Village of Islands: A Short Story

by Jim Shepard, Stephen Graybill (Reader)

From the award-winning author of The Book of Aron and Phase Six comes a powerful short story exploring one of the most devastating storms in American history.

The 1935 Labor Day hurricane annihilated between four hundred and six hundred lives in the middle of the Florida Keys, and like all disasters, both exposed long-standing social and economic inequities and reminded us of the bonds that enable us to provide what rescue we can for those we cherish. In this fictional account of the storm, rooted in the record but brought to life with Shepard's unparalleled command of interpersonal impact, Village of Islands follows a handful of residents of a small beachside town in the moments leading up to, during and after this life-altering event. 

Genres: Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

Audio CD

Published September 21, 2021

About the author

Jim Shepard is the author of seven novels, including most recently The Book of Aron, which won the Sophie Brody Medal for Achievement in Jewish Literature from the American Library Association and the PEN/New England Award for fiction, and five story collections, including his new collection, The World To Come. Five of his short stories have been chosen for the Best American Short Stories, two for the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories, and one for a Pushcart Prize. He teaches at Williams College.

Reviews

[Perrilyn Pringle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and honest. Through the eyes of tragedy.

[Sundria (Sundi) McCormick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a Floridian, I was shocked I never knew this story. So very sad. Too many perished unnecessarily.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fictionalized telling of the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 that devastated the Florida Keys. I have a love/hate relationship with books set in the Keys because I grew up there, and the details of a story can make or break it for me. This author, thankfully, got the details right and I was able to really enjoy the locations and descriptions they included. It transported me to another time and was a really enjoyable way to think about what a hurricane of that magnitude would have been like if we lived on the islands back then. I definitely recommend this short story to anyone who has an interest in this place or period -- it's really well done!

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short audiobook is solid. The story is good, the characters are good but get slightly muddled, and the action at the end is good. Nothing sticks out as exceptional, but none of it is bad, either. The narrator is alright, but fairly dry. Would have enjoyed a more dynamic reading style, different voices for the perspectives, or some music (at least in the first half). Overall, a solid audiobook that made me pretty interested to do further research in the storm. Probably won’t listen to it again.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

In brief glimpses, this short story takes the listener to an island in the Florida Keys battered by a devastating hurricane in 1935. Taking place in the span from just before to the aftermath of the storm, this could have been a harrowing, poignant tale. Unfortunately, the execution didn't work for me. Too many characters were introduced to superficially and in too short a time to actually care about any of them, and it's written in a style more reminiscent of a not particularly engaging report than fiction.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fictional account of the terrible hurricane that hit the Florida Keys in the 1930s. Since it was short, there wasn’t much time to establish much character development. It was more effective describing the effects and aftermath of the hurricane. I had seen a documentary on the History Channel narrated by the late Edward Herman that is the gold standard of what happened. This would’ve been better off with a real account of what happened.

[Vik · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short story about villagers surviving a storm. While it delivers on this premise, it’s also super confusing.
Right in the beginning we are introduced to at least 5 different people. I can’t remember a single name and can’t asign the given backstory to any of the characters.
The story also didn’t particularly focus on any of them and jumped wildly between them, which resulted in the events being confusing as well

[Jean]

A short story on Audible Original about a hurricane that struck the Florida Keys on Labor Day 1935 & took 400-600 lives. The fictional account, based on historical records, follows a handful of residents in the hours leading up to and after the disaster and their horrific experience of loss and desperation. And documents yet another instance of the disparate impact those kinds of disasters have based on social & economic inequities.

[Meri Lancis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the chaos at the ending and how the story focuses on a historical catastrophe which I didn't know happened. I also enjoyed the beginning of the story and how it anticipates the storm. Even though the characters portrayed different parts of the island population, I constantly mixed them up, which made it a bit hard for me at times.

[Jip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off a bit slow, but I was on the edge of my seat during the hurricane segment. Quite a sad story, more because it could have gone so differently if those outside the area had been more believing of the locals concerns. Even though this is a fictional account, this same type of situation happens so often.

[Sheila Dailie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We never know how weather can impact us. Though it was short, it opened my eyes to the devastation that a hurricane can brings, especially before modern technology helps see the large impact as various weather systems begin to form and travel toward each other.
Quick listen, horrible loss of life and property, and the horrors that generations of people have gone through.

[Felicia B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these short historical fiction freebies offered through Audible because they open my eyes to events and people I otherwise might not have known about. This story was very quick but did a good job of pulling the audience into the scene of this enormous tragedy.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pros: Quick listen for the reading challenge

Cons: Everything else. I agree with other reviewers who stated there were too many characters for a one hour audio book. It just felt incredibly high level which didn't allow me to connect with anyone.

[Mindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhhhh

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short a gruesome. A real warning to those who think they can outsmart a hurricane.

[Angelika Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator was a bit monotonous. What I found most compelling was the veteran’s side of the story.

[sneha · Rating 3 out of 5]

man, why did I listen to this vvv sad story first thing in the morning?
new story and I liked the content but sad

[Tishly Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to follow the characters in places. Overall a quick interesting story about a monster of a storm.

[Arthur Boslar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutal glimpse of a past tragedy at the hands of nature and humanities disregard for those they deem beneath them.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read. Not bad put it in human terms

[Hilal Tunçkol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real and very sad story of the 1935 Labor Day hurricane and how it affected people's lives. Made me wish it were a bit longer, leaving wanting for just a little bit more.

[Ericka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got to love audible plus for the no additional cost listens. Glad it was a quick listen. I honestly have nothing else positive to say about this book title.

[Ashlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not super memorable but I liked the way this story was told overall.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

sad

[Laura K · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

The constant use of the word "and" was so annoying I could not finish.

Like so:

And the word was used to start every sentence. And to describe how people felt. And to create long sentences. And I couldn't stand it anymore.

[Moushmi Radhanpara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad and honest.