
Palimpsest
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Narrated by:
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Aasne Vigesaa
About this listen
Between life and death, dreaming and waking, at the train stop beyond the end of the world is the city of Palimpsest. To get there is a miracle, a mystery, a gift, and a curse - a voyage permitted only to those who’ve always believed there’s another world than the one that meets the eye. Those fated to make the passage are marked forever by a map of that wondrous city tattooed on their flesh after a single orgasmic night.
To this kingdom of ghost trains, lion-priests, living kanji, and cream-filled canals come four travelers: Oleg, a New York locksmith; the beekeeper November; Ludovico, a binder of rare books; and a young Japanese woman named Sei. They’ve each lost something important -- a wife, a lover, a sister, a direction in life—and what they will find in Palimpsest is more than they could ever imagine.
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Critic reviews
Each individual has a detailed backstory of how they came to be, along with their involvement with what they have lost. Palimpsest as a place is a confusing locale with an eclectic set of inhabitants who all seem to know what they are doing and exhibit ease and comfort with an environment that is both hauntingly familiar and equally bizarre. In the end, the search itself and acceptance is more important than the missing item.
The narration is acceptable, although the frequent scene shifts could have been helped with a bit more character distinction.
Somewhere to end up when something is lost
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Catherynne Valente never ceases to amaze
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Beautifully written and enigmatic
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Farieland for grown ups
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Intoxicating
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Would you consider the audio edition of Palimpsest to be better than the print version?
I don't know if I'd call it "better," but it feels right. The book demands to be read aloud, so experiencing it as an audiobook is natural.What other book might you compare Palimpsest to and why?
Invisible Cities by Italo CalvinoA Book That's a Natural for Audio
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The accents bring the reading to life
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Brilliant imagery
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Strange and Creative. Sometimes Hard to Follow
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There is a lot to like in this novel as it tries to create a world of fascinating mystery and dreamlike imagery, and it often does, but for me the spell was repeatedly broken, making the overall experience less than fully satisfying.
There is a significant amount of sexual content and situations that are rather mild, yet would be quite offensive to many, and would be inappropriate for younger readers.
The narration was excellent throughout.
Excellent Prose, but lacks maturity
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