Where does Vanishing New York rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Potentially high on the list, but the narrator — in a book about New York City — didn’t bother to learn the correct pronunciation of key places. His Houston Street is pronounced like the city in Texas and NOT the correct way — “HOW-ston”. I flinched every time every time I heard him use the street name, and it wasn’t the only one.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Vanishing New York?
Flinching — in what was otherwise a passionately-rendered performance.
Would you be willing to try another one of Paul Heitsch’s performances?
No.
Any additional comments?
This book serves as a reminder that a five minute clip isn’t going to tell you whether the narrator is right for a book. A LAZY narrator who doesn’t know about the subject matter (as in this case) can spoil a great narrative. I had to give up and go get the written version. It’s a fabulous book, and I can recommend it wholeheartedly. And if you don’t know the city, or its characters, I suppose this stuff won’t grate on you. But if you’re a New Yorker, sadly, this is an audiobook that will make you very crazy rather quickly. Go read it instead, because you’ll love the stories it tells.