Bullet in the Brain

By: Tobias Wolff

Narrated by: Anthony Heald

Length: 13 mins

Publisher's summary

The story of a book critic and his final thoughts from short-story master Tobias Wolff...

Anders is an angry, cynical man. A book critic known for his scathing reviews, he finds any excuse to dismiss, belittle, or insult. This afternoon is no more agitating than the next. Angers finds himself in a long line at the bank, waiting to reach a teller. Even after two men - wearing masks and carrying guns - take control of the building, Anders is unfazed. It's this behavior that lands him with a pistol against his stomach and a man screamingin his face. And when the bank robber, indignant over Anders' behavior, shoots the book critic in the head, his mind floats through the memories of his life, settling on one particular event....

©1996 Tobias Wolff (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Great.

Fantastic quick read. Unique perspective and story. Glad I found this one. Narrator is also fantastic!!

Such a Perfect Short Story

This brilliant story is a must read by all writer’s of short fiction. Listen to how much happens in a single scene. You learn Anders is a burnt out editor, and as he edits the bank robbers movie script lines, the humor and tension can be felt leading up to the bullet in the brain. Then comes the description of the bullet from its entrance into the brain until it exits, with a special focus on what’s in between.

Instead of beginning by describing the thoughts that go through the narrator’s head as the bullet enters, Wolff adds a lot of history in what was not thought of. So many memories he expected that would flash in front of his eyes were passed over, and by opening that to the reader, we can see the history of Anders.

They often ask what the payoff is to a story, and we get not only a single scene of a man standing in line and being shot in the head, but how a writer, a true artist, can weave in a single scene a man being murdered at a bank, summarizing his life by what doesn’t cross his mind, and showing us what led him to this moment where he puts himself in a situation to die.

They is; they is......

A snooty art critic with a droll sense of humor plucks the last nerve of a bank robber who then shoots the man in the head. The victim sees, in slo mo, a lifetime of memories and experiences as the bullet travels through his brain. Very creative!

Favorite reading of a favorite masterpiece

I listen to this every few months myself or sharing it with someone knew. The artistry of both the story and narration are for all time.

Great short story.

Short but compelling. Captures what a short story should do. I'm seeking out more by Tobias Wolff to read.

A bullet point of a story.

I'm left wondering if this is an act of revenge for a bad review that Tobias Wolff received, or if it is to avenge all heartless reviews of any books. Regardless, it is an entertaining 13 minutes.

A perfect short story. Perfect.

I am reminded about why I loved short stories, but had fallen out of the reading habit. Time to dive in again!

Unnecessary "Adult Content"

Stopped this one just a few minutes in when the, totally unnecessary, graphic sexual language kicked in. Might have been a great story, and IMHO, could have been just as great with out the nasty innuendos. Guess I missed the Warning on this one !?!

Surprising, in a good way.

This short little read was surprisingly fantastic. I’d read a brief synopsis of the story before starting it, but it still surprised me a bit.

This is a story about the last moments of a rather hum-drum critic who is more than a little stuck on himself. His actions and inability to curb his own tongue get him shot. The author presents what could or should have gone through the critic’s mind while he was dying (other than the bullet), and wraps up by telling us what did go through his mind instead. He gives us the “why” behind it as well. Truly food for thought where those last few seconds of life are concerned. Maybe we won’t think at all of what we think we will!

Exactly what it sounds like

This story is about exactly what the title sounds like. A man is standing in line at a bank and he gets shot in the head with a bullet by a bank robber. He reminisces over his life while he's dying. I think I like Wolff's shortest stories in this collection the best because I enjoyed this one. On a side note, I don't think the summaries of the stories accurately represent what is presented in the stories; they seem to give extra information that isn't explored in the story itself and that's a bit disappointing.