Suttree

By: Cormac McCarthy

Narrated by: Richard Poe

Length: 20 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

No discussion of great modern authors is complete without mention of Cormac McCarthy, whose rare and blazing talent makes his every work a true literary event. A grand addition to the American literary canon, Suttree introduces readers to Cornelius Suttree, a man who abandons his affluent family to live among a dissolute array of vagabonds along the Tennessee river.

©1979 Cormac McCarthy (P)2012 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“ Suttree contains a humor that is Faulknerian … and a freakish imaginative flair reminiscent of Flannery O’Connor.” ( Times Literary Supplement, London)

Funniest Book I've Listened To

that narration was incredible and i've never laughed so many times during an audiobook. this is a gift to mankind.

Great narration - McCarthy may not be my cup of tea

Great job by the narrator, awesome work with voicing all the old southern characters. This was my first book by McCarthy, and, while, I was first infatuated with his ongoing descriptive and overtly challenging style, it wore on me and I struggled to maintain concentration. I know, probably a me problem, but I won’t be rushing to get another of his books.

Amazingly written and narrated

Probably McCarthy's funniest work, which is weird to say, but still true. Narrator did an amazing job as well.

Absurd Gout of Hallelucinationatory Crazy

It is amazing how McCarthy can find the lyrical beauty in an absurd gout of hallelucinationatory crazy. Absolutely one of my favorite novels of all time (nearly stripped McCarthy's Blood Meridian of its bloody title). Reads like Steinbeck wrote a play based on a David Lynch film about a nightmare child of Fellini and Faulkner that is now worshiped as scripture by pimps, prostitutes, grifters, fishmongers and of course fishermen.

At times Suttree hits me like a complicated musical chorus, a surreal painting, and a ballet of misfits and grotesques, all chopped up and swirling in a dirty river's refuse. I won't look at a summer watermelon with the same degree of innocence again.

Glorious Flotsam & Jetsam on the River Styx

I picture McCarthy, pen in hand like a sorcerer's wand, masterfully hurling words, falling precisely into magic. Reading McCarthy is like Dorothy opening the door of her impacted little shades of gray house onto the colorful world beyond the rainbow; his genius leaves me speechless, (McCarthy is the author I would most like to meet--and I would be speechless). It does have the Faulkner vibe, as well as Steinbeck, James Joyce, Wolfe; I'm reading O'Connor now and feel a connection there also--but in my mind, McCarthy is peerless.

Suttree is the most distant from McCarthy's other novels. You read or listen and the story moves around you, revealed through the characters, the conversations, the day to day; it is macabre, distorted, dark, and humorous and warm--richer as it goes. Minds better than mine would have to explain the story--I still get a different view each time I take this heady trip. Suttree, Bellow's Henderson the Rain King, and Gardner's Nickel Mountain are books I return to, *palette cleansers*, because I read some things that leave a film around this already mired little brain, but this was my first audio experience of Suttree. Listening, his words ...yeggs, midnight melonmounters, trestle trains that go by, go by, go by, became poetry--I think this may be may favorite way to experience this book. Like a warped Twainian river ride, river rats and all, with Hieronymus Bosch at the oars.

Wow

Cormac McCarthy is one of the great American writers. This book is one of his best. The narration and production are excellent.

Unexpected

A story I put off for a while. I wasn't sure I would like it, Be ready, Cormac is A master

Beautifully written and read

I found this to be McCarthys most beautifully written book. While the Audible performance is one of the best, it's the sort of book that may be more powerful seeing the words splayed out like poetry. Regardless, I really enjoyed listening as well although it took a bit more concentration. The plot intentionally lacks climax or resolution and seems to drift sideways, but McCarthy does it in a way that is somehow thrilling. Overall a great read.

could start anywhere.

If you are looking for a book with a beginning, middle and conclusion this is not for you. It follows a wanderer without explanation. Why would you want to read this? It is interesting as hell. Just the lack of political correctness will have SJWs tied in knots. When you can write like Cormac McCarthy, you can get away with anything. Read it and see.

Great story

Narrative of people just living life, just getting by. Usual McCarthy insight and thoughtfulness. Beautiful prose.