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The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

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The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

By: Carson McCullers
Narrated by: Cherry Jones
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About this listen

 An Oprah Winfrey Book Club Selection.

Carson McCullers was all of 23 when she published her first novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. She became an overnight literary sensation, and soon such authors as Tennessee Williams were calling her "the greatest prose writer that the South [has] produced." The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter tells an unforgettable tale of moral isolation in a small southern mill town in the 1930s.

Richard Wright was astonished by McCullers's ability "to rise above the pressures of her environment and embrace white and black humanity in one sweep of apprehension and tenderness." Hers is a humanity that touches all who come to her work, whether for the first time or, as so many do, time and time again. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is Carson McCullers at her most compassionate, most enduring best.

Click here to see all the titles in our Radio & TV Book Clubs collection.©1940, 1967 Carson Smith McCullers (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers African American Coming of Age Education Fiction Genre Fiction Higher & Continuing Education Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Parenting & Families Parents & Adult Children

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Critic reviews

"A remarkable book...[McCullers writes] with a sweep and certainty that are overwhelming." ( The New York Times)
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The was in which McCullers is able to develop a variety of characters within the novels adds a depth to this heart wrenching tale.

Emotional and gripping.

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The reason I didn't give up during the first chapter was the book's status as a great classic and its intreaguing title. The role of Antonopoulos and Singer's extreme attachment to this unpleasant and selfish character never becomes clear. True, the others don't know what's going on in Singer but Antonopoulos doesn't give a toss either.

I'm not surprised that the book became a literary sensation in 1940 with its unflinching description of poverty, misery, and loneliness in the South. Perhaps it needs to be read again today when the widening scissors of wealth leave so many people in poverty and hopelessness, looking for a more and more violent way out.

I came to enjoy the musings and inner life of Mick and Biff especially. Surprisingly, I didn't find a single review that commented on the tender moments of homoeroticism that McCullers hints at.

In its refusal to offer refuge from the bleakness of life in the South it is a consequent and bleak book. An important read even today but it stretches at times and is therefore not a riveting literary ride. I guess it never set out to be one.

Beautifully read with dramatic and character distinction by Cherry Jones

I had to start several times

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I read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter over 30 years ago, and the story of the lives and loves it contains has only improved with age. What a soul and talent was Carson McCullers, and so beautifully performed.

a must listen

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A wonderful examination of the problems and politics of the Southern USA before the second World war. Each character clearly defined and the day to day issues and problems of their lives together with broader issues described in realistic detail.

Ideology and minutii

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Book is beautiful- not just extraordinary as with by a woman in her early twenties - but prescient in issue of race relations and moving beyond words. The central character of the mute Singer and the theme of projections is masterly

One of the best books of 20th C - beats mocking bird

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I'd started to read this book and it was going very slowly so I decided to use a credit on purchasing it.
I'm glad I did.
The story is one that will stay with you and the narration is wonderfully performed by Cherry Jones. In fact I think the narration made it more real for me than when I read it and I found myself looking forward to the experience more than I usually do. I got through it pretty quickly.
It's a tale about loneliness, love and humanity and if you're feeling depressed it might not be the best thing to be listening to/reading. Having said that, I definitely recommend it if you're in the right frame of mind as it's an absolute masterpiece.
The author, Carson McCullers was only 23 when she wrote this which is incredible to realise once you know how vivid and beautiful the prose is. Much wisdom from a person so young. This woman had alot of insight and depth and listening to this has made me want to explore more of her work. I hope it's just as good.

A beautiful classic

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I first read this book over thirty years ago and fell in love with it. It is good to listen to it being read so well by Cherry Jones. The themes of race, injustice, disadvantage, social and economic inequality, are as relevant now as they were then. Her characters are entrancing. The events of the novel are sometimes humorous, sometimes sad and sometimes angering. Seventy years later, we still have racial intolerance and the gap between rich and poor is enormous.

Nothing Much Has Changed

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It is quite extraordinary that this book is written by a 24 year old. Such insight into human nature is rare. A brilliant book beautifully read.

A Masterpiece of Human Observation

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The word ‘shone’ is pronounced as ‘shown’ by the narrator through the book. As this word appears often, this mispronunciation becomes exceptionally irritating.

Other than that, all well.

An exceptional book, marred only by one thing.

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A beautiful book that will stay with me for a long time. The narrator did a wonderful job!!

Great performance!

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