All the Time in the World

New and Selected Stories

By: E. L. Doctorow

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

From Ragtime and Billy Bathgate to World’s Fair, The March, and Homer & Langley, the fiction of E. L. Doctorow comprises a towering achievement in modern American letters. Now Doctorow returns with an enthralling collection of brilliant, startling short fiction about people who, as the author notes in his Preface, are somehow “distinct from their surroundings—people in some sort of contest with the prevailing world”.

A man at the end of an ordinary workday, extracts himself from his upper-middle-class life and turns to foraging in the same affluent suburb where he once lived with his family.

A college graduate takes a dishwasher’s job on a whim, and becomes entangled in a criminal enterprise after agreeing to marry a beautiful immigrant for money.

A husband and wife’s tense relationship is exacerbated when a stranger enters their home and claims to have grown up there.

An urbanite out on his morning run suspects that the city in which he’s lived all his life has transmogrified into another city altogether.

These are among the wide-ranging creations in this stunning collection, resonant with the mystery, tension, and moral investigation that distinguish the fiction of E. L. Doctorow. Containing six unforgettable stories that have never appeared in book form, and a selection of previous Doctorow classics, All the Time in the World affords us another opportunity to savor the genius of this American master.

©2011 E. L. Doctorow (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“Egoless, frank, spontaneous and altogether wonderful.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“The new and previously published stories in All the Time in the World are a reminder that, for decades, Mr. Doctorow has been a first-rate artist in the short form, able to coax forth readerly empathy for almost all his creations…Mr. Doctorow is now 80, and as the assessments of his long career commence, it is clear that he has been, like his characters, a man apart from his contemporaries. The stories of All the Time in the World do not seem to belong to any school or style but to emanate from his own solitary visions.” (Wall Street Journal)

“The mystery, tension and shock Doctorow is known for are all here in this collection. If you're a fan you will not be disappointed in the new, and happy to be reacquainted with the old.” (USA Today)

An Alternate Reality & Fine Narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've never read any books by EL Doctorow and this was a great introduction. I am now moving onto the next stories and will write more later.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Wakefield!!! I bought this book mainly for the first story "Wakefield" (which is now a movie) and was NOT disappointed! The narration was FINE. (unlike what the prior reviewer oddly wrote). The entire premise of the story was so absurd, but when you hear the writing, it becomes entirely believable. The story goes full circle and had me guessing to The End as to how it might end. There should definitely be a Sequel: Wakefield Part 2!!! : )

Who was the most memorable character of All the Time in the World and why?

TBD

Any additional comments?

Never believe bad reviews until you try it yourself!

Good Stories, Bad Narrator

I couldn't finish this audiobook because of the horrible narrator. He has a snarky, irritating voice that seemed to fit the first story--but as I continued, I realized this wasn't just a characterization of that narrator, it was going to be snarky the whole way through. On top of that, his vocal portrayl of female characters is awful. Guess I will finish this one in print.