The Sunset Limited

A Novel in Dramatic Form

By: Cormac McCarthy

Narrated by: Austin Pendleton, Ezra Knight, Tom Stechschulte

Length: 1 hr and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A startling encounter on a New York subway platform leads two strangers to a run-down tenement where a life or death decision must be made.

In that small apartment, Black and White, as the two men are known, begin a conversation that leads each back through his own history, mining the origins of two fundamentally opposing world views. White is a professor whose seemingly enviable existence of relative ease has left him nonetheless in despair. Black, an ex-con and ex-addict, is the more hopeful of the men, though he is just as desperate to convince White of the power of faith as White is desperate to deny it. Their aim is no less than this: to discover the meaning of life.

Deft, spare, and full of artful tension, The Sunset Limited is a beautifully crafted, consistently thought-provoking, and deceptively intimate work by one of the most insightful writers of our time.

©2007 Cormac McCarthy (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“A brilliantly articulated piece, penned by a wildly acclaimed fiction writer. Nothing short of dazzling. So astonishingly effecting, so powerful, so stimulating!” ( Chicago Tribune)

Touching story

I really enjoyed this story. Loved the way Ezra & Austin brought this story to life. I felt like I was sitting there watching them.

Came here because of a movie

Excellent Performance! I have to admit though that I wish there was a version done by Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L Jackson. Jackson's dissertation on "light you can hold , has a little weight" and Jones absolutely oblivion black hole dark face to face eye..."DO you UNDERSTAND ?" rebuttal was life altering. Therefore I would own both...no hesitation ...Well Done.

A hope of nothingness

A thoroughly and surprisingly engaging (and potentially enlightening or horribly perplexing) dialogue about existence. It’s serious enough that you might laugh while reading it, of course right before you cry.

Outstanding content and realistic delivery

I liked everything. Dramatic intensity, real people, serious ideas, no caricatures or stereotypes. Brilliant.

Stunningly well read

0:22 Message 1, sent to the woman who is most passionate about books:
I'm only 20 minutes in, but the first ten alone would be make the next 70 minutes of it worthwhile even if they suck. Worth breaking your audio resistance :).

00:23 Message 2, sent to my brother the preacher:
If you haven't listened to this, the first 10 minutes of the 102 already indicate a strong recommendation (specifically to you). I love you, my brother. <3

00:52 Message 3, sent to my brother the preacher:
LOL... okay... after 29 minutes more listening, I'm like WHAT HAVE I DONE???
And, still, the recommendation stands.

01:18 Message 4, sent from my brother the preacher:
:) - will have to see what you're hearing. ...
Just put in a hold request.
How are you doing?

01:24 Message 5, sent to my brother the preacher:
At the moment, I am completely delighted with life and thought and Cormac McCarthy and exceptionally good and heartfelt reading and severely disappointed that there are only 38 minutes of this specific joy left.
I am well.
You?

01:42 Message 6, sent to the woman who is most passionate about books:
The next 70 minutes didn't suck.
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This book. Not for the faint of heart, but it's Cormac McCarthy, so you already knew that.
I strongly recommend this audio edition. I suspect I wouldn't have gotten as much out of it in print. I could be wrong.

*Lets it rest for the night*

** And then hits Play again. **

Another classic by Cormac McCarthy

Look no further for a quick, satisfying listen. The narrators were great, bringing the dialogue to life.

dare to listen.

I can imagine samuel l. jackson being the black.i will attempt to find the movie version.

Great book!

Phenomenal! I bought this after seeing the movie. Both men are in hell and the only way out is for one of them to give up to the other. And tomorrow they will repeat the day.

Excellent

Excellent story.
Excellent performances.
Excellent writer.
Unexpected.
The more I read Mcarthy, the closer I come to proclaiming him my favorite.

McCarthy’s “Waiting for Godot”

The question of ‘to be or not to be” debated by two unlikely companions. Funny and wise. Light vs Dark, neither of which can exist without the other. These two hash out the ultimate question: Is life worth living? I’ve sat at their table listened to their conversation a few times.