We were in the areas of Scotland where the story takes place. It was great fun listening to the stories of where we were. What was more fun is that I'm a second generation Scot and listening to the Scottish accent.

The reader of this book brought me through the Grampians, into the towns of Fores and Inverness and all over nothern Scotland.

If you're of Scottish descent I highly recommend this book. I really enjoyed it.

To use more of the actual historical figure and less of Shakespeare

Unknown at this stage

N/A

The porter

NA

I felt the authors took too many liberties and made the story too dark and explecite.

I loved this interpretation of Macbeth. It added some characters the play does not have. I got a better understanding of the main characters after hearing this audio book. I loved Alan Cumming's narration, he was excellent. All in all this was an A-1 effort good for those who are familiar with the play and those who are not.

The concept is great. Take a story that we already know in outline that has withstood the test of time and 'fill in the blanks' where the playwright didn't have the luxury of providing the backstory to his audience. The authors remain faithful to everything in Shakespeare's play while exploring possible reasons for the behavior of the characters. The narration is outstanding -- even masterful. However I felt a bit disappointed that the authors felt the need to make the story a bit too modern by using the f-word as if we need to be assured that we are getting the raw, unvarnished truth about the dispicable Duncan. I realize that critics may counter that Shakespeare was blunt and bawdy in some of his scenes and I accept that. Maybe it's just my sense that a dramatic story can be told without the need of resorting to such devices. Let's have more of these 'made for audio' stories like this, but don't mar the work by thinking that it has to mimic the contemporary style in such aspects.

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.

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...

never written it

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

I could return it.

I think I've said enough...

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.

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.

Maybe?

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

Not really

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.