A Word is Not a Sparrow:
A Benefit Anthology for Ukraine Relief
Don’t Just Take Our Word for it…
A Word is Not a Sparrow
A benefit anthology for Ukraine Relief
This extraordinary anthology of stories, brought to life by the Ukraine Audiobook Relief Project, features a diverse and talented group of narrators who illuminate the rich tapestry of Ukrainian storytelling.
The stories cover an array of experiences, ranging from tales of immigrant grandparents to traditional Cossack folktales. The diversity of the full cast mirrors the rich cultural and emotional landscapes of the Ukrainian writers.
Barry Abrams, Jennifer Jill Araya, Andrea Emmes, and their colleagues convey a wide range of emotions—from the haunting and melancholic to the hopeful and uplifting. Listeners can be certain they are supporting artists whose lives have been deeply affected by the ongoing conflict.
Their stories are told with passion and authenticity.
M.R. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published May, 2024]
Support Ukrainian artists with the purchase of this audiobook by PANA narrators
According to Ukrainian folk wisdom,
”A word is not a sparrow …
once it flies out, you won’t catch it.”
The common interpretation of this metaphor is: think before you speak. The 21 PANA volunteer narrators who voiced this audiobook thought deeply about what words they wished to speak to demonstrate their support for Ukraine. The result is an anthology whose words can fly out around the world. And no one can can catch them – especially those who would try to quash them along with the very notion of Ukrainian culture and identity.
A Word is Not a Sparrow is a compelling assortment of fiction and nonfiction stories set amid Russian repression through the centuries, testimony about the impact in America of immigrant grandparents, powerful fables and allegories about people who have been displaced, and classic folk tales that are a touchstone of Ukrainian culture.
Proceeds from sales of this audiobook go to PEN America, to support programs taht directly help artists in Ukraine and safeguard their freedom of expression. Founded in 1922, nPEN America is the largest of the more than 100 centers worldwide that make up the PEN International network. Their goal is to unite writers, journalists, and their allies to ensure that people everywhere an exercise their right to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to access the perspectives, ideas, and literature of others.
The audiobook was created by PANA in cooperation with Spoken Realms.
Click below for sample montages, or scroll down for individual samples from each narrator.
Volunteers
