A Boy's Own Story cover art

A Boy's Own Story

A Novel

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A Boy's Own Story

By: Edmund White
Narrated by: George Backman
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About this listen

Originally published in 1982 as the first of Edmund White's trilogy of autobiographical novels, A Boy's Own Story became an instant classic for its pioneering portrayal of homosexuality. The audiobook's unnamed narrator, growing up during the 1950s, is beset by aloof parents, a cruel sister, and relentless mocking from his peers, compelling him to seek out works of art and literature as solace-and to uncover new relationships in the struggle to embrace his own sexuality. Lyrical and poignant, with powerful evocations of shame and yearning, this is an American literary treasure.

©1997 Edmund White (P)2014 Audible Inc. Coming of Age Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Fiction Queer

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The Pride List of Queer Storytelling

To mark Pride 2023 Audible teamed up with non-profit organisation, Out on the Page, supporter and champion of LGBTQIA+ writers and writing, to release an extensive Pride List of Queer Storytelling. Featuring contributions from some of the UK’s most important and exciting voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, this audiobook is one of the many featured on the list that is available to listen to on Audible.
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Where does A Boy's Own Story rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's got probably the worst performance of all the audiobooks I've listened to.

Would you be willing to try another book from Edmund White? Why or why not?

Yes, if it has a different narrator.

Would you be willing to try another one of George Backman’s performances?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Difficult to say, considering the performance was so off.

Any additional comments?

George Blackman read as if the narrator was a wheezy and overly camp kid. This is true to an extent of what Edmend White was portraying. But the story is also supposed to be funny. If you listen to Edmund White read extracts from the novel, you can see he plays it for laughs, especially some of the sex scenes. However George Blackman doesn't convey this humour. Instead from his performance everything seems to feed back into the main protagonist's insecurity and overt sensitivity. This way of reading makes the main character sound like a caricature of a young gay teen instead of the actual well-rounded character, which is what you get when you read the book.

Good Book, Poor Performance

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George Bachman's reading is so arch and camp it makes listening to the story so enjoyable. Normally with audible I alternate between the audible recordings and the actual book - but not in this case - the reading is just so good I listened to it in its entirety in sound. He seems to perfectly render the kind of "curl" of an Edmund White sentence. The readers in audible seem to vary so much - the only other reading performance of comparable level is that given by the reader of the Mark Lewisohn history of the Beatles book (sorry I cant remember the title).

George Bachman is just a fantastic reader and I totally recommend this.

One of the best audible narrators

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Written from the perspective of a developing adolescent, this is a very sharp and entertaining book. Lots of humour and a skilful use of language with an astute portrayal of masculinity. George Backman reads well, catching the uncertain tone of the key character. Deserves a wide audience.

More Than Meets The Eye

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I have no idea who George backman is but he is rubbish at reading

awful

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Dreadful reading and couldn’t get in to the story. Couldn’t bear to listen to it

Dull

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I got to chapter 3. Starting falling asleep in the car.
So boring. The reading is awful

Couldn’t listen to it

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