The Liars' Club Audiobook By Mary Karr cover art

The Liars' Club

A Memoir

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The Liars' Club

By: Mary Karr
Narrated by: Mary Karr
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“Wickedly funny and always movingly illuminating, thanks to kick-ass storytelling and a poet's ear.”–Oprah.com

The New York Times bestselling, hilarious tale of Mary Karr’s hardscrabble Texas childhood that Oprah.com calls the best memoir of a generation.

The Liars’ Club took the world by storm and raised the art of the memoir to an entirely new level, bringing about a dramatic revival of the form. Karr’s comic childhood in an east Texas oil town brings us characters as darkly hilarious as any of J. D. Salinger’s—a hard-drinking daddy, a sister who can talk down the sheriff at age twelve, and an oft-married mother whose accumulated secrets threaten to destroy them all. This unsentimental and profoundly moving account of an apocalyptic childhood is as “funny, lively, and un-put-downable” (USA Today) today as it ever was.

©1995 Mary Karr (P)2023 Penguin Audio Americas Art & Literature Authors Memoir Essentials State & Local United States Women Memoir Funny Witty

Critic reviews

PEN/Martha Albrand Award, Winner

"Astonishing ... one of the most dazzling and moving memoirs to come along in years."—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

"This book is so good I thought about sending it out for a backup opinion...it's like finding Beethoven in Hoboken. To have a poet's precision of language and a poet's insight into people applied to one of the roughest, toughest, ugliest places in America is an astonishing event."—Molly Ivins, The Nation

"The essential American story ... a beauty."—Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World

Featured Article: The top 100 memoirs of all time


All genres considered, the memoir is among the most difficult and complex for a writer to pull off. After all, giving voice to your own lived experience and recounting deeply painful or uncomfortable memories in a way that still engages and entertains is a remarkable feat. These autobiographies, often narrated by the authors themselves, shine with raw, unfiltered emotion sure to resonate with any listener. But don't just take our word for it—queue up any one of these listens, and you'll hear exactly what we mean.

Featured Article The top 100 memoirs of all time
Captivating Storytelling • Authentic Memoir • Powerful Narrative • Engaging Reflection • Smart Writing • Strong Voice
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Excellent story. I think the author inherited her father’s ability to pull you into a story. I am reviewing both The Liars’ Club and Lit. Reading them both is a requirement. Her writing is truly captivating and so smart, a true storyteller. It draws me in and makes me feel every emotion she intended. The way she expresses her thoughts at times left me in tears and wanting more. Did she ever hear from the people in her hometown after the books were published? One last thing. Warning to all readers – After listening to Mary Carr’s writing, don’t be surprised if the next few books you read/listen to seem poorly written. Her writing is scary smart.

I felt like I was watching a movie, not listening

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I liked how this story was told . Would recommend! I think that others will find at least one part that speaks to them.

Honest story with great details

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That was a very real trip back in time. It was like the whole thing could have been written about the neighborhood I grew up in.

I grew up one town over in Port Arthur at the exact same time.

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A professor of English and also a nice neighbor gifted me this book. It was really fun to read and a catharsis in fact.

Texas Size Story

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So well written and engaging! The author is a top notch reader— one of my favorite Audible reads of all time. I was forever stunned at her descriptions, so perfect, felt like I was there. The characters are multi-dimensional, and so well done.

I’ve never heard better!! Loved loved loved this book

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Thrilled Audible finally has the unabridged memoir. It’s one of my all-time favorites, wonderful to listen to it narrated by Mary Karr!

Poignant and engrossing.

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Great read by the author of her family story. Highly recommended to anyone. Some crudity if you’re squeamish

Writing style

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Crazy entertaining book with happy ending, gifted writer and great narration, I was hooked the whole story,

Amazing memoir

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It was all good. Big fan of Mary Carr. Read all of her books. Thanks

The story telling quality

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I’ve had this book on my actual physical bookshelf since 1996 and only got a chapter or so into it. Not because I didn’t like it—I always meant to go back, But I’m actually really glad I listened to it instead because Karr’s voice is so incredible and felt so integral to the story and I think really added to the experience of the book. The story is certainly strong enough to stand on its own but it was a pleasure to have that added dimension.

Classic, must-“read” for anyone who likes memoir

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