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Limberlost

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Limberlost

By: Robbie Arnott
Narrated by: Zoe Carides
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About this listen

The third novel by the award-winning author of Flames and The Rain Heron, Limberlost is an extraordinary chronicle of life and land: of carnage and kindness, blood ties and love.

Ned West dreams of sailing across the river on a boat of his very own. To Ned, a boat means freedom – the fresh open water, squid-rich reefs, fires on private beaches – a far cry from life on Limberlost, the family farm, where his father worries and grieves for Ned's older brothers. They're away fighting in a ruthless and distant war, becoming men on the battlefield, while Ned – too young to enlist – roams the land in search of rabbits to shoot, selling their pelts to fund his secret boat ambitions.

But as the seasons pass and Ned grows up, real life gets in the way. Ned falls for Callie, the tough, capable sister of his best friend, and together they learn the lessons of love, loss, and hardship. When a storm decimates the Limberlost crop and shakes the orchard's future, Ned must decide what to protect: his childhood dreams, or the people and the land that surround him…

At turns tender and vicious, Limberlost is a tale of the masculinities we inherit, the limits of ownership and understanding, and the teeming, vibrant wonders of growing up. In the folkloric spirit of Max Porter's Lanny, Julia Armfield's Salt Slow and Paul Kingsnorth's Beast, this is an unforgettable love letter to the richness of the natural world from a writer of rare, spellbinding talent.

‘A strange and joyous marvel.' RICHARD FLANAGAN on Flames

‘Arnott's eco-fable, set in a politically broken near future, explores the constant push-pull that exists between our capacity for enchantment and our need to exploit what we find…It's sad and satisfying.' THE TIMES on The Rain Heron

©2022 Robbie Arnott (P)2022 Wavesound from W. F. Howes Ltd
Coming of Age Fiction Historical Fiction Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Dream Tear-jerking Transportation

What listeners say about Limberlost

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Loved it.

The slow start but just got better and better. Not sure why it was read by a female narrator, but loved it all the same. Beautifully written Australian landscape & country characters.

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An endearing story

The story was well written with interwoven aspects which gave depth and texture to Ned’s life. These aspects, such as the quoll, the huon pine boat, provided long metaphors for life and how to deal with adversity.

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A beautiful book

I loved the language, the tone and the characters- a joy to listen to. The narrator had a calm and careful delivery style which was entirely consistent with the story.

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A new Australian classic?

A beautifully written novel set mostly in Tasmania, Australia, which kept me completely engaged until the very last scene. Robbie Arnott’s turn of phrase is often exquisite, the novel’s pace and structure almost seamless and Zoe Carides’ performance adds unexpected value to the experience. One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year … perhaps a new Australian classic?

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Beautiful and so moving

What a beautiful read . It developed gently and in an expertly understated way but by the end I was so emotionally engaged i was left with a very full heart. Loved it!

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The real Tasmania

Loved this book, it brought back wonderful memorys of growing up in the undeveloped bush of a beautiful haunting place. Every child should have such freedom

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Beautifully written story - uniquely Tasmanian ❤️

Well narrated by Australian actress Zoe Carides. Story relatable and brought to life the character and setting 🙌🏻

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Laconic Australian story

I loved the story with Ned so many experienced for young life was trulr enamoured with the life of a family who cared for each other and their life on Limberlost

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Was a bit slow to start then I fell in love with it

Slow to start but then it hooked me. Beautifully written. Beautiful imagery and emotions.
Coming full circle with its ending.

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Literary fiction at its finest

Reminiscent of the bond between man and land in Lorna Doone or so many literary classics of a bygone era, Robbie weaves a delightful narration with authentic characters in an emotive story. We are immersed in a flora and fauna so beautifully captured. A joy to listen to spoken by a skilled narrator

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.