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Finn: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,553 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Some 120 years ago, Mark Twain left Huckleberry Finn's father dead in a room crowded with oddities: a wooden leg, women's underclothing, two black cloth masks, and more. Clinch's masterly debut draws from the nation's literary heritage to create this completely original story. Unabridged. 9 CDs.
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"This is just the darkest novel I have ever read- it stayed with me for days after I finished it. Huck Finn's father is imagined as the main character in a stark commentary on human nature and the essence of evil. The elder Finn is at turns evil by action, or evil by what he'll let happen around him. "What could possibly be going through the mind of a monster like this man," is a question that is answered in such shocking simplicity that it takes your breath away. I highly recommend this book."
— Sharon (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Ravishing…[a] marvel of a novel. Grade: A.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“Clinch’s riverbank Missouri feels postapocalyptic, and his Pap Finn is a crazed yet wily survivor in a polluted landscape.”
— Newsweek -
“An inspired riff on one of literature’s all-time great villains.”
— New Orleans Times-Picayune -
“Told in the present tense, it’s a treasure trove of opportunity for the right reader, and Ed Sala is that. His speech seems that of a middle-aged mid-nineteenth-century American…Best of all, Sala reads at a pace that lets listeners appreciate the fine descriptions of the Mississippi setting. In an informative author interview, Clinch says he was working toward something that could be read aloud. He succeeded. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A Washington Post Best Book of the Year
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A Chicago Tribune Best Book of 2007
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A Christian Science Monitor Best Books of the Year selection
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An ALA Notable Book
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Shortlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
Finn Listener Reviews
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" Excellent. Violent parts so not for the faint hearted,, Loved it "
— Arlene, 2/17/2014 -
" Excellent writer. If you like fiction that imagines "lesser" characters in well-knows classics, you'll like this. It's the story of Huck Finn's father. "
— Michael, 2/14/2014 -
" This book was such an interesting take on Mark Twain's famous novel. I enjoyed the writing and the clever plot and I would recommend it to fans of the story of Huck Finn. This novel is meant for adult readers. "
— Nicole, 2/2/2014 -
" I did not love this book. It was all I could do to finish it. I can't quite put my finger on what I disliked about it but I do know that I struggled with it. "
— Carma, 1/28/2014 -
" I'm not one to enjoy books that hop around in time sequence, but this one kept me wanting to know more. Pap Finn, Huck's father, is so despicable, one really wants to hang around to the end just to make sure he gets his just desserts. The story does piece together, enriched by the setting of Mississippi pre-Civil War days. The voice in this book reminded me a lot of Cormac McCarthy. It's spare, precise and graphic. "
— Jennie, 1/26/2014 -
" Fascinating angle on a classic. "
— Andy, 1/25/2014 -
" I don't know if I wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book or what, but I read about 2 chapters and had to stop. The story didn't pull me in and I wasn't interested in any of the characters. "
— Katy, 1/20/2014 -
" This is the back story of Huck Finn's father. Overall, I enjoyed the story, it was well crafted. Sex and violence were a little too graphic for me. Well worth reading, especially if you enjoy Mark Twain. "
— Jenette, 1/17/2014 -
" A creative take on a despicable character. If you love Huck Finn, you'll enjoy this book. If you hated Huck Finn, you'll still likely enjoy this book. It's a dark read though, so prepare yourself for that. "
— Curtis, 1/14/2014 -
" Book jumps around in time, making it difficult to read. Finn is so amoral that you don't want to find out what horrible think happens next. However, Jon Clinch writes some beautiful prose. "
— Kristen, 12/28/2013 -
" Facinating behind the story story of Huck's Pap. I watched the Mickey Rooney Huckleberry Finn last night and I'm now reading Mark Twain's Autobiorgraphy. I guess this got me interested! Also downloaded Huck FREE on Kindle! "
— Sally, 12/8/2013 -
" I guess I should probably read the Mark Twain novel now. I am probably the only person to read these two novels in that order! "
— Blair, 8/19/2013 -
" Clinch is a talented author. I found parts of this book very difficult to read (like in Kite Runner). It also has some seriously bad language, but I feel it is necessary for Clinch to show the depths of "evil" in Finn. I don't feel that it is used flippantly. "
— Margie, 3/6/2013 -
" Clinch's Finn character is complex and very dark but with undertones of the humanity that he has lost along the way. Clinch is a beautiful writer and I would highly recommend this book. "
— Barb, 2/23/2013 -
" Exploration of Pap Finn; gruesome, but well-written. "
— Katie, 1/18/2013 -
" The story of Huckleberry Finn's father, but no light-hearted jaunt down the Mississippi. Dark, but pure poetry to read. Beautifully written. You hate Finn and you know he's going to die, but you root for him, nonetheless. I think this is the REAL story of Huckleberry Finn. A must read for anyone. "
— Wendy, 10/22/2012 -
" Clinch's words are simply gorgeous; his imagery haunting. Truly a craftsman and artist, Jon Clinch was born to write. After only two novels, he is already one of favorite authors. I recommend his works to everybody I know. "
— Audrey, 9/15/2012 -
" horrifying. and amazing. so well written. one of the quietest violent books i've ever read. i can never think of huck finn the same way. "
— Michele, 8/25/2012 -
" Very dark but superbly written "
— Lauri, 8/24/2012 -
" I can't say that I loved this book, but it I also found it interesting. It is told from Huck Finn's fathers eyes. It makes me want to read the adventures of huckleberry finn again. "
— Anna, 4/25/2012 -
" I love when good intentions and imaginations match with good writing to make classic literature contemporary again. I really enjoyed the crossovers in the story AND the controversial themes that are more approachable now than they were in Twain's day. "
— Amy, 2/19/2012 -
" Man, they really need to get half stars on this website. This is another 3.5. Clinch did a really good job of making Finn alternately appalling and sympathetic. And I do like the idea of creating a novel that dovetails off a character in another novel - a la "Ahab's Wife," one of my favorite novels. "
— Ashley, 1/6/2012 -
" Dark, disturbing, well written and atmospheric. "
— Linds, 11/3/2011 -
" A creative take on a despicable character. If you love Huck Finn, you'll enjoy this book. If you hated Huck Finn, you'll still likely enjoy this book. It's a dark read though, so prepare yourself for that. "
— Curtis, 4/7/2011 -
" Gorgeously written, compelling, inventive. I'm puzzled by reviewers who don't like the book because the main character is not likeable. How boring if they were all nice! The author does a masterful job of revealing the circumstances that made Finn what he was. "
— Nancy, 3/22/2011 -
" Caution - likely the darkest book I've read. Finn is not a nice man. "
— Jeff, 2/19/2011 -
" Interesting to see from the perspective of Pap. It helps to explain/clarify some things in Huck Finn. "
— Erin, 2/12/2011
About Jon Clinch
Jon Clinch is the author of several novels, including his debut, Finn, which was named an American Library Association Notable Book and was chosen as one of the year’s best books by the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, and the Christian Science Monitor. It also won the Philadelphia Athenaeum Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. His second novel, Kings of the Earth, was named a best book of the year by the Washington Post and led the 2010 Summer Reading List at O, The Oprah Magazine. In 2008, he organized a benefit reading for the financially ailing Twain House, an event that literally saved the house from bankruptcy.
About Ed Sala
Ed Sala has narrated dozens of audio books throughout his career. His readings include Harlan Coben’s Tell No One, Stephen Sears’ Gettysburg, and Cormac MacCarthy’s Outer Dark.