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Timbuktu
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins
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Timbuktu
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Summary
Meet Mr. Bones, the canine hero of Paul Auster's remarkable novel, Timbuktu. Mr. Bones is the sidekick and confidant of Willy G. Christmas, the brilliant, troubled, and altogether original poet-saint from Brooklyn. Like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza before them, they sally forth on a last great adventure, heading for Baltimore, Maryland, in search of Willy's high school teacher, Bea Swanson. Years have passed since Willy last saw his beloved mentor, who knew him in his previous incarnation as William Gurevitch, the son of Polish war refugees. But is Mrs. Swanson still alive? And if she isn't, what will prevent Willy from vanishing into that other world known as Timbuktu?
Mr. Bones is our witness. Although he walks on four legs and cannot speak, he can think, and out of his thoughts Auster has spun one of the richest, most compelling tales in recent American fiction. By turns comic, poignant, and tragic, Timbuktu is above all a love story. Written with a scintillating verbal energy, it takes us into the heart of a singularly pure and passionate character, an unforgettable dog who has much to teach us about our own humanity.
As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of Paul Auster's book, you'll also get an exclusive Jim Atlas interview that begins when the audiobook ends.
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What listeners say about Timbuktu
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Manda N
- 30-12-17
For dog lovers everywhere...
I’m writing this review several years after listening. I still remember the story with absolute fondness, a must for dog lovers everywhere. A delight and wondrous Paul Auster read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-03-23
The magical world of Paul Auster
I don't know what it is about Paul Auster's books; they feel other worldly while remaining firmly rooted in the everyday. I would almost classify then as Reality-Fantasy, but even that doesn't capture the essence of what they are.
In this tale our protagonist is a dog. However, we do not hear the story from the dog, but rather in the 3rd person, which adds to the mystery. Who is overseeing the narrative? Who is it that is privy to the thoughts of Mr Bones?
Mr Bones himself is the sweetest of souls (just like all of our pet dog)s, who is unfortunate to suffer the slings and arrows of life. He reminds me of Prince Nikolaevic in Dostoyevsky's The Idiot. A simple genius who deserves better than he gets.
As events unfold, nothing world shattering happens, yet by the end this reader feels like he's accompanied Mr Bones on something greater than the sum of its parts.
And that is what I love about Paul Auster. He can make something as mundane as the misfortunes of a dog feel like the most poignant of stories ever told.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Fiona
- 20-01-12
Beautiful
A great book for dog lovers & non-dog lovers. Not too sentimental but very touching & has humorous moments. I thoroughly enjoyed it
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nealt
- 22-08-23
Wonderful writing with excellent narration
Touching take told from a dog’s point of view. Auster is a subtle writer whose mastery of words and storytelling creep up on you.
The narration of this book is also done subtly without drama or over-emphasis.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 26-06-24
don't bother
I can see absolutely no point in this story, the bits of stories are disconnected, i find it superficial, constantly hoping for some depth.
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