The Bonfire of the Vanities

By: Tom Wolfe

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 27 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

This bitingly hilarious American satire will forever define late twentieth-century New York style.

Tom Wolfe’s bestselling modern classic tells the story of Sherman McCoy, an elite Wall Street bond trader who has it all: wealth, power, prestige, a Park Avenue apartment, a beautiful wife, and an even more beautiful mistress, until one wrong turn sends Sherman spiraling downward in a humiliating fall from grace.

A car accident in the Bronx involving Sherman, his girlfriend, and two young lower-class Black men sets a match to the incendiary racial and social tensions of 1980s New York City. Suddenly, Sherman finds himself embroiled in the most brutal, high-profile case of the year, as prosecutors, politicians, the press, the police, the clergy, and assorted hustlers rush in to further their own political and social agendas. With so many egos at stake, the last priority on anyone’s mind is truth or justice.

©1987 Tom Wolfe (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A big, bitter, funny, craftily plotted book that grabs you by the lapels and won't let go." ( New York Times Book Review)
"Sheer entertainment against a fabulous background....Often hilarious, and much, much more." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Erupting from the first line with noise, color, tension and immediacy....brilliant." ( Publishers Weekly)

Disposable literature at its best

That's a harsh characterization that is as true as it is misleading. It's true because Wolfe has written a book so deeply steeped in the specific era it was written that it only makes sense in that one context. It's also a tawdry story of little lasting literary merit. It's misleading because that tawdry story does in fact have elements of the universal in it, plus that plethora of 1980s cultural references makes it a charming time capsule of what things were like. This is a terrifically entertaining book. It's a vivid reminder of how much things are still the same and how much things have changed. Joe Barrett does a terrific job of getting all the voices and accents down right. Wolfe does a terrific job of portraying all the different agendas and the ambiguity of how a single version of the facts can be perceived so very differently by all the parties involved.

A story for the cynical student of human nature

I loved this book. Looking through the other reviews, I see some some people love it and some people hate it.

Some call it racist... And the characters tend to be caricatures of stereotypes. But that furthers the story, and every racial and social economic group is equally portrayed.

Some say the story is slow, and the plot isn't that well developed. The plot isn't what makes this story great. It's the intimate portrayals of the main characters, with their many faults on full display. The way they preen, rationalize, and make themselves the center of the universe in their own minds.

This is a story with no good guys. Read it if you love lavish descriptions of events and places, and if you like unflinching character portrayals.

If you want a rousing quick plot and easily defined good and bad, look elsewhere.

You turn into a cipher

Would you listen to The Bonfire of the Vanities again? Why?

Probably not, but I liked Joe Barrett's reading. It enlivened a book I read when it came out, thirty years ago. But I don't need to visit this story a third time.

Would you recommend The Bonfire of the Vanities to your friends? Why or why not?

For a period piece, a morality tale pre-Internet and social media, it remains a valuable dramatization of the pressure of what the 'flak catchers' Tom Wolfe profiled endured two decades later in the Bronx. This time, it's the legal profession, not the (other) bureaucrats.

What does Joe Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Having enjoyed his reading of John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany," Barrett here can show off his range of voices and accents as he has many more characters to work with. While the "haw haw haws" on Wolfe's page still grate to the ear here, the verve and pathos Joe Barrett brings to the protagonist, Sherman McCoy, deepens the novel and message.

If you could rename The Bonfire of the Vanities, what would you call it?

"Pin the WASP to the wall"--a phrase used by Sherman's persecutors

Any additional comments?

Ch, 22, a descent from the Dickensian satire into Dantean depths, is harrowing and very well told. One of the longer chapters, but the book generally moves along well. Despite dinner party chat in real time, and those Tom Wolfe elaborations of sartorial and decorative detail.

Wonderful! I

This is the second time I've listened to this highly amusing story. This reader is an ideal and delightful addition to the experience.Ill hear it on another occasion and enjoy it all over again .

Fabulous story, hilarious and sardonic!

I read this book several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am pleased to report that the audio version did not disappoint! It was extremely well-read and I found myself laughing out loud as I listened. Terrific audio experience and an unforgettable book, well worth the voluminous download.

Entertaining

Great listening experience and excellent storyline. Will be looking for other works done by Joe Barrett.

a flawless book and a flawless performance

What did you love best about The Bonfire of the Vanities?

It's amazing that a book 30 years old could remain so relevant and even prescient. Bonfire has long been one of my favorite books. So, as a Super-Fan, I could hardly imagine how any book by Tom Wolfe could find room for improvement. Yet, this performance by Joe Barrett proves that even "perfect" has wiggle room. This audio is so entertaining, I've actually listened to it numerous times, much like one watches an iconic movie over and over through the years.

Good story - too much profanity.

Enjoyed the story, more so once I was halfway in. Would have given it 5 star if not for the absurd amount of profanity.

fabulous narration

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Joe Barrett is a brilliant narrator, I am impressed by his ability to impersonate so many different characters so authentically. I'll look for more books narrated by him.

slow at first.

awesome book, hard to follow at first. once started the story was incredible. would recommend to anyone. the inclusion of all aspects of financial stability made it worthwhile.