Hugh

Better the second time

Revisado: 08-19-09

I found this trilogy to be fascinating. If you've read Joseph Campbell's description of the hero in mythology then you will better understand this story. Lewis is similar to Frodo, Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter; all share the same fate. In addition, check out the Celtic myth of Lugh.

To understand Lawhead's mythology/theology I recommend reading his biography of St. Patrick, "Patrick" and note how it compares to this story.

It was the second time I listened to this trilogy that I truly enjoyed it. Knowing what's going to happen makes it easier to understand Lawhead's symbolism. This is a bard's tale.

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Decent Thriller

Revisado: 11-03-08

This is my first Dekker book. It's a decent whodunnit kind of book, with a different sort of mystery. "Psychological Thriller" is a very apt discription. This book does play with the reader's mind. I didn't notice anything strange about the narration. Some copies may be bad. Call Audible and get another copy before letting the narration frustrate you. They're really good about stuff like that.

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Superb torture, if that's your thing.

Revisado: 09-03-08

Well, after reading the torture scene in Gabaldon's Outlander, I thought I reached the bottom of the barrel in torture. Goodkind is neither good nor kind: this is one author who knows how to torture. And you will suffer from the torture scenes. I really think Goodkind enjoyed the torture of Richard. I also see why this was described as it was: the reader needs to understand the nature and purpose of the torture.

As I listened to this book I had the feeling that it was Goodkind's first effort at writing. There's a lot of stuff that could be left out and some things that should have been.

What I really do not like is the apparent lack of an ending to the story. I see that there are seven or eight, maybe more, novels in this series. One of Harry Potter's best qualities is that Rawling had the whole story planned before she wrote the first book. And she stuck to her story line. At the end of this book I think the story is done. "And they all lived happily ever after." Or some such stuff. From a review I read that the bad guy comes back in book two. I don't care enough about the situation and characters to find that enticing.

I will recommend the book, but with the caveat that you have a very high tolerance for pain.

And I guess that's the problem, at least for me. I just don't care enough about the characters to read more of them.

BTW, I think the narrator is fine. I don't need the reader to play the characters, I need the reader to read each word in a tone that I can understand. I do not want a monotone, as that puts me to sleep. This reader was just fine.

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Well, maybe it's better than I thought

Revisado: 08-03-08

It is expensive at 2 credits, but I kept thinking about the story. One reader compared this to a soap opera...well, maybe it is. But it's the characters that keep things going. This is a study in politics, which means motives. And like life, characters you like die. Remember that Alexander the Great died prematurely. So did Julius Caesar. And note the length of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." I guess it's not really a soap opera, it's a political history, complete with all the motives of the characters. Well, maybe that is a soap opera...? Anyway, I guess I'll get the third book. I can't wait to see the dragons grow up.

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An expensive song of politics and power.

Revisado: 04-07-08

This is neither "The Oddesy", "LOTR" nor is it "Harry Potter" This is good old political intrigue. There is no hero. There is the story.

Characters one really cares for die. Characters one wants to like do truly horrible things. There is incest. There is cold blooded murder. There is war. Parents should read (listen) to this with their teens. (Note: a previous reviewer objected to the multitude of sexual perversions described. Well, I don't remember much of that: certainly there is nothing to compare to Diana Gabaldon.) I would recommend "Eragon" or "Harry Potter" for most younger children. Children may like this book because there are seven and ten year olds in it, but I think most will find this a tough book. It is written for adults.

Also, because there is no hero, there is little to make me want to read the sequels. I may, but at 2 credits per book there are many other things to read. Maybe they'll drop the price.

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Not What I Remembered

Revisado: 12-12-07

I read the entire book in high school. I remembered the long descriptions, but I thought there was a lot more action. I get what Melville tried to do, having been in the Navy. Life on board ship is monotonous. Still, I found the descriptions interesting. Modern taste, I guess, requires a lot of action. Dickens is not as interesting as I thought he would be. But Mark Twain is. Anyway, I am sure I will listen to this again.

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What a story!

Revisado: 12-12-07

I have listened to this twice now, and found it hilarious both times. Now, I must admit that the reader is not perfect. Obviously, he has no idea what "okra" is, much less how to pronounce it. But even that was funny. I know I could not begin to produce the variety of accents required to make this work. What is great is the story. I understand so much about my native language that I never knew before. This should be a High School textbook. It's no wonder that English is such a wierd language. This book explains much.

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