Bullet in the Brain

By: Tobias Wolff

Narrated by: Anthony Heald

The story of a book critic and his final thoughts from short-story master Tobias Wolff...

Anders is an angry, cynical man. A book critic known for his scathing reviews, he finds any excuse to dismiss, belittle, or insult. This afternoon is no more agitating than the next. Angers finds himself in a long line at the bank, waiting to reach a teller. Even after two men - wearing masks and carrying guns - take control of the building, Anders is unfazed. It's this behavior that lands him with a pistol against his stomach and a man screamingin his face. And when the bank robber, indignant over Anders' behavior, shoots the book critic in the head, his mind floats through the memories of his life, settling on one particular event....

©1996 Tobias Wolff (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Favorite reading of a favorite masterpiece

I listen to this every few months myself or sharing it with someone knew. The artistry of both the story and narration are for all time.

Great.

Fantastic quick read. Unique perspective and story. Glad I found this one. Narrator is also fantastic!!

They is; they is......

A snooty art critic with a droll sense of humor plucks the last nerve of a bank robber who then shoots the man in the head. The victim sees, in slo mo, a lifetime of memories and experiences as the bullet travels through his brain. Very creative!

Such a Perfect Short Story

This brilliant story is a must read by all writer’s of short fiction. Listen to how much happens in a single scene. You learn Anders is a burnt out editor, and as he edits the bank robbers movie script lines, the humor and tension can be felt leading up to the bullet in the brain. Then comes the description of the bullet from its entrance into the brain until it exits, with a special focus on what’s in between.

Instead of beginning by describing the thoughts that go through the narrator’s head as the bullet enters, Wolff adds a lot of history in what was not thought of. So many memories he expected that would flash in front of his eyes were passed over, and by opening that to the reader, we can see the history of Anders.

They often ask what the payoff is to a story, and we get not only a single scene of a man standing in line and being shot in the head, but how a writer, a true artist, can weave in a single scene a man being murdered at a bank, summarizing his life by what doesn’t cross his mind, and showing us what led him to this moment where he puts himself in a situation to die.

Unnecessary "Adult Content"

Stopped this one just a few minutes in when the, totally unnecessary, graphic sexual language kicked in. Might have been a great story, and IMHO, could have been just as great with out the nasty innuendos. Guess I missed the Warning on this one !?!