Friday, August 19, 2011

ARE YOU LISTENING? FRIDAY: TRAIN DREAMS - A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY


WELCOME TO BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S" 
ARE YOU LISTENING? DAY" 
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TODAY'S
AUDIO BOOK CHOICE.....
GIVEAWAY ENDED
TRAIN DREAMS
A Novella
BY DENIS JOHNSON
READ BY WILL PATTON

ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK:
“An ode to the vanished West that captures the splendor of the Rockies as much as the small human mysteries that pass through them, this svelte stand-alone has the virtue of being a gem in itself, and, for the uninitiated, a perfect introduction to Johnson.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

Suffused with the history and landscapes of the American West—its otherworldly flora and fauna, its rugged loggers and bridge builders—the new novella by Denis Johnson, the National Book Award-winning author of Tree of Smoke captures the disappearance of a distinctly American way of life.

As on Nobody Move and Jesus’ Son, Johnson’s words are narrated by Will Patton to great effect. Said Johnson, “Will is the premier performer of my words, and he makes Train Dreams feel like some kind of spiritual breakthrough.” Patton also commented, “When I first started narrating audiobooks people would ask me ‘what author would you most like to record?’ My answer was always ‘Denis Johnson’.” The end result of their collaboration is an epic in miniature, and one of Johnson’s most evocative and poignant fictions.

Robert Grainer is a day laborer in the American West at the start of the twentieth century—an ordinary man in extraordinary times. Buffeted by the loss of his family, Grainer struggles to make sense of this strange new world. As his story unfolds, we witness both his shocking personal defeats and the radical changes that transform America in his lifetime. “Denis Johnson and Will Patton may be the perfect author/narrator combination,” said Scott Sherrat, who directed Patton during his recording of Train Dreams. “The words feel reborn as Will lifts them off the page and delivers them like a virtuoso taking a solo. There are passages in Train Dreams that will haunt me forever and I am looking forward to it.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denis Johnson is the author of six novels, three collections of poetry, and one book of reportage. His novel Tree of Smoke was the 2007 winner of the National Book Award and won the 2008 Audie Award for best Literary Fiction audiobook. He is the recipient of a Lannan Fellowship and a Whiting Writer’s Award, among many other honors for his work. He lives in Northern Idaho.

PRAISE FOR JOHNSON-PATTON'S WORK:
"Appropriately, Patton's reading is anything but warm and welcoming, but his delivery is so inescapably present that it draws listeners into the work and compels them to drop any preconceived notions about the protagonist and his life. The result is a memorable journey."  
AudioFile, Earphones Award Winner on Jesus’ Son

"Will Patton's narration is so true to the mood, so evocative, that you'll feel like you've smoked a pack of Camels and swallowed a fifth of cheap vodka by the time it's all over." 
BookPage on Nobody Move

"Patton's reading of Denis Johnson's noir novel Nobody Move is on my list of best audiobooks of 2009."  
St. Petersburg Times on Nobody Move

"...A superb audio performance in a book that lingers on the edge of your consciousness." 
The Winston-Salem Journal on Nobody Move

MY REVIEW:
Denis Johnson’s Audio Book, the novella TRAIN DREAMS, came as a delightful and shocking surprise to me. It is certainly not the genre I normally gravitate to. But as the deep resonance of Will Patton’s voice came forth with a story of early American history, I was taken in by the spell the words had on me. Just as I had taught students over the years to understand all that certain authors had seen in their life times, such as Laura Ingalls Wilder, I now was the student as I listened to the story of a railroad worker, Robert Granier. Following this railroad laborer whose story spans from the early 20th century across America just like the railroads did back in those days, one is led through Granier’s life, as our country grew. Born in 1886, but left as an orphan six year later when his entire family is wiped out by an influenza epidemic, Granier grows up to marry Gladys and have a daughter, Kate. Working timber and railroad, his life on the road brings tales of our country’s growth that parallel his life.

Denis Johnson writes from Granier’s point of view as he describes the grandeur as well as the danger of the Rockies through the tales that made up this character’s life. He reveals human frailty as well as life’s celebration. From his youth to his older years when Granier marvels at his world that now includes airplanes as well as cars, little nuggets of history are woven into this story. For instance, a favorite part of mine is when Granier just misses seeing a young Elvis Presley when his train stops in town to be fixed but still revels in hearing about it from the townsfolk. All of the things that are Robert Granier’s life story are written and read so eloquently that from the bits of humor to the dark and edgy violence that make up a human life, readers are left with an indelible impression. This impression is filled with life, a touch of mysticism, history, and a truly amazing few hours on these two, too brief Cd's.
   
GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO ESTHER AND THE GOOD
FOLKS AT MACMILLAN AUDIO BOOKS, I
HAVE TWO COPIES OF THIS AMAZING
AUDIO BOOK TO GIVE AWAY
 
--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
HOW TO ENTER:


+1 ENTRY: READ ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK ABOVE AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT TRAIN DREAMS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS AUDIO BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ABOUT WHAT YOU HEAR WHEN YOU LISTEN TO AN EXCERPT FROM THIS AUDIO BOOK AT THE MACMILLAN AUDIO BOOK WEBSITE HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 5
GOOD LUCK!
 

64 comments:

lag123 said...

I would like to see how events in history tie in with Gainer's story.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Karen B said...

I love this period of America history and the georgaphy.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Karen B said...

+5 AUGUST FACEBOOK entry #2.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Karen B said...

+5 AUGUST FACEBOOK entry #3.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Karen B said...

+5 AUGUST FACEBOOK entry #4.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

debbie said...

I would like to see what happens, how the character grows up as an orphan,ect in that time period.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

GFC follower as beachreader
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Steve Capell said...

Will Patton is my favorite narrator so I would love hear him bring to life Train Dreams. Thanks for the opportunity.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I found it interesting listening to the audio that all the men are referred to by their names except for the "chinamen"

jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Anonymous said...

It would be interesting to see how America grows and changes from the viewpoint of a rail work.

jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Unknown said...

It talks about America and the Old West. I find that interesting. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Darlene said...

I love audiobooks, and I enjoy reading historical fiction - so this is a double bonus for me!! I would love to win this!

My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Darlene said...

+1 following by RSS

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following on Facebook (Darlene's Book Nook)

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following on Networked Blogs
(Darlene's Book Nook)

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following by Twitter
(@DarleneBookNook)

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following by email

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 for tweeting:

http://twitter.com/#!/DarleneBookNook/status/104565264292655104

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 What I Hear:

They tried to toss the "Chinaman" off the trestle.

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

holdenj said...

I wasn't sure this would interest me, but the review sure did! I like that time period and would love to give it a try. Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am an email subscriber.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I love that this is taking place in the Rockies. I grew up in the Rockies! Sounds like it would be an amazing audio story.

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I follow by RSS feed

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I am a GFC follower

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I subscribe via email

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

It goes forgotten much of the time that the Chinese were the laborers on the railway but walked away with none of the glory. I enjoyed listening to the excerpt!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

mamabunny13 said...

When I read "There are passages in Train Dreams that will haunt me forever and I am looking forward to it.” I knew I had to read this book.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow you on twitter @mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow by email subscription
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow on networked blogs
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I loved the narrator and didn't want it to end. I was cheering on that "chinaman" will all my might!
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Charleydog said...

I like the part where he just missed seeing Elvis. I am curious if there are any train noises to accompany the narration of this story.

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

ann said...

I like stories with history in them and the
older times


amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

+ august facebook


amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

+5 august facebook


amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

+5 august FB


amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

+ 5 august FB


amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

+5 august facebook


amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

Will Patton's narration is so true to the mood, so evocative, that you'll feel like you've smoked a pack of Camels and swallowed a fifth of cheap vodka by the time it's all over."

amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

I am a email subscriber


amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

GFC follower


amhengst
amhengst at verizon dot net

ann said...

i like and follow on FB


amhengst
amhengst at verizon dot net

Pamela Keener said...

I love your review it makes me want to pick this right up to listen to.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via GFC
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via Google Reader
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I like you on FB
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I am an e-mail subscriber to your blog.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

While not usually an audio book user, with my daughter in Raleigh for the next couple of years and my middle child and wife also relocating to the Triangle area, I expect to spend more time than usually riding in a car or on the back of a motorcycle. So I am starting to collect audio books (which I can also covert to MP3 files to use in my IPOD)for these trips. As a lover of history, both my daughter and I would enjoy this audio book immensely.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/105683342489436160
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I follow on Twitter@alterlisa

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I loved this Audio Excerpt. It just wasn't long enough. I didn't want it to end. It actually amazed me that I got in to the story so quickly.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

The setting interests me. I have never read a book set in the Rockies. Oh, and I really like listening to audio books, and this one sounds great.

westwardd [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/Westwardd/status/108390723182796800

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Anonymous said...

I follow by gfc.

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Anonymous said...

I subscribe by email.

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Anonymous said...

I Like you on Facebook.

Susan Clarke Taylor

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Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter.
@Westwardd

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Jolee said...

Love the nuggets of history woven in throughout. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

The narrator is so expressive.... joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

follow on gfc joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

fan on fb joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

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