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Cool Hand Luke Audiobook
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(3.07) - 338 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Based in part on Donn Pearce's own experiences working on a Florida road gang, this classic story of Cool Hand Luke, the defiant survivor who refused to be defeated by the forces of corrupt authority, is earthy, sensitively written, and revealing.
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"The not so famous book on which the classic film was based. The author Donn Pearce also wrote the screenplay and had a minor role in the film as 'Sailor',who is the narrator of the book, which is based on Pearce's own experiences on a Florida chain gang.I thoroughly enjoyed the book and although I found it difficult to compare to the film, as its so long since I've seen it, I did recognise some of the scenes that are common to both. While reading the book the only picture I could conjure up in my mind of Cool Hand Luke was of Paul Newman, as it's such an iconic role. The book describes in detail, life working on a chain gang and the conditions that the inmates had to suffer on a daily basis and this is handled with humour and dignity. It also tells the story of Luke who arrives at the camp and eventually becomes a figure of legendary status to the inmates through his various exploits and escape attempts. I'll now have to watch the film again and see how it compares to the book."
— Ross (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Pearce’s 1965 novel depicts the lives of chain gang convicts with brutal honesty.”
— Library Journal
Cool Hand Luke Listener Reviews
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" One of the rare occasions where the movie is better than the book. The author wrote the screenplay after the book and was able to create a more compelling narrative the second go around. "
— Thomas, 2/17/2014 -
" One of my favorite books of all time. I love the individuality and the spirit of Lucas Jackson, and though the film and Paul Newman do a wonderful job, there is more characterization in the book that gives you a clearer picture of who he is. Great book. "
— DeAnna, 2/13/2014 -
" Other readers have said the movie is actually better than the book. I would have to say that they are companions to one another. The fact that the original script for the movie was also written by Donn Pearce means that he probably saw opportunity to put in the movie what he hadn't in the book. In the book we learn more about Luke's past, which was something I was pretty interested in. The movie deals more with the present, letting you make up (like the bull gang does) your own story about Cool Hand Luke's history. While I probably prefer the movie (who doesn't want to look into Paul Newman's pretty blue eyes?), I still find this book to be an enjoyable and satisfying read. "
— Christie, 2/11/2014 -
" I had no idea what to expect from this, I knew of the film and the recent play adaptation but didn't know anything of the plot. A really interesting read, definitely paints a vivid picture of life for the men on the chain gang and bull gang. "
— Jenni, 2/1/2014 -
" Good book (apparently based on Pearce's experience on a Florida chain-gang), but doesn't even hold a candle to the film version. "
— Mike, 1/28/2014 -
" One of my favorite books since I was a child. Also one of the few books I know of that has a good movie adaptation which is true to the book. "
— Cole, 1/7/2014 -
" It was better than the movie, which I found boring, and it provided two useful reference points and an epigraph for my law review article, but otherwise...meh. "
— Raja, 1/4/2014 -
" My brother recommended this book to me; he has read the book and seen the movie. I thought this book was good. It was very interesting read about prison and the Bull gang, now I just nee to see the movie. "
— Cecy, 1/2/2014 -
" We brought the movie to town through our film society and now I am finally re-reading the book! "
— Linda, 12/29/2013 -
" Good read! Paul Newman played the character in the movie. Yummy! "
— Cheryl, 12/27/2013 -
" Very well-written, very descriptive, and I was quite surprised how closely the movie follows what happens in the book. A great read! "
— Christina, 12/21/2013 -
" I liked the movie better? Maybe because I grew up with watching it. Rare for me, but true. "
— Rachel, 12/6/2013 -
" "what we've got here....is failure to communicate"..does not appear anywhere in the book .....Pearce has called it stupid f#$&ing line ..... "
— David, 12/4/2013 -
" This is a great story of of a man whose spirit just won't break...no matter what. I enjoyed reading this & I haven't seen the movie either...so I am going to watch it soon too. "
— Gretchen, 2/2/2013 -
" I like that whole Cool Hand Luke, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest badass protagonist. Yeah! Damn the man! "
— Carinna, 12/11/2012 -
" Part of my "Books Read" list I found while moving/unpacking. "
— Owen, 11/2/2012 -
" Loved the movie and now I love the book but still wasnt aas good as getting to watch paul newman walk his pretty self around... . :) "
— Brandy, 7/28/2012 -
" Wonderful book. As wonderful as the movie. Also a great companion to the movie since, as with most book/movie translations, you get more information about Luke and the other characters here than the movie could manage. "
— Jason, 7/10/2012 -
" I thought this was a great book -- well-written and interesting. I've already seen the movie several times, but I still really enjoyed the book. I guess I didn't expect a novel in a prison setting to be so appealing. "
— Doralyn, 4/5/2012 -
" How did they manage to write a great screenplay from this? I want my time back. "
— Rebecca, 3/21/2012 -
" Love the story. Seen the movie countless times and it is my all-time favorite. The book took me a while to get, but it was worth the wait. "
— Tyler, 2/11/2012 -
" Truly a great book "
— Kenneth, 2/8/2012 -
" Better than the movie, and that's miraculous in itself. "
— A.W., 1/30/2012
About Donn Pearce
Donn Pearce is the author of the Academy Award- nominated screenplay Cool Hand Luke. In 1965 Scribners published his first novel, Cool Hand Luke, and he went on to write the Academy Award-nominated screenplay for the 1967 film version. The film starred Paul Newman, and Pearce made a cameo appearance as a convict named Sailor. His other books included Pier Head Jump and Dying in the Sun. During the seventies and early eighties he was a freelance journalist, often contributing to magazines such as Playboy and Esquire. In 2005 he published a fourth book, Nobody Comes Back, a novel about the Battle of the Bulge. He lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
About Mark Hammer
Mark Hammer has had long and distinguished career in the theater. After earning an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, he completed an MFA degree at Catholic University. For twenty-three years after that, he served on the drama faculty at that university and as co-chairman of its MFA acting program. For the last sixteen of those years, he was also a member of the resident acting company at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage. There, he had significant roles in both classic and contemporary dramas. He was twice nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for his performances in Cloud Nine and The Wild Duck. He has also appeared in several Broadway plays. Hammer was proud to be chosen to narrate the opening film of the permanent exhibit for the National Holocaust Museum.