Main Street

By: Sinclair Lewis

Narrated by: Lloyd James

This famous satire of life on Main Street, Gopher Prairie, mirrors with devastating honesty life on Main Streets from Albany to San Diego.

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Timely and timeless

This classic is worth revisiting. Narrator is clear, appreciates the subtly of Lewis' prose. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Great experience

The narrator was wonderful. He made the book come alive. The story is rich with meaning and with so many layers. A classic that is timeless.

Life in small town America

A story of one woman's struggles fitting into her husband's home town. She has to deal with the gossip and judgment of the natives, who think the town is fine the way it is.

Incredible Narration

it took a very long time to get to Lewis's point. But, eventually, the story was so engaging that I was engrossed.

Great narration of this classic

A well-written peek into early 20th century life in middle west America from the point of view of a young restless woman trying to discover how she can be a catalyst for change.

Timeless

This feminist tale captures the spirit and inner thought process of an educated and independent female trying to find a place, or create a place, to thrive.

My least favorite Sinclair Lewis book so far

This could’ve been a feminist manifesto! The protagonist is idealistic, empathetic, and intelligent yet can’t make up her mind about what she wants. It’s so incredibly disappointing. You think the book is going to end and she’s finally put her foot down to move to a higher plane of existence but NO. Carol inexplicably goes back to her doctor husband time and again. She’s a powerful character but is hamstring by her indecision and inevitable reliance on her husband’s income/place in society. I’m not certain if Lewis painted her this way cause that’s what he gleaned from a woman’s place in early 20th century society as a whole or BECAUSE she’s a woman she didn’t have the resoluteness to decide for herself her own path. The book is banal and long-winded and disappointed me.

Lost on me

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I have no idea,as I didn't even understand what it was about in the first place.

What was most disappointing about Sinclair Lewis’s story?

Everything.Especially not knowing what year it was set in.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Lloyd James?

It would not matter.

What character would you cut from Main Street?

All of them.

Any additional comments?

No.

Book is great, narration is awful.

I read Main Street years ago and thought it was time to reacquaint myself with the story. The book is great, but this narrator was awful. No subtlety, weird and inconsistent accents, makes Carol sound like a helpless sap, and pronounces the name Bea, bee-ah. Just terrible. I ended up buying another version because I couldn't stand it.

Babbitt is superior in every way - 2.5 stars

I really enjoyed Babbitt and I like Sinclair Lewis's writing in general. The protagonist of this story isn't very likable and I found her insufferable at times. It's clear that Sinclair is one hell of a writer - his attention to detail and characterization of people are excellent. He's able to drill down and provide in nitty-gritty detail the specifics of what make up Every Town, USA. And though the country has changed much within the last 100 years, many of the goings-on in the small town are very similar to today.

Still, there's barely an ounce of humor in the entire book. Instead of the satire he utilizes so well in Babbitt, we are left with an author hitting us over the head of the pitfalls of small town America. I think he was so interested in getting his message out that he forgot how to write an engaging story. I probably wouldn't listen to or read this again but I will seek out more Sinclair Lewis works.

Also, the narrator for this does a great job. I would definitely listen to him voice other books.