•  
    Deanne Bloomington, IN, United States 03-14-13
    Deanne Bloomington, IN, United States 03-14-13 Member Since 2009
    HELPFUL VOTES
    5
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    41
    17
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    1
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Boring...."

    I had a hard time getting through the story because the narration is just boring, flat, no real emotion. It's a good book to listen to if you want to go to sleep. It just drones on and on. I didn't finish it.

    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Profesor Woland NY, NY 02-22-13
    Profesor Woland NY, NY 02-22-13 Member Since 2011
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    78
    2
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "just not good...."
    What disappointed you about Macbeth: A Novel?

    I am not really sure who this book is for. I love MacBeth, the play, and the idea of putting it in context I thought was pretty great, but honestly this is just not well written. It drags on, and this is with Allan Cumming, I imagine that someone less gifted would make it slightly more like plowing cement with a hot dog. If this book was read to someone on life support, I would imagine they would awake just to sign a DNR order... And, that's just the Forward...


    What could A. J. Hartley and David Hewson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

    never written it


    What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

    He did the best he could, but I would have rather he was utilized for something readable


    You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

    I could return it.


    Any additional comments?

    I think I've said enough...

    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    David Dupont, WA, United States 01-03-13
    David Dupont, WA, United States 01-03-13 Member Since 2010
    HELPFUL VOTES
    80
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    21
    12
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    0
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Let down"

    Such a let down. Creepy sex scenes that added nothing to the plot, completely out of place and unnecessary to the story. Highly discourage this poor adaptation of a classic story. Narration was alright but the accents were so strong it was sometimes difficult to understand / follow.

    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Joy GRESHAM, OREGON, United States 11-07-12
    Joy GRESHAM, OREGON, United States 11-07-12 Member Since 2012
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    51
    2
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Great Narrator Story was ok"
    Is there anything you would change about this book?

    I did not like the repetitiveness of the author describing things over and over again. I get it one of the witches has milky white teeth like that of a new born child. I did not need to hear that over and over again.


    Would you ever listen to anything by A. J. Hartley and David Hewson again?

    Maybe?


    What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

    Love everything about the narrator. He did an amazing job playing all the parts. He kept me drawn into the story.


    Did Macbeth: A Novel inspire you to do anything?

    Not really


    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Rachel YAKIMA, WA, United States 08-21-12
    Rachel YAKIMA, WA, United States 08-21-12 Member Since 2009

    I am a clay sculptor and an art instructor at a community college. I mostly listen to audiobooks while I work in my home studio.

    HELPFUL VOTES
    17
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    75
    29
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    1
    3
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Not an improvement on the original"

    I bought the book because other reviewers recommended it as adding depth to the play. The play is shorter, true, but all the additions from this retelling of the Shakespeare classic only added tediously to the length of the story, doing nothing to add insight or value.

    I expected this version to increase my understanding of the history of Scotland or the politics of Scotland at the time of the story. Indeed, I thought this book would be a blending of history and a classic story.

    I would not recommend this book for people who enjoy history. I would recommend this to listeners who enjoy drama, or maybe melodrama. If you liked Macbeth, the play, but wish it were four times as long and more depressingly violent and grotesque, buy this book.

    I have to admit, in retrospect, I was at fault for expecting to enjoy the book. I knew the story and should have remembered that there is nothing in in to give one faith in human nature. I will now go mope around depressively.



    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Paula Inkom, ID, United States 08-18-12
    Paula Inkom, ID, United States 08-18-12 Member Since 2009
    HELPFUL VOTES
    1
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    65
    4
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    0
    1
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Interesting View of Shakespeare's Infamous Tale"
    What did you like best about Macbeth: A Novel? What did you like least?

    I liked the human side the author's created. I didn't always agree with some of the characteristic choices the authors assigned to some of the well known characters, but I guess that's the beauty of literature, we all bring personal expectations to things we read.

    Macbeth was interesting to me as a novel because I hate teaching it to my seniors. I was hoping to connect to it more, and I think it worked. I'm going to give it another try; I might even play one of the battle scenes for the kids.


    What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

    I think the battle scenes were really well written. It was not difficult to picture the scenes, especially at the end when Macduff challenges Macbeth. I often had trouble with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Sometimes their relationship was weakly drawn.


    Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

    I haven't listened to him before - I will though. I liked him.


    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Jill Ann Kiar Concord, CA United States 07-24-12
    Jill Ann Kiar Concord, CA United States 07-24-12
    HELPFUL VOTES
    1
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    6
    2
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    0
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "If you need a good night's sleep..."
    Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

    I would, but only if you listen to audio books, like I do, to fall asleep. It will knock you out in 20 minutes.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of Macbeth: A Novel?

    I keep having to start over, because I keep falling asleep. So the first 3 chapters are wonderful.


    Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

    NO. He's droning and without passion in acting.


    If this book were a movie would you go see it?

    No


    Any additional comments?

    Its a sleeper. If you are like me and need to wind your mind down to sleep at night (because of work, school, etc...) this is a GREAT book.

    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Nathan Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 04-28-12
    Nathan Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 04-28-12 Member Since 2006
    HELPFUL VOTES
    79
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    226
    31
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    3
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Utterly disappointing"

    I bought this book partly on the high recommendations, which demonstrates that one can easily be mislead. While the narration was satisfactory, the characters in this "attempt" at a novel are nothing but cardboard cut-outs. There is zero depth to any character in the book. The book is heavily laden with overworn cliches such as "the milk of human kindness." Are you kidding me? It was at this point that I quit listening to the book and deleted it from my library. I'd be as well satisfied by a Harlequin Romance... and probably get a better story as well.

    My main regrets are the money I wasted on this book, and the hours I wasted listening to half of it.

    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Tyler Charlotte, NC, United States 02-21-12
    Tyler Charlotte, NC, United States 02-21-12 Member Since 2011
    HELPFUL VOTES
    1
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    67
    7
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    0
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Too difficult to understand narrator"

    I have finished, at time of writing, 43 out of 43 audiobooks I have gotten from audible, meaning I have always finished what I buy. I stopped listening to this after 5 minutes. The author has a very strong scotish accent, which I get MacBeth is scotish and all, but at the same time I cannot understand the narrator. I had to give up. No idea how the book turns out, though I was excited about it. Guess I'll have to get a written book.

    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    J Riverton, WV, United States 01-31-12
    J Riverton, WV, United States 01-31-12 Member Since 2011
    HELPFUL VOTES
    62
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    103
    103
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    18
    1
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Not what I expected."

    The story was a little to graphic for my taste and difficult to follow. I did not finish it.

    More Less
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Showing: 101-110 of 117 results PREVIOUS1…101112NEXT