2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist

The novella begins and ends with cries to others, in between Robert Granier is usually alone in the Pacific Northwest.

Why four and not five? A few word choices took me out of Robert Grainer's introspection, during shifts between descriptions of the valley and Granier’s thoughts, and the narrative leaps were jarring at times.

Will Patton does an excellent job. His voice is weary, optimistic, intelligent, detached. But this is a laconic open man, and while the characterizations are distinctive, Patton’s voice is better suited for Saigon (“Tree of Smoke”), New Orleans (James Lee Burke) or Manhattan (“Cosmopolis”).

(Train Dreams was a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. For the first time since the 1970s, there was no award for Fiction.)

A complaint: the cover is a desaturated Thomas Hart Benton-like scene, a race between horse and Iron Horse across the dull lumpy prairie. It is misleading. The train dreams are not those of man against machine; this is not John Henry. I interpreted the title as a command: train your dreams.

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Mr. Johnson + Mr Patton = Priceless

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

Absolutely without hesitation. This is the first audio book I have ever listened to two times in a row. .Patton is masterful once again. This may be one of his best performances. Johnson is hypnotic in both his language and his story. I have liked every book by Mr. Johnson starting with Tree of Smoke. This one is short but call it a 'small wonder'.

What did you like best about this story?

Before you know it each word, each line has pulled you unsuspectingly into a world you can not predict. You pick up your brain and look around and wonder how you got here....like a dream.

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He breaths life and atmosphere into a the words and characters like no one else and is simply not possible with the written word.

If you could rename Train Dreams, what would you call it?

Sorry. You do not mess with a masterpiece.

Any additional comments?

Simply a gem. Eagerly awaiting more from Johnson.

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Incredible

Some of the best narration I've ever heard and all of it written in a powerful voice. Truly incredible book and production.

amazingly raw!

it is nothing short of raw unabashed reality. an amazing and quite frankly a must read!

Fascinating Tale

Denis Johnson is a great writer. A gripping tale of one man's life. Does not disappoint.

So Much Story Packed in to a Novella

Will Patton's narration was absolutely perfect for this book. It was mesmerizing and added so much to the experience! An amazing performance.

Train Dreams follows the life of Robert Grainier, an uneducated journeyman laborer living in Northern Idaho from the 1880s to the 1960s. As a young man, Robert worked on crews constructing railroad trestles and as he got older he settled in to less strenuous work. Each chapter touches on notable experiences in Robert's life. He had a hard life, raw and gritty, and he experienced his share of loss and sadness. The writing is fantastic and not a word is wasted. Johnson paints the Idaho setting perfectly.

Some of the characters Robert runs across deserve their own novella, namely Arn Peeples the crazy logger and Peterson, the guy who was shot by his own dog. Kind of.

When you are done listening you'll be surprised that the author crammed this much story in to two hours and twenty minutes. This is an absolute classic. It will stay with you. I will listen again. Ten stars.

Too violent

Hate speech was hard to listen to. Even in a historical context. The story was uneven so I only got into the first hour of it.

A short dull book

For the money - this book is way too short.
It's poetic with lot's of great images being painted with words, but there's not enough dialogue. I feel let down because I've enjoyed some of his other books. Oh well...

Spokane International

Yes, this is a book to read (or listen to). Three times now in the last couple of days to fully catch all the words - it's short. The lyrical quality resonates with images of the early 1900's in the North West. Haunting. You too may dream, hopefully of good things, maybe of the Spokane International, or of other creatures.

Listening to Will Patton read Denis Johnson

Would you consider the audio edition of Train Dreams to be better than the print version?

Can't say, haven't "read" it.

What did you like best about this story?

The writer's ability to use lyrics to tell his story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Ain't going to say specifically. The loss of family and the description of a wildfire and its consequence isn'y exactly bland.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily, but to my own surprise I found myself re-playing it from the beginning in the gym. Like a Dylan song, listening to the lyrics can be habit-forming. It's that good.

Any additional comments?

I was pretty tongue-in-cheek about Will Patton's tar-heel drawl, but I know he reads JL Burke pretty seriously and I give him top marks for interpreting what I think might be the best story written that I can remember.