Perestroika in Paris Audiobook By Jane Smiley cover art

Perestroika in Paris

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Perestroika in Paris

By: Jane Smiley
Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

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

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres and the New York Times best-selling Last Hundred Years Trilogy, a captivating, brilliantly imaginative story of three extraordinary animals - and a young boy - whose lives intersect in Paris.

Paras, short for "Perestroika", is a spirited racehorse at a racetrack west of Paris. One afternoon at dusk, she finds the door of her stall open and - she's a curious filly - wanders all the way to the City of Light. She's dazzled and often mystified by the sights, sounds, and smells around her, but she isn't afraid. Soon she meets an elegant dog, a German shorthair pointer named Frida, who knows how to get by without attracting the attention of suspicious Parisians.

Paras and Frida coexist for a time in the city's lush green spaces, nourished by Frida's strategic trips to the vegetable market. They keep company with two irrepressible ducks and an opinionated raven. But then Paras meets a human boy, Etienne, and discovers a new, otherworldly part of Paris: the ivy-walled house where the boy and his nearly 100-year-old great-grandmother live in seclusion. As the cold weather and Christmas near, the unlikeliest of friendships bloom. But how long can a runaway horse stay undiscovered in Paris? How long can a boy keep her hidden and all to himself?

Jane Smiley's beguiling new novel is itself an adventure that celebrates curiosity, ingenuity, and the desire of all creatures for true love and freedom.

©2020 Jane Smiley (P)2020 Recorded Books
Animals Fairy Tales Family Life Fiction Fantasy Feel-Good Heartfelt France
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Perestroika in Paris

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    436
  • 4 Stars
    200
  • 3 Stars
    89
  • 2 Stars
    34
  • 1 Stars
    16
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    498
  • 4 Stars
    116
  • 3 Stars
    34
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    379
  • 4 Stars
    164
  • 3 Stars
    73
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    11

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

A perfect Christmas tale (tail)

A wonderful, beautifully written and read, story of loyalty and love, for all the family.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

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

Precious

With everything that is going on in the world, this was a welcome respite. Well written and performed enchantingly.

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

Charming!

A very cute story with memorable characters. Great for anyone who wants a light read.

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

DELIGHTFUL!

Loved it! Great and endearing story. The Reader is exceptional. I Highly recommend. Miss Paris!

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

If you love horses, dogs, ravens, rats and Paris

This is the book you’ve been looking for! You’ll make safe travel plans and get yourself to Paris to meet Jerome, Etienne and Anais. It’s been a long time since such a charming story has come along. I was sorry to have it end.

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

Enchanting

This is a beautiful, unusual story, read by a gifted narrator. The author has woven a perfect balance of wisdom, humor, sadness, reality, spirituality and fantasy—experienced by both the animal and human characters. It’s a gem.

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

Fun escapism of anthropomorphic life of animals!

Fun escapism of anthropomorphic life of animals!
The story is so much fun. Our main subject is of Perestroika the horse. But all the incidental humans show how humans are prevalent and many love animals. Perestroika makes friends with a dog Frida who is very intelligent, Raoul the raven, Sid and Nancy the ducks, and Kurt and Conrad the rats.
Each of the animals have their own stories and add to the tale but Paras and Frida are the main two.
The story concept sounds unbelievable that a horse could be lost and live in Paris unnoticed, but in fact while noticed by a few Jane Smiley weaves a very believable tale as to how.
Definitely recommend for animal lovers.

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

unusual characters!

ended up loving the unusual story though had some slow bits, great character development

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

A lovely book

This was just delightful. The story, narration, beginning to end, all of it was perfect. I can't recommend it enough. It lifted my spirits and warmed my heart.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

49 people found this helpful

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

Whimsical and sweet

A whimsical and sweet fairytale with a great cast of wide and varied characters, each with their own story to tell.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

22 people found this helpful