The Bonfire of the Vanities

By: Tom Wolfe

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 27 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

This bitingly hilarious American satire will forever define late twentieth-century New York style.

Tom Wolfe’s bestselling modern classic tells the story of Sherman McCoy, an elite Wall Street bond trader who has it all: wealth, power, prestige, a Park Avenue apartment, a beautiful wife, and an even more beautiful mistress, until one wrong turn sends Sherman spiraling downward in a humiliating fall from grace.

A car accident in the Bronx involving Sherman, his girlfriend, and two young lower-class Black men sets a match to the incendiary racial and social tensions of 1980s New York City. Suddenly, Sherman finds himself embroiled in the most brutal, high-profile case of the year, as prosecutors, politicians, the press, the police, the clergy, and assorted hustlers rush in to further their own political and social agendas. With so many egos at stake, the last priority on anyone’s mind is truth or justice.

©1987 Tom Wolfe (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A big, bitter, funny, craftily plotted book that grabs you by the lapels and won't let go." ( New York Times Book Review)
"Sheer entertainment against a fabulous background....Often hilarious, and much, much more." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Erupting from the first line with noise, color, tension and immediacy....brilliant." ( Publishers Weekly)

Engagingly fascinating. Narration is excellent.

It is astounding to read that the current social tensions in the country are not far away from those back in the mid 80's.
Great narration.

So glad I got this version

Any additional comments?

Several years ago I got The Bonfire of the Vanities through Audible but with a different reader. I tried many times to listen, but the sound quality and the reader, oh how to put this delicately.... the sound quality and the reader sucked. Thankfully Audible allowed a return and I got this version of the book. WOW!!! So glad I did. The sound quality is good with this version and that's helpful, but the real improvement is the narrator. Joe Barrett is fantastic. This book has many multi character scenes; that has to present issues for narrators. Joe Barrett manages beautifully giving unique personalities to the various characters. With this book and Joe Barrett, I didn't have to stop and think who was who. That happens because the narrator's abilities don't help me differentiate between characters. I hate that when it happens because it takes me out of the story's flow.

The book is well written with a great story. Having lived through the 1980s I think the book captured that time perfectly. The characters are not lovable. I found myself not liking the two most likable of the book's characters. However, the characters are interesting and memorable. I'll take interesting and memorable over likable any day. The story is compelling and I found myself listening into the wee hours only to do it again and again until the book was finished, but that's a book finished for now, this is one of those books that I'll listen to again.

Screech

Loved the story but at times I wanted to put in ear plugs the way the narrator would shriek out some of the words. Perhaps the Southern "drawls" were supposed to be humerous but they were mostly grating but overall Wolfe's writing made it worth the discomfort.

Great story. Great narration

Well done all around.
Tom Wolfe wrote a great story.
The narrator did an excellent job of telling the story.

Outstanding

This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever heard. The story is detailed, funny and sad at the same time while dripping with irony. The performance brought a great deal to the story and made it much better. Try it, you’ll love it.

Best narrator ever!

This is a great one! The best narration I’ve heard to date. Its as if there was an actor for every single character.
Story is great, waaaay better than the movie so don’t judge the book if you’ve seen the movie first.
I’m now a Tom Wolfe fan for sure.

Long

Incredibly long! Racial tensions and the attitudes of the upper class are spot on. Interesting because of that interplay.

Wonderful reader!

The reader was superb! It really makes the book come alive when the reader uses different accents for the different characters!

Stunning

This is my first Tom Wolfe book. I’ll read them all now, I think. What a fabulous writer! I was so hooked I had to rewind and listen to parts over again. Didn’t want it to end. The reader is incredibly good. So many accents he manages! Even his pronunciation of foreign languages is excellent. What a performance of this riveting book.

Interesting

Some of this book is so long in parts of becomes boring! I almost deleted it because of that. I will say it shows all sides of racism. I'm all classes. I did enjoy the different New York dilectets. Was well read even the overly drawn out parts. I think I will try more books by Mr. Wolfe as he did keep me in the books for the most part