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Blonde
- Narrated by: Jayne Atkinson
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Abridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 17
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Summary
In her most ambitious work to date, Joyce Carol Oates, one of America's most distinguished writers, reimagines the inner, poetic, and spiritual life of Norma Jeane Baker, the child, the woman, the fated celebrity, and tells the story in Norma Jeane's own voice: startling, rich, and shattering.
Drawing on biographical and historical sources, Joyce Carol Oates evokes the distinct consciousness of the woman and the unsparing reflection of the myth, writing as she has never written before, ecstatic, completely absorbed, inhabited as if by the spirit of her extraordinary subject. Rich with psychological insight and disturbing irony, this mesmerizing narrative illumines Norma Jeane's lonely childhood, wrenching adolescence, and the creation of Marilyn Monroe.
With fresh insights into the heart of a celebrity culture hypnotized by its own myths, Blonde is a sweeping novel about the elusive magic of a woman, the lasting legacy of a star, and the heartbreak behind the creation of the most evocative icon of the 20th century.
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 08-09-14
Brilliant performance of an astonishing narrative.
Truly gripping performance of a great work of imaginative literature. Brings alive the period and the extraordinary unsung genius of Marilyn Monroe. If an audio book can be unputdownable this was it. Bravo Jayne Atkinson!
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miranda J Murphy
- 31-12-20
Searingly beautiful and sad swan song to a legend
I have been both touched, traumatised and overwhelmed by this book which overturned my v hazy knowledge and, I now see, lazy assumptions of this iconic woman. This book is a masterclass in voice and narrative and it will linger with me forever. A person too beautiful for this world, who deserves a public apology and a book so moving and tenderly felt, a complete masterpiece. Jayne Atkinson is a terrific narrator and it’s a great production. Bravo!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-05-18
Sensational novel
Great listen. Joyce Carol Oates never fails to please I was hooked from first page!
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- J. Wood
- 27-11-17
Poor book
Not a book that I enjoyed. I returned it after 1.5 hours of listening. The narrative style didn't suit me.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Ms. Nicola J. Booth
- 04-02-13
Liked it
Extremely well told, the husky voice of the narrator really added character and back bone to the book and opened my eyes. Wasn't sure at first about the book in the first 30 minutes but glad i stuck with it.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Hoop
- 08-10-18
COMPLETE RUBBISH
A fictionalised account of Marilyn Munroe's life - why? Why leave the reader/listener wondering how much is true and how much is made up. It is also reads like a cheap pot-boiler most of the time. I gave up half way through and regretted getting even that far.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Tia
- 10-06-15
Why not "unabridged"
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
I hate when publishers only support a summary of the book or an "abridged" version. It's offensive to people with reading disorders who will not receive the full benefit of the book.
29 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C. Boatenreiter
- 07-02-13
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NO UNABRIDGED VERSION?
What would have made Blonde better?
If I could have listened to the entire darned thing, instead of quitting 1/10 of the way through to read the REAL book. The narration was fantastic, and this is an incredible work of literature. WHY it had to be ruined...I have no idea.
What did you like best about this story?
I loved everything about it...too bad I was missing a HUGE part of the point.
Which scene was your favorite?
The one that I read afterwards when I had to RE READ THE BOOK to get the whole story. Possibly the one with Norma in the car, since THAT WAS COMPLETELY LEFT OUT AND CHANGED THE MEANING OF EVERYTHING.
You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?
I absolutely adore this book. It's just too bad that it has been decided for us that we aren't intelligent or patient or deep enough to listen to the entire thing. JCO, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING????
Any additional comments?
I am so disappointed. I'd love a refund since I had to stop listening and buy the book anyway, once I realized all that I was missing out on.
40 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Jesse
- 28-12-15
Seriously need to redo the audio!!!
The narrations jumps all over the fucking place, skips some chapters and hundreds of paragraphs!? This seriously annoying and horrible, the book is great though the audible narration is a hot fucking mess omg!!!
9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Celina
- 21-04-14
This bombshell keeps making her way into my heart!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely! the author of this book and narrator really brought you close to Marilyn. It was a pleasure to listen to. I couldn't put it down.
What did you like best about this story?
The intimacy you got to share with marilyn from her fist moments to her last.
If you could rename Blonde, what would you call it?
i Wouldn't i think this title was perfectly chosen. it really is a metaphor for the story.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Reggie
- 16-03-19
My Own Fault for Not Noticing
I finished this audiobook thinking, "man, that book could have been awesome, but it felt like the skeleton of an amazing book." It was only then that I saw the word, "abridged," on the file. Curse me for being stupid and curse the monster who invented abridgments and curse the punk who thought this book should abridged.
As it stands, this abridgement was fine. JCO makes a few speculative leaps about the inner workings of Norma Jean cum Marilyn, that feel spot-on. It was the first book I've read where someone really tried to understand the mechanisms of Marilyn's genius. ...and she as a genius at what she did, unquestionably. She was just so good; so talented; so funny.
When JCO comes to Marilyn's sing-song at JFK's birthday I stopped listening and watched the footage on Youtube. She's clearly a little tipsy, and perhaps out of her league in that den of Ivy League privilege, but they were only more educated than Marilyn. They were not smarter, and they might scorn her, but they absolutely bowed to her genius too. All she does is take off a coat and take a breath, and the room is hers. It's incredible.
Anyway, I don't know if I'll go back and read the unabridged version now. Marilyn had a hard life, and this is an equally hard book. It's brilliant, but not pretty.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mitch
- 09-10-18
Great but wish it wasn’t abridged
This is an amazing book and very well done but it was abridged and I didn’t know that
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kyle
- 18-03-17
5 stars
The narrator's smoky, Peggy Lee voice pairs perfectly with JCO's emotional, sinister, always real take on Marilyn's life. A must read.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cocopuff
- 27-09-12
Couldn't stop listening
Rarely write a review, but the melding of prose and reader was so perfect. I don't care about the historical accuracy ... it was psychologically convincing and mesmerizing.
5 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Lesley
- 18-09-12
Interesting take on Marilyn
Overall, this book was a good listen. It was for my book club and was my first time to listen instead of read a fiction book. I definitely had a different take on the story compared to the ladies who read the book. I liked it a lot more than they did, but I think it's because the audio version is abridged. The narrator's imitation of Marilyn was annoying at times, but the story was great to listen to and kept me interested.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maya A.
- 07-07-16
Amazing writing and narration, what a treat!
I've never read a real biography written this way before. Blew me away, so fun. Loved the narrator making the story come to life In a whole new way with her changes in tones and voices.
1 person found this helpful