The Painted Bird

By: Jerzy Kosinski

Narrated by: Fred Berman, Michael Aronov

Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Originally published in 1965, The Painted Bird established Jerzy Kosinski as a major literary figure. Called by the Los Angeles Times "one of the most imposing novels of the decade" it was eventually translated into more than 30 languages.

A harrowing story that follows the wanderings of a boy abandoned by his parents during World War II, The Painted Bird is a dark masterpiece that examines the proximity of terror and savagery to innocence and love. It is the first, and the most famous, novel by one of the most important and original writers of this century.

©1965 Jerzy N. Kosinski (P)2010 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"One of the best. . . . Written with deep sincerity and sensitivity." (Elie Wiesel, The New York Times Book Review)

"Extraordinary... literally staggering...one of the most powerful books I have ever read." ( Harper’s magazine)

It grips you and makes you beg for mercy

What did you like best about this story?

Stark and brutal perspective of Eastern Europe during WWII

If you could rename The Painted Bird, what would you call it?

Cruelty, A Primer

Any additional comments?

A harrowing and beautifully written book. Where Vonnegut gave us the American perspective of WWII in Slaughterhouse 5, Kosinski bring us the opposite, horrifying perspective through the eyes of a Jewish child as he witnesses and deals with the madness and carnage of WWII. This novel brings to vivid life the anguish and brutality of the times more than other books, photos or movies I have read/seen...it was a difficult read, but a mesmerizing one, and I felt at several times that I couldn't read any more but at the same time couldn't put this book down. A tremendous book really, the kind that changes your perspective on political realities...and makes you thankful for the enduring peace we have enjoyed in the US, but wary of what the future could hold. A must read -- but don't blame me for the nightmares you have afterwards.

Suffering

There is a certain kind of extreme beauty one finds only within harsh and brutal suffering.

That being the case this is the most beautiful book I have ever read.

Can you say depressing?

Tough story to get through because of all the bad things that happen to the boy. I did find it interesting how he's views and how he managed to cope evolved.

My favorite audio book to date

The narrator was chosen perfectly, adding to what is already an amazing book. I am happy that the book was accompanied by afterward.

Heavy

Wow we are such pussys now days. Although a story much was accurate as to the atrocities. A time of true evil. It will come again.

Not exactly my style.

Ok so here’s the deal, about half way through the book I was fully planning on giving it two or three stars because it just seemed to me like the author was just setting up different but similar situations and then trying to find one of the most dismal and dreary outcomes. But the epilogue encouraged me to try and be more objective, regardless the author had just learned English and I think it shows. The narrator wasn’t bad but was consistently putting in these weird pauses that sounded like a strange combination of recollective and exasperated. So, I personally didn’t enjoy the book but you’re not the same as me so you may enjoy it, I don’t know.

A very Captivating story

This story came in my recommendations I bought it hesitantly however from the first minutes of hearing it I was captivated. The story was amazing, period. I don’t care about all the controversy surrounding it, I️t was well written and easy to listen to.

Mesmerized

This is one of the better books I've listened to on Audible. I was hesitant, because after a while all WWII books sort of feel the same. This one is much different. I like that WWII is going on all around, but its more about the treachery among the peasants to one another in the random Polish towns. The book is so bipolar. It's so garish in places, you just have to laugh. They chose a perfect narrator. Afterwards, I discovered this is the same guy who wrote "Being There." Two very different stories. Wow.

A dark, depressing, and often surreal tale

A dark, depressing, and often surreal tale of survival in Nazi-controlled Eastern Europe. This was recommended/not recommended by a professor I had. He recommended reading it because The Painted Bird is an influential (and controversial) work of Holocaust literature and his doctorate is in that field. He also didn't recommend reading it because it is dark and brutal and more than a little WTF.

In many ways 'The Painted Bird' reminded me of Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road'. Both have a similar apocalyptic atmosphere in which the depravity of man is paramount and the desperate struggle for survival seems hopeless. However, setting historical and Holocaust literature values aside, 'The Road' is a better book. 'The Painted Bird' seems determined to beat you over the head as bluntly as possible with just how horrible people can be, especially toward an outsider (i.e. a painted bird). While this is understandable given the setting and background of the work, the repetitive brutality and increasing WTF-factor ultimately undercuts the power and progress of the story. And it is entirely possible this was the author's intent, to beat the reader down until he/she feels nothing but a grey sense of resignation and numbness to the horrors around them. It is effective in that regard, but it certainly makes for some unpleasant reading. The narration really adds to this steady slide into despair. It is not bad narration, but it is...tired. A sort of monotone drone of tired hopelessness. Again this adds to the overall unpleasantness, but it is strikingly appropriate to the story.

'The Painted Bird' is a work of historical value, and anyone interested in Holocaust literature should read it, although I was surprised how minimally the war and Holocaust itself factored directly into the bulk of the work. It is controversial, largely due to issues with the author, and I would suggest reading up on that, as well as the author's response.

Ultimately, this is a work that must be read in light of the Holocaust. On it's own there isn't really much about this book that I'd recommend, but placed in its proper context, it is clearly not insubstantial in its scope and impact.

Still so impactful after all these years.

I first read The Painted Bird in the mid 70's. For me it was an amazing and piece of storytelling. I then had read everything Kozinski had written. In 1979 I met him at a book signing in Philadelphia. I brought all of my hard book issues of his books and signed everyone. Now these are among my most cherished possessions. I was a bit hesitant to have the story read to me, but the narrator did an excellent job. I thought his timing and emotion were perfect. Still so impactful after all these years.