"A lot of fun for an important classic"
This was a fun reading to listen to. The story is so wonderful and the characters are so important in Hindu religous life. What makes this reading fun is the quirky voice of Ram Das, and also just hearing Ram Das conjures up images of a kind of flipped out, off the grid lifestyle that I couldn't entirely separate that from the text itself. I ended up liking that, so if you want that kind of Hindu/American psychadelic juxtaposition, its a good listen for you.
"not so excited about the narrator"
definitely time well spent, its a classic and everyone should listen to it.
all of it, its a tremendous tour de force
A bit tedious to listen to. A little monochromatic
"Great listen, despite the narration"
This was my first Mankell mystery and I completely enjoyed it. I love the characters, particularly the hero detective. The narration is deadpan but you quickly stop paying attention to it as you are eager to hear what happens next. Nice integration of a bit of social commentary and a perspective about contemporary politics.
"Fun to listen to and pretty gripping!"
This is my third Mankell mystery and I have to confess that I am pretty much addicted. Sure, some things don't make sense in the end and you have to suspend disbelief here and there, but even so, you can't stop listening and I sat in my car more that once not wanting to turn off the story and get out, I just had to find out what happened next! I love the brooding self-reflective characters and its obvious that Steig Larson is a knock off of Mankell only more gruesome. Dick Hill has a rather monotone voice and it can be a little weird in the begining, but after a bit you don't react to it. I just downloaded my next Mankell mystery, I want to hear more!
"A book that changes your life"
This is a book that changes your entire orientation to living. It is beautiful, profound, and inspiring. I have read the translation that Gandhi wrote while in prison, but it is wonderful to hear this version read time and time again. It is humbling and fulfilling all at once.
"Just outstanding!"
This is a wonderful, learned talk about Buddhism, life, just about everything in the universe, that goes on seemingly forever! Others may differ, but I love Shinzen Youngs voice, its quirky, southern California and so warm and accessible. This is the second time I have listened to this set of lectures, the first on CD, and I love it even more!
"Wow!"
What an earful! The narrator's whispery, filmy voice, her fab accent, the dizzying content, its all just a big sugary earful! Anyone who fancies themselves having lived a previous life as a film noir star, or as a courtesan, or some sort of glam girl, will loooooove this book.
"How could I have failed to read this before?"
I am still trying to understand how I managed to live through the better part of my life, study philosophy as an undergrad, and yet failed to read this book. It's the ultimate guide to strategically managing your entire life, your role as an emperor, you name it. Words cannot describe. The narrator is pretty good, and doesn't distract from the content.
"So much fun to listen to!"
This was a treat, I love Gabriel Woolf, who knew he could move from the evil father Karamozov to Long John Silver, to an innocent youthful protagonist and be so perfectly able to bring them all to life! The story is wonderful and just as exciting as it was when I read it 40 years ago. Makes you want to revisit all of the classics.
"Thomas Hardy would never have wanted this narrator"
I love this book, and have loved it since I was a teenager dreaming of how Jude and I would have been soulmates, but this narrator is the worst! His deadpan, inflectionless reading of this heartrending text is unlistenable-too. I had to stop. Poor Jude, he was sounding as exciting as last year's weather report. Oh my, what a lost opportunity to bring a fantastic novel to life!