Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Grief Is the Thing with Feathers

  • By: Max Porter
  • Narrated by: Jot Davies
  • Length: 1 hr and 43 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (444 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Grief Is the Thing with Feathers

By: Max Porter
Narrated by: Jot Davies
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

In a London flat, two young boys face the unbearable sadness of their mother's sudden death. Their father, a Ted Hughes scholar and scruffy romantic, imagines a future of well-meaning visitors and emptiness.

In this moment of despair they are visited by Crow - antagonist, trickster, healer, babysitter. This sentimental bird is drawn to the grieving family and threatens to stay until they no longer need him.

As weeks turn to months and the pain of loss gives way to memories, the little unit of three starts to heal.

In this extraordinary debut - part novella, part polyphonic fable, part essay on grief - Max Porter's compassion and bravura style combine to dazzling effect. Full of unexpected humour and profound emotional truth, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers marks the arrival of a thrilling new talent.

©2015 Max Porter (P)2016 Audible, Ltd
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Wacky Man cover art
Crow cover art
In the Eyes of Mr Fury cover art
Calamity cover art
The Days of Elijah cover art
Jane Eyre cover art
When God Was a Rabbit cover art
The Big Sea cover art
The Covenant of Water cover art
Jellyfish cover art
Crow cover art
I Found My Tribe cover art
She Would Be King cover art

Critic reviews

"An agile, life-affirming account of mourning." ( Sunday Times)
"Utterly astonishing. Truly, truly remarkable." (Nathan Filer)
"A blast and a breeze and, strangely, a delight." (Jonathan Gibbs, Independent)

What listeners say about Grief Is the Thing with Feathers

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    267
  • 4 Stars
    105
  • 3 Stars
    45
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    303
  • 4 Stars
    52
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    219
  • 4 Stars
    90
  • 3 Stars
    53
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 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

A Study of Grief

I was at first unsure on whether to get the audiobook because I didn't know if this book could be read aloud in a way that fit. I can safely say now, it's perfect.
The book itself is a masterpiece. A monumental study of grief, family and all things Crow. Any fan of Ted Hughes will love Max Porter. Any fan of a good book will love this. Go Crow!

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
    3 out of 5 stars

Unsure

Brilliantly narrated and I liked the style, but I finished the book undecided about whether I liked it or not. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed reading it -- I think the narration brought it to life effectively.

While I think it is perhaps an acquired taste / you need to be in the mood for listening, I would recommend giving it a go.

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
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

interesting, mixed feelings

took me time to get into the crow pieces. got better with listening. appreciation if Yed Hughes a distinct advantage.

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

very experiment style

I am ambivalent, the concept and story was good, the performance as well but I just couldn't focus and follow with enthusiasm.

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
    3 out of 5 stars

It was so beautifully written

So emotional and uplifting at the same time. I cried and laughed throughout this beautiful book

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
    4 out of 5 stars

Processing Grief

The narrator brought the book more alive than when I tried to read it. It is just over three years since my mum died, and this novel resonated more with me through oration than reading. The crow is a tough character to get your head around; perhaps that's the point.

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

I needed to hear this

After losing my Mum recently, I needed to hear about the comedy, the frustrations, the quiet but deep sadness, and the twists and turns of someone else's loss...just to check-in on how I'm doing myself... I've saved it to hear it again a year from now. It's beautifully written and rings genuine.

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

tender and beautiful

this is gut punchingly beautiful. Unless you don't mind crying in public, listen to this at home.
Very poetic narration with the perfect pace and pauses.

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

Blimey!

This is both heartbreaking and hilarious. And really rings true... thank you very much Max Porter

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

sublime

if you've ever suffered from grief or loss this story will speak to your soul

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!