Alan

I don't normally put sci-fi on my list but I found this intriguing and I have enjoyed listening to John Lee read other audio books. This seems to be another John Lee sounding totally bored with what he is reading and the monotonous timbre of his voice is driving me nuts. Also, as others have mentioned, the sound volume seems to be up and down and up and down and up and down. I can see how the story could be a fascinating read but listening to it is kind of like water torture. Sorry Mr. Lee but it's a no go for me. I could easily see picking up a copy of the book and reading it. In fact I probably will. I'm finding this was a waste of a credit. I wish Audible would have am exchange program so I could trade it in for something else.

There are few books that keep me up all night because I'd rather listen than sleep. Hello Harold Fry!

I listen to audiobooks when I go to bed, sometimes for an hour, sometimes half through the night. I kept falling asleep while drifting into The Night Circus. This was definitely not a bad thing. I did not fall asleep because I was bored. I fell asleep because it pulled me into a dream world which was neither fantasy nor reality but a bit of both. I would awake sometime in the night coming out of a dream hearing the wonderful narrator still reading with my cat cuddled up beside me purring. What did I miss or did I miss anything at all? I couldn't wait for the next night when I would estimate where my consciousness left me and go back to that point in the book. Sometimes I realized I went back too far and had already listened to that particular chapter. I never advanced the narration because I was so fascinated I wanted to hear it again.

When it ended and I was awake to hear it, I wanted more. I'm sure I will be listening to it again and maybe again after that. Great book. Great narrator. Mesmerizing. Give into your dreams and don't try to find faults. Just drift along and enjoy.

I had seen the rave reviews and became curious although I knew nothing about the book. After listening to the first paragraph it was love at first sight. I should note that I'm a 63 year old white gay man. I was in high school and college in the 60's but being from the Northeast, the realities of what was happening in the south during this time period was just something we talked about in Current Events or History Class. My first reading of "To Kill a Mockingbird" started opening my eyes. Then, being of the "Woodstock Generation" I wanted the world to be an all-accepting open minded paradise. It didn't take long for my ideals to become broken. I can identify so strongly with the proud black women, disenfranchised from the rest of the world, who just wanted to be treated like human beings. I essentially became one of them when I, as a gay man, expected to be treated equally and not a victim of discrimination because of my sexual orientation. The world has come a long way but it's far from the vision of peace and love we so innocently expected in the 60's and 70's.
When the book ended, I found myself seeing the world from Mae Mobley's innocence and the gut wrenching feelings of abandonment she experienced. I wanted more. I wanted a sequel. I just couldn't leave her there. But as I stayed up long into the night, I realized the ending was perfect just as it was, human beings having to take control of their own lives no matter their age or gender or situation and seeing something better in the end.
I have noticed several reviewers suggesting "The Help" replace "To Kill a Mockingbird" as required reading in school. Oh please no. "Mockingbird" was and still is a life affirming book that should be part of any school's reading program. "The Help" deserves all the praise it gets and like "Mockingbird" should be read by all. But it should never replace it. After listening to it I bought the hard cover version so that I could place in next to "Mockingbird" on my bookshelf.