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The Rabbit Factory Audiobook
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(3.58) - 597 listener ratings
Publisher Description
In an ambitious narrative structure reminiscent of Robert Altman's classic film Nashville, Larry Brown weaves together the stories of a sprawling cast of eccentric and lovable characters, each embarked on a quest for meaning, fulfillment, and love -- with poignant and uproarious results. Set in Memphis and North Mississippi, The Rabbit Factory follows the colliding lives of, among others, Arthur, an older, socially ill-at-ease man of considerable wealth married to the much younger Helen, whose desperate need for satisfaction sweeps her into the arms of other men; Eric, who has run away from home thinking his father doesn't want him and becomes Arthur's unlikely surrogate son; and Anjalee, a big-hearted prostitute with her own set of troubles who crashes into the lives of the others like a one-woman hurricane. Teeming with pitch-perfect creations that include quirky gangsters, colorful locals, seemingly straitlaced professors, and fast-and-loose police officers, Brown's spellbinding and often hilarious story is about the botched choices and missed chances that separate people -- and the tenuous threads of love and coincidence that connect them. With all the subtlety and surprise of life itself, the story turns on a dime from comical to violent to moving. Masterful, profound, and full of spirit, The Rabbit Factory is literary entertainment of the highest order.
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"I love a book that is profound but plain-spoken. The speech patterns Larry Brown has his characters employ are rich, honest and funny. He lets us, convincingly, into his characters' heads so we experience their internal thought processes/streams of consciousness. These are surprisingly similar to the dialogues I have in my own head--(upon recognition, very funny). And I always love a story that seems, almost accidentally, to come around full circle."
— Voitaray (4 out of 5 stars)
The Rabbit Factory Listener Reviews
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" Enjoyed the interlinked narrative. There was a great sense of forward momentum throughout the book with a couple instances of overlapping moments with different perspectives. "
— Donald, 2/7/2014 -
" This book was pretty good. I was hoping for it to be a little more "Dirty south" like the other books I have read by Larry Brown. I didn't like how the ending was. I thought everyone's story would tie together...but it ended more like little short stories. Wasn't to bad though. Just not my favorite by Larry Brown. "
— Jillybeads81, 2/4/2014 -
" Mississippi is full of characters, and this book nicely captures their passion, insanity, irresponsibility...complete with usually good intentions, but often terrifying results. "
— Sati116, 1/31/2014 -
" I am reading this one again, review to follow. "
— Kathy, 1/25/2014 -
" formulaic and one dimensional "
— Linda, 1/15/2014 -
" Read on audio, one of those I took a chance on because of that. Ended up being delightful and hilarious! Would recommend for a fun light read for someone with a quirky sense of humor and open mind. "
— Nicole, 1/8/2014 -
" This book is fucked up and awesome. RIP Larry! "
— jay, 12/29/2013 -
" Odd characters and gritty plot twists. Great storytelling. Great book. "
— Barry, 12/9/2013 -
" Loved. A Southern Gothic with an amazing cast of characters, each of them well-developed (including those which are dogs), and a patient but well-paced and exciting story. Might rival "Joe" as my favorite Larry Brown. "
— Ann, 11/21/2013 -
" Great read, I didn't like the ending. "
— Kenneth, 9/10/2013 -
" Rabbit Factory is Larry Brown at his very best - READ IT! "
— Aaron, 8/1/2013 -
" I found this book disjointed, anticlimatic and w/an overdone ending, won't read more of this author. "
— Hayseed, 7/11/2013 -
" I've always liked Larry Brown's writing, and this one didn't disappoint. his characters are obviously fictional, but very real. "
— Dennis, 7/10/2013 -
" A little strange, but interesting "
— Lauren, 6/12/2013 -
" Lots of stuff going on so far, 3 stars "
— Bob, 5/20/2013 -
" wacky, moving, funny, satisfying reading experience. odd characters lives tangle together in Memphis and environs; i will definitely read this again one day! "
— Elsbeth, 4/26/2013 -
" Overall, this was a disappointment. Which is why I gave it to JD. "
— Jamie, 4/19/2013 -
" So, I thought this book was going to be about a quirky bunch of people working in a popular adult toy factory...I was half wrong. It is full of quirky people, but these people do not work in a "Rabbit Factory." This book is highly addictive! It was a fun read. "
— Denise, 4/3/2013 -
" I was all into it and then the ending kind of pooped out. "
— Tracy, 9/1/2012 -
" good one. Bukowski on the south "
— Alex, 8/1/2012 -
" strange, but pretty good. the ending was a let down, though. "
— Sheila, 11/25/2011 -
" This is my first Larry Brown novel but it won't be my last! This book is gritty with characters that draw you in always wondering what is going to happen next. "
— Barbara, 8/13/2011 -
" Finished it, but still not sure it even had a plot! Far from a solid novel, and simply not enjoyable. "
— Melissa, 1/15/2011 -
" Enjoyed the interlinked narrative. There was a great sense of forward momentum throughout the book with a couple instances of overlapping moments with different perspectives. "
— Donald, 12/23/2010 -
" Loved. A Southern Gothic with an amazing cast of characters, each of them well-developed (including those which are dogs), and a patient but well-paced and exciting story. Might rival "Joe" as my favorite Larry Brown. "
— Ann, 6/19/2010 -
" 4.25--too bad that he died so young. I loved his writing. "
— Rod, 6/18/2010 -
" I've always liked Larry Brown's writing, and this one didn't disappoint. his characters are obviously fictional, but very real. "
— Dennis, 3/10/2010 -
" The first 200 pages of this book are about as good as any average Elmore Leonard novel; it's entertaining and fast paced, but there isn't much substance to it. It falls apart completely in the last 140 pages and the last 20 pages are just plain awful. "
— Neil, 7/31/2009 -
" So, I thought this book was going to be about a quirky bunch of people working in a popular adult toy factory...I was half wrong. It is full of quirky people, but these people do not work in a "Rabbit Factory." This book is highly addictive! It was a fun read. "
— Denise, 5/29/2009 -
" strange, but pretty good. the ending was a let down, though. "
— Sheila, 4/1/2009 -
" Lots of stuff going on so far, 3 stars "
— Bob, 12/4/2008 -
" wacky, moving, funny, satisfying reading experience. odd characters lives tangle together in Memphis and environs; i will definitely read this again one day! "
— Elsbeth, 11/17/2008
About Larry Brown
Larry Brown (1951–2004) was an American novelist, non-fiction, and short story writer. He won numerous awards including the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters award for fiction, the Lila Wallace-Readers Digest Award, and Mississippi’s Governor’s Award For Excellence in the Arts. He was also the first two-time winner of the Southern Book Award for Fiction.
His notable works include Dirty Work, Father and Son, Joe, and Big Bad Love. In 2013 a film adaptation of Larry Brown’s Joe was released, featuring Nicolas Cage.
About Tom Stechschulte
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.