Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile Audiobook By Verlyn Klinkenborg cover art

Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

By: Verlyn Klinkenborg
Narrated by: Josephine Bailey
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.49

Buy for $17.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Few writers have attempted to explore the natural history of a particular animal by adopting the animal's own sensibility. But Verlyn Klinkenborg, with his deeply empathetic relation to the world around him, has done just that, and done it brilliantly, in Timothy; or Notes of an Abject Reptile.

This is the story of a tortoise whose real life was observed by the 18th century English curate Gilbert White, author of The Natural History of Selborne. For 13 years, Timothy lived in White's garden, making an occasional appearance in his journals. Now Klinkenborg gives the tortoise an unforgettable voice and powers of observation as keen as those of any bipedal naturalist. The happy result: Timothy regales us with an account of a gracefully paced, eight-day adventure outside the gate, and entertains us with shrewd observations about the curious habits and habitations of humanity.

Wry and wise, unexpectedly moving, and enchanting, Timothy will surprise and delight people of all ages.

©2006 Verlyn Klinkenborg (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc.
Fairy Tales Fantasy Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Psychological Feel-Good
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

  • Library Journal Starred Review
  • Booklist Starred Review
  • Kirkus Starred Review
  • Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Hilarious and revealing...Verlyn Klinkenborg's perception of the interconnectedness of life is sublime." (Booklist)
"Charming and most enjoyable...Klinkenborg's prose is a pleasure to hear." (The New York Times)
"Magical...Timothy comes down off the shelf of the Natural History Museum and comes alive." (Chicago Tribune)
"[A] gorgeous hybrid of naturalist observation, novelistic invention and philosophical meditation...studied, beautiful reflections on the present and memory, earth and weather, love and utility, human and beast. This is a wholly unexpected and astonishing book." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

wow annie dillard in a turtle shell!

This turtle is a keen observer of humans and the natural world. I was drawn into her shell and tremendously enjoyed this tale. I feel anyone who appreciates Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek will love this book. The book is based off an actual naturalist's journal kept in the late 18th century England. The author gave the turtle powers of great observation, knowing and feeling. I so enjoyed picture after picture of the natural world recounted by this turtle. I also was filled with empathy. I really loved the narrator. She kept it flowing through the entire book. I'll be looking for more by this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enchanting story

Based on real history and archival research, this story is a perfect example of using short sentences to drive a narrative forward. It is also a wonderful opportunity to rethink being human.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

No abject reptile, this!

As an avid reader of all sorts of literature, philosophy, medicine, history, etc for more yrs than I care to count, I never knew there was a book like this. Immediately after the first listening, I listened again, and later, twice more. Hurrah for a turtle's view of the human world! A quiet pleasure, like a conversation with an old, dear friend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

unusual, wonderfully charming

This is not a book for those seeking action and thrills, but is lovely and beautifully written. Timothy, a tortoise, is spirited away from the Mediterranean to the garden of an English clergyman. We see the inexplicable strangeness of two-legged beings through Timothy's eyes, and are given the rare opportunity to enjoy the gentle wisdom of this almost other-worldly species.
It is a bit difficult, in the beginning, to understand the accent and old-fashioned language, but hang in there. As you become used to the cadence and tone, you will come to appreciate the lyrical quality...well worth the effort!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

terrible!!

the narrator was awful, it just went on and on couldn't finish fast enough

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!