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Search - A Thousand Acres
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Book Description:
A thousand acres, a piece of land of almost mythic proportions. Upon this fertile, nourishing earth, Jane Smiley has set her rich, breathtakingly dramatic novel of an American family whose wealth cannot stay the hand of tragedy. It is the intense, compelling story of a father and his daughters, of sisters, of wives and husbands, and of the human cost of a lifetime spent trying to subdue the land and the passions it stirs. The most critically acclaimed novel of the literary season, a classic story of contemporary American life, A THOUSAND ACRES is destined to be read for years to come.
"It has been a long time since a novel so surprised me with its power to haunt . . . . Its genius grows from its ruthless acceptance of the divided nature of every character . . . . This gives A THOUSAND ACRES the prismatic quality of the greatest art." -- Chicago Tribune
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award
"It has been a long time since a novel so surprised me with its power to haunt . . . . Its genius grows from its ruthless acceptance of the divided nature of every character . . . . This gives A THOUSAND ACRES the prismatic quality of the greatest art." -- Chicago Tribune
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award
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Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio Cassette, Paperback, Paperback, Hardcover
Top Member Reviews
6 member(s) found this review helpful.
A well written book. It gives a dark picture of human nature. It portrays mankind as self-centered, manipulative, and vengeful. The worldview of this book would definitely be that men and women are basically sinful. Not a book for those looking for a "feel good" piece of literature.
Janis C. from HILLSBORO, OR wrote on 4/2/2006...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
My favorite book of all time. Just remember that it is a story of incest and how two sisters deal with it.
Carrie J. from ENFIELD, CT wrote on 3/18/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very sad, but a wonderful book.
Erin M. from SAN DIEGO, CA wrote on 2/19/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Jane Smilie is a talented and captivating writer. This novel, which sometimes parody's the tragedy of Shakespeare's King Lear, is also a wonderfully placed in the landscape of earthy Iowa.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
wasn't this book made into a movie? i seem to remember this story line. the movie was good. different but good . . .
Elaine W. from LAS VEGAS, NV wrote on 12/12/2006...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Pullitzer prize winning author - this is another story about families. A thousand acres,a piece of land and the dramatic novel of an American family whose wealth cannot stay the hand of tragedy.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Classic story of contemporary American life. Wealth, in a thousand acres of land cannot stay the hand of tragedy. A story of sisters, daughters, wives, and husbands, and the father. Set in the midwest, it explores the dual nature of every character. Pulitzer prize winner.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A story of contemporary American life. The losing of a mid-west farm and how it affects each family member differently. Moving story.
ANNA S. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
An intense, compelling story of a father and his daughters, of sisters, of wives and husbands, and their efforts to keep their family and land together. A powerful and haunting story.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Jane Smile has set her rich, dramatic novel in the farmlands, featuring an American family whose wealth cannot stay the hand of tragedy. It is the intense, compelling story of a father and his daughters, of sisters, wives and husbands and of the human cost of a lifetime spent trying to subdue the land and the passions it stirs.
Rate These Member Reviews
Had a difficult time getting into this book, but once I did, it held my interest. A story of people who farm & work hard on their lands. Of people & how their lives inter-mingled. Well written.
Dad is crazier as he ages, the sisters can't agree on what to do with the land they will inherit, and the husbands have to put their two cents in. Add a little extra marital fling, some death and away you go. One of the best Pulizers I have read.
This is a fantastic book. If you are familiar with King Lear it adds an extra layer of resonance, but the book doesn't depend on those shared plot elements. I really felt for the characters and was surprised and moved by their actions.
I couldn't get past the second or third chapter. I had a HARD time keeping the characters straight, and the book was waaaaay to "wordy" (used 5 adj where 1 or 2 would work). Couldn't keep my interest, sorry.
Sarah E. from WINNSBORO, SC wrote on 4/29/2007...A wonderful story of two sisters and their father...sharing a dark secret.
Just a really beautiful novel, with characters I couldn't help loving, even though they're not the kinds of characters I usually love.
A family's story of what happens when land becomes the priority. Very good.
Eloise S. from TOLEDO, OH wrote on 1/25/2007...AN American family whose wealth cannot stay the hand of tragedy.National Bestseller,Winner of Pulitzer Prize,National Book Critics Circle Award
Carolyn B. from EGG HARBOR CY, NJ wrote on 9/8/2006...Verg good. A real work of art.