Chronicles

Volume One

By: Bob Dylan

Narrated by: Sean Penn

Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Bob Dylan's Chronicles: Volume One explores the critical junctions in his life and career. Through Dylan's eyes and open mind, we see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, when he first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan's New York is a magical city of possibilities: smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations are punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and tough. With side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota and points west, Chronicles: Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times.

Revealing, poetical, passionate and witty, Chronicles: Volume One is a mesmerizing window on Bob Dylan's thoughts and influences. Dylan's voice is distinctively American: generous of spirit, engaged, fanciful, and rhythmic. Utilizing his unparalleled gifts of storytelling and the exquisite expressiveness that are the hallmarks of his music, Bob Dylan turns Chronicles: Volume One into a poignant reflection on life, and the people and places that helped shape the man and the art.

©2004 Bob Dylan (P)2004 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner, Biography/Memoir, 2005
• 2005 Quill Award Nominee
• Grammy Award Nominee, Best Spoken Word Album, 2005

"Volume 1 of Dylan's memoirs was pretty cool to begin with. But to have it read by Sean Penn on audio takes it to a new level: the most talented songwriter of all time as performed by the most talented actor of his generation. Mr. Penn clearly has a blast inhabiting the role and navigating Dylan's jagged, impressionistic prose." (The New York Times)

Five Star

Nice to hear where his head was back in the day. I worked at KMET Radio in LA. At that time, most listeners' were looking to music for direction and messages. What they found or not didn't hurt them. Honest and harmless that was then. Pat"Paraquat"Kelley

Chronicles: Volume One

Really enjoyed the insight into the life of my hero. The voice of Sean Penn just fits this book perfectly

Classic Dylan

Typical Bob Dylan story telling. Amazing style, interesting characters, wandering plot that leads perfectly back together. Perfect reading by Sean Penn that made it feel like Bob was reading it to you himself.

Positively 4th Street

It's a warm summer's day in the interlude between summer school and fall quarter in the late 60's. We're all on the front porch of the adobe looking out over the valley. The big event of the day is that eventually the train will ramble by the back fence. The music is Dylan. Some say that if you can remember the 60s, you weren't there. I say that if you can't remember the words to your favorite Dylan tune, you weren't there.

There is a reason that Dylan is considered the poet laureate of the Twentieth Century. And now he's back. Add to that the amazing reading by Sean Penn. Occaisonally you hear in his voice the sing-song verse of Dylan's early work. Occaisonally Penn sounds just like him.

A definite read if you were there (and maybe styill are).

Perfect hug and sleeping pill

Would you consider the audio edition of Chronicles to be better than the print version?

I have never even seen the written book. The audio might be abridged, however listening to Sean Penn is beyond everything. It is like getting a hug by the "hot-boy" Sean Penn.

What did you like best about this story?

It is just like being a very extremly happy listener: Like a fly on the wall.

Which character – as performed by Sean Penn – was your favorite?

This is a memoir...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes: Over and over and over. It is a sleeping pill with no side effects.

Any additional comments?

This is a snack bar. Yes: It might be abridged but if you love Sean Penn, Bob Dylan, N.Y.C. then this is highly credit proof. It will always be within the reach of my app.

OK, but poor prose

I thought the book provided some good insights into Dylan and the creative process, but I expected better prose from a poet, even in a draft. Perhaps he wrote the book for some of the same reasons he claims to have made some of his mediocre albums - to make a living or get others off his back.

I liked Penn's monotone. Perhaps Dylan's choice of detail would make more sense in the unabridged version in some cases.

Bob Dylan is not who you think he is

I thoroughly enjoyed Bob's story! He is a very interesting person and a wonderful story teller. I loved hearing his thought processes and the stories of how his career developed. Highly recommend.

very good

What did you love best about Chronicles?

Any one who is interested in the life of the iconic Bob Dylan and who ever is interested in a glimpse of the life and mechanics of the music world in the 60's and beyond should listen to this book.
The delivery is fantastic particularly in view of the autobiographical nature of the narration. Some times you forget it is not Bob who is sitting there talking to you.

Have you listened to any of Sean Penn’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Good listen -even for non-Dylan fans

I'm a seventies child and not a huge fan of Dylan (I actually like his more recent stuff over the sixties-era work) but I can recommend this audio-book to those with only a passing interest/knowledge of the man and his songs.

A few folks have complained about Sean Penn's 'monotone' narration, but I think it fits right in with Dylan's unstructured, loose writing style. I will definitely be buying Volume Two!

Abridged dissapoints

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Sean Penn has done a marvelous job , but the abridged narration is too hurried and doesnt do justice to the listener. I strongly recommend audible to put up the complete version.

What was most disappointing about Bob Dylan’s story?

The abridged version had just a paragraph on Joan Baez , disappointing for me.

What does Sean Penn bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sean Penn is fabulous.

Could you see Chronicles being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Sure.. the complete version