The Mosquito Coast

By: Paul Theroux

Narrated by: David Aaron Baker

Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Allie Fox is going to re-create the world. Abominating the cops, crooks, junkies and scavengers of modern America, he abandons civilisation and takes the family to live in the Honduran jungle. There his tortured messianic genius keeps them alive, his hoarse tirades harrying them through a diseased and dirty Eden towards unimaginable darkness.

©1982 Cape Cod Scriveners (P)2010 Recorded Books LLC

Dreadful in every sense of the word.

Would you listen to The Mosquito Coast again? Why?
Unlikely. This book is a painful look into family dynamics that would break most of us.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
For anyone who has personally experienced verbal battery, this book will be instantly recognizable. My continuing thought was "Mom, how can you stay and allow this to continue?" Which, of course, is always the question.

Any additional comments?
I rate this book as 5 only because of its power - not because it is "good". It is very like being in a continuous train wreck, bruised and bloody.. Or like having a 707 go down in your neighborhood in a ball of fire, and being unable to do anything but watch in horror..

Riveting Exploration of Madness & Masculinity

Creepy and captivating exploration of dogma, madness, and toxic masculinity. The story of a hubristic, tyrannical father who drags his family of six to Honduras to build a utopia free from the degradation of capitalism and consumerism. The novel works perfectly as an audiobook because it's written in first person, narrated by the 14-year-old son, and plays like a terrible, vivid dream that stays with you.

David Aaron Baker reads beautifully, capturing both the guilelessness and slow dawning of the narrator and the vituperative rants of Father. He reads the latter with a sneering, indignant tone that evokes Jack Nicholson circa Five Easy Pieces, and the former with a gentle, curious voice that brings to mind River Phoenix (who played the son in the film adaptation). The recording is crisp and flawless. Perfect for summer, especially for long walks under the hot sun, as you stroll warily, eyeing the birds overhead.

a vey good book.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Mosquito Coast to be better than the print version?

i never read the print version but think i saw the movie.

What did you like best about this story?

the characters were so well developed. allie reminded me of an exagerated archie bunker but he was still believable. it was an unusual setting.

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

yes he is consistantly good!

If you could take any character from The Mosquito Coast out to dinner, who would it be and why?

allie's wife. i would like to know why she stayed married to such a egotistical,crazy, offensive man--even tho he was a genius.

Any additional comments?

i will read this book many times! it was so good i read it in two days.

Gripping story and travelogue

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

I didn't think I could stand Allie for the length of the book; his character's brillance didn't make up for his insuffrable nature. Theroux, telling the book from the POV of Charley, made me sympathetic. The insight into a man teetering on the edge of obession and madness was intriguing and perspicacious; describing "Fatboy" as a reflection of Allie's mind was a great metaphor. You can understand how a man, held in check by our society, goes off into the wild and follows his instincts to the inevitable consequences. It was also a gripping story that raised valid issues about America and our values. And a great travel story as well - well researched and I could feel the country. It played into my fantasies of "what would I do if stranded on a desert island."

Meh

This was just definitely wasn't my style. I'm a very character driven reader and I just felt that each character was very one dimensional. The plot was interesting but the characters just...weren't. I also thought the narration was quite boring and I had a difficult time concentrating. If you want to read this one I would reccomend picking up a physical copy!

not very good

Farder is an idiot, his plan could have worked if he was not a psychopath

Child abuse by authoritarian dad, passive mom

Set in Central America. The father's mental construct of the world, his unwillingness to change that based on what happens in the physical world, his overblown self image, and the ways others deal with that is interesting. Many women have left guys who treated their kids that dangerously and irrationally, but that would not make a compelling story, would it?
The characters are not deeply investigated. The way the father leads the family into worse and worse situations is investigated.

Atlas Shrugged

I am developing an ulcer listening to this book.
The story reminds of Atlas Shrugged in one sense and some other ideas for others.
I can’t stand listening to Ari berating his boys and wife. The story line keeps beating a dead horse and I can’t take it anymore.
I listen to books for education and entertainment. This book does none of either.
I will be returning and deleting this from my memory.

The blind leading the stupid

what was the point? The father was just delusional and and everyone else didn't need a brain because the father supposedly had one. just a mindless waste of time. worst audio book purchase so far.

So unlikable

Is there more of an unlikable character than Allie Fox? Great narration throughout the book.

Poor predicable plot

Well written but plot very poor and predictable I could t recommend unless you just enjoy Paul Theroux

Fantastic

Loved the story, the characters are so good. Narrative is so much fun.
Thank you, for sharing this story.