Pork Pie Hat (Isis) [Audio CD]

Peter Straub (Author), Peter Marinker (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002 | Series: Isis

Passionate about jazz, the narrator dicovers that one of his greatest heroes, a saxophonist by the name of Pork Pie Hat, is still alive and playing at a club he frequents. Granted an interview by the Hat, the narrator gets a night of extraordinary stories from a man dying of alcoholism.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Straub was born and educated in Wisconsin, and lived in Dublin and London before settling in New York. Author of a string of bestselling novels, he is the recipient of several Bram Stoker awards and the two-times winner of the International Horror Guild award. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

A New York City college student stumbles onto the fact that one of his favorite blues saxophonists still lives. Better yet, he's playing a two-week engagement nearby. When the legend grants a rare interview, the student is unprepared for the horrifying story about to unfold. Peter Marinker effortlessly jumps from struggling student to old, alcoholic, unschooled African-American man in narrating this tale within a tale. The two points of view are so distinct as to sound entirely like two performers. Marinker's tone and pacing are subdued, in keeping with the solemnity of the story, and his lack of pyrotechnics provides an explosive finishing touch to the performance. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Ulverscroft Large Print (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753114003
• ISBN-13: 978-0753114001
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Long Dark Note, December 27, 2010

By 

M. De Paepe - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pork Pie Hat (Hardcover)

After seeing this book advertised and finding out that I already had it in my copy of the anthology, October Dreams, I read it right away. Ironically (after the last poster's comment) on Christmas weekend. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I will say that the tension and horror in a little boy's mind seems quite realistically done. I lean towards supernatural horror tales, but this book is an artful reminder that the worst horrors happen, both in our minds, and at the hands of men. If you don't have a jazz CD to put on in the background as you sink into the dark story, you will hear the music in your head.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Seasonal Tale for Halloween, October 6, 2010

By 

Evan Hammerman (West Palm Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pork Pie Hat (Hardcover)

This little book was a quick read. Peter Straub's style of writing makes whatever story he is telling move right along (even if it's as convoluted and confusing as Dark Matter).

I can't really talk about this book without giving away the story. All I can say is read carefully. I can mention that you will feel like you are there at the club listening to Hat perform. You will also feel like you are right there with Hat and his friend on that fateful Halloween night so many years ago.

For a white guy from Wisconsin Straub paints a convincing picture of the life black people had in Mississippi back during segregation. I suppose that is to be expected from such an artful storyteller.

Get this little book now and read it before Halloween for maximum effect. You will spend an pleasant evening though with it even if you read it in December.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, April 7, 2011

By 

Zardoz "focuspuller" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pork Pie Hat (Hardcover)

Racial line-crossing in Jim Crow Mississippi? This slight tale has it. Scared little kid, with very little to do with the cat on the cover? Check. Some fairly good paragraphs about jazz. Sure. Overall, though, there's not much here.