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The Audlib Project

Written by: Gil Adamson, David Bergen, Emily St. John Mandel, Shani Mootoo, Souvankham Thammavongsa
Narrated by: Gil Adamson, David Bergen, Emily St. John Mandel, Shani Mootoo, Souvankham Thammavongsa

Publisher's Summary

We asked five celebrated Canadian storytellers to explore home, as inspired by the creativity of their nominated work. They responded with an audio experience unlike any other, weaving together the lives and shared experiences of neighbours in an apartment building in Canada.

A single rose bush in a courtyard serves as the centerpiece for a sequence of stories of vastly different lives with unexpected connections. A young girl dares to test her limits of safety, a woman is pained by a tragic loss and the stigma she now carries because of it, and a neighbour wishes for connection and understanding in a deeply divided time. An expat yearns to be closer to her treasured family members, and a café owner grapples with the changes that gradually eat away at her in small but significant ways. 

The five finalists of the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize were tasked with creating an original story linked through a shared environment: a building with windows overlooking a rose bush in a communal courtyard. Each author was asked to write a brief section of the story and then pass the work along to a fellow finalist, who would then complete their section and pass the story along again. 

In celebration of the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize finalists, Audible is illuminating the art of storytelling with a unique work, The Audlib Project. This Audible Original is an ad-lib collaborative short story, written collectively by all of the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize finalists: Gil Adamson (Ridgerunner), David Bergen (Here the Dark), Shani Mootoo (Polar Vortex), Emily St. John Mandel (The Glass Hotel), and Souvankham Thammavongsa (How to Pronounce Knife).

The Giller Prize, founded by Jack Rabinovitch in 1994, highlights the very best in Canadian fiction year after year. In 2005, the prize teamed up with Scotiabank, who increased the winnings four-fold. Audible has been the exclusive audiobook sponsor since 2017 and is committed to supporting talented Canadian authors and creators.

©2020 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC

Featured Article: Outstanding Female Authors Everyone Ought to Listen to


Throughout history, women have crafted some of the most incredible and beloved stories in the world. From rising stars to household names, female authors have contributed some of the best works of all time for our listening pleasure. At times, especially in societies where gender roles and expectations were rigidly defined, women would write under pen names to avoid the fact that a woman was behind the work. Discover the best female authors.

The Making of an Audlib

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  • 2021-08-19

Interesting story.

i liked the development of the characters from each of the authors. Well done everyone!

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a good short listen

excellent and original - good to hear authors reading their own work. Bravo Audible

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Tales of living in Covid lockdown

Short stories, all interrelated, of people living during the Covid lockdown. Some are sad, others wistful, some are more impactful than others. Interesting short listen.

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Totally unique

I wasn't sure what to expect after reading the summary, but I was most impressed at the clever way this presentation was put together. The way the story wove between the characters and the story line was fascinating. Each voice brought a new dimension. It was almost like watching a play. Absolutely loved it !! I hope more of this kind of presentation will be considered..

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really appreciated hearing this

It was my first day with the app, and I felt a little lost, maybe even overwhelmed. I didn't know where to start. So I went right for Emily St.John Mandel. This short story was the only book that didn't need one of the shiny precious medallions that we must be careful with each month. I was so impressed to have heard this; the idea of the authors crafting and intertwining their works was done flawlessly; it just flowed. I was very touched; many of the shared experiences I found myself identifying as if it was a page from my COVID stories.

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