Rosa

Nay~ not time well-spent. I have to admit that the only reason I continued listening was because I paid for it and because the narrator was FANTASTIC. I also want to give credit where its due: Sherrill's prose, overall writing style, and wordsmithing are well honed. At times I truly enjoyed his sentence structure and descriptions... BUT~ this story didn't go anywhere. After 4 hours and 49 minutes, I had to stop. It's a dull story overall. I really don't understand where all the praise comes from. This will be the first audiobook I was unable to finish. I even made it through Amanda Ronconi's nasal-y, whiny, exaggerated Alaskan accent in How to flirt with a Naked Werewolf (not my usual book, but it was part of a girl's bookclub).

I cannot speak for the back half of the book, but the front half of it is a sad, and dull story of a minotaur living in an old backwards town, living in a trailer, going to his job (cook in a local restaurant), fixing his car, having the desire to speak but not ever doing it, and overall letting life wash over him as he craves human interaction that he can't quite have. It's depressing at best... At first I thought the book would have many more mythological references with fun modern twists (it didn't), and then I thought: well maybe it's a study on human interaction and what we take for granted in our social rituals (that didn't seem to develop). The I thought... hmm, perhaps the author is using this is a criticism on how poorly we treat outcasts or some such (nay, the reprimand never came). Then finally I decided: the author just wants to tell a sad tale, about a lonely, boring individual, with no real aspirations, phantom hopes, and an unstable life and background that kept him (and will keep him) on the road to more eternal nothingness. That's when I came back to Audible to find my next book. Goodbye

I don't think I will...

This narrator does an excellent job with what could be a very monotonous story. His voices and grunts and tone were the highlight of those 4+ hours.

I was disappointed in this book. I wanted to love it because Neil Gaiman recommended it. I gave it 3 starts overall because the narrator deserves credit (and the author forges a good paragraph even if the story is boring).

This book is well performed, and overall, I found the book interesting; however, I don't know that the story really lends itself to an audio performance. I found myself wanting to pick up the book myself, and to actually read it (there's interesting tidbits that you almost want to re-read a page or two back and/or flip back through as you encounter more information).

All in all, it was time well spent, and it kept me interested, but perhaps for this book, and for my personality, I needed to actually hold it and read it to enjoy it.

The amazing way which everything was neatly tied together. All the complex threads and stories and lives that were entwined raveled and unraveled beautifully. You are left extremely satisfied after two decades of waiting for the final chapter.

As far as an epic story and adventures NOTHING compares. I'm sorry~ nothing. I am left with a small depression... a bitter sweet goodbye of a world that I will miss. My heart aches knowing that I will not be part of he fourth age. I will miss the struggle between the Seanchan and the Aes Sedai. I will not see the Black Tower grow in its rightful place. I will not be privy to the new and beautiful bond between men & women that can channel. I am left in agony over never knowing how the Aiel take their place in the world. I have SO much regret that the stories are over... I've never felt a sense of loss so keenly from a book or a series. I know there are no beginnings or endings to the turning of the wheel... but this is "an" ending. RIP Robert Jordan. And Thank you Brandon Sanderson for taking up the flag. Love you both.

As always~ Egwene's battles and fights enthrall me. Without spoilers I can say that any of the scenes where she faces off against her enemies make my heart beat faster. As her emotion and indignance at the shadow grows, her power climaxes. It's simply exhilarating

Gosh~ I don't know if words could convey... perhaps something simple: There are no beginnings or endings to the turning of the wheel of time.

NARRATION: Top notch. Michael Kramer and Kate Reading make this story come alive. I will miss their voices floating in my apartment living room.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I will once again repeat my horrible sense of loss. I can't believe it's over. Like a petulant, greedy child, I want more. I do not want to lose this world I've come to know so well. How does one let go of something so precious?

The flow of the story was seamless... the transition between the women kept the story moving fluidly. The story is compelling and it touches on a very serious and not-so-far-removed history. It's bold and it's one of those books that help you grow as a person.

The accents!! Simply fantastic... the narrators brought these women to life in a way that I could not have done myself! A+ to the cast.