The Crying of Lot 49

By: Thomas Pynchon

Narrated by: George Wilson

Quite unexpectedly, Mrs. Oedipa Maas finds herself the executor of the estate of Pierce Inverarity, a man she used to know in a more-or-less intimate fashion. When Oedipa heads off to Southern California to sort through Pierce's affairs, she becomes ensnared in a hilarious and puzzling worldwide conspiracy.

Calling Thomas Pynchon a "virtuoso with prose", the Chicago Tribune compares his work to James Joyce's Ulysses. Pynchon, winner of the National Book Award, has shocked, enthralled, and delighted fans for more than 40 years with his satire and wit.

©1965, 1966 Thomas Pynchon (P)2005 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"The comedy crackles, the puns pop, the satire explodes." ( The New York Times)

Great Reader. However...

The reader is great, even though I’d prefer a woman to read the novel because of the main character. However, there are so many noises in the background coming from his mic.
• Dog Barking
• Routine Stomach Growling
• Long unedited pauses

Didn't Live Up to Expectations

I do not share the same opinion as those who feel this book is in the top 100 greatest novels. It is a fine novel, quirky, and enjoyable on several levels, but nothing special compared to other great novels. Perhaps it was the reading which was uninspired. I never really got into the novel and before I knew it, the reading was done.

It's quite a book

Having the audiobook definitely helps to really understand what is going on in the book.

Pretty good reading of a classic

Only gripe is that the narrator develops a slight nose whistle partway through. Otherwise a very good rendition of Pynchon’s classic novel.

Beginnings of Genius

I recently rediscovered Pynchon after a brief brush with him in collrege and am in awe of his singularly American genius. This complex, layered, immensely intellectual, wildly wacky, symbolic and ultimately spiritual novella was written in the mid 60's. Way ahead of its time, its scary clairvoyant glimpse into the culture-to-be is classic Pynchon-to-be. In "Crying" we see the genesis of genius and a completely original mind not to be missed by anyone who loves literature. I'm on my 6th reading (listening) of this book and each time I appreciate it more. I like the narration even though other reviews have been negative about it. It's a tough book to read, and I feel this narrator does it justice.

"Shall I project the world?"

Pynchon's prose is exceptionally beautiful and intelligent, his narrative world is a remarkable structure of a collective, shared projection of a counter-counter-revolutionary conception of new America, lost in technology and human disconnection, and brought back into reality only through the reinvigoration of reason, imagination and a new history of original human agency.

A Masterpiece, but not here.

Narration was challenging all the way through. I’ll need to read it again to myself in order to cleanse my mind’s pallet.

Hilarious

This feels like a study for a larger piece, as there is more or less just one plot. It is hilarious. I can't imagine anybody writing an ancient conspiracy novel after this biting story. Names of people and things are so funny, too! Vivaldi Kazoo Concerto, hahaha!

Great Read for a Great Novel - One Weird Problem

Crying of Lot 49 may be Thomas Pynchon's greatest novel. (Although, ask me tomorrow, and mention Inherent Vices). It is funny and sad and maddening, and the only thing that time has done since its publication in 1967 is to give it an aura of prophecy. As for the reader, George Wilson, he is a maestro of the subtly lifted eyebrow. The dryly unspoken retort. A perfect reader for such a tart little comedy of manners.
This audio has one peculiar problem. It is recorded maybe a little too well. To the point where Mister Wilson's adenoid's begin to fight for their place on the stage. I could hear the creak whenever he shifted in the chair. I could hear cars driving by in the street. At one point, I swear I could hear the rumble of gas in Wilson's stomach.
By all means, download the book. You will laugh out loud and be caught up in its weird, mid-sixties paranoia.
But maybe listen to this one without the headphones...

Nothing to fear, Pynchon is here!

What made the experience of listening to The Crying of Lot 49 the most enjoyable?

The books is amusing (when not outright hysterical) and the narration is just right.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Crying of Lot 49?

Some of the character names: Max Fallopian, Gengis Cohen, etc.

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

This was my first.

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

Yes but it would have been way too long a sitting.