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  • Virgil Wander

  • Written by: Leif Enger
  • Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
  • Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)

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Virgil Wander

Written by: Leif Enger
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
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Publisher's Summary

The first novel in 10 years from award-winning, million-copy best-selling author Leif Enger, Virgil Wander is an enchanting and timeless all-American story that follows the inhabitants of a small Midwestern town in their quest to revive its flagging heart.

Midwestern movie house owner Virgil Wander is "cruising along at medium altitude" when his car flies off the road into icy Lake Superior. Virgil survives, but his language and memory are altered, and he emerges into a world no longer familiar to him. Awakening in this new life, Virgil begins to piece together his personal history and the lore of his broken town, with the help of a cast of affable and curious locals - from Rune, a twinkling, pipe-smoking, kite-flying stranger investigating the mystery of his disappeared son, to Nadine, the reserved, enchanting wife of the vanished man, to Tom, a journalist and Virgil's oldest friend, and various members of the Pea family who must confront tragedies of their own. Into this community returns a shimmering prodigal son who may hold the key to reviving their town. 

With intelligent humor and captivating whimsy, Leif Enger conjures a remarkable portrait of a region and its residents, who, for reasons of choice or circumstance, never made it out of their defunct industrial district. Carried aloft by quotidian pleasures including movies, fishing, necking in parked cars, playing baseball, and falling in love, Virgil Wander is a swift, full journey into the heart and heartache of an often overlooked American Upper Midwest by a "formidably gifted" (Chicago Tribune) master storyteller.

©2018 Leif Enger (P)2018 Recorded Books

What listeners say about Virgil Wander

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

Such an Intriguing and Cozy Read.

Excellent narration by Macleod Andrews, as usual. A gently paced, introverted story that’s both mesmerizing and character driven.

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

What a joyful book

I loved Peace Like a River which has remained one of my favourite books since my initial discovery. Virgil Wander is one of my recent favourites and I wish I had found it sooner! Loved the gentle, quirky story line and characters. In these days of anything goes in terms of sex and profanity found in much of current literature, Virgil Wander is a welcome change.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed it even more the 2nd time!

First experienced Peace Like a River on Audible Books and hurried to read other books written by Leif Enger. Loved reading Virgil Wander the first time and recommended it to so many people. Then listened again on Audible Books and enjoyed it even more the 2nd time through! Great narration!

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

Worth the read but not as good as previous two

I love Leif Enger's writing style - it is evocative, beautiful and shows a great command of the English language. I loved his Peace like a river and So young, brave and handsome books. I did enjoy Virgil Wander and I would still recommend it but the story lacks the same kind of punch as his previous two novels. It meanders and the ending is a bit bland. That said, his description of life in a small town in the Midwest is always very enjoyable, hence the 4 stars.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A gentle story...

With such interesting characters. I highly recommend. Such a different small town descriptions, I want to visit.

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