Ten Thousand Saints

By: Eleanor Henderson

Narrated by: Steven Kaplan

“Eleanor Henderson is in possession of an enormous talent which she has matched up with skill, ambition, and a fierce imagination. The resulting novel, Ten Thousand Saints, is the best thing I’ve read in a long time.”
—Ann Patchett, bestselling author of Bel Canto and State of Wonder

A sweeping, multigenerational drama, set against the backdrop of the raw, roaring New York City during the late 1980s, Ten Thousand Saints triumphantly heralds the arrival a remarkable new writer. Eleanor Henderson makes a truly stunning debut with a novel that is part coming of age, part coming to terms, immediately joining the ranks of The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud and Jonathan Lethem’s The Fortress of Solitude. Adoption, teen pregnancy, drugs, hardcore punk rock, the unbridled optimism and reckless stupidity of the young—and old—are all major elements in this heart-aching tale of the son of diehard hippies and his strange odyssey through the extremes of late 20th century youth culture.

just OK

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I listen to lots of books, and this one never drew me in. The characters didn't come to life, and the ending seemed too tidy. Some of the characters seemed so implausible I couldn't permit the suspension of belief (if I remember the right terminology from high school English) that would have allowed me to enjoy the book.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Terrible English accent

ALTERNATIVE LIFE STYLE

The subject of “Ten Thousand Saints” is family; i.e. it is about mothers, daughters, fathers, and sons. The strongest family characters are women. Absent fathers weave in and out of Henderson’s story to show how absence wreaks havoc on family values.

Henderson creates characters that seem destined to die young but are drawn back to living by crises and acceptance of responsibility; not all survive and not all accept responsibility but, like in real life, experience and maturity changes behavior.

“Ten Thousand Saints” is a history of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but it is also a life lesson for every generation that ignores the importance of mothers and fathers in every human life. “Ten Thousand Saints” is well written, insightful, and entertaining. Sadly, the ending is imperfect; just like real life.

Trying to Get By...

I loved this book, about smart teenagers trying to understand their world and get by in Manhattan and Vermont in the late 1980s. The characters are flawed and troubled and sometimes dangerous, but you grow to care about them as the book moves forward. The author successfully shifts to the different points of view of the characters, including their wayward parents. You can always tell that she cares deeply for each of them.

The narration was excellent. I have not experienced this narrator before, but I thought he brought the right note of yearning and wonder to the story. His handling of the different characters' voices was strong without being distracting.

I recently read "A Visit From the Goon Squad," which has similar themes, and I can't say that I preferred one over the other. Both were absorbing and enjoyable novels. But "Goon Squad" was more of a novel composed of short stories (a lot of those these days....), while Ten Thousand Saints was a real novel, focusing on one protagonist with a lot of compelling parallel subplots.

Take your time.

Well, I must say this book took some getting used to. First I thought I dove into a depressive text about teenage crises and deeply saddening dramas. I however emerged realizing this book was filled with depths about religion, social stigmas, identity, and individuals true quest to find themselves all while coming of age during a time where social stigmas where at an all time high. It was tough to get through only because of my own personal preference of having authors answer for me right away "what's this all about" but definitely took deep twists that was worth the wait. Very well written and touches the core of some of the challenges in the fabric of our country.

the world of disfunctional druggy families

What disappointed you about Ten Thousand Saints?

too dark

What do you think your next listen will be?

a classic or history, family story

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

yes

Any additional comments?

I listened to it to learn more about teens, drugs, etc