The Sheltering Sky cover art

The Sheltering Sky

A Novel

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About this listen

Audio edition of the landmark of 20th Century literature, by acclaimed author Paul Bowles

“The Sheltering Sky is one of the most original, even visionary, works of fiction to appear in the twentieth century.” —Tobias Wolff

""It stands head and shoulders above most other novels published in English since World War II.” —New Republic

In this classic work of psychological terror, Paul Bowles examines the ways in which Americans apprehend other cultures--and the ways in which their incomprehension destroys them. The story of three American travelers adrift in the cities and deserts of North Africa after World War II, The Sheltering Sky is at once merciless and heartbreaking in its compassion. It etches the limits of human reason and intelligence--perhaps even the limits of human life --when they touch the unfathomable emptiness and impassive cruelty of the dessert.

 Classics Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological
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I liked everyone losing their marbles. It’s a gradually unfolding existential nightmare. Wasn’t expecting the grim sexual assault stuff and am not sure what to make of it.

Effective existential dread.

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Listened to this with my partner in tandem on a road trip in southern Morocco. Well told, the female narrator capturing a range of male voices. Narration and text working together, the momentum is such that you find yourself forgiving the under-motivation of the characters, forever touring deeper into territory that holds nothing for them

A captivating listen. Yes.

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Every sentence sounds like a crazy wild secret being shared; breathy, loud, over dramatic, too fast, too slow, like an audition. Sounds more like Tomb Raider for people that might be lostif its not super-fast than the lazy, languid, thoughtful novel it is.

No.

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I found this book to be shocking, compelling, frightening and extremely well written. It is an amazing but disturbing story. The way the author describes every small detail of every situation is mind blowing!! An excellent and very thought provoking classic.

Extraordinary characters in the book!!!

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