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And the Birds Rained Down

By: Jocelyne Saucier, Rhonda Mullins - translator
Narrated by: Ann Noble, Kathleen Gati, Kimberly Farr, Bo Foxworth, Robertson Dean
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Publisher's summary

Tom and Charlie are living out what's left of their lives on their own terms in a remote forest, two pot growers their only connection to the outside world. But then two women arrive - a photographer on the trail of survivors of a decades-ago forest fire and an elderly escapee from a psychiatric institution - and everything changes.

And the Birds Rained Down, the recipient of several prizes, is a haunting meditation on aging and self-determination.

Please note: The French version came before the English translation.

©2011 Jocelyne Saucier, © 2012 Rhonda Mullins, English Translation. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
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Editorial reviews

An entire cast of performers was assembled to bring this hushed novel to rich audiobook life. Five distinct voices represent different characters, making perspective shifts easy to follow and compelling, arguably beyond what reading this book would accomplish. The novel is the first Canadian novel to win France’s prestigious Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie award.

A young, female photographer arrives in a remote Canadian forest in search of a long-missing person. She finds two old men, octogenarians, living out a dream of freedom, and an old woman living out the freedom of a dream. In short bursts of beautiful, contemplative prose, French-Canadian author Jocelyne Saucier offers the listener an interior journey informed by its exterior setting: light, shade, trees, cold, death...

What listeners say about And the Birds Rained Down

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Magical and raw, compassionate and compelling

This narrator illuminated Jocelyne Saucier's exquisite tale about individuals who have the courage to make their own choices on how to live and die. An important story, pulling on the threads that comprise the fabric of the Canadian experience. It explores the healing strength of living simply close to wilderness to iced by love. This is a novel that pushes against barriers and gently sets them aside to embrace a satisfying way of life. The tale is told in sparse, precise yet poetically beautiful prose.

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Not for someone like me?

I started to think that this book was not for someone like me and that I would not like it very much. Eventually the characters came to life and the way that I had not anticipated.

I am grateful to have experienced this transformation in my own thinking.

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Unique

I'm always searching for a unique story. One that is interesting to listen to and somewhat, even loosely based on history. Not predictable or keen to upset or thrill. This is that story. Sad at times but the characters are wonderful and I enjoyed it very much.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Slow at first but finishes as a beautiful story!

Don’t let the slow start stop you! You’ll enjoy this story of peace, love and living by your own terms!

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Excellent

Surprising, well written, compelling. Will chew on this book for awhile. Well narrated, well written.

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Beautiful!

The characters, story, narration--I really enjoyed everything about this book. Humor and beauty, compelling characters, interesting history and vivid description of an unusual setting make this well worth the listen.

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I heard it.

I struggled to finish. Terrible story about old age and death. Disjointed and no sensible plot.

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