Hearts in Atlantis

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King, William Hurt

Length: 20 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Each of these five interconnected, sequential narratives, set in the years from 1960 to 1999, are deeply rooted in the 60s culture and the haunting images of the Vietnam War. "Low Men in Yellow Coats" is the story of 11-year-old Bobby Garfield who discovers a world of predatory malice in his own neighborhood. Bobby also discovers that adults are sometimes not rescuers but at the heart of the terror. In the title story, a bunch of college kids get hooked on a card game when they discover the possibility of protest. In "Blind Willy" and "Why We're in Vietnam," two men who grew up with Bobby in suburban Connecticut try to fill the emptiness of the post-Vietnam era in an America which sometimes seems as hollow - and haunted - as their own lives. And in "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling," this remarkable work's denouement, Bobby returns to his hometown where one final secret, the hope of redemption, and his heart's desire may await him.

©1999 Stephen King, All Rights Reserved, (P)1999 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"We now know what Stephen King, the master of horror, is afraid of. The Vietnam War...scares him so bad he won't let his hero act imprudently." (The New York Times)
"...Hurt skillfully evokes pathos from the story's fine detailing...." (Publishers Weekly)

Touching, Funny - Amazingly well written and read.

I've listened to hundreds of recorded books over past twenty years. This is my favorite. I was never much of a Stephen King fan. This changed that. I am, however, a huge admirer of actor (and reader) William Hurt. As far as I know, this is only recorded book he's performed.

The book starts with "last summer" of young boy's childhood in the late 1950's. And Hurt's reading of every boy, girl, lonely parent, friend, scumbag and guardian angel is absolutely real. Stephen King also reads a central portion of book and he's just fine - Funny as hell in fact, when recounting "his" college years in the 60's and amazingly touching - when reading the chapter about Vietnam Vet/Street Beggar 'Blind Willy'.

It's not horror, not really fantasy - although there's a supernatural thread that runs through the story, which took me a little off-guard when it first appeared, but I completely got caught up in. It's one of many layers in this amazingly well written and performed book. They should all be this good.

Best Book EVER!

This is the most amazing book. Stephen King is brillant and at his best in this wonderful and amazing story. The movie was good, but it was only one part of this book. The other parts relate to the first, but in a strange and moving way. I could listen to this book a hundred times and never tire of it. The first part is read by William Hurt--amazing narrator! He is so perfect for the first story about the kids. Then you are jarred out of his reading by Stephen King reading the second part. His voice matches the weird and crazy events in the second part. Hurt again reads the third part, and you are relieved to have this story and his soothing voice again. brilliantly crafted writing and narration. I love this book!

One of King's best

This is one of the finest books I've ever heard. Absolute brilliant and emotional storytelling. This is King at his finest.

It was also great, when later reading the Dark Tower series, to be able to connect some of the characters in here to the overall "Big Picture."

Stop the music!!!!

Great book! Great audio except for the awful background music!!! It doesn’t work with any of the content and it’s very random.

Frank Muller does it again!

This presenter is perfect for this book. The beginning of this book goes slowly, but Franks voice pulls you in. He is great for this book , and the music is very good.

I didn't want the story to end.

What made the experience of listening to Hearts in Atlantis the most enjoyable?

The depth of the characters.

What other book might you compare Hearts in Atlantis to and why?

Ken Follett's book are very good too. The characters are so interesting that the reader is kept so interested throughout the entire story.

Which character – as performed by Stephen King and William Hurt – was your favorite?

All of them were very interesting, but I enjoyed Bobby the most. I wanted to hear more about him.

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

YES

loved it

one of my favorite King stories in quite some time. multiple stories combined into one.

Awesome!

The music, the reading, and the story are all amazing. I was not disappointed and would love more books like this one.

Wasn’t the best

I felt like the story droned on. The end had been touching but I got to the point when I just wanted to finish it. In my opinion... not the best

Stephen King and I are the same age.

And although I was one of the 'lucky girls" who didn't have to worry that even minor decisions I made could land me in Vietnam, the war still shaped my young adulthood.

While this book is about the war and what it did to our young men and our country, it also turns out and links our secret, private lives to every other, and has us laugh with our friends and be saved by our enemies in endless permutations. I can't really articulate what all the beautiful, wonderfully acted words meant to me.

This is only my second reading of Hearts in Atlantis, and I'm very glad I chose this audiobook. The expert, loving narration by both William Hurt and Stephen King was transcendent. I lived in this book.

Oh, and thanks for all the music!

I urge anyone to give this book a listen.