The Burgess Boys

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Strout

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Haunted by the freak accident that killed their father when they were children, Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their Maine hometown of Shirley Falls for New York City as soon as they possibly could. Jim, a sleek, successful corporate lawyer, has belittled his bighearted brother their whole lives, and Bob, a Legal Aid attorney who idolizes Jim, has always taken it in stride. But their long-standing dynamic is upended when their sister, Susan - the Burgess sibling who stayed behind - urgently calls them home. Her lonely teenage son, Zach, has gotten himself into a world of trouble, and Susan desperately needs their help. And so the Burgess brothers return to the landscape of their childhood, where the long-buried tensions that have shaped and shadowed their relationship begin to surface in unexpected ways that will change them forever.

With a rare combination of brilliant storytelling, exquisite prose, and remarkable insight into character, Elizabeth Strout has brought to life two deeply human protagonists whose struggles and triumphs will resonate with listeners long after the ausiobook is over. Tender, tough-minded, loving, and deeply illuminating about the ties that bind us to family and home, The Burgess Boys is Elizabeth Strout’s newest and perhaps most astonishing work of literary art.

©2013 Elizabeth Strout (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Deeply human... Though loneliness and loss haunt these pages, Strout also supplies gentle humor and a nourishing dose of hope.” ( Booklist)

Engaging writing and fantastic performance

Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the narration. Overall an easy listen. Highly recommend the purchase.

Tremendous insight, gorgeous imaginative writing

I loved all of Elizabeth Sprouts books. I’m on a roll, ready to read the next one!

A great story!

Would you listen to The Burgess Boys again? Why?

I would listen to this book again. Strout does a wonderful job with character development. Each one is real and believable!

Might be my favorite Strout novel

I’m always surprised by how profoundly moved I am by Strout’s novels. Maybe the surprise comes from how far removed I am from these characters (I’m African American and a city girl through and through). The emotion comes from how completely relatable she renders these characters and their lives. And for those to which I can’t relate, I’ve gained newfound understanding. It’s a remarkable talent she has.

Great story; terrible narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Never, ever, ever should someone try to "do" a Maine accent. Either you have an original one or don't attempt this. I found the readers attempt to "do" this accent distracting at best and highly irritating at worst. It was uneven, as though she would remember here or there that she was supposed to be reading a character from Maine. This made the book much less of an enjoyable experience for me. I probably would have liked the book much better if I'd just read it rather than listened to it.

very interesting interplay between characters

If you could sum up The Burgess Boys in three words, what would they be?

very human

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

This is a serious book and has moments of real human response which were funny

Love Elizabeth Strout!

Excellent writing if a bit sad. It’s so great how her various works tie together.

ONE OF STROUT'S BEST

Actually, when has Elizabeth Strout written a bad book? Done with her inimitable style and inimitable observations of how we humans behave, both badly and well. A gem.

Some Secrets Shouldn't be Kept

With apologies to Shakespeare, "some men are born sad and some men have sadness thrust upon them." Bob Burgess is one of the latter. Years ago, a freak car accident with toddler Bob in the front seat claimed the life of Bob's father. Modern psychology sometimes distinguishes guilt from shame this way: Guilt says, "What I did was bad " and Shame says "Who I am is bad." Bob could be the poster child for what happens when blame hardens into shame which results in a life that never really gets off the ground. Nevertheless, it is Bob who is the heart and soul of "The Burgess Boys." He lives his blighted life with humility, intelligence, and humor while struggling to keep his old personal demons from affecting his current relationships. Big brother Jim is a successful go getter who works hard, plays hard, and when he wants your opinion, he'll give it to you. Jim Burgess has achieved worldly success but is not the guy you trust to have your back. Just when you mentally roll your eyes convinced the author's description of Jim is veering into an obnoxious caricature, the origins of his larger-than-life personality begin to emerge. Jim begins to make sense, and this adds to our understanding of his siblings as well. Layers are peeled away as each character responds to unexpected events, and each other.

I found this book captivating and extremely well written. The story describes what happens to the Burgess family when an impulsive, foolish act becomes a catalyst for life changes and truth telling. The characters are fantastic - very human in the best sense of the word: life bats them about, but they find enough courage and tenacity to rise above worn grooves of resignation. Even if the players in the story aren't the most likable at times, they each are worth getting to know. Strout's plot is compelling and raises complex moral questions that have no easy answers. I'm still pondering some points a day after finishing the book. Finally, narrator Cassandra Campbell is perfection. She narrates "The Burgess Boys" with warmth, intelligence and a wicked Maine accent. Ayuh.

Another Brilliant Exposition on Being Human

Elizabeth Strout has a unqiue ability to capture people as they are and as they interrelate. With the exception of Tyler's wife, who is a bit of a caricature, the characters are allowed to unfold, or devolve, in a way that feels real and whole. This book is troubling at times but is ultimately a book about how to love, understand, forgive and embrace yourself and others.