CrisW

Wrong performer

Reviewed: 10-09-22

The bad accents and awkward phrasing of the dialog by the reader made the story difficult to enjoy and in some cases difficult to understand. One of the worst audible readings I’ve come across.

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4 people found this helpful

Spellbound

Reviewed: 01-19-19

I was hooked from beginning to end, always guessing, never bored. The story is beautiful, and the narration incredible.

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Couldn't "put it down"

Reviewed: 04-25-18

I really doubted it would be worth the credit, but I was hooked from the start. I normally only listen on my commute, but I would end up sitting on the sofa at night, listening to finish a really good part.

Tip: when you're not sure about some of the names or French or other strange words or descriptions, you can refer to a public domain copy to figure it out.

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The best 21st century novel to date

Reviewed: 11-26-17

Perhaps I'm biased. I lived through the time period of the novel, so it hits home like no other novel has. Samuel's tale takes you through complex themes that play out in multiple layers, from old folklore to modern game maxims: every challenge is an enemy, an obstacle, a puzzle, or a trap. As the story wove its way, I kept seeing these themes play out again and again, circling back on themselves in new and exciting ways, like a musical composition, noticing even the subtleties of Nathan Hill's switching between past, present, and future tense as he delivers the story.

But all that makes this sound like a boring old piece of "literature." This book is full of humor and satire that reminds me of Catch 22--it's not that weird but pulls from that, or a good Mark Twain. It's a tale that keeps you engaged all the way through, and I couldn't put it down. I normally listen only in my car, driving to work. But I listened to this one sometimes into the night, at my desk, because I couldn't stop thinking about it.

You have to listen. Ari Fliakos takes you through it with the voices that really pull you in, so that you are there. You understand the gamer or the activist or the senile old man. He sounds like Rod Serling in places where we are guessing at the future. He puts you in the head of someone on the verge of an embolism. Amazing.

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Makes you rethink things

Reviewed: 09-25-17

Greenwood's carefully written story really allows you to see how your morals, what you believe in, isn't the whole picture--that circumstances are always personal and that your relationships can be just as real as mine.

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4 people found this helpful

For younger audiences

Reviewed: 02-17-17

A lot of 20th century fiction for children is enjoyable for even us old folk, but this one was only mildly entertaining. My 11 year old liked it though, so it's still works for its main target audience.

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Incredible journey

Reviewed: 08-05-16

Incredible "stranger in a strange land" journey, with so many colorful, likable characters, and some added intensity from knowing it's based on the writer's true story.

Humphrey Bower's narration was incredible. I completely forgot he was reading, and each of the characters was brought to life. I'm kinda sad the story is over now!

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1 person found this helpful

Great reading

Reviewed: 04-28-16

The performer who reads this is excellent at characterization. It brings a great book to life!

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