The Painted Bird

Written by:
Jerzy Kosinski
Narrated by:
Michael Aronov , Fred Berman

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
29
Narrator
14
Release Date
March 2010
Duration
10 hours 15 minutes
Summary
Originally published in 1965, The Painted Bird established Jerzy Kosinski as a major literary figure. Called by the Los Angeles Times “one of the most imposing novels of the decade,” it was eventually translated into more than thirty languages. A harrowing story that follows the wanderings of a boy abandoned by his parents during World War II, The Painted Bird is a dark masterpiece that examines the proximity of terror and savagery to innocence and love. It is the first, and the most famous, novel by one of the most important and original writers of this century.
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Reviews
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Daniel B.

The most disgusting slander against the Pollish people I have ever encountered. This book is Jerzy, who's father's priveleged position in the Communist party of Poland facilitated his immigration and pursuit of a career to America, portraying the Polish peasantry who died fighting Nazi Germany in WW2 as b-horror film monsters(who deserve the oppression they were suffering at the time of the Soviet occupation at the time this was written), in this completely fictitious exercise in revisionism. One star, this novel is not artwork, it is filth peddled by a scumbag.

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Allott B

Disturbing, challenging. A test. Beautifully written and convincing. Thought about this book for a week now and will remember some of the scenes described forever--in detail! Whatever controversy it has garnered it is worth the read/or listen. The narrator does an excellent job, he owns the 'voice', so much so, I forgot all about him. Be warned, sit down and enjoy?

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Julie C.

deeply disturbing. I follow the @AuschwitzMuseum and am always struck by the number of children who lost their lives. I could never understand how any society could allow that all to happen. I still don't. this book, story of fiction, is too close to what was happening in the countryside, the little villages. As a society, we cannot ignore the past. We must face it, in all it's horror, so we can recognize it and stop it when it happens again.

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Melissa S.

Trigger warning for every possible human atrocity you can think of. Each chapter just showcases another form of abuse. I get its point about how believing in religion & political parties is just as ridiculously superstition based as believing in the village witch shown in the beginning of the book but it wasn’t worth reading about all the rape, bestiality & torture to get that message. The writing is good but the content is just too disturbing. There’s no redemption. Would not recommend.

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Dorte L.

I am speechless... I am not really sure, if I would recommend the book to anybody. This is mostly to the fact that the descriptions of violence and abuse are in such details and the same time completely factual and emotionless. I had to listen to the book in small portions, because it was just so extreme at times. If you decide to listen to the book, it is important to make it all the way through to the epilogue, because that is the part that saved the whole book for me. It explained the making of the book wonderfully, and made it acceptable. And then there is the writing, which was outstanding. Simple and precise.

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Michael H.

An intense and incredibly sad and violent story but written beautifully and complete with reflections on good and evil, love and fear, God and The Devil. The reader is strong. The audiobook contains an afterward, written by Kosinski, that helps contextualize the book and give insight to the author's intention and background. An epic journey full of despicable terror and natural and soulful beauty.

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Vicky A.

OMG. Completely gobsmacked. What a fabulous book.

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