Townie

A Memoir

By: Andre Dubus III

Narrated by: Andre Dubus III

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Andre Dubus III, author of the National Book Award–nominated House of Sand and Fog and The Garden of Last Days, reflects on his violent past and a lifestyle that threatened to destroy him—until he was saved by writing.

After their parents divorced in the 1970s, Andre Dubus III and his three siblings grew up with their exhausted working mother in a depressed Massachusetts mill town saturated with drugs and crime. To protect himself and those he loved from street violence, Andre learned to use his fists so well that he was even scared of himself. He was on a fast track to getting killed—or killing someone else—or to beatings-for-pay as a boxer.

Nearby, his father, an eminent author, taught on a college campus and took the kids out on Sundays. The clash of worlds couldn’t have been more stark—or more difficult for a son to communicate to a father. Only by becoming a writer himself could Andre begin to bridge the abyss and save himself. His memoir is a riveting, visceral, profound meditation on physical violence and the failures and triumphs of love.

©2011 Andre Dubus (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The best first-person account of an author’s life I have ever read.” (James Lee Burke, New York Times best-selling author)

“In this gritty and gripping memoir, Dubus bares his soul in stunning and page-turning prose.” (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)

“Powerful, haunting. . . . Beautifully written and bursting with life.” (Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review)

Deep, truth of humanity

Would you listen to Townie again? Why?

I would listen again in a couple of years. That means a lot because I like to experience books I have never read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The narrator (author) is someone I relate to as I grew up during the same time, in Hyde Park. I remembered the forced buissing and shameful pbehavior of adults in the 70's. I remember the influx of Iranian exchange students in high school, then in college....and the predjudice.

What three words best describe Andre Dubus III’s performance?

HONEST, MEMORIES, YEARNING

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The real 70's

Any additional comments?

I was thrilled the movie

Great Read!

If you could sum up Townie in three words, what would they be?

Heartfelt, Honest, Genuine

Who was your favorite character and why?

Andre III, just cuz he's the main character and who you know the most about. I appreciated his insights and growth.

Which scene was your favorite?

The making of the casket.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

It seemed like a very unique read, like it was just a straight-out stream of consciousness but it all flowed so naturally and smoothly. He did a great job of giving sensual cues that let you be at the locale of the scene.

Interesting story - monotonous reading

The story of the author’s life was engaging, honest and at times brutal. I felt I understood his choices.

The audio reader and his style were very problematic. His vocal cadence was excruciatingly repetitive and monotonous - no variation, no emotional expression. I wanted to hear the whole story and had to grit my teeth to tolerate the voice actor.

Exceptional. The journey from youthful fear and doubt to maturity and understanding

Powerful writing, the story, the beauty, the rawness, insight and generosity of spirit. Highly recommended.

Enthralling!

My husband and have both listened to this book twice, once together and once separately, and we were both enthralled with it. Dubus' raw emotion pulled at me; while the pain, physical and psychological, made me cringe.
We live next door to Haverhill so we particularly enjoyed envisioning the local landmarks as we listened. A gritty tale of growing up in a New England mill city.

Thats Haverhill for yah!!

its a strange place full of anger but also nice enough at times ,but this is what it was like for most male teens growing up and right up to the day of your funeral you never know when your next fight will come or your last !

Superbly crafted life story

While no one else should have read Andre Dubus III’s own life story, the author is not the best reader. A bit of a conundrum, I realize, but nonetheless this shouldn’t hold you back from listening. He’s not outright terrible as a reader, and most emphatically he is hugely gifted as a writer. I’ve enjoyed a few of Dubus’s novels, notably The House of Sand and Fog, and the recent Such Kindness. Had no idea of the life of the author behind these works. His journey, from a lost and bullied boy living with little parental oversight in a rough town to a major author is wonderfully told, with much to say about what it meant to discover himself as a writer. Go for it.

Really Resonates

I loved this memoir. Dubus zeroes in on the angst of being a poor young man in a single parent household and methodically lays out his life for all to see, moving from a kid who allows himself, his friends, and, most painfully, his family, to be pushed around and bullied at will by others, to his years as a fighter, and one who made a point of interceding on behalf of others' turmoil. Finally, he begins writing in earnest, and through his writing begins to understand his best role in the world. It is heartfelt, open, and honest. I found it difficult at times to hear of the physical confrontations with others, but he redeems himself, both for himself and the reader. Great memoir, highly recommended.

Townie

This is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness. And of personal growth beyond
Youth circumstances. It shows that one can
Achieve, regardless of circumstances. This
Entire family grew to heights not imaginable.
And last of all the importance of a fathers love.

Soporific listening

How could the performance have been better?

The book is interesting. It is a memoir without intrigue and cohesive story.
The narrator is awful: steady soporific voice hypnotizes. Be careful listening this book in the car - extremely dangerous. Read this book it is safer.