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Finnegans Wake  By  cover art

Finnegans Wake

By: James Joyce
Narrated by: Cyril Cusack, Siobhan McKenna
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Publisher's summary

Cyril Cusack and Siobhan McKenna read from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake. This idiosyncratic novel is full of multilingual puns and portmanteau words, intended to recreate the experience of sleep and dreams.

Public Domain (P)2011 Saland Publishing

What listeners say about Finnegans Wake

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Only part of the book

This is only part of a 600+ page novel. It was advertised as entire novel.

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70 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Just a sample of the book

It is not clear at all that this isn't the whole book. I need to get my credit back.

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41 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not the whole thing!

I realize that dreams are incoherent and one part makes as much sense as another, but it sure would be nice to have the whole book. This is an ABRIDGED version, and doesn't even start at the beginning (riverrun). I wanted to read along from the beginning to the end, but apparently that is impossible with this version. Mr. Germs Choice would be disappointed.

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19 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Great Work...

"Finnegan's Wake" is actually a great story. However, many criticisms of it say that it's unreadable and unable to be interpreted. The secret method to understanding "Finnegan's Wake" is understanding that the narrator is speaking, and thus the story is written, with an Irish accent... the letters in the words of the story are meant to create the sound of an Irish accent. It's actually quite an interesting piece, a novel little bit by Joyce. I suggest listening to it after familiarizing yourself with the speech styles of the Irish. :).

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14 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not the book

I read and loved Finnegans Wake 49 years ago in college, so I bought this so my sight impaired wife could listen. We are very disappointed that this is a very small excerpt with dramatic acting that must have been better on stage than it is on Audible

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Standout Performance! Alas, only one hour.

Would you consider the audio edition of Finnegans Wake to be better than the print version?

Most definitely yes. Like Shakespeare's plays, 'Finnegans Wake' (by Joyce's own statement) is meant to be heard more than visually read.

What did you like best about this story?

'Finnegans Wake' is not a narrative by most people's standards. (The erudite crowd may disagree.) For me, it's more a work of prose-poetry to be relished for the immediate experience of hearing it read out loud (by talented readers) versus any intellectual meaning that can be found in the 'story'.

Which character – as performed by Cyril Cusack and Siobhan McKenna – was your favorite?

Every character performed by these gifted actors is superbly done.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Don't Look for Meaning.

Any additional comments?

Audible: Please commission Cyril and Siobhan to record this entire book. Doing so would be such a gift to the literary world. (There are Joyce foundations which would likely contribute to the cause.) The few other existing recordings of Wake are pathetic by comparison.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Aweome but only 2 chapters?????

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

Yes, but with the caveat that it is only excerpts, not the entire book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Finnegans Wake?

the entire reading is lyrical and melodious, just like Joyce intended it to be, I imagine. Its hard to extract one part as "the most memorable". It's not a romance novel. The whole book is a masterpiece.

Which scene was your favorite?

the scene where I wasted 10 minutes of my life completing this silly box form:)

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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riverrun

If you could sum up Finnegans Wake in three words, what would they be?

Anna Livia Plurabelle

What other book might you compare Finnegans Wake to and why?

?

Which character – as performed by Cyril Cusack and Siobhan McKenna – was your favorite?

washer woman

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

yes - it is hard to pick up in the middle of the story. Have to listen to the whole

Any additional comments?

too short but lot of fun

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Wish I had read the reviews first.

Like many have said before, this is an excerpt. I didn't read closely, and since I got it with a 2 for 1 sale, I can't return it. The story starts abruptly - right after "This is Audible" which is slightly jarring. The brogue of the narrator is difficult to decipher unless you're really concentrating.

Disappointed. I'll look for another version.

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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I want my money back

Should be titled an "Excerpt from..." This is not the whole book and not even a good abridged telling. I'm sure there's a way to condense this novel, but this ain't it.

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3 people found this helpful