The Distance Home

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

MUST A CHILD'S PAST DEFINE THEIR FUTURE?

'Luminous . . . heartbreaking . . . I haven’t read anything this good in a long time' Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

'Deeply involving . . . rich, shimmering, sensuous' Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit From the Goon Squad

In 1960s rural America two siblings grow up in a place of love and turmoil. Rene is the apple of her father’s eye: an over-achiever, athletic, clever, the best brain in class, and the best dancer in school. Her older brother Leon, doted on by his mother, is shy, a stutterer, but also a brilliant dancer.

Rene and Leon share a talent, but it is a gift their father adores in his daughter, and loathes in his son, and that could make all the difference. These two children may be best friends, but life promises to take them down very different paths . . .

The Distance Home is the story of two children growing up side by side – the one given opportunities the other just misses – and the fall-out in their adult lives. Funny and tragic, both intimate and universal, Paula Saunders’ debut is about how our parents shape the adults we become. It is a hugely moving story of devotion and neglect, impossible to put down – these are characters you will forever hold close to your heart.

Critics Review

Deeply involving . . . rich, shimmering, sensuous
Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit From the Goon Squad
Stark and beautiful . . . luminous . . . Heartbreaking, full of compassion . . . I haven’t read anything this good in a long time
Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
A heartfelt tale of brutal parental love . . . one of the most convincing portraits of a mother-daughter bond that I have read . . . generous, humane
The Times
Sensitively imagined and perceptively told . . . affecting and rewarding
Daily Mail
Moving and startling . . . a true, and rare, accomplishment
Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours
Riveting . . . it kept me turning pages in the wee hours. One of the best books I’ve read in years – destined to become a classic.
Mary Karr, author of The Liars' Club
Saunders skillfully illuminates how time heals certain wounds while deepening others, and her depiction of aging is viscerally affecting . . . The Distance Home becomes a mediation of the violence of American ambition – and a powerful call for self-examination
New York Times
Smart and empathetic, highlighting how prejudice can make us forget about love
Elle Magazine
Evocative, moving and deeply immersive . . . There is an undeniable beauty to this epic portrayal of the complex and intimate nature of human relationships - well worth a read
Woman & Home
Superb
Irish Times
Slow-burning and contemplative . . . the emotional stakes are nevertheless high . . . exquisitely rendered by Saunders in long, perfect sentences
Daily Telegraph
Incredibly assured
Observer
Bracing and beautiful . . . it will break your heart and open it up
Maile Meloy, author of Do Not Become Alarmed
Beautiful, tender . . . fans of Elizabeth Strout will love it
Prima Magazine
An exquisite, searing portrait of family . . . The Distance Home will leave readers eager for more from this extraordinarily talented writer
Booklist (starred review)
Penetrating and insightful
Publishers Weekly
The author’s compassion for her characters shines through in this honest story
Library Journal
Honest, and true . . . this soul-searching first novel offers everywhere that most mysterious and essential of artistic achievements: heart.
Douglas Unger, author of Leaving the Land and Voices from Silence
Extraordinary . . . beautiful, evocative . . . The Distance Home is heart-breaking and full of compassion
Dana Spiotta, author of Innocents and Others
A tender book
Independent i
Beautifully written, atmospheric and emotionally powerful
Northern Echo

More from the same

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.