The Adventures of Augie March

By: Saul Bellow

Narrated by: Tom Parker

Length: 22 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Augie is a poor but exuberant boy growing up in Chicago during the Depression. While his friends all settle into chosen professions, Augie demands a special destiny. He tests out a wild succession of occupations, proudly rejecting each as too limiting - until he tangles with the glamorous perfectionist Thea.

©1949 Saul Bellow (P)1993 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Vintage Writing That Works Today

What made the experience of listening to The Adventures of Augie March the most enjoyable?

I read a lot of contemporary books, Occasionally, I try something a little older, and sometimes I am put off by the writing styles of authors who wrote before the mid-twentieth century. So, it was with some hesitation I picked up Saul Bellow’s “The Adventures of Augie March.” I was delightfully surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Mr. Bellow writes with a beauty and skill that does not distract from the story but makes his story more personal and valuable to the reader.
Many older novels, though beautifully written lack a compelling story that is relevant to the twenty-first century reader. “The Adventures of Augie March” gives today’s readers a taste of the first half of twentieth century America in a way that is both relatable and entertaining. Augie March and most of the characters who interact with him in this story are not at all loveable people. But what they do have is a certain authenticity that Mr. Bellow systematically and skillfully reveals to the reader. These characters through their actions and a parlance steeped in speech of their times that vividly portray life in the 1920’s, 30’s and forties.
Tom Parker does a masterful job in narrating this book. His performance added much to the enjoyment of the Audible edition.
Recommended: Yes.

What did you like best about this story?

Well read and easy to listen to.

I had great difficulty reading this book. I spent about a year and a half trying to get through the story myself. I finally decided to give Audible a try. Normal I can't focus on a story with someone else reading but Mr. Tom Parker did an excellent job and I'm finally able to put this book behind me. He did a very good job with all the run on sentences, (in my opinion), and changing his voice for all the different characters. So if you're looking to read this story take my advice and listen to it instead.

My favorite book in the world

I have read this over and over and now I can listen to it.
The characters are all interesting and knowable, but the thing about it is the language.
The rich rich American language. The descriptions of things and places and people and emotions and confusions are all-encompassing. There is no book you ever get inside of like you get inside of this one.
Saul Bellow was a great writer, and I've enjoyed all his books, especially "The Dean's December," but this is his youthful outpouring, just a flood of words and characters and situations, each as engaging as the last.
My favorite. All-time.

Great prose for reading

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Maybe I can't get my Aussie/Scottish brain around this dialect, but I found this read far too fast. There appeared to be some delicious prose in the text, but it was delivered way with an accent I was unfamiliar with and at a very fast rate. Wish I had bought the book. Definitely one to read and chew over at your own pace.

Great characterization, weak plot line

The reader and the author's gift for narrative make the scenes and characters come to life. But at the end, its hard not to long for some of the traditional elements of fiction, like a story that leads to a conflict, and to an eventual reconciliation.

Augie

This novel shows the great writer in Saul Bellow. The main character, Augie, is a genius for verbalising his ideas. Highly recommended.

A work of genius.

Bellow’s writing is like jazz if jazz could be captured in words. It’s exciting. It’s authentic. It’s low brow and high brow pull

Odd, Dated and Excellent: Don't Miss It

This book is like On the Road: The Original Scroll - Jack Kerouac. Tone it down a bit and you've got a pretty similar story. In fact, I'd be very surprised if there wasn't an influence of one upon the other though I couldn't specify the direction of flow.

If you haven't experienced Bellow, I'd start with Henderson the Rain King. This book is brilliant but might drag on you if you're not used to the style. Bellow gives a little story and then injects a bit of philosophy or insight. These sparks are beautiful, like having your way lit through a wooded path in the night with the flicking of a lighter that never lights. But that's not a criticism, it's the bright flashes that give snap shots that a steady lighting would only blur.

And there it is. You get this series of flashes of this guy's life. It's a wonderful, flawless romp.

I loved every minute.

So this is why people like Saul Bellow

I know I'm on dangerous ground criticizing a classic like this, but I really liked the growing up years better than the adult years in this book. Partly I guess that's because it was like a window into the world of my grandparents, partly because the adult Augie just seemed too wishy-washy about taking charge of his own life. Not that that's unusual but it makes for a mixed bag as far as literature is concerned. I did love the narrator's voice throughout. I miss the big city accents out here on the west coast. For that matter, I love Saul Bellow's 'voice' throughout. He is a keen observer of humanity and his characters are always interesting even when they're annoying or aggravating or just being stupid.

Magnificent book but audio is crap

A real classic. Only problem with this recording is the sound quality. There are background noises and you get really annoyed with the sound of the recorder going on an of as the narrator speaks and pauses. You may stand it if you have other background noise, eg if you commute and listen in your car.