Journal Entry 1 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, May 15, 2009

"Two very different boys are drawn together by their oppressive home lives and by a connection that is both brotherly and sexual in this superb audio adaptation of Cunningham's vivid coming-of-age tale. Clevelanders Bobby Morrow and Jonathan Glover become childhood friends in the 1960s, and their friendship persists well into the '80s, when first Jonathan and then Bobby moves to New York City. There they meet aging hippie Clare, who imposes her own needs upon the two men. Clare, read with unflappable clarity by Van Dyck, attempts to build a normal life for herself using Bobby to become pregnant and Jonathan as emotional support. But as Jonathan's perceptive mother, Alice, warns her son, the unusual family they're creating won't last. Actors Farrell and Roberts—who play Bobby and Jonathan respectively in the Warner Brothers motion picture—fill the same roles here, and both deliver moving, understated performances. Although some listeners will wish they could soak up this absorbing story all in one sitting, the narrators' well-paced readings force the listener to sit back and appreciate the intricacy and skill of Cunningham's exquisite prose."

Acquired through PaperBackSwap (abridged on 6 CD's; read by Colin Farrell, Dallas Roberts, Blair Brown, & Jennifer Van Dyck) 

Journal Entry 2 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Wednesday, January 06, 2010

An interesting story involving somewhat of a non-traditional love triangle. I liked the fact that the author was willing to explore a relationship such as this. It's not something one sees in everyday life & it makes the reader pause & think, "Hmm....why not?"
However, I felt this book was missing something -- passion, perhaps. The only times I found myself really engaged were in two instances, both when there was a confrontation between two characters & they really allowed their emotions to explode to the forefront. Otherwise, despite the fact that Cunningham chose to alternate character points of view in each chapter, I never really felt like the reader got to know each character. They (the characters) all seemed rather shallow, despite the attempt at fancy prose. And I never really did understand why the few chapters from Alice's point of view were included, as I didn't think they added a particularly necessary point to the story. I had mixed feelings about the ending. It was not exactly what I was expecting, which is usually a good thing, but I thought it fell rather flat & that was disappointing to me. 

Journal Entry 3 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, January 29, 2010

Adding to carlissa's audio bookbox. 

Journal Entry 4 by KateKintail from Burke, Virginia USA on Saturday, March 06, 2010

I just received an audio bookbox and one of the few books I had to go into it was... this one! Ack! Can't have two copies of the exact same book in a box! So I'm going to journal this one (as I've read it) and replace my picks with different books. This one will remain in the box.

Here were my thoughts when I earread it originally:
Gorgeous.

This is the story of three (well, four, five, six really) characters finding their ways in the world and with each other. They form strong bonds that they're constantly reevaluating and testing as they grow as people. It's like a whole string of observations about what it's like to be a person and live the way you want to live (conventional or un) but not knowing if that's how you'd be happiest living. They love each other on so many levels that it's almost as though they find it hard to love each other on the most basic level and trust that they're being loved back. It's really fascinating getting inside their heads and seeing the world.

I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat, and I was yelling at the CD player when things gave a twist in a direction I didn't like. The characters didn't behave the way I would, which is why I think I liked getting to know them so much- that unpredictability.

It was abridged, but I didn't notice anything lacking because of that (I guess some parts were a little quick- would have liked more about Erik/Eric to make the last disc or two more powerful, maybe). The emotions throughout were raw and vivid, and the character development (I'm SUCH a character person) was just beautiful to take in. I loved that there were different readers and different points of view to jump around among. Colin Farrell and Dallas Roberts did an exceptional job with their segments, especially. I already have the movie as #1 in my Blockbuster queue; can't wait to watch what I've just read/listened to. 

Journal Entry 5 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

I offered this same title in BookObsessed's GLBT swap. I haven't read it but The Hours is such a brilliant book I doubt I would be disappointed. Now I see this title in the bookbox, I happily snatch it up as it's always easier to listen to the audio version, and I love having the real book to refer to and re-read as I listen. Thanks ladies for sharing! 

Journal Entry 6 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Wednesday, May 12, 2010

I have to say I am glad I have a hard copy of this book. I had thought that the audio would save me reading time, but I ended up reading the pages to re-live the scenes, and to discover the lovely paragraphs that have been unjustly omitted. While the abrigment is nicely done, I am definitely happy I got to enjoy the full version.

As for my initial thought on finishing this book: I just felt, wow. I don't know how to comment on it, as nothing will do justice to how magnificant this masterpiece is. Each character is so true, so real, and I guess the story resonates so much with readers because we can all see and feel all the missed opportunities, all the things that could have been, all the unfulfilled love that makes our hearts ache. My favorite character is Bobby. I found him a really likeable character, but interestingly, when I thought about it, I realize that he is unlikely to occupy my real life orbit. So unsimilar we are, we would not have been friends, yet in the book, I care and love the character.
 

Journal Entry 7 by azuki at Miami, Florida USA on Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Journal Entry 8 by azuki at Audiobook Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 20, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (12/20/2010 UTC) at Audiobook Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Journal Entry 9 by booklady331 at Cape Coral, Florida USA on Friday, January 21, 2011

Arrived home in my CD only bookbox. Already read the book. Keeping it in the box for round 5. 

Journal Entry 10 by k00kaburra at San Jose, California USA on Thursday, September 08, 2011

This book enjoyed a brief visit in San Jose, CA before continuing its travels in booklady331's Audio Book Box!

When I tried to listen to this book earlier this year, I wrote:
"Got bored by the constant state of high the boys seemed to be aiming for at the end of Disk 1, so I'll let this book travel on to someone else who will enjoy it more."  

Journal Entry 11 by jlautner at San Luis Obispo, California USA on Saturday, September 24, 2011

Took from booklady331's audio book box. 

Journal Entry 12 by jlautner at San Luis Obispo, California USA on Tuesday, December 06, 2011

As I have had with other audio books, I had some difficulty separating the text from the voices that read it. The voices seemed "age-appropriate", the mild accents were acceptable. But I was bothered by the flatness of expression. There is a way of speaking that some people use when speaking biographically: they don't finish sentences with a solid downturn in pitch, but rather fade it out. IT isn't monotone but it isn't as expressive as I'd like. All three of the readers in this case tended to read this way.

AS for the story - two boys connecting while young, then joining with a young woman and becoming a "family" of three, then four when a baby comes. There are a lot of ties connecting them all yet at different times they each are questioning the strength of the relationships.

I was interested enough to keep listening. But nothing in this story excited me or truly moved me. I did not become fond of either of the young men or of Clare, or of Jonathan's mother Alice. I suspect, oddly, the story would have connected with me better in the film version. 

Journal Entry 13 by jlautner at San Luis Obispo, California USA on Friday, March 09, 2012

Released 2 mos ago (3/9/2012 UTC) at San Luis Obispo, California USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Added to booklady331's audio book box. 

Journal Entry 14 by jlautner at San Luis Obispo, California USA on Friday, March 09, 2012

Released 2 mos ago (3/9/2012 UTC) at San Luis Obispo, California USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Added to booklady331's audio book box. 

Journal Entry 15 by BigJohnLefty at Des Moines, Iowa USA on Friday, April 20, 2012

Took this out of booklady331's audiobookbox - will listen to soon....