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The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,314 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In a dazzlingly original work of nonfiction, the award-winning novelist Colson Whitehead re-creates the exuberance, the chaos, the promise, and the heartbreak of New York. Here is a literary love song that will entrance anyone who has lived in-or spent time-in the greatest of American cities. A masterful evocation of the city that never sleeps, The Colossus of New York captures the city's inner and outer landscapes in a series of vignettes, meditations, and personal memories. Colson Whitehead conveys with almost uncanny immediacy the feelings and thoughts of longtime residents and of newcomers who dream of making it their home; of those who have conquered its challenges; and of those who struggle against its cruelties. Whitehead's style is as multilayered and multifarious as New York itself: Switching from third person, to first person, to second person, he weaves individual voices into a jazzy musical composition that perfectly reflects the way we experience the city. There is a funny, knowing riff on what it feels like to arrive in New York for the first time; a lyrical meditation on how the city is transformed by an unexpected rain shower; and a wry look at the ferocious battle that is commuting. The plaintive notes of the lonely and dispossessed resound in one passage, while another captures those magical moments when the city seems to be talking directly to you, inviting you to become one with its rhythms.
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"Interesting read, I couldn't decide whether I hated his style of writing or loved it. In the end, I decided it was different, and poetic, if not a little ADD and chaotic. Either you'll love it or hate it! "
— Clarice (4 out of 5 stars)
The Colossus of New York Listener Reviews
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" Stream-of-conscience-like but insightful post-9/11 nod to NYC. Some fresh takes on icons from Times Square to Brooklyn Bridge. "
— Patricia, 2/20/2014 -
" Stream-of-conscience-like but insightful post-9/11 nod to NYC. Some fresh takes on icons from Times Square to Brooklyn Bridge. "
— Patricia, 2/20/2014 -
" keen observations about the mundane and the sublime in new york, in the key of e.b.white. "
— Brett, 2/10/2014 -
" keen observations about the mundane and the sublime in new york, in the key of e.b.white. "
— Brett, 2/10/2014 -
" Sometimes, the language gets a little overly precious. "
— Lai-san, 2/8/2014 -
" Sometimes, the language gets a little overly precious. "
— Lai-san, 2/8/2014 -
" Reads like a slow jazz song...an interesting and sometimes unspecific look at NYC. The longer that you live here, the more that it makes sense. "
— Keith, 1/22/2014 -
" Reads like a slow jazz song...an interesting and sometimes unspecific look at NYC. The longer that you live here, the more that it makes sense. "
— Keith, 1/22/2014 -
" The Colossus of New York is not a novel, but rather a collection of snippets describing moments and places in the City. Colson Whitehead is a master. "
— Melanie, 1/21/2014 -
" The Colossus of New York is not a novel, but rather a collection of snippets describing moments and places in the City. Colson Whitehead is a master. "
— Melanie, 1/21/2014 -
" Reads somewhat like the "leftovers" from a writer's notebook -- certainly authentic but lacking in cohesion. While the observations ring true, the sense that it is all raw data was frustrating to me. "
— Laurie, 1/17/2014 -
" Reads somewhat like the "leftovers" from a writer's notebook -- certainly authentic but lacking in cohesion. While the observations ring true, the sense that it is all raw data was frustrating to me. "
— Laurie, 1/17/2014 -
" Sorry, read this one many years back and loved, loved, loved it. But it was long enough ago that I do not feel confident enough in my collander-strength memory to post an actual review. "
— Will, 1/15/2014 -
" Sorry, read this one many years back and loved, loved, loved it. But it was long enough ago that I do not feel confident enough in my collander-strength memory to post an actual review. "
— Will, 1/15/2014 -
" This was really too pretentious for me to read very much of. I was looking forward to it, it's my first Colson Whitehead experience, so that's a bummer! "
— Anina, 1/12/2014 -
" This was really too pretentious for me to read very much of. I was looking forward to it, it's my first Colson Whitehead experience, so that's a bummer! "
— Anina, 1/12/2014 -
" All New Yorkers will love this book.. "
— Uri, 1/5/2014 -
" All New Yorkers will love this book.. "
— Uri, 1/5/2014 -
" NYC is the most frustratingly fantabulous place on Earth. Colson gets it. "
— Gregory, 1/1/2014 -
" NYC is the most frustratingly fantabulous place on Earth. Colson gets it. "
— Gregory, 1/1/2014 -
" I loved the first several "parts", lost interest and then it ended with a bang. I think anyone who has spent a lot of time in the City or has moved away will also love to have this book. "
— Beth, 12/20/2013 -
" I loved the first several "parts", lost interest and then it ended with a bang. I think anyone who has spent a lot of time in the City or has moved away will also love to have this book. "
— Beth, 12/20/2013 -
" I really liked this...can definitely relate to MANY of the scenes he describes as a New Yorker. "
— Micki, 11/25/2013 -
" I really liked this...can definitely relate to MANY of the scenes he describes as a New Yorker. "
— Micki, 11/25/2013 -
" Gorgeous prose poems about New York. "
— Mely, 11/13/2013 -
" Gorgeous prose poems about New York. "
— Mely, 11/13/2013 -
" A book for all five city senses. "
— Siobhan, 10/8/2013 -
" A book for all five city senses. "
— Siobhan, 10/8/2013 -
" I love Whitehead's novels, but his quirky, overwrought style doesn't work nearly as well here. This is a collection of cynical, somewhat tired observations about New York, and the elaborate writing drags it down. "
— Julia, 6/18/2013 -
" I love Whitehead's novels, but his quirky, overwrought style doesn't work nearly as well here. This is a collection of cynical, somewhat tired observations about New York, and the elaborate writing drags it down. "
— Julia, 6/18/2013 -
" It felt like one big gigantic blog, and tapered off horribly. Every so often he captivated me with a line or two -- that really captured my love-hate relationship with New York -- but those moments were few and far between. "
— Colin, 1/28/2013 -
" It felt like one big gigantic blog, and tapered off horribly. Every so often he captivated me with a line or two -- that really captured my love-hate relationship with New York -- but those moments were few and far between. "
— Colin, 1/28/2013 -
" Great short essays about NYC that could only be described as a feat of creative nonfiction. Whitehead's unconventional voice gets a little tiresome despite its originality, but his observations about life in Manhattan are often dead-on, and ultimately all-encompassing. "
— Greg, 1/23/2013 -
" Great short essays about NYC that could only be described as a feat of creative nonfiction. Whitehead's unconventional voice gets a little tiresome despite its originality, but his observations about life in Manhattan are often dead-on, and ultimately all-encompassing. "
— Greg, 1/23/2013 -
" The first chapter would get 5 stars. "
— Darcy, 10/8/2012 -
" The first chapter would get 5 stars. "
— Darcy, 10/8/2012 -
" Has its moments but there's nothing particularly memorable here. It's well-written (of course, Whitehead is great) but lacks substance. If I lived in NY, maybe this would have more resonance, but it didn't do a ton for me. "
— Greg, 6/26/2012 -
" A wonderfully rendered meditation on New York--get it for the subway. "
— Robbie, 6/26/2012 -
" Has its moments but there's nothing particularly memorable here. It's well-written (of course, Whitehead is great) but lacks substance. If I lived in NY, maybe this would have more resonance, but it didn't do a ton for me. "
— Greg, 6/26/2012 -
" A wonderfully rendered meditation on New York--get it for the subway. "
— Robbie, 6/26/2012 -
" Brilliant poetic prose offer hilarious insight into the world's best city. "
— Erica, 6/23/2012 -
" Brilliant poetic prose offer hilarious insight into the world's best city. "
— Erica, 6/23/2012 -
" This book really is a love letter to New York. I don' t think every essay hit its mark but enough of them do to make a thought provoking journey through a variety of New York neighborhoods. "
— Deborah, 4/24/2012 -
" This book really is a love letter to New York. I don' t think every essay hit its mark but enough of them do to make a thought provoking journey through a variety of New York neighborhoods. "
— Deborah, 4/24/2012 -
" This is not a collection of essays. It is a stream of thought vomit. "
— Irus, 2/23/2012 -
" This is not a collection of essays. It is a stream of thought vomit. "
— Irus, 2/23/2012 -
" Great portrait of new york city. I visualized everything he was describing. Its NYC in its most romantic yet raw state... "
— Rossy, 1/25/2012 -
" Great portrait of new york city. I visualized everything he was describing. Its NYC in its most romantic yet raw state... "
— Rossy, 1/25/2012 -
" Some very good writing -- just not my thing. "
— Kara, 1/7/2012 -
" Some very good writing -- just not my thing. "
— Kara, 1/7/2012 -
" Essays, really prose poetry, on NYC. Images are vibrant--he notices so many details and conveys them vividly "
— Candace, 9/25/2011 -
" Essays, really prose poetry, on NYC. Images are vibrant--he notices so many details and conveys them vividly "
— Candace, 9/25/2011 -
" I've always wanted to live in New York and this book for just a short period of time made me feel like I was doing just that. "
— Melissa, 6/1/2011 -
" I've always wanted to live in New York and this book for just a short period of time made me feel like I was doing just that. "
— Melissa, 6/1/2011 -
" keen observations about the mundane and the sublime in new york, in the key of e.b.white. "
— Brett, 5/6/2011 -
" keen observations about the mundane and the sublime in new york, in the key of e.b.white. "
— Brett, 5/6/2011 -
" Great New York stories for non-New Yorkers and even better for residents. LOVE IT! "
— Donna, 4/14/2011 -
" Great New York stories for non-New Yorkers and even better for residents. LOVE IT! "
— Donna, 4/14/2011 -
" This is not a collection of essays. It is a stream of thought vomit. "
— Irus, 3/29/2011 -
" This is not a collection of essays. It is a stream of thought vomit. "
— Irus, 3/29/2011 -
" It felt like one big gigantic blog, and tapered off horribly. Every so often he captivated me with a line or two -- that really captured my love-hate relationship with New York -- but those moments were few and far between.<br/> "
— Colin, 12/21/2010 -
" It felt like one big gigantic blog, and tapered off horribly. Every so often he captivated me with a line or two -- that really captured my love-hate relationship with New York -- but those moments were few and far between.<br/> "
— Colin, 12/21/2010 -
" Reads somewhat like the "leftovers" from a writer's notebook -- certainly authentic but lacking in cohesion. While the observations ring true, the sense that it is all raw data was frustrating to me. "
— Laurie, 12/11/2010 -
" Reads somewhat like the "leftovers" from a writer's notebook -- certainly authentic but lacking in cohesion. While the observations ring true, the sense that it is all raw data was frustrating to me. "
— Laurie, 12/11/2010 -
" I couldn't get through this book. I guess the author's style is considered somewhat poetic, but too much so to suit my taste. I thought of the book as generic ramblings about a big city. It didn't really bring me back to my days in NY. Not to my liking. "
— Ray, 10/6/2010 -
" I couldn't get through this book. I guess the author's style is considered somewhat poetic, but too much so to suit my taste. I thought of the book as generic ramblings about a big city. It didn't really bring me back to my days in NY. Not to my liking. "
— Ray, 10/6/2010 -
" audio <br/>A refreshing editioral about looking a the energy of NYC "
— Irene, 9/23/2010 -
" audio <br/>A refreshing editioral about looking a the energy of NYC "
— Irene, 9/23/2010 -
" Interesting read, I couldn't decide whether I hated his style of writing or loved it. In the end, I decided it was different, and poetic, if not a little ADD and chaotic. Either you'll love it or hate it! "
— Clarice, 7/4/2010 -
" Stream-of-conscience-like but insightful post-9/11 nod to NYC. Some fresh takes on icons from Times Square to Brooklyn Bridge. "
— Patricia, 4/5/2010 -
" Stream-of-conscience-like but insightful post-9/11 nod to NYC. Some fresh takes on icons from Times Square to Brooklyn Bridge. "
— Patricia, 4/5/2010 -
" Great portrait of new york city. I visualized everything he was describing. Its NYC in its most romantic yet raw state... "
— Rossy, 3/15/2010 -
" Great portrait of new york city. I visualized everything he was describing. Its NYC in its most romantic yet raw state... "
— Rossy, 3/15/2010
About Colson Whitehead
Colson Whitehead, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eleven works of fiction and nonfiction, is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, for The Nickel Boys and The Underground Railroad, which also won the National Book Award. His other awards include the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the PEN Oakland Award, and the Young Lions Fiction Award, among others. His books have been named best books of the year by the New York Times, Washington Post, Time magazine, Boston Globe, and many more. He is a recipient of MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships.