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)

Susan Sarandon makes it sparkle!

This book is already a classic, but the narration by Susan Sarandon makes it even more precious.

Wonderful

This book was as I remembered it from years ago. Touching , humorous, and beautifully written, it was narrated perfectly by Susan Sarandon. I highly recommend it.

Problems with the story

First of all, let me say that I loved the narration; I thought Susan Sarandon did a great job.

Now for the story...the overall story was fine, but I didn't like the main character Frankie. I know she is a motherless child with a father that seemed to never be around for her, but still she was so obnoxious and boring. She didn't do anything except sit around and complain and talk about her wild thoughts. I was a nerdy, relatively unpopular 12 year old girl at one time, but I did stuff; I read, did crafts like macrame and embroidery, took gymnastics classes, babysat. Frankie is a prime example of a person who has way too much time on their hands and overthinks everything.

And I had a real problem with the night before the wedding. They spend a long time eating and visiting and they talk about bathing so that they look their best for the wedding, but at 8pm Frankie and John Henry are roaming the town, visiting a psychic, and meeting a soldier in a bar!! And she is out in the clothes she is planning to wear to the wedding! Seems like Berenice should have been telling both kids that had to stay in the house, take baths, and get to bed early because they had to get up at 5:30 in the morning to travel to the wedding!!

Brilliant book, wrong narrator

What a fine combination of Naturalism and Modernism. McCullers’ book is brilliant in its apparent simplicity but true insight. However, New Yorker Susan Sarandon is the wrong reader for this novel. Listen to Sissy Spacek’s fine reading of To Kill a Mockingbird, and you’ll see what I mean.

Sweet story about a girl in love with a wedding

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

Just hearing Susan Sarandon's wonderful narration is worth it, but the story is lovely and interesting, with great characters. It's one of those audiobooks that you want to listen to on a warm sunny day, lying on a blanket, or staring out of the window. Almost like a girl's version of Huckleberry Finn - in an odd way!

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

It reminds me of The Harp in the South by Australian author Ruth Park, which portrays a poor Catholic family during the Depression. The main character is a girl also growing up too quickly.

Have you listened to any of Susan Sarandon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't but I'd listen to anything she does

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed a lot and was worried about the incident with the soldier!

Any additional comments?

I loved Berenice and John Henry more than Frankie! Great characters!

This is not the girl next door.

Where does The Member of the Wedding rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best combinations of story and performance I have heard. Southern suduction is sooooo slow to develop it seems like a story told on the porch on a hot summer day when even cold lemonade only cools the storyteller, but doesn't speed up the telling.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Member of the Wedding?

When we find out the difference between the member of the wedding's wish and reality and the consiquences of that truth.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

You can't fix the characters anymore than they can fix each other. Though they do try.

Any additional comments?

Get comfortable, keep listening.

Loved it

I enjoyed every minute of this book. A wonderful story of childhood and the ups and downs of growing up. In times when children had there own imagination to turn to. I also love the stories the grownups would tell when kids actually found them interesting.
Great writing by McCullers and perfect narrative by Sarandon.

Ahhh, to be a 12 year old girl again

I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to. I kept thinking of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird - the main character has curiosity, spunk and dreams. While the book came to a logical end, I found I wanted to know more about Frankie and her life growing up. I will read more by Carson McCullers. Thank you Suzanne Vega, for bringing Carson McCullers to my attention via your new play and soundtrack.

A lovely slice of life, coming of age story

If you lean toward plot driven books, this one isn't for you.

This is a lyrical coming of age story that captures mood and scene and emotion. It is beautifully written. Sarandon does a fine job with the narration.

good characters

this story is character driven not much happens but still interesting. seemed rushed at the end.