Bright Lights, Big City

By: Jay McInerney

Narrated by: Daniel Passer

Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

The tragicomedy of a young man in New York City, a writer, never named, who works as a fact-checker for a prestigious magazine. He struggles with the reality of his mother's death, alienation, and the seductive pull of drugs and a vibrant nightlife.

©2009 Random House; 1984 Jay McInerney

Critic Reviews

"A sidelong look at life in the Big Apple, as experienced by youth that once had hope and aspirations. In spite of the depths to which the main characters descend, the exuberance and humour of the narrative maintains its wonderful disregard for conventional behaviour with great buoyancy. An entertaining read, but it is the resignation and frustration that lingers in the mind that makes this novel so compelling." ( Kirkus)
"A rambunctious, deadly funny novel that goes right for the mark - the human heart." (Raymond Carver)
"The author is one of those reare writers who catches the moods, nuances and manners of a sub-culture with humor, finesse, skill and accuracy. A born stylist and remarkable discovery!" (George Plimpton)

Curiously, mundanely real

Just about everyone who has never lived in New York likes to imagine what it might be like. I found the book just the right balance of obscure and mundane to be believable. It's easy to imagine a person such as the main character existing in NY in the 80s.

Don't let my title mislead though, this book isn't boring. It's just got the right amount of day to day normality to make it believable.

When the book finished I initially thought "What? Where's the ending?". But after more thought about what the book was trying to achieve, I'm pretty satisfied with it. It's not a big morality tale, as I started to expect it would be. I was disappointed with some of the character's actions, in just the way I am sometimes disappointed with my actions or those of friends. But that's what makes this book endearing. It's as just life from the eyes of just another person.

The more I think about this book the more I'm glad I read it.

Final note though: At 5ish hours it's a fantastic quick read. Easy to follow, easy to visualise. I bought this on sale, and am glad I did.

a great period piece for NYC of the early 90's

I thought I was just going to be annoyed with this story but McInerney's self obsessed, obliviously addicted character grows on you as he struggles with his talents and being his own worst enemy. I kind of live vicariously through characters like this since I've never lived in NY. You kind of want to slap him around and say hey cant you see how great you have it but that's the beauty and the device of the story. Just be warned- it's about living in NYC in the early days of Friends and Seinfeld without all the annoying friends and success.

Great Book, not for everyone

If you could sum up Bright Lights, Big City in three words, what would they be?

Provocative, bratty, brilliant.

What did you like best about this story?

This story follows a broken man who refuses to acknowledge he is broken. It is written in such a way that the reader also refuses to acknowledge this brokenness. This story is also written in second person which is interesting and atypical.

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

Yes. I didn't, but it was short enough that I could. It was very drawing.

Any additional comments?

Great for those who liked anything by Bret Easton Ellis or Catcher in the Rye.
Some may become uncomfortable with the story line, the frequent use of drugs, and the treatment of women.

I felt that sense of loss when it ended.

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

Yes, beacuse of the period, the city, the partys, the laughs and Amanda.

What other book might you compare Bright Lights, Big City to and why?

The Hotest State.

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

Did notice him as I was listening, which is good.

If you could rename Bright Lights, Big City, what would you call it?

Factual Verification

Any additional comments?

Even though my life didn't parallel the main characters, i could really understand him.

Still Great

I read this in one night in college when it came out in 1984. It was the coolest thing.

It stands up these years later.

Not my 80s, but good.

This is definitely a very different experience of the 1980s from what I had. And the character of the narrator seems to be five to ten years older than me, but that is far less significant than geography, cultural, and SES differences. Yet this was an entirely worthy story! It also bore great nostalgia for me, despite the differences of experience. The eighties were a strange, golden, evil time.

Not worth a credit

This book is not worth the credit. The sample sounded interesting. Unfortunately that was the best part in the entire book.

One of my favorites

It is a unique voice — in the second person. Perfect for a solo road trip. It will take you back to that time in life when—despite all the possibilities (world on a string) feelings one should feel, it is the opposite due to a breakup and work issues and substances. And the story leads to epiphany, catharsis.

Exquisite!

I hear tell this thing is a movie – whatever. Maybe I'll watch it someday. But I seriously doubt it can rival this audiobook. Both the writing and the narration are absolutely perfect.

If you like this novel you might enjoy "Going Postal" by Stephen Jaramillo. Thematically, it's sort of a West Coast slacker version of Bright Lights, but without the dazzling symmetry or 2nd person POV. It's hella funny though.

You are on a drug trip

The perspective is novel, but there is nothing profound to the pure spectacle. The story doesn't feel like it progresses anywhere.

Smooth read

The book's a bit dated now, but I was surprised that it held up as well as it did. I listened to it on my first trip to New York, as I walked around the upper east side. A special word of commendation for the reader – Passer has a lovely, youthful voice, with just the right mixture of irony, cynicism, and naiveté. He gets the tone of the novel exactly right, and gives it just the mixture of pathos and comedy it needs. A pleasure to listen to.

Good but Slow

2022 52 Book Challenge - 1) Second person narrative

I quite enjoyed this book. It was a good piece on grief and losing yourself, and to an extent the second person narrative does tend to pull you in. My main complaint is that the book feels very slow, and I tended to have to put it down before I got bored.

Dull, boring.. that could be the narrator.

I was recommended this book due to me liking American Psycho. I can see the similarities but this board me. The narrator didn’t bring the story to life. Very dull. Couldn’t finish it.