Deliverance

By: James Dickey

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

The smash-hit best seller that inspired the acclaimed 1972 film starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox is now available in unabridged audio for the very first time.

The setting is the Georgia wilderness, where the state's most remote white-water river awaits. In the thundering froth of that river, in its echoing stone canyons, four men on a canoe trip discover a freedom and exhilaration beyond compare. And then, in a moment of horror, the adventure turns into a struggle for survival as one man becomes a human hunter who is offered his own harrowing deliverance.

This classic tale is vividly read by movie and TV star and Audie Award-winning narrator Will Patton.

©1970 James Dickey (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

100 Best Novels ( The Modern Library)

All-Time 100 Novels ( Time)

"Will Patton's narration is nothing short of haunting. His Southern tone steadily declines from that of a man pondering all that is possible in the world to that of a shattered soul." ( AudioFile)

Engrossing.

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

Absolutely. Felt like I was in Appalachia. A Bill Bryson trip gone terribly wrong.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deliverance?

There were several. This was a stay in the car a little while longer book.

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great accent, pacing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not that kind of book. I'd be worried about people moved by this book.

Enjoyable

The story reminded me a lot of "Call of the Wild" and "White Fang" and other outdoorsy stories about struggling for survival.

Some uncomfortable scenes...

The writing is descriptive, the central narration is believable and the plot moved steadily. Deliverance is not a classic work of fiction by any means, but neither is it hack job.

My observations should you consider reading (possible spoilers):

- very 70'ish in tone and dialogue (slightly dated).
- gritty
- homosexual rape scene/and other sexual references.
- survivalist mindset including murder

Awesome!!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Deliverance the most enjoyable?

I have seen the movie which is excellent several times, but the book is awesome.
Dickey can write and uses words like a railroad man drives a spike.
I loved his description of canoeing. Amazing.
This is a man's book about men in the wilderness with a great intro about contemporary culture.

Who was your favorite character and why?

No comment

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Will Patton's accent and inflection makes the narrative come alive.

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

I have done whitewater rafting and canoeing. Listening to the book I was on the water again..

Very intense and compelling!

This story did not disappoint. It was thrilling, and intense until the end. I highly recommend it to anyone who asks. Will Patten is an excellent narrator and keeps the drama moving along.

Great!

Everything about this book was excellent. The narration was fabulous and the story is intriguing and suspenseful. I would highly recommend it.

Glad I Read The Book

Saw the movie many years ago but had never read the book. So glad I did. Very well written story and in my opinion tells a story which is quite believable. A little different from the movie and makes me want to see the movie again. Would certainly recommend this book.

Stunning

I knew nothing about this book or the movie, really, when I downloaded the Audible book. It is very compelling. Super well done. Gut wrenching but not too graphic. A story that really holds your attention and the narration is outstanding!!

Better than movie!

I almost refused to listen to this Audio Book because I didn't like the movie. I'm glad I gave the book a try because it goes so much deeper into the human experience and doesn't get hung up on that one scene.

Excellent story and narrator.

I made this purchase based on the reviews I read, and they were spot on. This story is much more than the movie, more suspenseful than violent.