human fallibility.” (O: The Oprah Magazine)

What listeners say about Abide with Me

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    374
  • 4 Stars
    157
  • 3 Stars
    85
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    13
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    385
  • 4 Stars
    105
  • 3 Stars
    37
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    317
  • 4 Stars
    136
  • 3 Stars
    62
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    12

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Small Town

This book is wonderful. If you have ever lived in a small community or have been a member of a small church this book rings true. The damage caused by gossip and innuendo can be devastating, The love and compassion found in these communities can be healing. Strout is one of my favorite authors, and she does not disappoint in this book. The narration is perfect.






Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Amazing

Heart warming and insightful, Elizabeth’s Strout’s character development is so layered and deep. This is one of her best books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Terrible narrator for this book. I am sure she does well with other writers

As usual with this author, the characters are quite unlikable until the very end. She has a keen sense of human frailty and jealousy. Tin the end, however, all is well. Narration was abysmal

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Quietly unassuming

Would you listen to Abide with Me again? Why?

I would listen to it again. It is a beautiful quiet portrayal about ordinary people in a small town, wrestling with real life issues like gossip and infidelity and grief. It hits you with its subtlety and does not let go.

Which character – as performed by Bernadette Dunne – was your favorite?

I liked the portrayal of Tyler, the minister. He wrestled with his faith and his calling, and Bernadette Dunne portrayed him well.

Any additional comments?

I normally don't like books of this type - a bit meandering with no BIG events... but Elizabeth Strout and Bernadette Dunne both did a great job and kept me hooked.

The only real downside to Bernadette Dunne's performance is that in narrative portions she would occasionally slip into a New England accent without warning. It was a bit confusing and distracting.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It is neither particularly deep nor particularly shallow, and all characters show growth in some way. I will read more of Elizabeth Strout's books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant writing

It takes a powerful writer to render the ordinariness of our lives in such an engaging manner. Tyler Kasky is a good man who is shown to be so fully human, so vulnerable, yet so strong. Grief does not always make us stronger; it can break an individual. To live, to go on, is a choice. I love Strouts' writing and look forward to enjoying more of her books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Seemed a bit underwhelming

Was waiting for something to move the plot along. Could have made the basis of a good read. I’m still a fan and will continue to read and recommend her books 😊

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant, one of the best every

What did you love best about Abide with Me?

I can't begin to say enough about how wonderful Elizabeth Strout is as a writer and how well done two of her audiobooks have been. Olive Kitteridge and Abide With Me will stand out in my list of top favorites forever!!!

This is first class all the way.

Any additional comments?

I urge everyone to get this book and, in fact, any book by Elizabeth Strout.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Almost gave up, glad I hung in.Satisfying ending.

Depressing 2/3 of the way through. The last two chapters were worth the work!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just a very good story.

This is such a joy to listen to. The narrator is excellent and Strout has written a gem. I’m not a religious person by any means but the way Strout touches the human spirit in this book, she is reaches out to us all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful !

Elizabeth Strout is always good but I think this might be her
best . Excellent narration. Very moving story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!