The Summer He Didn’t Die Audiobook, by Jim Harrison Play Audiobook Sample

The Summer He Didn’t Die Audiobook

The Summer He Didn’t Die Audiobook, by Jim Harrison Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Lloyd James, Marguerite Gavin Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 5.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 4.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: January 2006 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781481580649

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

9

Longest Chapter Length:

63:23 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

40:31 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

54:12 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

22

Other Audiobooks Written by Jim Harrison: > View All...

Publisher Description

Celebrated author Jim Harrison, whose robust, tender, and deeply felt books have made their mark on the American literary landscape, here delivers a collection of three novellas infused with all the wisdom and generous spirit that have made him a master writer.

In the title novella, “The Summer He Didn’t Die,” Brown Dog, a hapless Michigan Indian, is trying to parent his two stepchildren on meager resources; it helps that his charms are irresistible to the new dentist in town.

“Republican Wives” is a riotous satire on the sexual neuroses of the political right and the irrational nature of love—which, when thwarted, can easily turn into an urge to murder.

“Tracking” gives the author’s life story as a tale of the places that have marked it.

With wit as sharp as ever and prose as lush as any Harrison has yet written, The Summer He Didn’t Die is a joyful ode to our journey on this earth.

Download and start listening now!

"This collection of novellas is amazing in their diversity. Republican wives, a down-and-out Native American trying to care for his step children, and a fictionalized autobiographical narrative. My favorite was the last. All show his humor and passion for life. "

— Lauren (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Harrison’s command of the novella form is as impressive as the range of his voices…this set of short fictions shifts pitch-perfect perspectives effortlessly, with a lightness that belies its depth.”

    — Publishers Weekly
  • “Harrison’s earthy prose, uniquely evocative of place, is economical, precise, and hearty, and is sometimes startling in its ability to touch on core truths.”

    — Booklist
  • “Touching…Showcases the ability to get inside women’s heads that’s always distinguished Harrison from his muy macho peers…[An] emotionally truthful self-portrait.”

    — Kirkus Reviews
  • “Somewhere in that big literary acreage staked out by Thoreau, Hemingway, and Hunter Thompson is a chunk of space for Jim Harrison.”

    — Playboy

Awards

  • A 2005 Story Prize for Short Fiction Finalist

The Summer He Didn’t Die Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.9 out of 53.9 out of 53.9 out of 53.9 out of 53.9 out of 5 (3.90)
5 Stars: 4
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 6
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Terrific writer, takes you there and goes inside. "

    — Beth, 11/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not the best Jim Harrison I've read, but still a lively book with vivid characters. The title novella is both funny & moving, and "Republican Wives" is a hoot. "

    — Dan, 8/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " more short stories. i hadn't read jim harrison before, but this sampling made me want to read more. "

    — Saxon, 7/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I'm not sure how to categorize this book. Novellas? Short stories? I suppose it doesn't matter, because each one is a jewel. Love and loss in the UP, that about sums it up. Harrison is a wonderful writer. "

    — Sherry, 12/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 3 novellas, but I give it 4 stars for the last novella, "Trackings," which is a very fine portrait of Harrison as a writer. "

    — Steve, 8/9/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Funny, Profound, and a bit crude, but a great read. If you like the other stuff by Harrison you will really enjoy this one. "

    — Stephen, 1/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I like these novellas ok. His writing is raw and randy. You want the characters to get smart, but they never really do. "

    — Margaret, 12/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Interesting novellas with some poignant moments and unique insights. Enjoyed it. "

    — David, 11/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Funny and fun read of American cultures with which I am not familiar, such as Native Americans and pampered Republican wives. "

    — Carolyn, 6/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really like the way Harrison writes by piecing up together a bunch of anecdotes. From them you can grasp the whole story and draw a broad picture of the events and, specially, of the characters. "

    — Daniel, 5/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This collection of novellas is amazing in their diversity. Republican wives, a down-and-out Native American trying to care for his step children, and a fictionalized autobiographical narrative. My favorite was the last. All show his humor and passion for life. "

    — Lauren, 12/1/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Rated this as five based on the last novella, "Tracking." "

    — Paul, 8/9/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Terrific writer, takes you there and goes inside. "

    — Beth, 7/9/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I reviewed this for the NY Post years ago. Such a good writer; witches effortlessly from tales of disenfranchised Native Americans to bored WASPs in Grosse Point. "

    — Dan, 3/8/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " 3 novellas, but I give it 4 stars for the last novella, "Trackings," which is a very fine portrait of Harrison as a writer. "

    — Steve, 2/12/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I'm not sure how to categorize this book. Novellas? Short stories? I suppose it doesn't matter, because each one is a jewel. Love and loss in the UP, that about sums it up. Harrison is a wonderful writer. "

    — Sherry, 10/29/2008
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not the best Jim Harrison I've read, but still a lively book with vivid characters. The title novella is both funny & moving, and "Republican Wives" is a hoot. "

    — Dan, 7/9/2008
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Funny and fun read of American cultures with which I am not familiar, such as Native Americans and pampered Republican wives. "

    — Carolyn, 6/1/2008
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Funny, Profound, and a bit crude, but a great read. If you like the other stuff by Harrison you will really enjoy this one. "

    — Stephen, 2/13/2008
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I like these novellas ok. His writing is raw and randy. You want the characters to get smart, but they never really do. "

    — Margaret, 8/29/2007

About Jim Harrison

Jim Harrison (1937–2016) was the author of over thirty-five books of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction, including Legends of the Fall, The Road Home, The English Major, and The Farmer’s Daughter. His writing appeared in the New Yorker, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Playboy, and the New York Times. He earned a National Endowment for the Arts grant, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Spirit of the West Award from the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association. His work has been recognized worldwide and published in twenty-two languages.

About the Narrators

Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been narrating since 1996 and has recorded over six hundred audiobooks. He is a seven-time winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award and has twice been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award. His critically acclaimed performances include Elvis in the Morning by William F. Buckley Jr. and Searching for Bobby Fischer by Fred Waitzkin, among others.

Marguerite Gavin is a seasoned theater veteran, a five-time nominee for the prestigious Audie Award, and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones and Publishers Weekly awards. She has been an actor, director, and audiobook narrator for her entire professional career. With over four hundred titles to her credit, her narration spans nearly every genre, from nonfiction to mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and children’s fiction. AudioFile magazine says, “Marguerite Gavin…has a sonorous voice, rich and full of emotion.”