The Member of the Wedding

By: Carson McCullers

Narrated by: Susan Sarandon

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

The best way to experience this classic of the American South is by joining five-time Academy Award nominee and Best Actress winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking, Thelma & Louise) as she guides the listener on a journey through the anguish of adolescence and isolation.

"Rarely has emotional turbulence been so delicately conveyed," said The New York Times of Carson McCullers' sensitive portrayal of Frankie Addams, a disconnected 12-year-old whose only friends are her family’s maid and a six-year-old cousin. Desperate to be part of something big, she takes an overlarge interest in her brother’s wedding and dreams of following the couple on their honeymoon to the Alaskan wilderness. But as Frankie crosses into adulthood, she experiences the fantasy-shattering disillusionment that must come with it. This is a story for anybody who’s ever felt like an outsider and a natural fit for Ms. Sarandon, a master at creating authentic, sympathetic characters.

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©1946 Carson McCullers (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Sarandon uses her voice well to convey all the emotions of a troubled girl who is searching for a place to belong." (Audiofile)

Wonderful!

An excellent performance of this brilliant text. McCullers's short novel is a riveting examination of her precocious adolescent protagonist. Do not miss this book.

Sarandon really brings the story to life

I really enjoyed Sarandon's reading. Her ability to slightly change her voice for different characters really brings the book to life.

Susan Sarandon should stick to acting

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Time was not well-spent

If you’ve listened to books by Carson McCullers before, how does this one compare?

I've never listened to this author before

How could the performance have been better?

Susan Sarandon is a great actress - not a good reader though.

I love Susan Saradon, but don't love the book.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I didn't think the storyline was all that interesting.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I thought it was a little boring actually.

Which character – as performed by Susan Sarandon – was your favorite?

The little girl.

Did The Member of the Wedding inspire you to do anything?

No

Such a pleasure

A remarkable book brilliantly narrated by Susan Sarandon. This coming of age story was ahead of its time. The characters are wonderfully drawn. I loved Saradon's narration, perfect for this book. The narration is not overwrought, like so many done by professional audiobook narrators. I loved this book.

Only just began

I have only just begun but I already know this is a special special book. And Susan Sarandon is a gift. I don't want to go to work. I just want to sit here and listen.

A must-have for your audio library

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The Member of the Wedding has long been a favorite book of mine and Susan Sarandon does it justice with her easy and unaffected delivery. She brings life to this Southern tale of coming of age so that you are daydreaming in Frankie's kitchen, going head to head with the housemaid, Berenice or standing in the yard begging for small John Henry's company. The story took Carson McCullers five years to complete. She wrote in a letter to her husband that it was was

What other book might you compare The Member of the Wedding to and why?

Carson McCullers wrote a previous book called

Which scene was your favorite?

I love when Frankie is alone, her father is working late, Berenice has left for the day, and while Frankie won't admit her loneliness, she stands in the evening light in her yard, calling to John Henry to come on over and sleep at her house. John Henry is balancing himself on the porch railing and telling her no, he doesn't want to come over just now.

Timeless portrait of adolescence

This story isn’t flashy and it won’t exactly keep you on the edge of your seat…but if you settle into it’s meandering pace, which is like a late summer afternoon that seems to go on forever, you will find characters expressed so deeply and humanly you feel like they are a part of you. McCullers’ writing creates a world that’s vividly palpable, and Sarandon’s narration was a match made in heaven. One of my favorite listens so far.

Imagine Susan Sarandon Reading to Me!!

What a treat to hear that wonderful voice reading this classic. She gives the main character all the spunk that McCullers created and she pulls our emotions into the story to care about what happens to the girl. (Okay, it takes a few minutes to forget the sultry actress, but she soon does make you hear the girl.)

The richness of this book commonly referred to as a "coming of age novel" is that it is about so much more than sex. In fact, it is about the experience of loss, loss of dreams, of naive acceptance and of people, which, I believe, matures us far more radically than lust or even love. Central to the plot is the girl's belief that she will be leaving her small community with her brother and his wife right after the wedding. This fantasy colors all her experiences and touches the listener's heart.

engaging coming of age story

Would you listen to The Member of the Wedding again? Why?

No. It was good, but this 60-something listener only needs to hear it once.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the interaction of the characters who were very likeable and the interesting storyline.

Which scene was your favorite?

no favorites

Any additional comments?

no