Ducks, NewburyportDucks, Newburyport
Score Modern
What it's about
Peeling apples for tartes tatin, an Ohio mother's thoughts wander over the state of the world: distraction and fake facts, a tweet-happy president and trigger-happy neighbors, pollution in the rivers, factory farms and what was done to the land's first inhabitants. It's a torrent of consciousness, told in a single sentence.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker Prize finalist. It's one of the most audacious novels of its time.
You'll love it if you liked
Ulysses
Mrs. Dalloway
The Pale KingGood to know
It's about 1,000 pages, mostly one sentence. Many readers find it surprisingly addictive once they settle in.
By the numbers
- Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller14 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz10 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #198 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #889 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1646 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
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Infinite JestExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Ducks, Newburyport worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker Prize finalist. It ranks #1,646 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Ducks, Newburyport about?
Peeling apples for tartes tatin, an Ohio mother's thoughts wander over the state of the world: distraction and fake facts, a tweet-happy president and trigger-happy neighbors, pollution in the rivers, factory farms and what was done to the land's first inhabitants. It's a torrent of consciousness, told in a single sentence.
How long does it take to read Ducks, Newburyport?
About 26 hours (1033 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Ducks, Newburyport?
If you liked it, try Ulysses by James Joyce, Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf or The Pale King by David Foster Wallace.