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  • Bright Lights, Big City

  • By: Jay McInerney
  • Narrated by: Daniel Passer
  • Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (58 ratings)
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Bright Lights, Big City cover art

Bright Lights, Big City

By: Jay McInerney
Narrated by: Daniel Passer
Get this deal Try for £0.00

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Summary

The tragicomedy of a young man in NYC, struggling with the reality of his mother's death, alienation, and the seductive pull of drugs.
©2009 Random House; 1984 Jay McInerney
Classics Coming of Age Literary Fiction
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Critic reviews

"A sidelong look at life in the Big Apple, as experienced by youth that once had hope and aspirations. In spite of the depths to which the main characters descend, the exuberance and humour of the narrative maintains its wonderful disregard for conventional behaviour with great buoyancy. An entertaining read, but it is the resignation and frustration that lingers in the mind that makes this novel so compelling." ( Kirkus)
"A rambunctious, deadly funny novel that goes right for the mark - the human heart." (Raymond Carver)
"The author is one of those reare writers who catches the moods, nuances and manners of a sub-culture with humor, finesse, skill and accuracy. A born stylist and remarkable discovery!" (George Plimpton)

What listeners say about Bright Lights, Big City

Average customer ratings
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Audible.co.uk reviews

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Nakul

Smooth read

The book's a bit dated now, but I was surprised that it held up as well as it did. I listened to it on my first trip to New York, as I walked around the upper east side. A special word of commendation for the reader – Passer has a lovely, youthful voice, with just the right mixture of irony, cynicism, and naiveté. He gets the tone of the novel exactly right, and gives it just the mixture of pathos and comedy it needs. A pleasure to listen to.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Emily

Good but Slow

2022 52 Book Challenge - 1) Second person narrative

I quite enjoyed this book. It was a good piece on grief and losing yourself, and to an extent the second person narrative does tend to pull you in. My main complaint is that the book feels very slow, and I tended to have to put it down before I got bored.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for MidnightRambler

Dull, boring.. that could be the narrator.

I was recommended this book due to me liking American Psycho. I can see the similarities but this board me. The narrator didn’t bring the story to life. Very dull. Couldn’t finish it.

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