The Mars Room

“This is a novel set in a part of modern life unfamiliar to most of us: a women’s prison. This novel is the one that made me feel I should go out and do something—that I should vote for prison reform. Kushner’s writing here is distinctive, stylish and well-executed. There are two important trans characters in this novel, too. That theme probably says something about our time: we’ve been thinking about these issues, and what we think about shows up in the novels we read. But, again, they’re not there in order to make a point, or to bludgeon us into thinking about an issue.” Read more...

The Best Fiction of 2018

Kwame Anthony Appiah, Philosopher

The Mars Room, set in a women’s prison, was one of the best novels of 2018, shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and convincing the chair of the judges, Kwame Anthony Appiah, of the urgent need for prison reform. In the audiobook, Rachel Kushner narrates The Mars Room to great effect.

Narrator: Rachel Kushner

Length: 9 hours and 41 minutes

Great Audiobooks Narrated by Their Authors