The Sun Also Rises

This is possibly the best audio book I have ever listened to. William Hurt's narration is masterful bordering on dramatization but never losing touch with the classic Hemingway prose. This is one of those rare books that I did not want to end. It is altogether possible I will listen to it again simply because it was such a pleasure.

I had to read this book for a university course. First I read the novel myself and then listened to William Hurt's narration. He made the novel come alive for me and inspired me to write my essay on this novel. I especially enjoyed his characterization of Bill's dialogue. I would recommend this audio book to anyone looking for an enjoyable experience.

William Hurt's narration of this novel is simply amazing. His voice makes the story come to life, and his rendition of Mike (the drunken Scottsman) made me really fall in love with the story.

Hurt's excellent French pronunciations also helps considering I have no working knowledge of how to speak romance languages. This story was great from beginning to end. An audible must have!

The scenes in chapter four...the interactions between brett and jake..jakes personal thoughts...the descriptions of life in Paris in the 20s

The love story between brett and jake...and how unique it is

One of the finest performances i have ever had the pleasure. Shame he doesnt narrate more books. he gives such nuance and inflections to the thoughts and voices...things i wouldnt have done on my own just reading it. he truly adds depth to this story. a pleasure to listen to, do your self a favor and give this one a shot.

when jake is alone in his apt and cant sleep and begins to cry

one of the absolute best audiobooks you will ever listen to.

William Hurt does a super job on this classic text. His reading adds perfect tone and pitch bringing out the subtlety of Hemingway's characters and images. A super listen.

I really liked the characters and how Hemingway introduces and then holds true to their persona in the book. I liked the flow and pace of the book, I think the descriptions of Paris and the Spanish country were telling.

This is one of the best books I have ever listened to or have ever read. Each word is chiseled to perfection and true. Each word represents what the author was trying to say. I do not believe a single word could be changed without changing the direction of the story.

The narration by Mr. Hurt was so perfect that to put words on it is to dishonor it. It cannot be surpassed.

Benedict

Yes. William Hurt really brought to life the characters

While I didn't really have a favorite I liked Cohen the least.

No. This was my first experience.

Parts of it really made me laugh

I've listened to the story twice (have read it maybe a half dozen times over the years), and each time I get a bit more from it. Sometimes it is insight into the era, sometimes the characters, sometimes for its lessons on how to write. As time goes by and my perspective changes, so do the characters.

The story is more a collection of character studies--to me--then about any of the particular events related. Hemingway's ability to paint a detailed setting and then overlay the character's dialogue so that the two are utterly separate yet equally interesting makes the work worth the reread. That said, I find most of his work to most remind me of the Seinfeld series: stories about nothing, and everything.

Hurt's performance put me off at the start. Too staccato, I thought, and found it annoying. The various characters, though, were clearly defined by either accent or style, and I never once had to wonder who was speaking. Eventually, I accepted the staccato voice of the protagonist not as a shortcoming on Hurt's part, but rather, as the personality of the character.

Just like the antisemitism in the Merchant of Venice, and the racism in TKa Mockingbird, the oft-recurring thread of Jew-hatred in this story is hard to take, and listening to it evokes a stronger reaction than just reading the words on a page.

Absolutely! We've all read some Hemingway in the past - possibly while we were at school, but listening to one of his earliest books, now that we're older and wiser, brings a whole new dimension. I was inspired to reread this (or should I say listen) after reading The Paris Wife which is about Hemingway and Hadley during the period he wrote The Sun Also Rises. It was wonderful to make the connections between the real life friends and the marvelous characters in the book. I was addicted. I hated unplugging to recharge my iPod. Loved it!!

All the scenes in Paris. It's one of my favorite cities and this just made me wish I had been there in the 1920s.

Mr Hurt did an excellent job. His accents were very respectable but more importantly he has a wonderful cadence to his performance that really captures the pace of the time.

Definitely. I was quite sad as I realized we were nearing the end.