Back to Blood

A Novel

By: Tom Wolfe

Narrated by: Lou Diamond Phillips

Length: 20 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

A big, panoramic story of the new America, as told by our master chronicler of the way we live now.

As a police launch speeds across Miami's Biscayne Bay - with officer Nestor Camacho on board - Tom Wolfe is off and running. Into the feverous landscape of the city, he introduces the Cuban mayor; the black police chief; a wanna-go-muckraking young journalist and his Yale-marinated editor; an Anglo sex-addiction psychiatrist and his Latina nurse by day, loin lock by night - until lately, the love of Nestor's life; a refined, and oh-so-light-skinned young woman from Haiti and her Creole-spouting, black-gang-banger-stylin' little brother; a billionaire porn addict; crack dealers in the 'hoods; "de-skilled" conceptual artists at the Miami Art Basel Fair; "spectators" at the annual Biscayne Bay regatta looking only for that night's orgy; yenta-heavy ex-New Yorkers at an "Active Adult" condo; and a nest of shady Russians.

Based on the same sort of detailed, on-scene, high-energy reporting that powered Tom Wolfe's previous best-selling novels, Back to Blood is another brilliant, spot-on, scrupulous, and often hilarious reckoning with our times.

©2012 Tom Wolfe (P)2012 Hachette

Rings true as a bell in parts, falls flat in parts

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It seems like a rehash of Bonfire of the Vanities. A cast of characters brought together by a racially inflammatory incident? Check. Character development that only reveals darker and darker aspects of the American personality? Check. A tension between materialism and identity politics? Check.

Has Back to Blood turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, but I'm less likely to read this author in the future.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Phillips was a pretty good narrator, and kept me engaged through some very intricate prose.

Could you see Back to Blood being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I could see it being made into a movie, but that doesn't mean I'd watch it. A lot of texts get adapted that shouldn't be.

A pleasure

I enjoyed the characters' development including their thoughts and distractions while other things were happening. Tom Wolf is a great writer, who continues to deliver a well woven and entertaining story It was an interesting view of Miami, the cultural mix and the Art scene. Very fun.

Great reader

I have loved Tom Wolfe's books in the past but this one didn't do it for me. However the reader great, one of the best I've listened to recently. He saved the book.

Well written/read, except for the lines in Spanish

I really liked this story, but struggled through the dialogues in Spanish. Can't the publisher hire a Spanish-speaking editor, just to make sure the book doesn't murder the language? On top of that, Lou Diamond Phillips does not speak Spanish either, and his mispronunciation of the words made things even worse. I guess if you don't speak Spanish this won't bother you as a reader or listener. It's a very entertaining story, but I just found myself getting aggravated whenever Spanish words or sentences were added (and mangled) for effect.

Couldn’t Stop Listening

Tom Wolfe has such incredible attention to detail in the way he describes human interactions, thoughts and motivations. Not only do you feel for the characters, you feel as if you are in the book with them! I just wish he had written more novels, he is a true master of his art!

A tour de force for Mr. Phillips

Would you consider the audio edition of Back to Blood to be better than the print version?

Yes. No question. Lou Diamond Phillips brings the prose to life. To life! To life! To LIFE!

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

Up there with Michael Prichard's narration of BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, which IMHO is the best audiobook ever.

Which scene was your favorite?

Every accent/character is done so ... seamlessly, so seemingly-without-effort. I felt like I was sitting in a room for a script read-through, with the whole cast present, except Mr. Phillips was the whole cast. Thank you.

Any additional comments?

Again. Thank you to Mr. Phillips. Sincerely.

Lou Diamond Phillips

I wish Lou Diamond Phillips was the narrator on every book I listen to from here on out! He is AMAZING. I did really like the book, a little over the top at times, but interesting peeks at cultures I know nothing about. Fun read.

Marvelous performance by Lou Diamond Phillips

Any additional comments?

LDP makes all the characters come to life in what would otherwise be a less than great work by Tom Wolfe. Not saying it's bad, but not Wolfe's best ever by a fair margin.

Classic Wolfe, great narration

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

I already did. No one riffs with words better than Wolfe. Lou Diamond Phillips narration adds the Miami sound to give it an extra dimension.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Back to Blood?

Nestor realizing his family and neighborhood saw him as a traitor.

What about Lou Diamond Phillips’s performance did you like?

Very versatile actor. This is one book that I really think was better on audio. Some of the Wolfe sentences are relentless. Phillips danced through them with ease and panache.

Who was the most memorable character of Back to Blood and why?

I loved Nestor, but I also thought the sex-addicted sex doc was hilarious.

Narrator, Lou Diamond Phillips is The Business!

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

This was a stellar read. Perfectly paced. Great execution of a large variety of accents - without 'showing off' - always believable and embedded in the story. A text that required an advanced sense of rhythm - Lou DP, you nailed it.

What did you like best about this story?

Plot. Observation. Tom Wolfe - finger on the pulse, as usual, of America now from every angle - politico-socio-racial and just plain human.

Which character – as performed by Lou Diamond Phillips – was your favorite?

There are no duds.

If you could rename Back to Blood, what would you call it?

Why would I?

Any additional comments?

Such great company in my car. So many 'OMG, No!' moments. Brilliant.