Sutton

By: J. R. Moehringer

Narrated by: Dylan Baker

Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Born in the slums of Brooklyn, in the first year of the 20th century, Willie Sutton came of age at a time when banks were out of control. If they weren’t taking brazen risks, they were shamelessly seeking bailouts. Trapped in a cycle of bank panics, depressions and soaring unemployment, Sutton saw only one way out. So began the career of America’s most successful bank robber. Sutton became so good at breaking into banks, and such a master at breaking out of prisons, police called him one of the most dangerous men in New York, and the FBI put him on its first-ever Most Wanted List. But the public rooted for Sutton. When he was finally caught for good in 1952, crowds surrounded the jail and chanted his name.

Blending vast research with vivid imagination, Pulitzer Prize winner J.R. Moehringer brings Willie Sutton blazing back to life. In Moehringer’s retelling, it was more than need or rage at society that drove Sutton. It was one unforgettable woman. And when Sutton finally walked free, he immediately set out to find her. Poignant, comic, fast-paced and fact-studded, Sutton tells a story of economic pain that feels eerily modern, while unfolding a story of doomed love that is forever timeless.

©2012 J.R. Moehringer (P)2012 Hyperion

Sutton Clearly a home run by

Would you listen to Sutton again? Why?

Sutton is a very well written book and well preformed story. I read both the book and listened to the performance of the audio edition. It is a very charming and almost infectious story that portrays one of America’s most wanted criminals as almost a folk hero leaving the reader/listener, at least in my case, cheering for the ”bad” guy. It is the type of book that I would enjoy reading again or listening to again for the sheer enjoyment and entertainment value.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The book centers on the life of Willie Sutton as the title of the book indicates. I enjoyed this character primarily in the way the author presents Sutton. Sutton speaks directly to the reader/listener outlining his activities, his thinking and his feelings behind his decisions in life. Sutton then directs an abbreviated version of what he has told the reader to a character in the book, a reporter from the New York Times. Sutton, as the story goes, is working with the reporter on a story about his, Willy Sutton’s life. The reporter takes Sutton on a journey to the locations that have been significant in Sutton’s life. As Sutton visits these locations he recalls the circumstances, emotions and events which, in fact, lead him to some of his decisions and behavior. By portraying Sutton in this manner and light the author makes Sutton come alive as he takes the reader along with him on this journey. The audio version with the voices and emotions the narrator, Dylan Baker offers, adds a dimension to the book that you miss by just reading the book.

Have you listened to any of Dylan Baker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

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

I did not laugh and I did not cry; however, I did smile a lot.

Any additional comments?

It was an excellent book and excellent production well worth the read and listen.

Memory of a bankrobber

Enjoyed reading/listening to Sutton. Well written. Surprised at several points.
Time helps to form, taint our memories .

Outstanding!!

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

Sutton is one of my top 10 books now.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful historical fiction. I hated to put it down. The narrator was fantastic!

Absolutely Wonderful

This book is a must listen for fans of historical fiction, especially about old New York. If you enjoyed Forever by Pete Hamill, then you will love this book as well.

The writing is strong and the excellent narration brings Sutton’s reimagined persona and life story. I love the way historical events are woven into the story and that it’s based on a real life experience. Imagine a modern retelling of Rip Van Winkle, if he were a celebrity bank robber from old Irishtown. This novel was clearly well researched for historical context but the larger themes are both modern (the American financial system) and timeless (love, life, the pursuit of happiness).

I absolutely recommend.

Fascinating story and fabulous performance

I very much enjoyed this book. Was a great story, well-written, but the absolute best thing was Dylan Baker. His ability to inhabit the many characters in the book was utterly amazing. You won’t be disappointed.

Superb

Lingering on my Audible Wish List for years, J.R. Moehringer's "Sutton" surprised me with the high quality of writing, storytelling, and structure. Here, you have a former bank robber taking a reporter and a photographer on a Christmas Eve trip down memory lane to the sites of infamy, pain, and joy in his career as a bank robber. What I enjoyed the most was hearing Sutton say one thing about his past; he flashbacks and remembers what really happened; and the reporter repeats what the newspapers said happened, We end up with three competing narratives that are messy but entertaining as the truth of what happened lies somewhere in these multiple versions. Moehringer is a skilled craftsperson in bringing all of these threads together. I highly recommend this book.

wow WOW wow W0W w0w!!!!

Would you listen to Sutton again? Why?

Not only am I listening to it again, I am going to listen to it while dirving on a long trip next week because my husband will love it is as much, if not more than I did.

It reads like the best fiction and it's based on a very interesting true story.

Sutton intertwines the most unique little unknown facts about the oddest thingsinto the most facinating stories ...presidents, gangsters, the moon, baseball, the bible...as he relives his life. I couldn't believe some of them were true...THEY WERE. I had to hold off and not google each person mentioned because I didn't want to read too much and ruin the ending. I spent an hour on google his life and people mentioned in the book, afterwards - WOW for a guy who spent so much time in prison he had a lot of wonderful moments.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sutton?

This book is very much like WATER FOR ELEPHANTS in pace and movement. A life long love story that has you rooting for the bad guy...that's not so bad....lovable actually.

What about Dylan Baker’s performance did you like?

It's not surprising that after looking up what other books Dyland Baker has narrated just now, I found that he narrated my TWO FAVORITE BOOKS of this year - Sutton and Jobs.

His is fabulous - He does different women, men...hippies..yiddish..... the voice from the newsreels.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This book defines an era. Sutton's memories of the depression brought it much closer to home for me and helps one to better understand their heritage. Opinion is one revolving theme in this book that spoke to me - public opinion and how it can be swayed easily and so harsly - What causes family opinion to change -

Any additional comments?

In the top two of the books I have read this year....Top 10 of the last five years. It's worth the investment. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

What a fabulous character!

Sutton is SO outrageous. As a character, he's unbelievably bold. I'm not sure where reality stops and creative license starts. But, it's memorable and a terrific listen.

Amazing Story

Moehringer has done a brilliant job of writing a story about a man whose life was more like fiction than real life. And he has made the fiction seem plausible. I have done a bit of research about Willie Sutton and found him to be a fascinating character, and one who perhaps cleverly covered the tracks to the true story of his life. Moehringer has told it the way it might have been. Not enough good things can be said about the narration which made this great story all the better.

Excellent Story

This was one of those books that was hard to turn off. I liked how the author brought the legacy of Willie Sutton to life. Even though it is a work of fiction, it follows the basic outlines of his life.

Moehringer glides over much of Sutton's criminal activity which may make him a more sympathetic character, but it is still an enjoyable book.