James

Tried to listen to while traveling a long trip. Both my son and I found the early parts of the book seemingly discombobulated and turrned book off. Concievably we did not have a situation foor sufficient focus as the early parts of the book has multiple features linked to establish the story. I know the film -- that was great but seemed much more focused than the book. Conrad is a genius and likely the listener needs a quiet environment to focus on the story's linkages. My guess is that all gets well tied together in a sophisticated way by the stories end. The movied was powerful. Likely the book is also if finished.

Patton really makes Burke's books sing. His inflections, delivery and ability to audibly capture the author's descriptive nuances and characteristics of the personalities through audible representations is genius. Patton is Burke's gift from god. The story is of course up to Burke's great abilities as a story teller with lifesized characters and beautifully descriptive prose. Burke and Patton are joined at the art.

Patton's readings of all Burke's novels completes the author's art. Those reading of Burke's stories by other readers just do not have the same great rendering of the story nor especially the characters and environmental descriptions. I now only purchase Burke's novels with Patton's readings. Patton's timing, accent, expressiveness and ability to transfer written nuances in to speech is awesome. I have all of Burke's novels read by Patton and a couple by others read by others, the latter of which I just turn off after 15 minutes. With Patton's reaadings, I just can not stop listening to Burke's stories until they finish, and then I always wish there were more to go.

If it is a Burke novel and a Patton readking, that is the deal of the century in my opinion. If you like mystery novels with characters etched in life and themes which hold that attention. this team is for you..

Incredible story unfolded in a sophisticated mannner. The speaker is superb. Requires undistracted listening. Reflects on various aspects of the human condition. The parallel them with the movie Apocalypse now is obvious. A great movie. A great book.

Interesting story. However, the narrator has a whiny sing-song voice which is not appropriate for this type of mystery tail. The narration voice is a major negative for this audible book, in my opinion.

The opening lines and narration had me feeling at first that I might have errored in this purchase -- a hokey factor? -- but that was not the case. But, I was completely wrong -- it is for me that the beginning/intro simply captures youth naivete. The story is excellent! It is spellbinding and moves through a long period of WWII in a superb manner tying story elements, personalities, and personal development together. Many parallel themes are linked. Many interesting personalities illuminate the times of WWII. A very long book -- and the narration kept my attention fully, always anxious to hear the next part. Brilliant is perhaps the best way to describe this book with its rare glimps as many culture and many life and cultural themes. Outstanding! The narrator also shows incredible command of the different participants voices. The Japanese are not pitched in a good light, but it is story and history explained, some lessons there -- such may offend some, but half a century later the J. culture is different. The current Japanese culture and people are still at the top of my favorites. Talent everywhere in this book.

In my opinion: Badly written and poorly expressed audibly, This novel is to be avoided. I have experience may well read and interesting books on audible.com but this is not one of those.

Excellently written. Well defined characters. Well developed plot.

I was unaware of what a good write this man is.