Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    The Double Bind: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Double Bind: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Double Bind: A Novel
    Audiobook (abridged)6 hours

    The Double Bind: A Novel

    Written by Chris Bohjalian

    Narrated by Susan Denaker

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    As the New York Times has said, "Few writers can manipulate a plot with [Chris] Bohjalian's grace and power." Now he is back with an ambitious new novel that travels between Jay Gatsby's Long Island and rural New England, between the Roaring Twenties and the twenty-first century.
    When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont's back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he won't let anyone see. When Bobbie dies suddenly, Laurel discovers that before he was homeless, Bobbie Crocker was a successful photographer.
    As Laurel's fascination with Bobbie's former life begins to merge into obsession, she becomes convinced that some of his photographs reveal a deeply hidden, dark family secret and falls into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to save her.
    In this spellbinding literary thriller, rich with complex and compelling characters, Chris Bohjalian takes listeners on his most intriguing, most haunting, and most unforgettable journey yet.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 13, 2007
    ISBN9780739341339
    Unavailable
    The Double Bind: A Novel
    Author

    Chris Bohjalian

    Chris Bohjalian is the author of twelve novels, including the New York Times bestsellers, Secrets of Eden, The Double Bind, Skeletons at the Feast, and Midwives.  His work has been translated into twenty-six languages.  He lives in Vermont with his wife and daughter.   Visit him at www.chrisbohjalian.com or www.facebook.com .

    Related to The Double Bind

    Related audiobooks

    Literary Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      June Preview: The Millions Most Anticipated (This Month)

      Jun 1, 2022

      We wouldn’t dream of abandoning our vast semi–annual Most Anticipated Book Previews, but we thought a monthly reminder would be helpful (and give us a chance to note titles we missed the first time around). Here’s what we’re looking out for this mont

      7 min read

    • Article

      Dead Letters

      Oct 4, 2020

      When readers last saw journalist Miller Hatcher in Cambridge author Nikki Crutchley’s auspicious debut, her star was rising after she’d survived a killer in the Coromandel. In THE MURDER CLUB (Oak House Press, $34.99), she’s lost her job at a top mag

      2 min read

    • Article

      MYSTERY & INTRIGUE

      Mar 24, 2023

      By PETER SWANSON William Morrow Private detective and former high school teacher Henry Kimball is ill at ease when one of his former students arrives on his doorstep to enlist his services. Joan is convinced her husband, a real-estate agent, is havi

      3 min read

    • Article

      Bingeworthy Holiday Reads

      Dec 27, 2019

      When Harry Bosch was just a rookie detective, his mentor, John Jack Thompson, taught him to take his work personally and relentlessly seek the truth in every case. When Thompson dies, his widow gives Bosch a murder book that contains details about th

      2 min read

    • Article

      Holiday Reads

      Dec 2, 2022

      Holiday Reads
      6 min read

    • Article

      'A Shout In The Ruins' Probes The Lasting Infections Of War And Slavery

      May 16, 2018

      Kevin Powers' bleak, stunning new book is set in both the 1950s and the Civil War era. It's an intricately plotted look at the ways violence can shape a nation in ways that may not be recoverable.

      3 min read

    • Article

      The real Jackie Collins SEX, SHOULDER PADS AND SCHOOL RUNS

      Jun 27, 2021

      With her enormous shoulder pads, huge hair and closet full of leopard-print outfits, Jackie Collins cut a figure every bit as glamorous as the characters in her bestselling romance novels. And behind the scenes, her life was just as dramatic. “She ha

      3 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Ohlin, Adrian, Jin, and More

      Jul 27, 2021

      Our own Thom Beckwith takes a look as some notable books publishing this week. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Ohlin, Adrian, Jin, and More appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Brilliant Reads

      Aug 4, 2023

      By JO NESBO Harvill Secker Harry Hole, the brilliant maverick Norwegian detective, has fled to California. He’s grieving the loss of his wife, Rakel, and blames himself for her death. Down and out, living in a cheap hotel and drinking himself into a

      3 min read

    • Article

      Wednesday New Release Day: Starring Ball, Orlean, and More

      Oct 13, 2021

      This week, we're looking at new titles from Bethany Ball, Susan Orlean, Margaret Verble, and Judith Freeman. The post Wednesday New Release Day: Starring Ball, Orlean, and More appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    • Article

      Good Reads

      Aug 27, 2021

      This is the heartwarming story of three women living in a small village in Western Ireland. After the death of Elizabeth’s husband, the village doctor, she makes a startling discovery while clearing out his consulting room – leading her to wonder if

      3 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Shipstead, Ryan, Walker, and More

      May 17, 2022

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from Maggie Shipstead, Eimer Ryan, Sarai Walker, and more—that are publishing this week. Want to learn more about upcoming titles? Then go read our most recent book preview. Want to help The Millio

      5 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring James, Li, Wang, McCracken, Bolaño, and More

      Feb 5, 2019

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from the likes of Marlon James, Yiyun Li, Esmé Weijun Wang, Elizabeth McCracken, Roberto Bolaño, and more—that are publishing this week. Want to learn more about upcoming titles? Then go read our m

      10 min read

    • Article

      The Lie of Little Women

      Aug 14, 2018

      The Lie of Little Women
      7 min read

    • Article

      March Preview: The Millions Most Anticipated (This Month)

      Mar 1, 2021

      With March comes spring and new titles from the likes of Kazuo Ishiguro, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Imbolo Mbue. The post March Preview: The Millions Most Anticipated (This Month) appeared first on The Millions.

      7 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Diaz, Cañas, Hart, and More

      May 3, 2022

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from Hernan Diaz, Isabel Cañas, Michelle Hart, and more—that are publishing this week. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Diaz, Cañas, Hart, and More appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    • Article

      Top 10 BEST BEACH YARNS!

      Jan 1, 2023

      by Nikki Crutchley Her debut novel To The Sea was one of the most talked-about books of 2021, so it’s no surprise the Kiwi author’s latest offering is just as compelling. When her sister goes missing, Jac is forced to return to her hometown, where e

      2 min read

    • Article

      Top 10 BEST BEACH YARNS!

      Dec 25, 2022

      by Nikki Crutchley Her debut novel To The Sea was one of the most talked-about books of 2021, so it’s no surprise the Kiwi author’s latest offering is just as compelling. When her sister goes missing, Jac is forced to return to her hometown, where e

      2 min read

    • Article

      Miscellaneous

      Jun 30, 2021

      Miscellaneous
      6 min read

    • Article

      Seven Books the Critics Were Wrong About

      Mar 28, 2023

      Despite their initial mixed reviews, each of these titles is fascinating, complicated, and worth a try.

      6 min read

    • Article

      Books Of The Month

      Jul 22, 2022

      By Patrick Worrall Chess has long been popular as a metaphor for politics, particularly during the cold war when, like the spy novel, it came into its own. Worrall’s ambitious debut thriller moves back and forth between 2004, when former resistance f

      2 min read

    • Article

      New Year, New Books

      Jan 11, 2021

      New Year, New Books
      5 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      Nov 3, 2021

      Great Read
      5 min read

    • Article

      Before You Knew My Name

      Jun 21, 2021

      Allen and Unwin — $32.99 Alice Lee is dead. She is also the narrator here, telling her own story as well as that of Ruby Jones, who is very much alive. Alice is — or was — American and 18 years old; Ruby is Australian and twice that age. Alice is esc

      2 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Alvarez, Zhang, Scanlan, Lepucki, and More

      Apr 7, 2020

      This week brings new books from from the likes of Julia Alvarez, C Pam Zhang, Kathryn Scanlan, and our own Edan Lepucki. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Alvarez, Zhang, Scanlan, Lepucki, and More appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    Reviews for The Double Bind

    3.5/5

    1,007 ratings110 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      This is a beautifully written, layered novel that touches on a number of important social issues homelessness, mental illness and violent sexual crimes.

      This is the sort of book that does not leave you after the last page is read. It lingers. It evokes new thoughts and new realizations.

      I love Bohjalian's storytelling!
    • 4/5
      I loved the concept of bringing to life the characters from The Great Gatsby but something did not feel right about this book and it took me several weeks to finish with reading Catcher in the Rye Again after viewing the Rebel in the Rye. When the book came to it's clever conclusion you had been given enough clues thru out the final chapters to realize why the protagonist was "off". Really enjoy this author and have another book of his in pile to read.
    • 5/5
      Quite a twist and a shock! Loved it!
    • 3/5
      i actually thought this book was kind of blah and i didn't care for the ending, although i love the author.
    • 5/5
      A totally unexpected story!
    • 4/5
      Found this book at the local thrift store. A buck well spent. THE DOUBLE BIND takes its title from social scientist -"Gregory Bateson's theory that a particular brand of bad parenting could inadvertently spawn schizophrenia. Essentially, it meant consistently offering a child a series of contradictory messages: telling him you loved him while turning away in disgust ... [until] a child would realize that he couldn't possibly win in the real world, and as a coping mechanism would develop an unreal world of his own."Because this is very much a story about mental illness, schizophrenia in particular. It also deals with the long-lasting effects of sexual assault, and how it can ruin a life. I find it an interesting coincidence that I am also currently sampling a non-fiction book by David J. Morris called THE EVIL HOURS: A BIOGRAPHY OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. And yes, sexual assault and rape can result in PTSD.Bohjalian seems to employ an interesting literary conceit throughout his story, namely that THE GREAT GATSBY was not a novel. Indeed, you are invited to believe that Jay Gatsby, the Buchanans and other characters from Fitzgerald's famous novel were real people, that it was a true story. I found it particularly off-putting, annoying even, until I learned why he was doing it. In fact, I nearly quit reading the book, finding it just a bit tedious and reaching too far into the realm of fantasy for my taste. But I stuck with it, and am glad I did. Because Bohjalian's central character, Lauren Estabrook, was a pretty fascinating one: a social worker at a homeless shelter in Burlington, Vermont, who had been brutally assaulted several years before. She is described as "fragile." Other characters are equally interesting - her roommate, her much older lover (the latest of several older men). No question, Bohjalian knows how to create compelling characters. But for me, the first half of the book - nearly 200 pages - seemed to drag. But then the pace picked up exponentially and I could not turn pages fast enough, as Lauren desperately tried to unravel the secrets of a portfolio of old photos left behind by an old man who had once been a client at the homeless shelter, to know how he may have been connected to the Buchanans of THE GREAT GATSBY.To say more would be too close to spoiling the book. But it's a good one, trust me. And, upon finishing this book, you might be motivated to dust off your old college copy of GATSBY and try it again. Couldn't hurt. Very highly recommended.- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book. THIS BOOK IS REALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT WITHOUT SOME SPOILERAGE - IF YOU HAVENT READ IT I WOULDNT READ ANYTHING ABOUT IT INCLUDING THIS REVIEW UNTIL AFTER I WAS ALL DONE.I loved the concept of this book from the outset. (or at least what I understood the concept to be). It had a definitely a topsy-turvy - which way is up - sort of book. I thought the writing was good and I was gripped pretty much immediately. It had a great sense of suspense and I found myself reaching and reaching for it until I was done. I enjoyed the slow reveal at the end that I think most people probably picked up on. In the final wrap up there was one thing in particular that I was surprised by and have to admit I thought was kind of a weak throw-in. But now that I have finished I am hoping to go read some discussion and see if other people felt the same way.
    • 5/5
      Oh my goodness!!That's about all I can say about this book.Our book club is reading Midwives or Double Bind for the March book and oh my goodness!This is the story of Laurel, a young woman brutally attacked by two men while riding bike in Vermont. She graduates from college as a social worker and begins working at BEDS a homeless shelter/low rent housing facility in Burlington, Vermont, very close to the town of her attack. An older man, Bobbie, dies and in his things is a box of photographs of famous people, houses and a blurry young woman riding a bike on a road in Vermont.So begins Laurel's quest to figure out who Bobbie was, why he ended up homeless and why in the world he had a picture of her...I can't say more - because it is so fragily woven it would unravel in my retelling.Suffice it to say I would strongly recommend this one. It's a typical Bohjalian - a little hard to read - a little wordy - a little plodding at parts - but so worth the end.
    • 4/5
      Very clever plotting. I was completely taken in and surprised at the ending. The use of the Gatsby story was unique; sort of a "spin-off" of Fitzgerald's famous novel but years later. This is my first experience with Mr. Bohjalian's writing, and I am looking forward to reading another book soon.
    • 5/5
      Wow...I got fooled! I thought one thing was happening, and was ready to compliment the author on the use of The Great Gatsby. And then, surprise! it changed. I really enjoyed the book and the characters. Definitely an interesting read, one of those "can't put it down" type of books.
    • 4/5
      Very interesting story of a young woman who becomes obsessed with the photographs taken by a deceased homeless man.
    • 4/5
      It is a great story. Throughout the listening I was very close to Laurel the main character. There was also a slightly risk to get addicted like herself. It was so enthralling that I couldn't stop listening. Meeting with characters from the The Great Gatsby was enjoyable. I'm glad that I knew this story so it was much easier and interesting to understand the context and the follow-up of Laurel's investigation. The story's outcome is absolutely astonishingly. I couldn't have been able to predict it up front.
    • 4/5
      ***1/2 Laurel, a college sophomore, is on a bike ride when attacked by two men. Two male cyclists appear and save her life. She takes a job at a homeless shelter and befriends one of the men the shelter is able to find housing for. When he dies, Laurel learns he left his only known possession to her- a box of photographs he had long referenced but few believed he possessed. A great mystery starts as Laurel does research to credit the man, Bobbie Crocker, as the gifted photographer he was. Slow overall but a very good read!
    • 3/5
      My least favorite Bohjalian novel. Good twist at the end, but took forever to get there.
    • 4/5
      Again, another winner from a great author. The story was very intriguing and the references to Gatsby added so much interest to the story. Midwives is still my fav by him, but this one is fantastic.
    • 3/5
      Meh . . . really enjoyed the Buffalo Soldier, but this one kind of lost me. Yes, there was a twist at the end, but I kept asking myself in the middle of this book "is this really worth finishing?" Passed my "50 page test" in the beginning, but not by much. I don't know . . . I guess I would give one more of his books a try, but wouldn't necessarily recommend this one. No doubt he's a talented writer, but there were some story lines that just didn't come together for me.
    • 3/5
      I didn't enjoy this book as much as Bohjalian's others that I've read. Laurel is a survivor of a traumatic event and goes on to work as a social worker at a shelter for the homeless. When an elderly, mentally ill client dies, leaving behind a box of mysterious photographs, Laurel becomes obsessed with investigating his past, especially his connection to Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. The book has a wonderful, surprising ending, but the majority of the book is little tedious.
    • 5/5
      I just finished The Double Bind and all I can say is WOW! I didn't see it coming and yet I think I should have! I'm tempted to reread it to see where I missed it! I hate to write any more about this book because I'm afraid I'll give it away. Great books!
    • 4/5
      Fascinating read, with a great twist at the end.
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed this book and thought Bonjalian did a great job in writing on mental illness
    • 5/5
      Great twist at the end!
    • 3/5
      If you're a woman and you want to enjoy time alone in or near the woods again, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!
    • 4/5
      This is a fascinating book, well-written. The characters are well-drawn, the plot is twisty and the ending delivers.
    • 4/5
      I'm on a Chris Bohjalian kick. The Double Bind follows his usual formula of mixing suspense with the "social problem" novel - think Jodi Picoult but with better characters, and much better prose. Here, though, he throws us a curve ball in the form of the latest schtick in genre fiction - mixing in characters from classic literature.One of the social problems in this story is homelessness. The protagonist, Laurel, works in a homeless shelter and becomes obsessed with a portfolio of photographs taken by one of her late clients. Before he hit the skids, he photographed the rich and famous, and apparently lived among them, too. Laurel discovers that her client has a connection with the rich and decadent Buchanan family of East Egg, New York. (For those of you who don't remember your high school English classes, Google it).As always with Bohjalian, this book is a well-constructed page-turner. It is not as emotionally affecting as Secrets of Eden, and has less sociological heft than Midwives, but it is a satisfying summer read.
    • 3/5
      While the twist at the end of this book is clever and shocking, there is little tension throughout the book. It could have been so much better. Conversations are frequently vaccous and boring. Still this is an easy and usually entertaining read.
    • 2/5
      Didn't get it. Love Bohjalian--but this was not his best work, in my opinion
    • 4/5
      I loved this book. From the very beginning with the description of Laurel's attack to the twist at the end, this book drew me in. I found myself leafing back to parts I had read to try and understand what was really going on in the story, There was a lot of foreshadowing that made me question what was reality and what was not and I still don't think I know where the line between reality and fantasy began in Laurel's mind. Her coping mechanisms simply added to the mystery. This book really brings the difficulty in dealing with mental illness into perspective and finding the right diagnosis and treatment is just trial and error. It takes time and different solutions to finally find the right treatment and even then, an event can trigger episodes that require a readjustment. This is what I found with Laurel and Bobbie. I cannot imagine living in such a world where things don't make sense and I can see why so many homeless suffer from mental illness. (show less)
    • 3/5
      This book was all about the shocker ending, the major twist that makes you rethink the book after you've finished reading it. I read it because I liked his book Midwives. I thought the plot and the tie-in with The Great Gatsby were very good, but the writing was--on different levels--not supportive of this great premise. The characters were rather 2-dimensional, (even allowing for how the twist at the end might have affected that,) the setting seemed to rely more on the places being familiar than well described, the dialog was somewhat stilted, and much of the introduction and description of the characters was simply confusing. There were many parts of the book that were written in the 3rd POV of one of the supporting characters that no longer really made sense after the twist at the end. All that being said, it only took me a day or so to read and it wasn't completely void of entertainment value...just a little below average reading in my opinion.
    • 5/5
      This book is awesome. It left me puzzled and intrigued right to the end -- and then the ending was just startling. I enjoyed the setting being in an area of Vermont that I have visited many times. Definitely will read more of this authors' work.
    • 3/5
      i actually thought this book was kind of blah and i didn't care for the ending, although i love the author.