The Bird's Nest

By: Shirley Jackson, Kevin Wilson - foreword

Narrated by: Linda Jones, Mark Bramhall

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Shirley Jackson's third novel, a chilling descent into multiple personalities.

Elizabeth is a demure 23-year-old wiling her life away at a dull museum job, living with her neurotic aunt, and subsisting off her dead mother’s inheritance. When Elizabeth begins to suffer terrible migraines and backaches, her aunt takes her to the doctor, then to a psychiatrist. But slowly, and with Jackson’s characteristic chill, we learn that Elizabeth is not just one girl - but four separate, self-destructive personalities. The Bird’s Nest, Jackson’s third novel, develops hallmarks of the horror master’s most unsettling work: tormented heroines, riveting familial mysteries, and a disquieting vision inside the human mind.

For more than 70 years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers and listeners trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

©2014 Shirley Jackson (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Undeniably brilliant...superlative entertainment; much the best book Shirley Jackson has written." (New York Herald Tribune)

"Shirley Jackson's best novel...The Bird's Nest is brilliant, swift, at times immensely funny, and alternately frightening. Shirley Jackson's portrayal of a personality in disintegration is masterful." (Chicago Tribune)

Skip the Foreward--Great Book

Foreward contained some spoilers--recommend skipping if you've never read the story. Really should've been an Afterward.

This book had some really strong moments. The author does a great job portraying the descent into madness. She employs a lot of techniques that serve to jar the reader and make you repeatedly rethink your assumptions.

Interesting & compelling characters. The voice actors were great. Especially impressed with the female reader's portrayal of multiple personalities.

Great audio version

I read The Bird’s Nest years ago, as a fan of Shirley Jackson, but it was never my favorite of her works. I loved it this time. It is really great as an audiobook. Both narrators captured/delivered Shirley Jackson’s humor in their portrayal of the doctor and aunt. It’s dated enough at this point to be a period piece by now, but the topics of mental illness and trauma are as relevant as ever.

Shirley Jackson's finest

I chose 5 stars because I couldn't put this one down . I listened ALL DAY while I was getting ready in the morning , while driving to work , while I was working , and when I was getting ready for bed at night .

You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man

Shirley Jackson impresses me every time!

A gripping story and the narration was excellent! Shirley Jackson is one of the greatest writers of our time and I dare say this is one of her absolute best books.

RIVETING!!

Stephanie Harmon
September 2023

What a story!! I would so love to know what the main character is doing now. I feel somewhat protective of her.
Jackson’s narrative talent and skill are impeccable!! The book’s narrators are magnificent!!

No twist

This book dragged on for hours. The only character enjoyed was Mr Wright. I waited for a twist that never came…

One of my favorites from Shirley Jackson

Fascinating story of multiple personalities. A complicated story beautifully wrought. The Bird’s Nest is a forerunner of The Three Faces of Eve.

Loved this!

Shirley Jackson is one of a kind! I had never heard of this one before and I’m so glad I discovered it. The reader was also excellent.

a failed novel

I am a huge fan of Shirley Jackson but I found this novel so unsatisfactory on so many levels. Much of it consists of seemingly endless family bickering, the only difference here being that some of the bickering is between multiple personalities of the same person. The troubled woman's aunt is unbearably unpleasant and her doctor is unbearably pompous. The only section of the book I liked was the one told from the point of view of the insane young woman. Usually, Shirley Jackson's stories and her later horror novels keep me on the edge of my seat. This one only kept me on the edge of my seat in that I kept wanting to get up and stop listening to it!

Fooled by positive reviews

Literally nothing happened. I kept hoping there was going to be a twist or suspense but it was all just repeating boring narrative.