Preview

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.

The Bird's Nest

By: Shirley Jackson, Kevin Wilson - foreword
Narrated by: Linda Jones, Mark Bramhall
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

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.

Publisher's summary

Shirley Jackson's third novel, a chilling descent into multiple personalities.

Elizabeth is a demure 23-year-old wiling her life away at a dull museum job, living with her neurotic aunt, and subsisting off her dead mother’s inheritance. When Elizabeth begins to suffer terrible migraines and backaches, her aunt takes her to the doctor, then to a psychiatrist. But slowly, and with Jackson’s characteristic chill, we learn that Elizabeth is not just one girl - but four separate, self-destructive personalities. The Bird’s Nest, Jackson’s third novel, develops hallmarks of the horror master’s most unsettling work: tormented heroines, riveting familial mysteries, and a disquieting vision inside the human mind.

For more than 70 years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers and listeners trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

©2014 Shirley Jackson (P)2022 Penguin Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Undeniably brilliant...superlative entertainment; much the best book Shirley Jackson has written." (New York Herald Tribune)

"Shirley Jackson's best novel...The Bird's Nest is brilliant, swift, at times immensely funny, and alternately frightening. Shirley Jackson's portrayal of a personality in disintegration is masterful." (Chicago Tribune)

What listeners say about The Bird's Nest

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    36
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    41
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    32
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4

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

Confounding, in a good way

I’ve seen some reviews of this book comparing it to other works of Shirley Jackson. This is a stand alone story, and as such I see no reason to compare it to the story of a burned out manor or to a haunted house. This book toys with mental health, as the others do, but in a more direct manor. The storytelling as done from multiple perspectives was great. It’s confusing enough that you don’t get all the answers you were searching for (because none of the storytellers really had all the answers on there own) but it explains enough for most questions to be answered, or at least inferred, satisfactorily enough. I anticipated answers every chapter, and I had to fight the urge to google search a synopsis of the story. I was surprised when it came to the end of the book, as it came so quickly. I was enthralled the entire time, and it’s made my day fly by. It will be added as a classic to my shelf, right next to the haunting of hill house, which is my favorite story of all. The birds nest has earned its position on this shelf

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

Skip the Foreward--Great Book

Foreward contained some spoilers--recommend skipping if you've never read the story. Really should've been an Afterward.

This book had some really strong moments. The author does a great job portraying the descent into madness. She employs a lot of techniques that serve to jar the reader and make you repeatedly rethink your assumptions.

Interesting & compelling characters. The voice actors were great. Especially impressed with the female reader's portrayal of multiple personalities.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

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

One of my favorites from Shirley Jackson

Fascinating story of multiple personalities. A complicated story beautifully wrought. The Bird’s Nest is a forerunner of The Three Faces of Eve.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

Loved this!

Shirley Jackson is one of a kind! I had never heard of this one before and I’m so glad I discovered it. The reader was also excellent.

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

Great audio version

I read The Bird’s Nest years ago, as a fan of Shirley Jackson, but it was never my favorite of her works. I loved it this time. It is really great as an audiobook. Both narrators captured/delivered Shirley Jackson’s humor in their portrayal of the doctor and aunt. It’s dated enough at this point to be a period piece by now, but the topics of mental illness and trauma are as relevant as ever.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

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

Classic Shirley Jackson!

Shirley Jackson writes beautifully even if it’s about mental illness and split personalities. It’s a long, slow burn so patience is required. But really good. Dual narrators are excelling and a perfect match to the characters.

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
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

No twist

This book dragged on for hours. The only character enjoyed was Mr Wright. I waited for a twist that never came…

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

RIVETING!!

Stephanie Harmon
September 2023

What a story!! I would so love to know what the main character is doing now. I feel somewhat protective of her.
Jackson’s narrative talent and skill are impeccable!! The book’s narrators are magnificent!!

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

Shirley Jackson's finest

I chose 5 stars because I couldn't put this one down . I listened ALL DAY while I was getting ready in the morning , while driving to work , while I was working , and when I was getting ready for bed at night .

You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

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

Shirley Jackson impresses me every time!

A gripping story and the narration was excellent! Shirley Jackson is one of the greatest writers of our time and I dare say this is one of her absolute best books.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!