Collected Stories of William Faulkner

By: William Faulkner

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer, Susan Denaker, Scott Brick, Arthur Morey, Marc Cashman, Paul Michael

Length: 31 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

This magisterial collection of short works by Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner reminds listeners of his ability to compress his epic vision into narratives as hard and wounding as bullets. Among the 42 selections in this audiobook are such classics as "A Bear Hunt", "A Rose for Emily", "Two Soldiers", and "The Brooch".

©1976 Jill Faulkner Summers (P)2005 Random House, Inc.

Difficult to Understand

I liked the readers' performances. I Din't like the fact that I couldn't understand a handful of them.

great

Faulkner is one of those writers I could never get into, but always felt I 'should' like because of wide acclaim. Felt this way about Hemingway for many years until I was at an age where I could appreciate the weight of the work. I am age 31 and, though I can't grapple with Faulner's novels yet, found the short stories quite amazing and much different than what I expected (having read portions of some of his novels). This book costs two credits, but I think it's worth it because the narration by three different readers is perfect. The stories, "Black Music," and "The Tall Men," and a "Rose for Emily" are alone worth the price of this audio. Without exaggerating, I can tell you I've listened to "The Tall Men," at least six times. One day I hope to be able to read an entire Faulkner novel, but for now the short stories are great and very readable (listenable)

Too Chopped

I couldn't make the transitions from one story to the next, one author to the next very well. Didn't complete the listening. I use it sometimes during the interim of waiting to purchase a new book.

Faulkner stories great (narration awful in parts)

I love reading William Faulkner, though at times his work is difficult to follow on audio and it, of course, can be spoiled by a bad narrator, just like any other book narrated by Scott Brick.

If one listens to an audiobook in which the narration is heartfelt and the narrator can actually act in narrating, it's such a wonderful experience. A recent example for me is "Last Days of California" by Mary Miller (like Faulkner, a Mississippian), narrated by Andi Arndt. Ms. Arndt apparently put in a tremendous effort, to sound Southern, young and to act as in teen angst and in constant banter between 2 teen sisters. She made the whole thing so real that I got lost in it like a good movie.

Scott Brick's narration gives a soap feel and at times slides into adult-film grade acting. He overdramatizes a word in each sentence (usually the last one) and at times emphasizes every 2d or 3d syllable in every other or 2d or 3d sentence in a paragraph (with no real pattern, perhaps on an ad hoc, random basis). And, you can't help but notice his adulation with his voice; this effect on the (this) listener absolutely ruins the audiobook. I have wondered more than once if he has his latest narration piped into speakers throughout his house and poolside.

I have had to return books I purchased because his smarmy narration was worse to me than listening to 3 kids scraping rulers repeatedly over a chalkboard.

I had already rated this audiobook long ago, but just decided to add the review because I have recently come across books I would have loved but dropped like any other Brick. From reviews I've read, I'm not alone in my chagrin. I'm hoping enough noise will make a difference in audio-casting for prime books.

Works for Me

Thanks so much to reader who left the complete TOC for this collection.
That said, I can love listening to Faulkner the same way I listen to Wagner. I just let it wash over me.

A magician

These short stories are simply beautiful, and the narrators are very talented and well read.

Difficult to identify and separate the stories.

Excellent entes stories as expected and good performances in general. However no way of knowing which story is being read! The list of chapters give zero information on this! A pity..

Must have for literature lovers

Do you love great literature? If so you must try Audible. I love American literature: Steinbeck, Faulkner, Hemingway.. There is so many to choose from most recent to timeless classics. The narrators are excellent too you can see the story in your mind great to listen to while you work or drive

loved his books

I like the stories, I only with they would have put titles instead of listing as chapter numbers, and maybe a pause or intermission between stories, as there was none.

many great stories, and some not so great ones.

This massive collection covers a large portion of William Faulkner's short story output. This means that there are many brilliant stories ("Barn Burning," Dry September," "Elly"), and some lesser lights. I don't know if anyone is really waiting for a sequel to, say, "The Leg.". Interestingly, a large percentage of the stories, including many of the best ones, were written in a brief window of time. from the very late 1920s to the early 1930s. Anyway, if you're Faulkner fan, this is a great read. If your opinion is a bit more mixed, you might want to start with the shorter collection "These 13."

As far as the performances go, there are many different narrators. Most are good, and some much better than that. Still, over the course of so many stories, some could have used another take or two.