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    Astray
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    Astray
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    Astray
    Audiobook6 hours

    Astray

    Written by Emma Donoghue

    Narrated by Robert Petkoff, Suzanne Toren, James Langton and

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The fascinating characters that roam across the pages of Emma Donoghue's stories have all gone astray: they are emigrants, runaways, drifters, lovers old and new. They are gold miners and counterfeiters, attorneys and slaves. They cross other borders too: those of race, law, sex, and sanity. They travel for love or money, incognito or under duress.

    With rich historical detail, the celebrated author of Room takes us from puritan Massachusetts to revolutionary New Jersey, antebellum Louisiana to the Toronto highway, lighting up four centuries of wanderings that have profound echoes in the present. Astray offers us a surprising and moving history for restless times.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateOct 30, 2012
    ISBN9781611134216
    Unavailable
    Astray
    Author

    Emma Donoghue

    Born in Dublin in 1969, and now living in Canada, Emma Donoghue writes fiction (novels and short stories, contemporary and historical including The Pull of the Stars), as well as drama for screen and stage. Room, was a New York Times Best Book of 2010 and a finalist for the Man Booker, Commonwealth, and Orange Prizes, selling between two and three million copies in forty languages. Donoghue was nominated for an Academy Award for her 2015 adaptation starring Brie Larson. She co-wrote the screenplay for the film of her novel The Wonder, starring Florence Pugh and distributed by Netflix.

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    Reviews for Astray

    4/5

    156 ratings24 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 3/5
      Exciting premise with historical documents following each fictionalized account!Unfortunately, the stories are universally sad and depressing.
    • 4/5
      A collection of short stories about people who are, as the author describes them, "emigrants, immigrants, adventurers, and runaways" of one sort or another. These are all real, but not famous, people from history -- mostly the 19th century, although Donoghue wanders as far back as the 17th century and as far forward as the mid-20th -- or fictional people in real historical circumstances.I wasn't too sure how I felt about this collection to begin with. The first few stories struck me as decent enough, but not particularly engaging. But the more I read, the better I liked them, and the more affecting I found them. Some more so than others, of course, but the best of them have a subtle poignancy (even, or perhaps especially, when they're dealing with very dark subject matter) that really worked for me, and, taken as a whole, I think it all adds up to something quite interesting.
    • 4/5
      Each of the short stories in this collection is inspired by a kernel of fact that the author has found in a newspaper, book or archive. She fleshes each snippet out with her imagination into a satisfying story. At the end of each story, she details the factoid that inspired it.
    • 3/5
      Short story collections have never been my favorite reading, because they tend to be so uneven. A few stories will really move the reader, leaving the reader wishing for so more of them. Others bore or frustrate, an experience to be got through. With this being the case, keeping my attention and interest up throughout is difficult. On audio, I think this may have been exacerbated, because, without an excellent narrator, they can provoke in the reader a tendency to zone out.These stories vary in subject matter, but all confront a sense of not belonging, of being astray in one sense or another. These historical tales might be appreciated by some for their own merit, and I didn't dislike them, but, for me, the best part of Astray were hearing the historical inspirations for Donoghue's stories. Every single story in this collection is based upon true historical incidents, some quite directly and others more loosely. At the end of each story, a narrator would inform the reader of these historical incidents, and I always looked forward to that, as most of the stories included quite shocking material.Though a couple of the stories did hold more appeal for me than others, for the most part, I had trouble focusing and didn't get too much from them. Partly, this stems from a lack of characterization which can plague the shorter forms of writing. Also, some of the narrators really did not sit well with me. One in particular made me want to claw my ears out to put an end to her perky, know-it-all voice speaking with terrible imitations of accents.Donoghue's afterward again relates the historical aspects of the stories, as well as going into greater detail on her thought process in crafting these stories. She narrated this herself, and both the content and her brogue are lovely. Getting a window into her interpretations of the stories singly and collectively really made for an interesting and unique reading experience.If you love Donoghue's writing, Astray will be a must-read for you, if only to get a view into the workings of her brain. The stories themselves did not hold any special charm for me, but might have done more so had I read a print copy rather than listening to them.
    • 5/5
      I loved it. I was deeply impressed by Room when I read it last year, but this collection does an even better job of showcasing Donoghue's excellent grip on character and voice. I admit that one thing seriously contributing to how much I liked this collection was the way it reflects the same way I think about intriguing little snippets of history: Who were those people, and why did they do the things they did? The stories in this collection aren't answers to that question, and they shouldn't be, but they are fascinating explorations.
    • 3/5
      A collection of short fiction, set mostly in 19th Century America, with themes of departure, transit, and arrival. I really enjoyed that Donoghue used factual events, found in newspaper clippings and even personal letters, as the inspiration for her stories, but one a few particularly moved me in any way.
    • 2/5
      This is a book about minor events in history, often involving travel of some sort. It is a collection of short stories inspired by historical events of the personal sort - minor, intriguing, not widely known. The problem, for me, is that the author writes as if the event, in itself, is enough to power the story. The only addition, in almost every case, is an attempt at creating an authentic voice for the central character. The result is a series of flat vignettes, each one devoid of characterization, dramatic drive, narrative power or any other common elements that make fiction gripping. Each story is followed by a short account of the event that inspired it and it is telling that these accounts, for me, were more interesting to read than the preceding story.
    • 4/5
      This is a collection of short stories that were created by the author inspired by various historical articles she came across. They share a theme of people who have gone on a different path from those around them: emigrated, fled, changed identities, etc.It is an interesting collection and each story is followed by a note from the author about the article which inspired the story. At times it felt like reading series of the author's warm up exercises.
    • 5/5
      My first Emma Donoghue book was The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits - a short story collection built on historical tidbits and facts that was released in 2002. I've enjoyed many more titles from Donoghue since - Slammerkin remains a favorite. I was thrilled to see that her latest book Astray was again a collection of short stories with their origins found in obscure historical realities.In this latest collection Donoghue explores all the ways a life, a person, a path can go astray...." on and off, for the past decade and a half, I've been writing stories about travels to, within, and occasionally from the United States and Canada. Most of these travelers are real people who left traces in the historical record; a few are characters I've invented to put a face on real incidents of border crossing. Many of them stray in several senses, when in the course of their journeys across geographical and political boundaries they find themselves stepping over other ones: law, sex, or race. Emigrants, immigrants, adventurers, and runaways - they fascinate me because they loiter on the margins, stripped of the markers of family and nation; they're out of place, out of their depth."The places and times of the stories in Astray are varied, ranging from London to New York to Texas to Canada and more and ranging from the 1600's to the 900's. Donoghue is able to write with different voices and outlooks, providing a fresh and unique outlook with every exploration.It's hard to pick favourites, but I think Counting the Days - the story of a reluctant emigre and her husband who went ahead stayed with me. As did The Gift - a series of letters from a mother trying to find her child.I absolutely adored this book. Each story was a little glimpse into a life gone before - a reminder of a life, a moment, a time. At the end of each, Donoghue provides us with the 'real' details - the names, the times and the places that these people inhabited. I found myself stopping after each tale, savouring what I'd read and wondering about what might have happened next for those captured by Donoghue's imagination. In a few cases, my interest piqued, I went online and did some research of my own. And, I also stopped in an effort to make the book last longer - I didn't want it to end. Looking for a book to spend that gift card on? Look no further.
    • 4/5
      A collection of (mostly) previously-published short vignettes, drawn from scraps of interesting historical material Donoghue has come across over the course of her researches. An author's note at the end of each tale lays out the basis for the story, and it's neat to see how Donoghue has reshaped and reimagined these sources. In her afterword, Donoghue explores further the way these stories came to her, and about how writing them frees her to imagine herself in another's shoes for a brief time. The collection's title is well chosen: all the stories here tie back to that single word, "astray," in some way or another. Many concern emigration, a particular theme of Donoghue's, and most feature characters at the edges of society, whether 17th-century Massachusetts, early 20th-century New York, or the Yukon during the gold rush. Prostitution and sexual predation are also recurring themes. Donoghue's able to take on her characters' voices extremely well, to such an extent that often I found myself at the end of a story wishing she'd given us a bit more.
    • 4/5
      Old newspaper articles, snippets of interest, places visited, all become fodder for these amazing stories by Donoghue. Usually when reading a book of short stories there are always some that are my favorites, some I don't like and some I just don't get, but in this book I really enjoyed them all. That she explains were she got the idea for the story was an extra bonus and a welcome one. Some of the subjects of her stories are the characters often found on the fringes of our society, or strange characters or just those that are lost. Really enjoyed this book and recommend for all short story readers.
    • 5/5
      The backstory: Although I'm not a big fan of short story collections, I am a big fan of Emma Donoghue and her varied work (my reviews of Room and The Sealed Letter.)The basics: Astray is a diverse collection of stories.The characters and locations spread across centuries and continents. What unites them is a sense of theme: each story features a character who is somehow astray.My thoughts: The first story in Astray didn't particularly captivate me. It's the story of a British circus elephant and his trainer as they prepare to move to the United States. It was enjoyable enough, but what really enchanted me was the unexpected author's note at the story's end. The story was rooted in history and based on real characters and events. As I continued to read, I looked forward to these author's notes. It was a fascinating glimpse into both what intrigues Donoghue and how much history the characters were rooted in.The collection's second story, "Onward" is among my favorites. It's a touching, yet sad story, and Donoghue's language is haunting: "love happens, like age or weather. I'ts not hard to do, only to endure, sometimes." When I do enjoy a collection of short stories, there is typically one that shines brightest for me, but that wasn't the case with Astray. I can think of two I didn't enjoy as much as the others, but Donoghue's breadth and variety astonished me, and it left me as eager to finish each story as I was to start the next one.Favorite passage: "Writing stories is my way of scratching that itch: my escape from the claustrophobia of individuality. It lets me, at least for a while, live more than one life, with more than one path. Reading, of course, can do the same." (from the author's note)The verdict: While I typically prefer novels to short stories, I also adore fiction based on real people. The threads of history and strong thematic elements of travel, wandering and displacement that run through this collection made it cohesive. Donoghue's writing shines as much as her research. Although a couple of stories failed to enchant me, I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience.
    • 3/5
      Interesting stories, but they didn't move me the way Room and Slammerkin did. The stories were almost a little too clever, and maybe more attention was paid to the various settings in time and place than to the actual story? I still want to read more of her novels.
    • 4/5
      Fairly short stories, strongly written with biting insight and deep humanity. Only one Vanitas, felt off, as it echoed some other story I'd recently read.
    • 5/5
      Great stories based on historical facts. Crisp, moving haunting writing.
    • 4/5
      Stories of people traveling and making a life in new places under difficult circumstances, based on actual events through history.
    • 4/5
      An interesting set of short stories, each based on some historical events from about a century or two ago. Many were depressing, but quite realistic. I almost gave this 3 stars because the main points are not really to my taste, but her writing is quite good & the historical points are excellent. That made it worth listening too for me.

      I listened to this because I've heard a lot of good things about a novel of hers, but didn't think her style would suit me. I'm more convinced of that. Plot points she finds interesting tend to bore me, so I don't think I'll read the novel, but am very glad I listened to this.
    • 4/5
      Not being a huge short story fan I started this book with a little bit of trepidation, especially after having loved “Room” so much. But, despite the format, I enjoyed this book very much. Each story is a vignette taken from history, a newspaper article, a well known legend or a footnote from another source and Ms. Donoghue brings the characters to life. Taking the reader on a trip through different time periods and across North America we get a little taste of everything; love, crime, despair, happiness, laughter and tears. Whether writing with humour, drama or poignancy Ms. Donoghue does it extremely well.

      When I was deciding whether or not to pick up this book I read some on line reviews where one reviewer suggested reading the “afterword” first. I didn’t do that but I agree with that reviewer, I wish I had. If you read this all in one sitting or if you read it in bits and pieces between other books it is definitely a book you will want to pick up.
    • 4/5
      Astray is a fascinating and diverse collection of fourteen short stories/vignettes loosely based on snippets from letters, newspaper articles, footnotes, and other historical documents. Donoghue has taken these small pieces and used both her research and her imagination to flesh them out into complete characters and stories. They range across centuries (from the 17th to the 20th) and are set in various places (London, Texas, Ontario, Massachusetts, and more), and the main characters come from all walks of life: a young Hessian soldier in the Revolutionary war, an elephant keeper, two Gold Rush prospectors, a pair of female sculptors, a runaway slave, a prostitute, a young widowed mother unable to support her child--to name but a few. What they all have in common is that each has in some way taken a life journey that has gone astray, whether due to accident, ambition, corruption, madness, or the pinch of necessity. Each story is followed by a brief explanation of the document that inspired it and what Donoghue learned about the real-life characters' fates. I found two of the stories that were based on letters particularly moving. "Counting Down the Days" tells of a young Irish man who emigrated to Canada, leaving his wife and baby behind; now, at last, she is sailing to join him. In "The Gift," an impoverished young widow reluctantly gives her baby daughter into the care of a social services agency; they place her in a foster home and eventually facilitate her adoption. The story consists of letters written by the birth mother, who attempts to retrieve her lost daughter, and by her adoptive father.Astray bears some similarities to Donoghue's earlier collection, The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits, but her skills as a writer have been finely tuned since 2002. While not all of the stories are equally strong, there is something admirable in each, and something here for everyone. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5


      Rarely does an anticipated book meet my expectations. This short story collection is one of those rare finds. I am so glad that I chose to read it when I did and I highly recommend it, not only for the entertainment value, but for the beautiful prose. Each story has a definitive voice. As a fan of historical fiction, I also very much appreciated the endnotes about each story.
    • 3/5
      Donoghue has collected various stories from newspapers, autobiographies and biographies and written short stories about the lives of those people. These stories are part fiction and part non-fiction and are an incredible display of an author's raw talent and ability. Donoghue explores various types of people from manual labourers to plantation owners and no particular story outshines the others; they are all incredible in their own ways.
    • 3/5
      I have a real affinity for short stories; well written interesting stories. To me, this collection was a bit uneven and ultimately unsatisfying. I don't think I will be drawn to read anymore of this author's works. There are just too many other short story collections in the world to enjoy.
    • 5/5


      Rarely does an anticipated book meet my expectations. This short story collection is one of those rare finds. I am so glad that I chose to read it when I did and I highly recommend it, not only for the entertainment value, but for the beautiful prose. Each story has a definitive voice. As a fan of historical fiction, I also very much appreciated the endnotes about each story.
    • 4/5
      this is not a novel but a collectin of short stories. While I have engoyed room and the letter's book this simply did not hold any of the same magic.In some weays I see this as an indulgence to the author book. This is what I often think of what was the story behind these bit characters in the larger stories of history. A very jewish thing to do but they are bit characters for a reason, they do not have enough story.pleasant but not gripping