Raising Wrenns: A Memoir

By: Mal Wrenn Corbin

Narrated by: Jocelyn Duford

The only way people get out of Worcester is in a body bag, people used to say when Mal was growing up in the Main South neighborhood—crash-landing in house after house like true wrens, her family’s nutty avian namesake.

Raising Wrenns recounts her trips back to Worcester after the men in her family lost their lives; first her dad when he was shot, and later her brother who committed suicide jumping off a roof. On these trips she revisits the shoddy apartments they perched in, resurrecting her macabre, sometimes comical childhood memories of the streets where they fought bloody and birdlike for their survival.

The book is cordoned by fantastical and scientific stories comparing her family’s world and personality traits with those of wrens. It also contains a creative history of Worcester, a former factory town plagued by poverty, addiction, and violence—a cycle that Mal, unlike her brother and father, was able to escape.

©2024 Mal Wrenn Corbin (P)2024 Mal Wrenn Corbin

Vivid, Emotional, Thought Provoking

A memoir that recounts the author’s trip back to her hometown following her brother’s suicide. The stories of her life growing up are emotional, shocking, and haunting.

The author, Mal Wrenn Corbin masterfully parallels her turbulent upbringing with the restless, resilient life of wrens—birds constantly moving through undergrowth in search of survival, much like her own family. Her storytelling is both insightful and gripping, drawing listeners in with vivid detail and emotional depth. Corbin’s characters and narrative are richly developed, offering a raw, authentic journey of survival and adaptation.

Narrator Jocelyn Duford brings the story to life with precision and heart. Her clear delivery and emotional nuance capture each character’s inner world, keeping listeners fully immersed. Duford’s dynamic performance perfectly matches the intensity and sensitivity of the story.

This is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking book that tugs at the heartstrings and raises urgent questions about systemic failures. Though I don’t usually favor tearjerkers, this one is captivating—and absolutely worth the listen.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Shocking, sad, and relatable… yet encouraging and hopeful that a good life can be possible despite childhood hardship.

Mal Wrenn Corbin’s story really pulled on my heart strings and stirred some familiar connections in me. I imagine that one of the goals of a good writer is to create connection, emotion, and relatability for a reader… the author really succeeded in all of the above with me! I “became friends with Mal” while listening to her memoir, yet have never met her and do not know her. Her story will stay with me. I highly recommended this book!

A relatable memoir

Mal Wrenn is inspiring. From very difficult circumstances she went on to have a good life. I love a good memoir and thus definitely hit the spot.

Captivating Story

Mal Wrenn Corbin's story has you rooting for her right from the beginning. While the story is heartbreaking, it is also a story of resilience and heart. Anyone growing up near the Worcester area can hear the truth in the stories, accents and people, I was captivated by the story and found myself wanting to listen quickly through but also slowly comprehending and reflecting on the stories she shares. Amazing writing and can't wait to read more from her.

Phenomenal

I found this book to be so honestly written. There are happy ending moments but not forced to placate the reader. This was an incredible story that was so honestly told by an amazing writer! Mal Wrenn Corbin's writing is absolutely beautiful! This shocking, true-life, gritty tale is told with such great detail and flow...it's almost poetic!
This women rose above and worked very hard to get where she is today despite the giant boulders and all the trama thrown at her. Her story needed to be told!
Heartwarming isn't the right word...Inspiring, sad but hopeful is a better way to describe this journey she takes us on.
As a reader or in this case, listener- Thank You.