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  • Unless

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Carol Shields
  • Narrated by: Joan Allen
  • Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)

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Unless cover art

Unless

Written by: Carol Shields
Narrated by: Joan Allen
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Publisher's Summary

For all of her days, Reta Winters has enjoyed the useful monotony of happiness: a loving family, good friends, growing success as a writer of light fiction novels "for summertime". This placid existence cracks open one fearful day when her beloved oldest daughter, Norah, drops out of life to sit on a gritty street corner, silent but for the sign around her neck that reads "GOODNESS". Reta's search for what drove her daughter to such a desperate statement turns into an unflinching and surprisingly funny meditation on where we find meaning and hope.

Warmth, passion, and wisdom come together in Carol Shields' remarkably supple prose. Unless, a harrowing but ultimately consoling story of one family's anguish and healing, proves her mastery of extraordinary fictions about ordinary life.

©2002 Carol Shields (P)2002 HarperCollins Publishers

What the critics say

"A landmark book that constitutes yet another noteworthy addition to Shields's impressive body of work." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Unless

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Of Course

Loved this read. Nice twist near the end. Well populated. Nicely narrated. Hooray Carol Shields

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