The Executioner's Song

De: Norman Mailer

Narrado por: Maxwell Hamilton

Duración: 42 h y 37 m

Resumen del Editor

Norman Mailer's Pulitzer Prize-winning and unforgettable classic about convicted killer Gary Gilmore now in a brand-new edition.

Arguably the greatest book from America's most heroically ambitious writer, The Executioner's Song follows the short, blighted life of Gary Gilmore who became famous after he robbed two men in 1976 and killed them in cold blood. After being tried and convicted, he immediately insisted on being executed for his crime. To do so, he fought a system that seemed intent on keeping him alive long after it had sentenced him to death. And that fight for the right to die is what made him famous.

Mailer tells not only Gilmore's story, but those of the men and women caught in the web of his life and drawn into his procession toward the firing squad. All with implacable authority, steely compassion, and a restraint that evokes the parched landscape and stern theology of Gilmore's Utah.

The Executioner's Song is a trip down the wrong side of the tracks to the deepest source of American loneliness and violence. It is a towering achievement - impossible to put down, impossible to forget.

©1980 Norman Mailer (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Just let them drift away to namelessness instead

Norman Mailer is trying to show us the human being behind the veil of the condemned. I get it. To me, this book reinforces the idea that execution as a penalty for crimes is a bad idea; not necessarily because it's State sponsored revenge, but because of the loathsome circus of human activity that follows a conviction. It felt like walking uphill through cactus to listen to 20+ hours of Gilmore, Gilmore, Gilmore when he murdered two people in cold blood. I was conflicted the entire time because I see myself as a proponent of prison reform and an advocate of rehabilitation, but Gary Gilmore had very few, if any, redeeming qualities. I said aloud multiple times while listening, "Just shoot him already!" I guess that's what Mailer wanted to force the reader to confront: shouldn't even the worst, most disgusting filth be spared from execution because they are human beings? I would have much rather never even heard of Gilmore because he was locked away without any fanfare until he died of old age.

Great story, excellent writing, but the narrator??

This is a well researched book with a great writer and a terrible narrator. Mega thanks to those who suggested bumping up the speed to 1.25, it really did make a difference. So why can't the Maxwell Hamilton person pronounce the word "corollary?" Or "Aquinas"?? Or, omg, Geraldo Rivera? Jeraldo?? Or the famous attorney Marvin "BELLY".. Or Claudine LonGET (hard G)?? And the real questions are these; WHO hires these people and are there NO editors/producers/directors? I get the feeling that this guy was told "Here's your studio, it's all yours, see you in 2 weeks".. Pretty sad. On the upside, the story is well written, and murderer that he was, Gilmore was a well read, intelligent guy with an artistic streak. My next purchase with be Mikal Gilmore's book. Something seriously bad happened in that family. And Maxxy baby, get a different job or at least do a few minutes of research and find out how the people you are reading about pronounce their names..

One Criminal's Death Opens Up The Flood Gates

If you were alive on January 17, 1977 I would be surprised if you were unaware of the execution of Gary Mark Gilmore in Draper, Utah even if you were, like me, residing in another country. It was most disconcerting as it raised the ugly head of execution after a ten year hiatus. However the most shocking part of THIS particular execution was that the convicted criminal was vehemently demanding to die. This was what made it so memorable plus a TV movie was made in 1982 starring Tommy Lee Jones based on this book. Everything I read in the media talked about his request to die with dignity. A privilege denied to his victims. He was portrayed as a man with a problematic past and high IQ. The emphasis on his brilliance always surprised me as if he was so brilliant why didn't he make intelligent choices. He was a convicted criminal who always got caught so I do not think that he was as smart as it was rumored. After seeing the movie I felt sorry for him. This book certainly changed my mind. Norman Mailer has written an unforgettable work. He tells us Gary's story but we learn so much about the victims. He was heartless, killing two young men on two consecutive days. He was also emotionally a teenage who had no self control. We read about his 'great love' Nicole however you question yourself as to why this man had such a penchant for very young promiscuous girls.

This execution opened up the floodgates for well over 1000 people to be executed in subsequent years. These convicted criminals have not gone to their deaths so enthusiastically as Gary Gilmore.

This book does not spare us from the gritty details and I do not recommend that you play this where children can listen as several chapters are filled with foul language (needed to explain the man and his mindset) and sexual details relating to his time in prison and his relationship with his girlfriend.

Yes, it is a 42 hour listen but I felt that it was so worth it. Some books waffle on and can lull you to sleep. This book had me totally engrossed from the first word to the last.

Little bit long but a good

I think I would have preferred to just read the book myself so I could have skipped over some of the language. I get why it was in the book but got kind of tired of some of the language. Yes the reader does mispronounce some things but it didn't ruin the book for me. I did find it was better listening to it at 1.25.

Gripping devastating unforgettable

I find myself thinking about the characters in this book weeks after finishing it. Norman Mailer is a masterful storyteller and develops characters that feel as real as if they you actually know them In life. This book held me in rapt fascination from start to end.

Narrator Distracts from Story

Generally a very well written book. Extremely detailed and difficult to get through some of the sexual content at times. I was disappointed by the audiobook narrator, however, as there were several very obvious mispronunciations. For example, he mispronounces Geraldo Rivera, a very well known journalist. That was distracting and annoying considering that this is an award winning piece of literature. I am surprised that was not corrected.

performance

the quality of the performance was very good
despite several mispronunciations of words which were distracting.

Gripping Tale of Self Destruction & Determination

A look into the seedier side of life and the difficulties of adjusting to society when you've spent half your life in prison, this is a ripping good true crime story. I can't believe I've waited this long to read it. My only complaint is that Audible Editors should make sure the reader pronounces names correctly - My Lai is pronounced Mee Lie and Geraldo Rivera isn't pronounced with a hard G. Small details but enough to pop one out of the story. Luckily, Mailer's prose sucks you right back in.

A piece of fictional history

This is fiction that is as close to history as possible. Maybe it was a bit long to be considered fictional but I can say it was thorough.

I found it very difficult throughout to care about Gary Gilmore, which has more to do with who he was as a person than the author’s portrayal. The book was a long haul but there were rewards in making it to the end. Though there were many historical aspects to the story I would rather that next time I read about someone who accomplished more than murder and being executed.

It was well written though.

Riveting masterpiece

I’ve worked to abolish the death penalty ever since the day I heard that Gary Gilmore had been executed.
This book is so thorough, so fact based that it ought to be required reading (or listening) to anyone working in the death penalty arena.
I work with inmates on death row and know many people on the row. The book is very accurate in describing the conditions.
What I really enjoyed about this book was hearing the perspectives of ALL the people who were involved in his execution, from the lawyers to the friends and family members of both the victims and Gary Gilmore.
Executing Gary Gilmore accomplished nothing.