Cathleen

This book was a strange choice for me,(I didn't know Card, and rarely read Sci Fi) but I was browsing, and chanced upon it. For some unknown reason, it intrigued me, so I tried it.
It was, then, to my utter astonishment, that Ender, and his story, somehow catapaulted within me to earn a place on my list of all time favorites!(Lit major,former teacher,I've read a bunch).
The story itself is a good one, but I think that, it is its unraveling, that speaks to one's soul.

But to experience all the depth and wonder of the series, you must start here. Card himself admits, that he basically wrote this book to set the stage for the next one, which is "Speaker for the Dead"(my favorite...so far)
I encourage you, even if you don't usually read this type of book to try it.

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, waiting for audible to offer "Xenocide",(the sequel to Speaker), and hopelessly addicted to Ender's story, I wandered on to listen to the others in the series. I actually READ "Ender's Shadow", because I didn't want an abridgement (I craved every single word!). I thought that these other books would have little impact on me, since Ender's character is only a peripheral element.

Was I wrong!
In the "Shadow" series, like the peeling of an onion, Card reveals layer after layer of the characters he creates in this book, and I found myself caring as much about them as I did about Ender.

I understand that Card is in the process of writing a book about Ender's mother.(As is probably obvious, I became obsessed with Ender, and had to find out everything I possibly could.) Before I read the "Shadow" series, I thought, "Who would want to read a book about Ender's mother?" Now I know the answer: ME.
If you start with "Ender's Game",and then go on to the others in the series, I think the answer might also be YOU!

Under the guise of a fun filled comic book adventure, lies the story of a young boy struggling with his sexuality. In a country, that we must remember was first settled by Puritans,and 400 years later still cannot rid itself of the disdain it continues to show towards sex in general. Add to that the idea, that sex in question may not be what we consider "normal", and most people still tend to react extremely poorly.
Let me get off my soapbox here, and just say this is a thoroughly engaging hero, that while enjoying all his adventures, we might even learn something on a deeper level. Don't be afraid to read this book. With all due respect to other readers who have a right to have their opinion, do not be afraid to confront masturbation. This is after all a book for teens. I personally found the way Mr. Moore presented the scene rather "innocent".

Read this book, have your kids read it, have your grandkids read it and then "talk about it". I intend to buy a bunch of written copies and hand them out.

This is an incredible book. Enjoy!

I have never been a fan of gothic novels...and after listening to this for about 15 minutes, I wondered why I had gone against my intial instincts, and purchased this book . If I had actually been reading this,(instead of listening) at this point it would have been tossed! What a tragedy that would have been! For I would have missed the chance to be transported into Vida Winter's world. Like Margaret, for me the story took over, and I found my self unable to stop listening. Margaret herself grabbed hold of me, for I, too, understood her love of stories. When I finished it, I knew I had to hear it again, because now that I knew the story, I wanted to listen to the words and visualize the beautiful imagery that Ms. Setterfield created.(and besides I wasn't quite ready to let these characters go...)
Barnes and Noble has created the word, "unputdownable" for this new book club they have created. I heartily concur! This particular delicacy is meant to be savored. Enjoy...

In reading the reviews, I was hesitant to buy this book as I was afraid I would be disappointed, but I decided to buy this book for three reasons.
1.) I liked the characters from the first book and I just wanted to spend some time with them again.
2.) Living in and around the Philly area for my whole life, I love this city, and I really like how the author makes the city another character in this book.
3.) Most important! It is read by Scott Brick and his interpretation (at least for me)could turn the phone book into a thriller! :)

Anyway, the point of all this, is that I did enjoy it. The outcome is somewhat predictable if you listen to a lot of thrillers, but not totally.
I hate to admit this to all my fellow audible readers, because my "Sherlock Skills" are generally accurate, but I think, because I wasn't expecting too much, I fell right into the trap he laid! I couldn't believe he got me!

Finder writes the plot,and Brick interprets it. I just go along for the rollercoaster experience, only to find myself barely able to hold on , but unable and unwilling to get off. The giddy sensation of surviving the experience actually makes me smile...hope it does for you, too!

I found this book, because I listen to all books read by Scott Brick. Well, having been born and bred in a small suburb outside of Phila....what a treat this book was! For me, the city of Phila became a character in this book and I loved that I could actually visualize the settings, because for the most part, I had actually been there at one time or another. But fear not, even if you are not a Philly native, this story's great, and Scott Brick as always is AMAZING! I found the story so intriguing, I went out and bought the hardcover for my husband who could not put it down.

I have to say, that audible has allowed me to experience amazing stories that I would have never thought of reading. This is another exciting find. This is true storytelling...the stuff of adult fairytales. It is true, that the beginning is a tad confusing, and if i had been reading it, i probably would have deemed it just too entangled to go on, and would have tossed it aside. But this is what is so great about listening...you can just sit back and allow the narrator to do all the work. And he is TERRIFIC!!! I did go back and re-listen to the first CD, but only after I finished the book and It did make so much more sense. What's so great about this series is , you don't have to wait for the next part. It's right there and as soon as I finish this , I am going to jump right in.

Note the word CONTINUES. This is a wonderful book, if you have fallen in love, as I have, with these characters. My suggestion is to read "Ender's Game"...then "Ender's Shadow"...then proceed to this book. "Speaker for the Dead"(my personal favorite), although an amazing book in itself does not need to be read to thoroughly enjoy this one.
What I find so fascinating is, how Card, thru these sequels and/or parallels, takes characters that you thought you understood and knew, and gives them dimension and substance, that of course, you didn't know, because he never told you. I personally have alway enjoyed his characterizations, more than the story, but because Card makes me care about the characters so much, I then care what happens to them, hence the story then becomes important. I always listen twice to each book, because he tends to foreshadow so much that I sometimes "miss" things the first time around.
If you haven't at least read "Ender's Shadow", don't read this! You have to know and love, or know and hate these characters for the full savoring of this amazing "world" that Card has created for us.
Now for me, with excitement and anticipation, it is on to "Shadow Puppets". I can only imagine its delights. I hope your journey is as delicious as mine!

As much as I enjoyed Ender's Game, I loved this book more. I liked the action of Ender's Game, but it was the inner conflicts and thoughts of his character that I really enjoyed. (Card made me really care about Ender and what happened to him.) It is just this kind of intimacy that I think is the core of this book. It has such emotional intensity with a transcendant spirituality,that made me want to "inhale" this book. I found myself just sitting in my car long after I had reached my destination just to complete another chapter. This book grabbed me and flung me on the roller coaster of its message, and I didn't want to ever get off.