The Crying of Lot 49 Audiobook By Thomas Pynchon cover art

The Crying of Lot 49

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The Crying of Lot 49

By: Thomas Pynchon
Narrated by: George Wilson
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Quite unexpectedly, Mrs. Oedipa Maas finds herself the executor of the estate of Pierce Inverarity, a man she used to know in a more-or-less intimate fashion. When Oedipa heads off to Southern California to sort through Pierce's affairs, she becomes ensnared in a hilarious and puzzling worldwide conspiracy.

Calling Thomas Pynchon a "virtuoso with prose", the Chicago Tribune compares his work to James Joyce's Ulysses. Pynchon, winner of the National Book Award, has shocked, enthralled, and delighted fans for more than 40 years with his satire and wit.

©1965, 1966 Thomas Pynchon (P)2005 Recorded Books Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Witty

Critic reviews

"The comedy crackles, the puns pop, the satire explodes." ( The New York Times)
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The reader is great, even though I’d prefer a woman to read the novel because of the main character. However, there are so many noises in the background coming from his mic.
• Dog Barking
• Routine Stomach Growling
• Long unedited pauses

Great Reader. However...

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I do not share the same opinion as those who feel this book is in the top 100 greatest novels. It is a fine novel, quirky, and enjoyable on several levels, but nothing special compared to other great novels. Perhaps it was the reading which was uninspired. I never really got into the novel and before I knew it, the reading was done.

Didn't Live Up to Expectations

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Having the audiobook definitely helps to really understand what is going on in the book.

It's quite a book

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Only gripe is that the narrator develops a slight nose whistle partway through. Otherwise a very good rendition of Pynchon’s classic novel.

Pretty good reading of a classic

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Crying of Lot 49 may be Thomas Pynchon's greatest novel. (Although, ask me tomorrow, and mention Inherent Vices). It is funny and sad and maddening, and the only thing that time has done since its publication in 1967 is to give it an aura of prophecy. As for the reader, George Wilson, he is a maestro of the subtly lifted eyebrow. The dryly unspoken retort. A perfect reader for such a tart little comedy of manners.
This audio has one peculiar problem. It is recorded maybe a little too well. To the point where Mister Wilson's adenoid's begin to fight for their place on the stage. I could hear the creak whenever he shifted in the chair. I could hear cars driving by in the street. At one point, I swear I could hear the rumble of gas in Wilson's stomach.
By all means, download the book. You will laugh out loud and be caught up in its weird, mid-sixties paranoia.
But maybe listen to this one without the headphones...

Great Read for a Great Novel - One Weird Problem

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What made the experience of listening to The Crying of Lot 49 the most enjoyable?

The books is amusing (when not outright hysterical) and the narration is just right.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Crying of Lot 49?

Some of the character names: Max Fallopian, Gengis Cohen, etc.

Have you listened to any of George Wilson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first.

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

Yes but it would have been way too long a sitting.

Nothing to fear, Pynchon is here!

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It's a strange but pretty well written book. However, the chapter markers on the audiobook are completely wrong and you can hear the narrator's stomach grumble between every other sentence. Please record AFTER lunch next time.

Pychon's even more offbeat than I expected

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If you could sum up The Crying of Lot 49 in three words, what would they be?

I have read this book twice; this audio version was more comprehensible than either of my previous readings.

What other book might you compare The Crying of Lot 49 to and why?

Inherent Vice covers much the same physical territory, if Crying can be considered to cover any real geographic location, but the newer book is more playful and less determined to take itself seriously.

Audio version very comprehensible

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I wish the reviewers who liked this book were more specific about what the appeal was. Yes, I know this book is a pomo classic and Pynchon is highly regarded. Still, the book comes across like the 60s head trip that I'm sure was part of the original popularity. A lot of the social commentary I am sure was so much more relevant in 1966 as well. There is still a lot about the social satire that is relevant to our times. My reluctance to be more positive is partly due to the circumstances under which I listened to this book. There are many audio books that work fine in the car. I have no trouble even with a lot of heavy non-fiction. But this book requires a lot of attention. There is so much going on and the plot lines are so ambiguous and convoluted that it's really hard to give this book the focus it deserves while driving. I am giving it the benefit of the doubt here that it actually deserves that focus. Pynchon himself seems to have had second thoughts about that. Perhaps someday I'll listen to it in a quiet corner and consider if it really adds up to something with lasting value or not.

Hard to find the payoff

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Any additional comments?

An entertaining, though-provoking novel that stays with you long after you have finished the story. Pynchon has a wonderful ability to pair seemingly unrelated or contradictory images and issues in an interesting and meaningful way.

Interesting

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