The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

By: Carson McCullers

Narrated by: Cherry Jones

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Carson McCullers was all of 23 when she published her first novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. She became an overnight literary sensation, and soon such authors as Tennessee Williams were calling her "the greatest prose writer that the South [has] produced." The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter tells an unforgettable tale of moral isolation in a small southern mill town in the 1930s.

Richard Wright was astonished by McCullers's ability "to rise above the pressures of her environment and embrace white and black humanity in one sweep of apprehension and tenderness." Hers is a humanity that touches all who come to her work, whether for the first time or, as so many do, time and time again. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is Carson McCullers at her most compassionate, most enduring best.

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©1940, 1967 Carson Smith McCullers (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Classics, 2005

"A remarkable book...[McCullers writes] with a sweep and certainty that are overwhelming." (The New York Times)

Amazing storyteller

This story caught my interest in the first minute and held my interest to the very end , and left an open endedness which I really appreciated. I liked the complexity of the characters, and I liked getting a glimpse into a world so different from ours today- no distractions of technology and entertainment to distract from existential suffering. Loved that about the book. Also, it exposed America's fundamental flaw of racism - the poignant, heartbreaking depiction of southern Jim Crow and the tragic specifics. Suddenly, for me, that's what the book was primarily about. McCullers really approached this topic with open eyes and heart.

The Heart....

This was an excellent book the words were poetry the narrator was the best ever. I will always remember this book.

Left me wanting more

A collection of endearing yet flawed characters. Deaf mute Mr. Singer is a living Rorschach test. Everyone sees in him what they want to see. He is a hub connecting a group of social outsiders in a small Georgia town. Great narration and story.

Provocative book, Exquisitely read by Jones!

I find it nearly impossible to think that I have lived almost 55 years without having read this beautiful book. In fact, I am not certain that I had ever heard of either Carson McCullers or The Heart is a Lonely Hunter! And now some other book must be shoved off the my top 100 list to make room for this one.

Carson Mccullers at age 23 has the understanding and wisdom that many never achieve. She had a deep insight into the human condition and an ability to write about it with a simple and moving style... something many writers take years to achieve. Her book touched my heart and made me think in the same way the John Steinbeck, John Irving and Pat Conroy do. How does someone so young relate to the darkness, sadness and tragedy of life? How did she understand it so well?

McCullers wrote about sadness... about people who are unhappy with their place in life, who feel isolated and lonely, about unhappiness caused by racism, religion and government. But what she did that touched me more was to allow the reader to feel what the characters felt. If you read books for intricate and complex plot lines you may be disappointed in this book because it is quiet and simple. Not a great deal happens. But if you read books because you like characters and the way they make you feel and think you will love this book.

Oh, and one more thing... the climax of this book is shocking, tragic and will stay with you long after you read it. I will never forget it. McCullers took my heart and ripped it from my chest. Only a few other authors have done that before.

Cherry Jones' narration is perfect. She allowed the reader to grieve alongside the characters. The accents and tones she used were nuanced and restrained. Her narration allowed the book to stand as the painful and biting work that it is meant to be. I will certainly be looking to see what else she has recorded.

Great Book - Fantastic Narration

Five or so years before she received a well-deserved Best Actress Emmy for her work on 24, Cherry Jones narrated this wonderful piece of American fiction. Her interpretation of all the characters is incredible. One really gets a sense of the emotion of each person portrayed, and, very importantly, in a manner that reflects the time. One note to prospective readers would be to recognize that much of the content is in subtext and various hints rather than overt statements.

Rich in character but not too exciting.

A rich, colorful painting of a southern town and all of its people. A snapshot of the lives of both white and black, educated and non-educated.

INTERESTING

Cherry Jones was FANTASTIC in her narration of this book. The writer as well as the reader did a wonderful job in blending and helping develop each character so that you felt you knew them. It is a must read book. Thanks audible!

Snapshot of 1930s South

I had never heard of this book, but it is #17 on the Modern Library's list of 100 best English fiction of the 20th century, so I took a chance.

The title comes from the poem "The Lonely Hunter" by the Scottish poet William Sharp, who used the pseudonym "Fiona MacLeod". “Deep in the heart of Summer, sweet is life to me still, But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.” - Wikipedia

The story, spanning 1 year, seems to revolve around a deaf mute man who becomes a sounding board for almost everyone he meets. The main characters are all very different (race, socioeconomic, age and gender) and how they interact with each other and the deaf mute held my interest throughout this quietly thoughtful book. Sometimes, this look back at how Whites view Blacks (and vice versa) and words used seem so shocking now, but it's good to remember since we are still trying to evolve and 2020 has shown us, if anything, we might not have made the progress we thought.

As a 64 y/o woman, I could easily remember the young woman's intense feelings of love, anger, confusion, confidence, loss, and intense attraction to discovering music. The older characters also experience life's ebb and flow, and their feelings and subsequent decisions in response to their own life's connections are relatable and heartbreaking.

The narrator was very good, although sometimes it was difficult to distinguish 2 voices in the same conversation. I thought her portrayal of each character was done well without gross exaggeration of accents.

This book sailed along pretty quickly - one of those I end up putting in my pocket to listen as I go about my day - and quickly connect in the car even when going to the grocery 3 minutes away.

So happy I found this classic

I found this to be a very engaging story of diverse, complex characters. I was very impressed by how well the author could write her first novel and especially by her spare descriptions of scenes. She included just enough items to bring the reader along. The narrator was outstanding, possibly the best I've heard. Certainly in the top three.

Relevant and heart-rending story

I chose this listen because I love the narrator, Cherry Jones, and have listened to almost everything she’s read on audio. I’d also heard of the book but didn’t really know much about it. Once into the story I was very curious about the author and read up more about her. I find it truly astounding that a 23-year-old could craft characters of couch depth and truth, especially in the South of the 40’s and especially with such diversity. Clearly, Carson McCullers was a genius. And the story is incredibly relevant for our present era in which racism and fascism are on the rise. I loved how she sketched each character. Especially, the main protagonist, Mick, and the deaf-mute, Singer.

The other aspect of this book that took my breath away was how she created such a unique dynamic amongst the characters as they orbited around Singer. That was just brilliant and very touching.

Two thumbs up!