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    Fox 8: A Story
    Unavailable
    Fox 8: A Story
    Unavailable
    Fox 8: A Story
    Audiobook37 minutes

    Fox 8: A Story

    Published by Penguin Random House Audio

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From the author of the instant New York Times best-seller Tenth of December comes a darkly comic short story, a fable about the all-too-real impact that we humans have on the environment.

    Fox 8 has always been known as the daydreamer in his pack, the one his fellow foxes regarded with a knowing snort and a roll of the eyes. That is, until Fox 8 develops a unique skill: He teaches himself to speak Yuman by hiding in the bushes outside a house and listening to children's bedtime stories. The power of language fuels his abundant curiosity about people-even after danjer arrives in the form of a new shopping mall that cuts off his food supply, sending Fox 8 on a harrowing quest to help save his pack.

    Told with his distinctive blend of humor and pathos, Fox 8 showcases the extraordinary imaginative talents of George Saunders, whom The New York Times called "the writer for our time."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateApr 9, 2013
    ISBN9780804163989
    Unavailable
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    Reviews for Fox 8

    4.5/5

    280 ratings25 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      A super short buk and I feel slite lee gilty inkluding it to help fill up my list for the yeer but also it wos very gud. Like O wow, funy! And sad. And troo. Like yea Yumans be nise.
    • 4/5
      Fox 8 is a day-dreaming, story-loving fox who learns to speak "Yuman" by listening to parents reading bedtime stories to their children. But when a new shopping center threatens the habitat and livelihood of Fox 8's group, can he address humankind to help?This short story is interesting in concept, as it's told from the point of a view of a fox. I found the fox's lack of proper spelling a little more tedious than clever over time though; luckily this is just a short story for a full novel of that would be too much. And while I liked the message about humans needing to respect nature more and over-development being a huge problem, it feels like preaching to the choir. Anyone reading Saunders probably already agrees; those who disagree (or are somehow ignorant of the world around them) aren't picking this up.The illustrations are basic but cute.
    • 5/5
      As sad and sweet and lovely as can be. Few write loss or eternal love as well as Saunders. Just perfect.
    • 4/5
      Fox 8 is a learner. He learns English by peering in the window of the nearby Yuman (i.e. human) dwelling, listening to their conversations, seeing what they see on television, and trying to sound out the words. His spelling is not so good. But his insight into Yuman behaviour is a benefit to his den, or would be if they hadn’t mostly all been killed during the construction of FoxViewCommons, a huge shopping mall and parking lot. There’s just no living with these Yumans. There’s only being killed, starved, or beaten to death (which is also being killed). So Fox 8 heads out in search of a bit of forest uncontaminated by Yumans. And finds it. But it’s hard living with what he’s seen. To help deal with his trauma, Fox 8 pens this story (not really “pens” because he’s a fox; so he used a typewriter instead) to let Yumans know what they have done and hope he can move them to feel some shame and act better in future. Wishful thinking.A lovely story in which Saunders captures the voice of Fox 8 so completely, you too may feel the shame that Fox 8 hopes Yumans will on account of their actions.
    • 4/5
      A tiny little fable about wildlife in the big world. You have to be in the mood for dialect—it's written in fox-speak—and you have to be in the mood for Saunders' slightly dark whimsy. Otherwise it ain't gonna work. But I was open for it, plus the whole thing is about 50 pages, so I liked it.
    • 5/5
      Publishers don't always know how to classify books such as this. It's a fable, it's tiny in format and page count, it's illustrated with simple line drawings. Do you categorize it as a novella, a children's book, a gift book, or something for the YA section? Since I don't have to shelve it in a bookstore, I don't care or feel it important. It was quite enjoyable. George is not hiding his concerns about how our culture mostly values capitalism over the environment, and all the other life forms we "share" the planet with. Right before I read this brief book, I was reading a review of the new tamer animated Watership Down. This book also shows cruelty and death caused by the hands of uncaring humans. It is generally a gentle story, told from the viewpoint of one fox, Fox 8, to be exacting. But, in the beginning, men on huge machines show up and destroy the habitat of a group of foxes (take your pick — a skulk or a leash of foxes) and create a mall. The foxes are slowly starving to death because of this destruction. Fox 8 decides to enter the ominous mall and check out the food court within. Eventually, he escapes, but through another set of doors and can never find his own burrow again. Much more happens, but this short little book takes no time to read, and check it out yourself. My only complaint about the book, is also something that showcases it unique approach, the author tell the story using the English that Fox 8 has picked up while listening to a family being read to each night. He sits just outside the bedroom window, picks up the words solely as they sound, and even learns to read some of the printed words. My complaint is the same as I have at most books written in a different dialect, they just kind of bug me. It doesn't matter if it a foreign language, or a thick regional accent, or a book written by a fox. In spite of that, I enjoyed reading the book aloud — though it was a challenge to read it quickly on the fly, translating as I moved along. It's not everyday you can read a story written by a fox.
    • 3/5
      I don't know what I was expecting, but I will admit, I picked up this book because it was small and it was beautiful Fox 8 is a dark short story about an endearing fox who is enamored by humans. He sits outside of a house night after night listening to the mother read to her children and over time Fox 8 learns how to speak like a "Yuman" and read. He puts his newfound skills to use for his pack to discover what is going on to their forest. Land is being clear and there are more trucks and white boxes every day. Soon their environment is gone and they are starving. Fox 8 is not so impressed with the yumans now. A chilling tale from a cute wolfs perspective on humans screwing up the environment.
    • 5/5
      Let's hear more from fox 8
    • 5/5
      Laughed and cried listening to Fox 8 tell his story (aka George Saunders) about the consequences of learning how to speak human.
    • 4/5
      This was great. I didn't give 5 stars just because it didn't have that spark but I can see this being a five stars for many. It broke my heart and made me reflect on things. Such a great story.
    • 4/5
      It was delightful. I can see Christmas baskets full of it, parents and grandparents reading it with their kids.
    • 5/5
      This is such a great read. It was extremely easy to feel empathy for the fox and anger towards the humans. I think this is a great read and a great reality check for all of us. It gives an extremely different perspective towards many things relating animals and their surroundings. Definitely recommend!
    • 5/5
      Wished it was longer but I loved hearing it from the foxes point of view!
    • 4/5
      A sweet short story about a dreamy fox. He has learned how to speak and write the “yuman” language. He spells everything phonetically. He encounters both kindness and cruelty in the book.
    • 4/5
      This was such a cool short story!

      I listened to it this morning, which I think is a really good way to experience it. From what I can tell, a lot of the language in it is a little bit more difficult, the spelling is consistently inconsistent, because this short story features a little fox trying to learn to speak human.

      I really enjoyed the narrative. It's a bizarre little story and I loved that Fox 8's voice was so strange that it became recognisable.

      I don't really want to go into it too much more but if you're looking for a strange and wonderful little short story, this might be the one for you. c:
    • 5/5
      This is beautiful and lovely and made me cry a little
    • 5/5
      Very adorable. Makes you wonder what animals do think of us. Makes you think about how cruel humans are by nature (or nurture however you want to claim it).
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this story from fox's point of view. Well done.
    • 5/5
      Great short story, however very sad. I actually cried, and I don't cry easily.
    • 5/5
      More than ever I want to be a fox
    • 5/5
      Very interesting view on nature and the relationship between animals.
    • 5/5
      Short but to the point. Makes me want to read his other books.
    • 4/5
      This was such a cool short story!

      I listened to it this morning, which I think is a really good way to experience it. From what I can tell, a lot of the language in it is a little bit more difficult, the spelling is consistently inconsistent, because this short story features a little fox trying to learn to speak human.

      I really enjoyed the narrative. It's a bizarre little story and I loved that Fox 8's voice was so strange that it became recognisable.

      I don't really want to go into it too much more but if you're looking for a strange and wonderful little short story, this might be the one for you. c:

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      Sux.
    • 4/5
      I like Saunders and I like foxes. I wanted to love this but could only like it. Partly I'm jealous that he could publish something so whimsical as a Spicoli fox learning Youman speech and reenacting Watership Down for vulpines. And I laughed his take on fox thought and the misspellings, especially "berd" which always tickles me for whatever reason. It's a cute funny read with matching illustrations, a one sitting read that might make you smile. That's not so bad.