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Bums

By: William Kent Krueger
Narrated by: Will Patton
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Publisher's summary

"Bums" is a short story from the collection Twin Cities Noir.

Brand-new stories from John Jodzio, Tom Kaczynski, and Peter Schilling, Jr., in addition to the original volume's stories by David Housewright, Steve Thayer, Judith Guest, Mary Logue, Bruce Rubenstein, K.J. Erickson, William Kent Krueger, Ellen Hart, Brad Zellar, Mary Sharratt, Pete Hautman, Larry Millett, Quinton Skinner, Gary Bush, and Chris Everheart.

St. Paul was originally called Pig's Eye's Landing and was named after Pig's Eye Parrant - trapper, moonshiner, and proprietor of the most popular drinking establishment on the Mississippi. Traders, river rats, missionaries, soldiers, land speculators, fur trappers, and Indian agents congregated in his establishment and made their deals. When Minnesota became a territory in 1849, the town leaders, realizing that a place called Pig's Eye might not inspire civic confidence, changed the name to St. Paul, after the largest church in the city... Across the river, Minneapolis has its own sordid story. By the turn of the 20th century it was considered one of the most crooked cities in the nation. Mayor Albert Alonzo Ames, with the assistance of the chief of police, his brother Fred, ran a city so corrupt that according to Lincoln Steffans its 'deliberateness, invention, and avarice has never been equaled.' As recently as the mid-'90s, Minneapolis was called 'Murderopolis' due to a rash of killings that occurred over a long hot summer...Every city has its share of crime, but what makes the Twin Cities unique may be that we have more than our share of good writers to chronicle it. They are homegrown and they know the territory - how the cities look from the inside, out...

©2013 Akashic Books (P)2014 Audible Inc.
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What listeners say about Bums

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Fabulous

Ever since hearing Will Patton read Tree of Smoke, I try to find other books he reads. Patton reading Faulkner's Light in August gives that classic the performance it deserves. I would not have discovered Krueger's work without seeing Patton's name. I am so very glad I have now discovered this excellent author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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bums the word

oh wow.......good story. narrator did excellent job. felt the emotions of all characters sad for endimg.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Too short

It was an interesting story will perform but I was anxious to hear how much more, I had hoped it would lead on to something else that was going to happen

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting story, surprise ending.

Love anything read by Will Patton! Attempting to delete this book, but listening again instead.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great performance of a satisfying short story

Any additional comments?

At this point, I’m a bigger fan of Will Patton for his reading of literature than I am of some of the literature he reads. I wouldn’t have bothered with this short story had he not read it. It’s a good short story. Nothing that’s really going to blow your hair back, but it’s a simple, noirish tale that does its job. But it’s also pretty standard. In the end, you’re not surprised with villains step out of shadows, etc. Will Patton does the most to make it worthwhile.

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5 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Meh

Not interesting really. Fell asleep. Word word word word word word word. Doesn't encourage reviews. You know? At all all.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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So Good!

I wanted this to be longer because it's so good. William Kent Krueger has written a great story and it's beautifully narrated by Will Patton

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Big ideas in such a precise narrative . Wonderful , clever, a simple bum, a brilliant bum, and Karma is the winner.

A small slice of an interesting story. Simple man, thinking man, a seemingly simple plan. Will Patton always paints the picture for me. Highly recommended for a quick read .

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Didn’t hold my attention

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, I love WKK’ s writing but not this one

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