The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel

By: Steven Sherrill

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Award-winning author, narrator, and screenwriter Neil Gaiman personally selected this book, and, using the tools of the Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), cast the narrator and produced this work for his audiobook label, Neil Gaiman Presents.

A few words from Neil on The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: "When Steve and I talked about the ideal voice for M, he suggested Holter Graham….because 'Holter’s handling of the Minotaur’s grunt was PERFECT. Exactly what I heard in my head.'"

Five thousand years out of the Labyrinth, the Minotaur finds himself in the American South, living in a trailer park and working as a line cook at a steakhouse. No longer a devourer of human flesh, the Minotaur is a socially inept, lonely creature with very human needs. But over a two-week period, as his life dissolves into chaos, this broken and alienated immortal awakens to the possibility for happiness and to the capacity for love. "Sherrill also insinuates other mythological beasts - the Hermaphroditus, the Medusa - into the story, suggesting how the Southern landscape is shadowed by these myths. The plot centers around the Minotaur's feelings for Kelly, a waitress who is prone to epileptic fits. Does she reciprocate his affections? As the reader might expect, the course of interspecies love never does run smooth." (Publishers Weekly) Steven Sherrill created the artwork used for the audiobook edition of The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break.

To hear more from Neil Gaiman on The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break, click here, or listen to the introduction at the beginning of the book itself.

Learn more about Neil Gaiman Presents and Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX).

©2000 Steven Sherrill (P)2011 John F. Blair Publisher

The mundane made magical

Any additional comments?

An unusual, whimsical twist on the most ordinary human existence. Thought-provoking and well crafted.

Fantastic beings in a mundane world

Where does The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very good.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel?

The junk yard scene where M had an encounter with another ancient predator.

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

The grunts. Very well acted.

A fun read

I enjoyed reading this book. The minotaur? An unusual and appealing character. Yes, I've known people who did not use a lot of words. And people who have a past they would just-as-soon forget, and who are very neat and tidy with their things as a kind of protective ritual. The loneliness of living 5000 years, of outliving one's friends so many times was touching. The voice of the Minotaur--mostly expressive grunts was right on. The ending was a little weak for my taste, but I had a good time getting there--sometimes, that's enough.

Amazing

Never expected to be haunted (in the best way) by the presence of a Minotaur. But even though I listened to this book months ago, I still find myself thinking about M. What amazing character development. And narrated perfectly. When will the next Minotaur book come to audible? 🙏

Everyman

What made the experience of listening to The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel the most enjoyable?

The Premise of the story was great. I think that everyone has felt like the Minotaur at some time in their life.

What other book might you compare The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel to and why?

Maybe catcher in the rye or even twilight. There is an element of wanting so bad too fit in but feeling that you can't because you are too different but the truth is we are all unique

Which character – as performed by Holter Graham – was your favorite?

The Minotaur because he could not speak. I think we've all had times when we wanted so badly to express something and could not.

If you could take any character from The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Probably mr grubb he seemed like the nicest most
Non judgmental person. Also he seemed like a great boss who doesn't wish they had that

Any additional comments?

I bought it because I thought it would be funny but it actually was very touching and it made me feel less lonely. Which I am sure a lot of people feel at times even when you are actually surrounded by a lot of people who care like the Minotaur was

Alton Brown's Favorite, but Not Mine

This wasn't a bad book, but not what I was expecting. There is no fantasy fiction here, just a common, if not mundane, life of fictional being living in (non-fictional) modern times.

There isn't anything particular that stands out from this book; much of it is simply the minotaur trying to get by in a today's world. He's not special, nor is his existence.

An interesting book; one that made me keep thinking about it after I was finished, but not one I would readily or heartily recommend to someone.

Left me depressed

It was mostly a story of a sad existence. I was really hoping for more of a cozy read but this wasn't it. A lot of people love this story but I've had my fill out tragic monster stories.

Excellent Reader!

Not much happens in this novel but i felt so bad about the poor besotted Minotaur i had to stop listening a couple of times. It was entertaining if you remember your greek mythology… as some of the other creatures appear briefly!

Like Charles Portis with a bit more fantasy

After letting it languish in my wish list for months, I heard Alton Brown recommend this book and decided that was all the push I needed to dive in. I'm glad I did.

Listening to the Minotaur, I was reminded of the work of another of my favorite authors, Charles Portis (best known for True Grit, but all five of his novels are winners). Sherrill's meandering narrative, steady rhythm and low-key Southern brand of humor share a lot with Portis.

In some ways, I see the Minotaur as a meditation on masculinity--both its lighter and darker sides. The author certainly doesn't bombard you with sweeping generalizations, but when he does make the occasional broad observation on the male psyche, I found little to argue with.

My criticisms are few, and mostly inconsequential to my enjoyment of the book. More curiosities than complaints. The Minotaur's workplace, Grub's Rib, is initially sketched out as a greasy roadside BBQ joint, but in later chapters seems to feel more like a trendy haute cuisine establishment. The time setting feels a little inconsistent as well--early on, I felt like there were clear indications that the book takes place in the early 90's, but later details seem to contradict this. I suppose, given the Minotaur's foggy recollection of his own five millenia on the Earth, this kind of thing can be forgiven--perhaps is even intentional.

These are minor issues, though--in fact, they're the kinds of things I only notice when a book draws me in. Holter Graham's narration is excellent, accentuating the Minotaur's taciturn grunts, the varied drawls of his co-workers, and the epicurean appeal of the fare they serve up.

Highly Recommended

The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break begins with a brief introduction by Neil Gaiman who selected and produced the novel as an audiobook. There is a sort of unwritten guarantee accompanying anything from Neil that there will be great attention to detail and quality. There is no question that the writing and narration are superb. They both flow beautifully. Yet, somehow Neil almost seems shy as he introduces the book, perhaps like it is something being offered from one friend to another with some uncertainty about how it will be received. And as I listened, my emotional response varied.

Overall, Steven Sherrill wrote a story with tremendous tenderness. There is the Minotaur, broken from a very long lifetime of troubles that he cannot even remember, but that have affected him deeply. As he works daily to fill his existence with meaning, he mostly does okay, but his mistakes stand out keenly in his mind. He experiences cruelty, and misunderstanding often, but also mercy. He has a desire for faith, but not a lot of hope after millennia of disappointment. However, there is still enough in him that he is capable of trust and of seeing good. These elements create a sort of sympathetic and gentle tone.

This book addresses themes of loneliness and the connections that humans make through sexuality. Those connections range from the herd mentality of groups of boys teasing someone, to the connections made through relationships and the varying degrees of intimacy present in them. While there is a lot of tenderness, there are clearly disturbing aspects of sexuality, some of which are addressed in this book. I felt assaulted by the descriptions of pornography, though I am not sure if that was the authors intent, or simply my reaction. There were also some other passages that disturbed me mildly, but that I became okay with as I saw how they fit into the story and the themes of the book.

By the end, I was more impressed than disturbed and I do recommend this book, but not to my parents, and not to teenagers.