X-Book

Whistler

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Bloomsbury presents Whistler written and read by Ann Patchett

FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING, PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE DUTCH HOUSE AND TOM LAKE

'One of the most beloved authors of her generation'
SUNDAY TIMES
__________

When Daphne notices an older gentleman following her around the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, she doesn’t expect it to be Eddie – her former stepfather.

Married to her mother for a short time when Daphne was nine, she hasn’t seen Eddie for many years; not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives.

Meeting again now, Daphne and Eddie feel that time has fallen away. Their earlier relationship was brief but had a profound impact on both of them. Together, they consider not only their past, but the joys of the present and their commitment to face the future together.

A moving, luminous story about how family, memory and love endures, Whistler paints an intimate portrait of how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.
__________

Critics Review

One of the most beloved authors of her generation
Sunday Times
Ann Patchett leads us with the intelligence, detail, wit and nuance of the greatest chroniclers of human nature and relationships. Nothing escapes her
Rachel Joyce
Legions of her fans have been waiting for author Ann Patchett’s new novel Whistler which unlocks memories and a lifetime of secrets … One of the most critically acclaimed novelists in America today
Kirsty Wark
An icon of American letters … Nobody’s sitting around going, ‘Wow, what we really need is another Patchett novel’, she modestly told The Guardian three years ago. In our dark and twisted times, however, some readers might feel that’s exactly what they need
Financial Times
Whistler is top-shelf comfort food, the literary equivalent of pricey ice-cream
Guardian, Book of the Day
Reflective and luminous, this masterpiece is an unmissable celebration of love
Woman & Home, Book of the Month
No-one does effortless storytelling quite like this Women’s Prize-winning author
i Paper
This generous-hearted, clever and poignantly revealing tale feels another sure-fire hit. Spend a day on the couch in its warm, riveting company and you won’t regret it
Times
A tale of secrets and lasting love, enriched by sharply drawn characters
The Economist, Best Books of 2026
Patchett is the rare and fortunate writer whose words resonate among friends and strangers alike… A story of improbable meetings and deepening bonds
Independent
Patchett’s novels are the perfect literary comfort reading; thrilling and heartfelt, they remain gratifying at the sentence level. Her latest is no exception … The author’s characters, so sensitively drawn, bring delight and devastation in turn
Observer
Wise and quietly devastating from a writer at the height of her powers
The Nerve
A quietly compelling story about the power of familial love to transcend time and blood
Harper’s Bazaar, Best Books of the Summer
Stunning ... In this touching novel, the always-wonderful Patchett turns her attention to father-daughter relationships
Good Housekeeping
A story warm with the power of connection
Sainsbury's Magazine
It’s stayed in my mind more vividly than any other Patchett novel I’ve read
Writers’ Reviews
One of my favourite ‘reading-as-a-balm-for-whatever-ails-you’ kind of authors... This is a deeply moving story about enduring affection
Crib Notes
Wonderful and deeply satisfying ... The best writers make their readers feel welcomed into their books, and Whistler is such a welcoming and generous novel. It felt like a painting, an old canvas being carefully restored inch by precious inch
Cathy Rentzenbrink
Reading this novel was an utterly delightful experience. I love the portrait of Eddie Triplett ... I love the sisters and their bond and their pragmatic mother. But most of all, I love that it’s possible to spend time with them all, and that this story is about kind people just living as best they can. And right now, in this mean world, that is exactly what I need
Readings
Whistler is a sweet, gentle story of reconnection and love and Patchett’s prose is as masterful as ever
Newtown Review of Books
The dialogue is off the scale amazing – it’s just brilliant, and it’s very hopeful
Quick Book Reviews
Whistler reads like real life with the interesting bits distilled
Literary Reviews
A moving story about a woman's relationship with her long-lost former stepfather
New Norfolk and Derwent Valley News
Whistler may be her most haunting yet … A story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives … love bursts from between the book’s pages
The Glossary Magazine
Whistler is the American author doing what she does best
Irish Independent
A beautiful book about small moments, memory and real human connection, Whistler should come with a warning: you will not be able to stop crying. What an extraordinary gift Ann Patchett possesses … By the end you’ll be a blubbering mess, but in a good way
Irish Times
Few authors write about family, memory and human connection with as much warmth and grace as Ann Patchett … Tender, wise and deeply moving, this is Patchett at her very best
SheerLuxe
This story of family, love and memory is a warm bath of beautiful writing. It’s an elegy to kindness
The Gloss

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
Author Ann Patchett
Narrator Ann Patchett
Duration 10 hours and 44 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781037208188
Format Audiobook
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
Genre Family life fiction, Fiction: general and literary
Availability AU, GB, IE
Rating
5.0 (3 reviews)
Narration
5.0 (3 reviews)

More from the same

Author

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.