Under The Volcano (Abridged) Audiobook

" Ik hou wel van een intellectuele uitdaging, en dit is er zeker eentje, in de lijn van Joyce en andere modernisten. Maar de gelaagdheid en de vernuftige fragmentering gaan in deze roman schuil onder een flinke laag alcohol, en dat werkt op zijn zachtst gezegd erg benevelend. Het boek bevat zeker magnifieke passages, maar het bekoort niet, zelfs niet als je het leest als een allegorie van een wereld die ten onder gaat, kort voor de tweede wereldoorlog. "

" SUMMER 2008. Struggled with this modern "classic" for longer than I would like to admit. Utterly tiresome and meandering pages gave way to truly beautiful and transcendent passages (moments of clarity, you might say). I had read an article in the New Yorker about Lowry, and I was very excited to read his book, as many consider it a 20th century masterpiece, but having read it I can only proffer a shrugging recommendation. "

" Difficult but rewarding tale of the last day in the life of an alcoholic (serious, serious alcoholic) expat in Mexico. Forget the story and give into the stream of consciousness and dreamy language. There are so many great lines that this is definitely one to underline. An interest in the self destructive (serious, serious self destructive) would be helpful. "

" Story was ok, wouldve given it one star, but the writing style and rhythm was unique. Definitely worth a reread as I feel I missed out on key points due to abrubt shifts in narration. A very intense and very heavy book that is worth the read. "

" It took me some time to really sink myself into this, and that's solely based on the fact that the excessive allusions and varying narrators threw me for a loop. I cannot deny, however, that reflecting upon the book led me to praise both the ending, as well as the entirety of the writing. Language likes this rarely occurs, and one can easily see where the likes of Marquez and Llosa have borrowed and developed their own forms. "

" This may be the best book I've ever read. Lowry uses details both fractured and mythical to construct what may be seen simultaneously as either a fucked-up washup's life in Mexico and a parable of the imposition of Christian constructs of hell and paradise on the failing ideals of a self-destructive mind. I loved this book for a lot of reasons: It is both thrilling and complex; its imagery is striking and believable; its characters are likeable and disastrous. I can't recommend it enough. I wish we read stuff like this in classes. "

" crunk as it gets. the greatest passage about an ash tray that i've ever read. The Lost Weekend is a related, and equally good, movie. "

" Oh, to read this again for the first time as I did in Mexico. What masterful language and description, so evocative of the country. "

" Stunning book. Pour yourself a nice stiff drink, double-shot on the rocks, and enjoy! "

" Not too easy to read the drunken prose of a consul in Quauhnahuac, Mexico, but you can get lost in it. "

" Best novel I've read in a long while. Makes me want to live in Mexico and be a borracha. "

" Strong, but, wow, I can't relate anymore. Must have been the man of the moment. "

" One of the best novels of the 20th century. I read it every 7 years. "

" Beautifully written, with a meandering pace that builds the story incredibly slowly, but culminates perfectly. I didn't fall in love with this book until the end -- at which point I went back immediately and re-read the beginning. "

" A modern classic of Canadian literature. Serious readers will understand Lowry's approach but perhaps not for everyone. Recommend this. "

" this book is entertaining, but i just cannot ever get through it! its so hard to follow. "

" I found drunk people in college more interesting. "

" I have tried unsuccessfully for years to finish this. If anyone has any tips, please let me know. "

" very dense book. it takes the drunken perspective to new levels. helps to know spanish. "

" Not for everyone - this classic tells the tale of an alcoholic in love with alcohol and his wife and somehow it all becomes an amazing metaphor for more than I'm sure I understood. Turned into a classic movie as well. I dog-eared lots of pages just b/c I enjoyed the writing so well. "

" Slow, great ending. Poor bastard. "

" I know this book is held in very high esteem but it was a huge disappointment for me. I found it to be a confusing and meandering stream of drunken nothingness. "

" Starts off slow - painfully slow - but gets better and better. Also invites rereading; there's way more going on than it seems at first. Might be best, if you don't have much Mexican history, to do a bit of research before reading. "

" A bit difficult at times, but grand nonetheless. "

" So far, heavy going, got better at the end. Would recommend "

" This book has the most dramatic ending of the 70 or so critically acclaimed 100 Great Books Of The 20th Century that I have read. I put it that way because I have about 30 to go. "

" i only managed to get through 60-70 pages of this, boring. Maybe i'll try to read it another time. "