Sutton

By: J. R. Moehringer

Narrated by: Dylan Baker

Born in the slums of Brooklyn, in the first year of the 20th century, Willie Sutton came of age at a time when banks were out of control. If they weren’t taking brazen risks, they were shamelessly seeking bailouts. Trapped in a cycle of bank panics, depressions and soaring unemployment, Sutton saw only one way out. So began the career of America’s most successful bank robber. Sutton became so good at breaking into banks, and such a master at breaking out of prisons, police called him one of the most dangerous men in New York, and the FBI put him on its first-ever Most Wanted List. But the public rooted for Sutton. When he was finally caught for good in 1952, crowds surrounded the jail and chanted his name.

Blending vast research with vivid imagination, Pulitzer Prize winner J.R. Moehringer brings Willie Sutton blazing back to life. In Moehringer’s retelling, it was more than need or rage at society that drove Sutton. It was one unforgettable woman. And when Sutton finally walked free, he immediately set out to find her. Poignant, comic, fast-paced and fact-studded, Sutton tells a story of economic pain that feels eerily modern, while unfolding a story of doomed love that is forever timeless.

©2012 J.R. Moehringer (P)2012 Hyperion

Kept Me Interested

Would you listen to Sutton again? Why?

Probably not. I usually do not listen to books twice. This book was good but not a page turner.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sutton?

The realization that what we remember is not always the truth.

Have you listened to any of Dylan Baker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't know if I have or not. I do not play close attention to the performers names but after this book I will because he was so good.

If you could rename Sutton, what would you call it?

"A Lonely Man"

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed that this book was based on a true character in history. Made me curious enough to Google Willie Sutton.

Another Masterpiece!!!

Where does Sutton rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In a very tight group of four, the TenderBar included.

What other book might you compare Sutton to and why?

Mr Muhlringer's other book because of his easy style.

Which character – as performed by Dylan Baker – was your favorite?

The book itself.

If you could take any character from Sutton out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Willie, as a Brooklyn guy myself we would compare notes.

Any additional comments?

Two great novels in a row. If the TenderBar brought tears to my eyes,Sutton had me downright bawling. Mr Muhlringer has a great style, Sutton was fantastic, I loved it.

Willie the actors' best performance

What did you love best about Sutton?

I was able to listen while at work in a noisy and busy environment, yet the readers voice kept me focused on really hearing the subtle nuances of the character's personna all through the audio book. It was resplendant with colorful description, ( sometimes too colorful) but all of the story from start to finish was masterfully read and completely satisfying. I am a new listener, but see many more hours of enjoyment to come including a re-listen to Sutton

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

tonality is prominent for good understanding of nuance

Interesting piece of American History

Note to self............In the future, disregard the first 5 reviews posted. More than likely they are from the author or friends of the author. No book is ever as good as what the first 5 posts claim. That being said, the book was interesting enough and moved along at a good pace. At times the premise was a little distracting but it worked. This is not a normal book for me to listen too, but I'm glad I did.

Even a Crook Deserves Better

The choice to tell this story from the day Willie Sutton was released from prison in 1969 felt like an awkward decision to me right from the start. I know quite a bit about the real Willie Sutton and was looking forward to this novelization. If you don't, have that background though, why would you care about a submissive ex-con? The story jumps back and forth through Willie's history to his journey on Xmas day '69 with a reporter and photographer to the places in New York that were important to him. Unfortunately the reporter is portrayed as a stereotypical straight arrow who can't get with Willie's unconventional manner of doing things, while the photographer is portrayed as the worst kind of hippie with all the hippie stereotype including a fringe jacket, Soul On Ice in his camera bag, and a girlfriend who's a masseuse. Could I make this up? I guess J.R. Moehringer thinks he did.

The story paints Willie Sutton, arguably the most successful bank robber in US history, as a very romantic guy who did everything he is accused of to win the heart of the girl who first convinced him to commit a crime. Main problem being, according to history, the girl in question was with his friend and Willie was probably the brains of the operation. This problem is addressed, albeit bizarrely, at the end of the book.

Moehringer cuts Sutton an awful lot of slack. He implies that the state of New York failed to help the Sutton family transition when the blacksmith trade became obsolete. He shows us that Willie, though clearly of gifted intelligence, was not adequately educated for useful work.He paints a graphic picture of a boy bullied and abused until violence seems like the only alternative to him. He shows us that intelligent people when faced with unemployment will more frequently turn to crime than accept underpaid work. All of these factors are as true today as they were in the 1920s and I'm sure that is Moehringer's point in bringing them to our attention. While they may be true, they seem more significant to the author's message than they do to the story. The late Donald Westlake, who under the pseudonym Richard Stark wrote the Parker 'heist' novels, made many of these same observations unobtrusively while his books were a lot more fun to read.

When all is said, I was pretty disappointed in Mr. Moehringer's speculations. He does point out that Willie Sutton wrote two accounts of his life which do not correspond with each other. I've only read one of these, I, Willie Sutton, and recommend it to interested readers over this present work.

Dylan Baker did an excellent job with pretentious, pseudo philosophical dialog and one stereotypical character after another.

In my estimation, Willie Sutton deserves better.

Good Story

I don't know if any of it is true, but it was a really good story.

Never judged a person without hearing their story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

not a thing.

Have you listened to any of Dylan Baker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

also listened to The Tender Bar. Both are stories of everyday people and told in such a wonderful expose into the inner person.

Do you think Sutton needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

not necessarily.

Worthwhile but a little short of great

Would you consider the audio edition of Sutton to be better than the print version?

I would expect so.

What did you like best about this story?

Characters were vivid

Which scene was your favorite?

Descriptions of the crimes, bank robberies and escapes.

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

Not unless I was driving on a long trip.

Outstanding!!

Where does Sutton rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Sutton is one of my top 10 books now.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful historical fiction. I hated to put it down. The narrator was fantastic!

Fascinating story and fabulous performance

I very much enjoyed this book. Was a great story, well-written, but the absolute best thing was Dylan Baker. His ability to inhabit the many characters in the book was utterly amazing. You won’t be disappointed.