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The Graduate Audiobook
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(2.99) - 2,370 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The basis for the acclaimed 1967 film, this novel about a naïve college graduate adrift in the shifting social and sexual mores of the 1960s captures with hilarity and insight the alienation of youth and the disillusionment of an era.
When Benjamin Braddock graduates from college and moves back to his parents’ house, everyone wants to know what he’s going to do with his life. Embittered by the emptiness of his education and indifferent to his grim prospects, Benjamin falls haplessly into an affair with Mrs. Robinson, the relentlessly seductive wife of his father’s business partner. It’s only when her lovely daughter Elaine comes home to visit that Benjamin, now smitten, thinks he might have found some kind of direction in his life. But Mrs. Robinson is having none of it. A wondrously fierce and absurd battle of wills ensues, with love and idealism triumphing over the forces of corruption and conformity.
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"A book about the disenchantment of youth that is nit bogged down with extened metaphors and mindless cliches. Benjamin's sense of disillusionment is pervasive throughout the novel without being lingered upon. What a relief!"
— Victoria (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Brilliant…sardonic, ludicrously funny.”
— New York Times -
“A highly gifted and accomplished writer.”
— Chicago Tribune -
“His novel makes you want to laugh and it makes you want to cry.”
— Cleveland Plain Dealer -
“Brick provides a strong narration of the text and executes believable voices for his male and female characters, as usual. His delivery of Benjamin is distinct enough to not seem derivative of Dustin Hoffman’s performance in the 1967 film adaptation.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Scott Brick displays a wide range of vocal styles and gives a melancholic yet playful performance that captures character personalities with precision. It’s a superb delivery—from the high-pitched voice of insecure, sexually inexperienced Benjamin and the browbeating tones of his parents to the husky, sultry voice of Mrs. Robinson. Brick’s sexy bass voice and measured pace make this a deliciously fun distraction listeners will enjoy.”
— AudioFile
The Graduate Listener Reviews
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" Another case of the guy narrating the book ruining the characters and the plot being pretty unfinished, it needs 50 more pages. "
— MK, 2/18/2014 -
" didn't finish it. it reads exactly like the movie. and honestly, the deadpan humor doesn't even come across in book form. so yeah, it was easy airplane reading but not worth wasting my time beyond that. "
— Sarah, 2/16/2014 -
" um... strange. I didn't really like it. "
— Brooke, 2/4/2014 -
" I''m not really sure how this was made I to a movie. I've only seen bits of the movie but I'm pretty sure it's word for word from the book. And I definitely did not find Ben even the slightest bit likeable. "
— Steph, 2/3/2014 -
" Mike Nichols' fine film of this novel owes a lot to Charles Webb. The dour yet blithe, finely wrought dialogue was lifted pretty much verbatim from the book. "
— Corey, 1/27/2014 -
" Very drab and vacant... not a fan! Also, I noticed that (clothes) 'hanger' was incorrectly spelled as 'hangar'... "
— Lois, 1/13/2014 -
" Very much like the movie. Not complicated; just a straight forward, tell it as it happens solid read. "
— Kurt, 1/7/2014 -
" Pretty much like the movie. "
— Gobasso, 12/29/2013 -
" One of my most favorite book. Benjamin's character is so endearing! Just took one seating under 30 minutes to finish this wonderful! Definitely a page turner. Literary work at its finest. "
— Kent, 12/15/2013 -
" Benjamin Braddock is a slightly older Holden Caulfield with a degree. He comes home from college, has an affair with an older married woman, then pursues her daughter. The movie is apparently good but this book wasn't worth reading. "
— David, 12/11/2013 -
" Disliked this book from the beginning. Thought it was poorly written and the characters undeveloped by the time the book was finished. "
— Charlotte, 12/10/2013 -
" Oh, good Lord. All I can say is that the popularity of the movie is clearly based on attractive, skilled actors and a good soundtrack. "
— Hank, 6/1/2013 -
" Awful book. Great movie, but the book lacks any sort of emotion or character depth. Ben is incomprehensible and comes off as a selfish jerk and slightly crazy. This one is definitely better on screen than paper. "
— Alison, 3/27/2013 -
" This was ok. The beginning of the book describes a party for Benjamin Braddocks character who is returning from uni. This scene is the beginning of the affair and hooks the reader in. I found Benjamin's character a bit annoying. I loved Mr and Mrs Robinson's characters. "
— Ally, 3/14/2013 -
" 3 1/2 stars. I was thrown off more than once because this is written with mostly dialog, kind of like a play, but I got used to it. "
— Lisa, 2/24/2013 -
" Best book to read after graduating from college. Made me laugh out loud. "
— Petra, 9/26/2012 -
" Ugh. Nothing interesting here. Benjamin is a pain in the ass. Mrs. Robinson is annoying. Elaine is strangely naive. This was much less enjoyable than the movie despite the fact that it might as well have been written as a movie script with its limited descriptions and way too much useless dialogue. "
— Irina, 8/30/2012 -
" Adjectives are not the enemy, Mr Webb. A quick and easy 1001 read. "
— Danyellemastro, 4/25/2012 -
" The movie is so true to the book! Benjamin Braddock, in my opinion, is a huge d-bag. I wish I could get perspective on what any of the characters are thinking, but alas, not a one of their thoughts or motivations are delved into. "
— Megan, 9/23/2011 -
" Can someone count and tell me how many times the word "what" appears in this book???? Absolutely pathetics characters! Complete waste of time... "
— Charlie, 7/19/2011 -
" Good writing, but I spent most of the book wishing I could reach into the page, grab the spoiled-brat protagonist and tell him to either grow up or get into therapy. "
— Rebecca, 6/24/2011 -
" I've never seen the film but plan to now that I have finished the book. It is hard to imagine how it can compare to Webb's writing but then again, Dustin Hoffman is a brilliant actor! "
— Marcus, 6/21/2011 -
" I really wanted to like this book!!! BUT, I didn't. It was unrealistic, the main character was super annoying, and the author made my head hurt with all the talking around in circles between the characters. If I never hear the word "frowned" again in a book, I'll be happy. "
— Stephanie, 6/14/2011 -
" I don't know if it went over my head, but I did not enjoy the book and did not find it funny like some of the book reviews said it would be. "
— Leigh, 5/22/2011 -
" 3 1/2 stars. I was thrown off more than once because this is written with mostly dialog, kind of like a play, but I got used to it. "
— Lisa, 5/21/2011 -
" At least it was a quick free kindle read. If you've seen the movie, consider the book read. The movie follows that close. The cast and the soundtrack is what makes this movie a classic. "
— Lotzastitches, 5/12/2011 -
" Skip the book and watch the movie. If you've already seen the movies you won't be able to get Dustin Hoffman's voice out of your head. Reads like a screenplay "
— Anne-Marie, 5/10/2011 -
" Disliked this book from the beginning. Thought it was poorly written and the characters undeveloped by the time the book was finished. "
— Charlotte, 4/8/2011 -
" This is one of my favorite movies ever, and I own a yellowed old paperback copy of the novel that the movie is based on (a nineteenth printing from 1963). I honestly don't remember much about the novel that's different from the movie, but I do know that I enjoyed reading it in high school. "
— elissa, 3/30/2011 -
" I didn't think much of the movie, overrated and phony. "
— George, 3/23/2011
About Charles Webb
Charles Webb (1939–2020) was the author of nine novels, including his best-known novel The Graduate, which was made into a major motion picture in 1963 and which became an icon of the social tensions of the 1960s. He studied history and literature and graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts. He and his wife, an artist, lived a non-materialistic life style, home-schooled their two children, and were activists their entire lives in support of gay rights and other social issues.
About Scott Brick
Scott Brick, an acclaimed voice artist, screenwriter, and actor, has performed on film, television, and radio. He attended UCLA and spent ten years in a traveling Shakespeare company. Passionate about the spoken word, he has narrated a wide variety of audiobooks. winning won more than fifty AudioFile Earphones Awards and several of the prestigious Audie Awards. He was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine and the Voice of Choice for 2016 by Booklist magazine.