Train Dreams

A Novella

By: Denis Johnson

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times Notable Book for 2011
One of The Economist's 2011 Books of the Year
One of NPR's 10 Best Novels of 2011

From the National Book Award-winning author Denis Johnson (Tree of Smoke) comes Train Dreams, an epic in miniature, and one of Johnson's most evocative works of fiction.

Suffused with the history and landscapes of the American West—its otherworldly flora and fauna, its rugged loggers and bridge builders—this extraordinary novella poignantly captures the disappearance of a distinctly American way of life.

It tells the story of Robert Grainer, a day laborer in the American West at the start of the twentieth century—an ordinary man in extraordinary times. Buffeted by the loss of his family, Grainer struggles to make sense of this strange new world. As his story unfolds, we witness both his shocking personal defeats and the radical changes that transform America in his lifetime.

©2002 Denis Johnson (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“[A] severely lovely tale . . . The visionary, miraculous element in Johnson's deceptively tough realism makes beautiful appearances in this book... I started reading ‘Train Dreams' with hoarded suspicion, and gradually gave it all away, in admiration of the story's unaffected tact and honesty . . .” —James Wood, The New Yorker

“Johnson beautifully conveys what he calls ‘the steadying loneliness' of most of Grainier's life, the ordinary adventures of a simple man whose people are, we hear, ‘the hard people of the northwestern mountains,' and toward the end even convinces us of his character's inquisitive and perhaps even deeper nature than we might first have imagined. Grainier ‘lived more than eighty years, well into the 1960s,' we learn. Most people who read this beautifully made word-engraving on the page will find him living on.” —Alan Cheuse, NPR

“Johnson captures the feeling of the woods and the small towns built around mining, logging and the new railroads. Indians and Chinese laborers also play significant roles . . . The writing is spare and frequently beautiful; Johnson's backwoods dialogue and tall tales are often hilarious; and he graces us with such wonderful words as ‘pulchritude' and ‘confabulation'--it's a shame we don't hear them much anymore.” —Stephen K. Tollefson, San Francisco Chronicle

Beautiful and haunting writing- worth many listens

Would you listen to Train Dreams again? Why?

The narration by Will Patton is truly excellent, and the writing is mesmerizing. This book is particularly recommended if you have any connection, however remote, to the Pacific Northwest. The story makes one reflect on the harshness of life in remote communities, and the writing was so strong the words quickly flowed by, leaving beautiful, sad images. You can finish the book in a couple of hours, but the images remain long afterwards.

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

I didn't laugh or cry, but was struck by the vividness of the writing.

great gem of a story about early 20th cent West

Where does Train Dreams rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I haven't listened to many so far but I really enjoyed this one.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Train Dreams?

There were a lot of great moments-the book is really a collection of vignets from the life of this down to earth, goood-hearted guy. Each of these mini-stories is so evocative, like how he copes with the fire in the valley, or his ride in the bi-plane, or his experiences felling trees in the woods of Northwest Washington. The author really captures the feel of the placeand time while overlaying the experience of his main character.

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

I LOVED his narration! He has such a unique voice, it was perfect voice and he had the perfect tone and pacing for this laid back character.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Small towns and backwoods experiences of the early 20th century West

Quirky and sometimes Surrealistic

When I finish a work like "Train Dreams," I wish I could ask the author, "What? What story are you telling?"
I have trouble staying engaged with stories which seem quirky and disjointed. This may just be me and my preference of style.
Denis Johnson is a talented writer, and there are sections of "Train Dreams" which show his talent and skill. But the story doesn't stay focused and connected from chapter to chapter. Some are straightforward, some quirky, a few just surrealistic. I don't like stories with odd and unattached threads. A Native American who never drinks, then on the last day of his life gets drunk on beer and struck by a train. Where does this take the story? At the end I'm left with no clear picture of Robert Grainger. Was he unfocused? Was he an underachiever? Was he overwhelmed by a tragedy and the changing technology of his world?
I'm sure there are many Robert Graingers in the world, but I'm not interested in reading about them.

Listening to Will Patton read Denis Johnson

Would you consider the audio edition of Train Dreams to be better than the print version?

Can't say, haven't "read" it.

What did you like best about this story?

The writer's ability to use lyrics to tell his story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Ain't going to say specifically. The loss of family and the description of a wildfire and its consequence isn'y exactly bland.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily, but to my own surprise I found myself re-playing it from the beginning in the gym. Like a Dylan song, listening to the lyrics can be habit-forming. It's that good.

Any additional comments?

I was pretty tongue-in-cheek about Will Patton's tar-heel drawl, but I know he reads JL Burke pretty seriously and I give him top marks for interpreting what I think might be the best story written that I can remember.

2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist

The novella begins and ends with cries to others, in between Robert Granier is usually alone in the Pacific Northwest.

Why four and not five? A few word choices took me out of Robert Grainer's introspection, during shifts between descriptions of the valley and Granier’s thoughts, and the narrative leaps were jarring at times.

Will Patton does an excellent job. His voice is weary, optimistic, intelligent, detached. But this is a laconic open man, and while the characterizations are distinctive, Patton’s voice is better suited for Saigon (“Tree of Smoke”), New Orleans (James Lee Burke) or Manhattan (“Cosmopolis”).

(Train Dreams was a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. For the first time since the 1970s, there was no award for Fiction.)

A complaint: the cover is a desaturated Thomas Hart Benton-like scene, a race between horse and Iron Horse across the dull lumpy prairie. It is misleading. The train dreams are not those of man against machine; this is not John Henry. I interpreted the title as a command: train your dreams.

Mr. Johnson + Mr Patton = Priceless

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

Absolutely without hesitation. This is the first audio book I have ever listened to two times in a row. .Patton is masterful once again. This may be one of his best performances. Johnson is hypnotic in both his language and his story. I have liked every book by Mr. Johnson starting with Tree of Smoke. This one is short but call it a 'small wonder'.

What did you like best about this story?

Before you know it each word, each line has pulled you unsuspectingly into a world you can not predict. You pick up your brain and look around and wonder how you got here....like a dream.

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

He breaths life and atmosphere into a the words and characters like no one else and is simply not possible with the written word.

If you could rename Train Dreams, what would you call it?

Sorry. You do not mess with a masterpiece.

Any additional comments?

Simply a gem. Eagerly awaiting more from Johnson.

enjoyable short stories, exceptional performance

enjoyed this. the writing is excellent. the stories pretty entertaining. the voice performance was awesome. perfect for the writing.

Incredible

Some of the best narration I've ever heard and all of it written in a powerful voice. Truly incredible book and production.

Hauntingly beautiful

I was extremely pleasantly surprised. Great narration- easy to listen to & goes by fast. Beautiful story.

Too violent

Hate speech was hard to listen to. Even in a historical context. The story was uneven so I only got into the first hour of it.