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Selected Shorts: American Classics
- Narrated by: Freda Foh Shen, David Strathairn, Stockard Channing, René Auberjonois, Christine Baranski, Jerry Stiller, Malachy McCourt
- Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins
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Publisher's summary
A compilation of classic tales by great American writers performed by terrific actors, with a lineup including Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, and PEN Award winners.
- Amy Tan's "Rules of the Game", performed by Freda Foh Shen. A strict Chinese mother bedevils her chess prodigy daughter.
- Donald Barthelme's "Game", performed by David Strathairn. Playing cosmic chicken in a nuclear bunker.
- Eudora Welty's "Why I Live at the P.O.", performed by Stockard Channing. Hilarious story of an independent young woman striking out on her own.
- Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" performed by René Auberjonois. Terrifyingly delicious Poe masterpiece.
- Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" performed by Christine Baranski. Sly, creepy tale of a teenage girl’s seduction by a dangerous drifter.
- John Sayles' "At the Anarchists’ Convention", performed by Jerry Stiller. Laugh-out-loud classic.
- Alice Walker's "Everyday Use", performed by Carmen de Lavallade. Siblings disagree about a precious piece of their family heritage.
- John Cheever's "Christmas Is a Sad Season for the Poor", performed by Malachy McCourt. A high-rise elevator operator is overwhelmed by his riders’ holiday generosity.
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Original cast members from the beloved TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reunite for an all-new adventure about connections that never die—even if you bury them. A decade has passed since the epic final battle that concluded Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV). The game-changing spell that gave power to all potential Slayers persists. With new Slayers constantly emerging, things are looking grim for the bad guys.
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A dream come true
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Natural Selection
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- By: Elin Hilderbrand
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After a string of bad dates and no prospects, Sophia Othonos has finally hit the jackpot: an actual nice guy. When he suggests a romantic getaway, she’s sure they’re about to take the next step toward their future. A rustic cruise to the Galápagos Islands isn’t exactly her idea of a vacation, but Sophia is ready for anything…until her boyfriend has to cancel. Now she’s all alone on a trip that was meant for two. Sophia finds herself at a crossroads about who she is, what she wants, and whether her relationship is really everything she thought.
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Great Story!!
- By escoocoo on 09-14-24
By: Elin Hilderbrand
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Frankenstein
- By: Mary Shelley
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- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Narrator Dan Stevens ( Downton Abbey) presents an uncanny performance of Mary Shelley's timeless gothic novel, an epic battle between man and monster at its greatest literary pitch. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor to the very brink of madness. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship, scientific hubris, and horror.
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ARE WE ALWAYS TO BE UNHAPPY?
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 01-28-16
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Starship Troopers
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Johnnie Rico never really intended to join up—and definitely not the infantry. But now that he’s in the thick of it, trying to get through combat training harder than anything he could have imagined, he knows everyone in his unit is one bad move away from buying the farm in the interstellar war the Terran Federation is waging against the Arachnids. Because everyone in the Mobile Infantry fights. And if the training doesn’t kill you, the Bugs are more than ready to finish the job.
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One of the best RAH books ever just got better.
- By Jamie Robertson on 10-02-24
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He Who Fights with Monsters 2
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- By: Shirtaloon, Travis Deverell
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But Jason Asano is settling into his new life. Now, a contest draws young elites to the city of Greenstone to compete for a grand prize. Jason must gather a band of companions if he is to stand a chance against the best the world has to offer. While the young adventurers are caught up in competition, the city leaders deal with revelations of betrayal as a vast and terrible enemy is revealed. Although Jason seems uninvolved, he has unknowingly crossed the enemy’s path before.
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Contrary to common reviews
- By Karen on 05-21-21
By: Shirtaloon, and others
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What listeners say about Selected Shorts: American Classics
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- MaryAnn Germano
- 09-08-20
Have a listen . This is very enjoyable! Very funny
Sweet stories! Well worth the time. I find myself wanting to hear them all again.
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- Xine Segalas
- 02-27-22
Classics
This is a fantastic collection of short stories by some of America's greatest writers.
Amy Tan's "Rules of the Game", performed by Freda Foh Shen. 4.5 stars - I loved this story about a young Chinese girl who becomes a chess prodigy. The relationship which Amy Tan depicts between the strict mother and her young daughter is priceless!
Donald Barthelme's "Game", performed by David Strathairn. 4.5 - Wow! A humorous look at what would happen when two people are left in the nuclear bunker for too long.
Eudora Welty's "Why I Live at the P.O.", performed by Stockard Channing. 4 - Funny story about family and getting away from them
Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" performed by René Auberjonois. 4.5 - Classic Poe masterpiece.
Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" performed by Christine Baranski. 4
-Creepy and disturbing - really well written - 4.5
John Sayles' "At the Anarchists’ Convention", performed by Jerry Stiller. - Humorous 4
Alice Walker's "Everyday Use", performed by Carmen de Lavallade. 4
-A glimpse of how siblings look at family treasures differently
John Cheever's "Christmas Is a Sad Season for the Poor", performed by Malachy McCourt. 4
-Funny story about the kindness people have towards each other at Christmas.
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- Michael
- 08-30-12
Classic classics
I am a very big fan of short stories and have listened to the Selected Shorts program for over 20 years. Any collection can be hit or miss, but this selection of american classics are all big hits. I liked every story and every reader. The stories range from funny to outrageous and touching to creepy. What more could one ask for?
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17 people found this helpful
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- Christine
- 07-13-18
Performances are superb!
Dude seriously. Listening to these performances makes me feel like I’m going to be a better/more imaginative reader in the future. Big fan :)
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3 people found this helpful
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- Shaynie
- 12-06-12
Spectacular
Would you listen to Selected Shorts: American Classics again? Why?
Yes, I'm pretty sure I'll return to it more than once.
Who was your favorite character and why?
This is worth buying for Stockard Channing's reading of 'Why I live at the PO' and Joyce Carol Oates' disturbing 'Where are you going, where have you been' read so well by Christine Baranksi. I loved Jerry Stiller's reading of At the Anarchist's Convention too. But really, the whole collection is outstanding and every reader is brilliant.
Which scene was your favorite?
I kept laughing out loud on the bus listening to 'Why I live at the PO', and ended up in a foetal position listening to 'Where are you going ...'
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3 people found this helpful
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- Paul
- 04-04-21
A bit uneven but some stellar performances
The first few are worth the price of admission. The Eudora Welty piece was my fav.
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- Noreen
- 07-08-12
Shorts are Super!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes! An excellent variety of stories I would not have read otherwise.
What did you like best about this story?
Every story had an outstanding reader, even if the story was not my style, all stories were entertaining and thought provoking.
What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Everything!
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Story-time shorts are super!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amy Farmer Penne
- 05-12-15
Selected Shorts Always a Listening Delight
If you could sum up Selected Shorts: American Classics in three words, what would they be?
Engaging. Dynamic. Diverse.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Selected Shorts: American Classics?
All of them are impressive. The Amy Tan story grabbed me by the heart and drew me in, as she does.
Who was the most memorable character of Selected Shorts: American Classics and why?
Joyce Carol Oates' Where are You Going, Where Have You Been, came alive for me in some new ways despite the fact that I've probably read it ten times in various English classes and on my own.
Any additional comments?
All of these collections of Selected Shorts benefit greatly from being performed in front of live audiences. I've purchased several short story collections because I've heard a story from an author that was well-read and grabbed me. Thanks Audible!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Barbara
- 12-20-11
FANTASTIC
What a great surprise! To hear these stories, most of which I had read before, performed by good actors before a live audience! I laughed--a lot. The stories really cam alive in a new way.
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- NK
- 12-04-11
Classics, indeed.
Where does Selected Shorts: American Classics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
One of the best Audible selections of the dozens in my library.
What other book might you compare Selected Shorts: American Classics to and why?
A unique experience. Inspired pairing of readers and texts.
What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Rene Auberjonois' masterful, remarkable delivery of an Edgar Allen Poe story is worth the purchase price on its own. In his hands, the minute joys of Poe's writing are presented to their best advantage. Stockard Channing's similarly spellbinding performance in a Eudora Welty selection will make you want to read everything (or re-read) Welty ever wrote--her mastery of Welty's prose is astounding.
Any additional comments?
I can't recommend this highly enough.
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6 people found this helpful