Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules (Unabridged Selections)

By: Edited by David Sedaris

Narrated by: David Sedaris, Mary-Louise Parker, Cherry Jones

Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules is a collection of short stories, some classic, others impending, selected and introduced by David Sedaris.

With this audiobook a careful listener can discover the truth about loneliness, betrayal, love, and hope.

"Where the Door is Always Open and the Welcome Mat is Out" by Patricia Highsmith, read by Cherry Jones

"Bullet In the Brain" by Tobias Wolff, read by Toby Wherry

"Gryphon" by Charles Baxter, read by David Sedaris

"In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried" by Amy Hempel,read by Mary-Louise Parker

"Cosmopolitan" by Akhil Sharma, read by the author

©2005 826 NYC (P)2005 Patricia Highsmith; 2005 Simon & Schuster, Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.
"Where the Door Is Always Open and the Welcome Mat is Out" ©

Gambled and Won

Any additional comments?

Great introduction to a new collection of writers. I will definitely look for more stories from them. It was like getting a big gift with multiple gifts inside.

Beautiful, music to the ears!

If you could sum up Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules (Unabridged Selections) in three words, what would they be?

melodious, touching, calm

What did you like best about this story?

the author's reading of the last story

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

The Indian man, I don't know his name.

Any additional comments?

The last author needs to be recognized on Audible, he gets no credit as the reader or writer, he was the best.

Sedaris picks unusual reads

Glad I have this on audio as I’m sure to listen a few more times. Each story completely different so you might take a breather in between for the brain switch of material and your listening to a new voice and cadence. For me some were difficult to acquire an ear for the voice and/or grasping the density of the story. I chose the book as curious about Sedaris’ choice of favorites and, if you are a fan, you will ‘get it’ how he recognizes his angst in other authors as well. Pretty cool.

Great stories but only 5 of 17 are included

I was excited to hear the stories that David Sedaris picks as his favorites. This version only gives you 5 of the 17 in his book. I should have read the description more carefully but only noticed the term I always look for: "unabridged". In this case, that means the stories selected to be on this version are in their entirety. Don't let it stop you from listening though.

Different

This isn't a typical Sedaris book - it's a collection of stories. They are like his tour recommendations. Odd, short stories, that are thought provoking and interesting.

You’d expect more

It was a fine enough anthology . In the wide world of letters I’d have expected a man of Sedaris’ accomplished wit to have selected something as exceptional as his work . It does not however mean it wasn’t a pleasure to hear these stories read aloud .

Don't let 'David Sedaris' fool you

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. I hastily bought the book because David Sedaris' name was on it, incorrectly assuming that he wrote at least one of the stories and chose authors with a similar sense of humor. Wrong on both counts. While they were quirky little stories, none delivered the laugh-out-loud good time that Mr. Sedaris does.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This was an anthology. Too many characters for any one to stand out.

Which scene was your favorite?

none.

Do you think Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules (Unabridged Selections) needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Not on my account.

Beautiful Stories Great Voices

Would you consider the audio edition of Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules (Unabridged Selections) to be better than the print version?

Little gems of well written short stories . Discovering new authors leads to more of what's featured here stacked high upon my reading pile. Thank you for the introduction David Sedaris.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Shorts with well defined characters, all of the selected pieces equally brilliant.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Just spend the ten bucks, you'll thank yourself for the experience.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Listening again and again to this well edited and voiced over body of work

Any additional comments?

Voice over artist that read the Tobias Wolff piece did a fantastic job bringing it to life. Solid talent all around.

David Sedaris can do no wrong in my book

Every story is interesting, definately worth the little bit of David you get on here. I am an avid fan of David Sedaris audiobooks which is why I purchased this book with no hesitation. Finally a new book! Yay! Even the stories not narrated by David kept me interested.

#1. The Door Is Always Open by P. Highsmith

I should’ve liked the first story because I follow the writer, Patricia Highsmith and David Sedaris. Like the main character,“Mildred ” I too have a sister named Edith whom I refer to as “Sinisister.” and live also alone. But, as I listened I kept hoping something would strike me as a good story. Not so, as it drooled on, it kept getting more depressing. I hope the rest of the stories get better. So far #2 is depressing too. Ugh.