The Burgess Boys

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Strout

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Haunted by the freak accident that killed their father when they were children, Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their Maine hometown of Shirley Falls for New York City as soon as they possibly could. Jim, a sleek, successful corporate lawyer, has belittled his bighearted brother their whole lives, and Bob, a Legal Aid attorney who idolizes Jim, has always taken it in stride. But their long-standing dynamic is upended when their sister, Susan - the Burgess sibling who stayed behind - urgently calls them home. Her lonely teenage son, Zach, has gotten himself into a world of trouble, and Susan desperately needs their help. And so the Burgess brothers return to the landscape of their childhood, where the long-buried tensions that have shaped and shadowed their relationship begin to surface in unexpected ways that will change them forever.

With a rare combination of brilliant storytelling, exquisite prose, and remarkable insight into character, Elizabeth Strout has brought to life two deeply human protagonists whose struggles and triumphs will resonate with listeners long after the ausiobook is over. Tender, tough-minded, loving, and deeply illuminating about the ties that bind us to family and home, The Burgess Boys is Elizabeth Strout’s newest and perhaps most astonishing work of literary art.

©2013 Elizabeth Strout (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Deeply human... Though loneliness and loss haunt these pages, Strout also supplies gentle humor and a nourishing dose of hope.” ( Booklist)

Mixed bag

Would give it 3 1/2 stars if possible. The family dynamics were interesting and enjoyed the inward conflicts each character dealt with. That having been said, the main incident of the story was a little depressing and repetitive. The book shed light on a subject that some people might shy away from. It was good to inform the reader about another culture and point out our bias toward these people, but it was a little too "in your face" at times. If you are interested in coming away with having learned something educational and moving; without having to feel like you have to be entertained in a totally shallow and make-believe way, i.e. predictable romances, murder mysteries, etc., then this might work for you. I also felt it was difficult for the narrator to change her voice enough to accomplish a distinction between some of the characters. I don't regret having used a credit.

Writing at its finest!

When the characters remain with you long after you're finished listening, and when you catch yourself wondering how they're doing, you cross over the invisible line where good fiction becomes a more powerful force for change than any work of non-fiction.

We are introduced to complex characters with the flaws to which all of us are confronted and we discover that it is within the flaws themselves that our greatest strengths can blossom.This is a universal theme in good fiction. Not only did the main characters evolve, sometimes in spite of themselves, but I did too. It is not through confronting our shadow side alone and in isolation, but in the messy work of recognizing our shadow rather than projecting it and then being there for each other through the ugly and the profane without scapegoating. I became so proud of the siblings who slowly revealed bits and pieces of their pasts through surprising twists and turns. I also loved the mystery woman, the neighbor/tenant with a vision for seeing the world through a larger lens and the Muslim immigrant who had that same insight.

A story that you can relate to and care about

If you could sum up The Burgess Boys in three words, what would they be?

Raw, simple truth

What did you like best about this story?

The in-depth look into each character, showing both good and bad in a nonjudgemental way. The description of the town. The way the story unfolds, it takes it's time, but wastes no words.

What about Cassandra Campbell’s performance did you like?

Yes a wonderful reader. I loved the Maine accent and the way she emphasized certain words and phrases.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

At certain times the harshness of the dialogue between the siblings was moving, but in a shocking way. The in-comprehensiveness that Bob had when given the news from Jim.

Elizabeth Strout doesn't disappoint

I'll admit--I found the beginning of "The Burgess Boys" a little slow, but I stuck with it because I haven't read anything from Elizabeth Strout that I didn't like. I'm glad I kept going. The story was interesting, especially in these times, and the characters were all people that you hoped would grow and see what their issues were.

Artfully written story about two brothers and a sister from Maine. The brothers left Maine for New York City after college, while the sister stays behind. When her son has some problems with the law and the civil rights community, the brothers step in to help, each in their own way with their own particular gifts. The wives of the brothers provide interesting contrast with the siblings, as well.

Well-told and with characters you care about. Another terrific book from Strout.

And so the story goes...

As far back as the Bible and probably before that, strong women take back their inferior lovers.... while weak women hunt for needy men. Why is that? Could it be true, as the saying goes,' women seem to get the man they think they deserve.' This is a book about women, not men. Women trying to negotiate their way in a society that is often accepting of them.....not just in Somalia....but here. And, by their own neediness seem to foster another generation of the same self indulgent men.

The prose was good. But I felt rung out by the story and totally sad.

The Burgess Family

If ever it were true, this story exemplifies the saying, "There's no place like home, no matter how humble."

Totally worth listening to!

Wow! Excellent combination of dynamic writing and engaging narration is a win/win. I highly recommend!

Lifetime movie

I never got attached to anyone. To me it just went on and on. The ending got more interesting but that was it no surprises

Well written BUT

The characters were so unlikeable I struggled to finish. I would not purchase again even at special price.

Another Fabulous Book by Strout

Just finished this book by ES and now I look for more by her. The stories are about what Strou knows so well—family life and all the complexities of sorrow among siblings, between married couples, and here, across cultures. Strout does a beautiful job displaying a conflict between traditional Mainers and the new Somali immigrants.

I happened to be listening to this book at the same time I was watching Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Amazon prime. Both authors do a great job of portraying conflict from both sides.

The narrator of this audiobook is talented and made all the characters come alive. Thank you Cassandra Campbell for a great reading.