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

Unusual tail (umm, tale) of old, age bull

This is one more of the unusual stories I have listened too lately. The author has a distinct prose that vascilates between the poetic and the bestial, to which the actor produces a fine performance. I found the story itself to be a bit mundane at times, although it was precisely that mundanety that he was probably trying to communicate about a mythological being who has seen better days and is now exhausted by the length of time. Although it was interesting to begin with, I found myself getting bored by it all. I think this is a tale for people with an interest in mythology, but not necissarily everyday fantasy.

Expected more

Expected more from this story. I enjoy Neil Gaiman's books and was expecting a little more of the quirky humor and imagination related to the minatours existence. Basicall he's a shy line cook with a speech impedimant and the story goes through 2 weeks of his life and him dealing with being awkward in relationships.

Great book.

What did you love best about The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel?

the story has been stuck in my head for many years, since I heard a review of it on NPR I think... I read it and for some reason, loved it.

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

Not sure if there is any comparison, because the main character is basically immortal, elementally symbolic, part animal, part man, which is what makes him so fascinating. There aren't many stories like that.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

His voice is at times a little melodramatic, but he's a thing of Greek myth, so it's fitting. Other times, his voice is down home country American. Again, it's fitting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

At one point, we are told that the Minotaur doesn't like to talk, because he's embarassed of his voice, so he does alot of expressive grunting and one syllable responses. Talking isn't his thing, but he's very good at understanding others, expert at fixing things and mechanic work. He's afraid of dogs and avoids confrontation, but his character has the power to take out anybody he wants. Love it.

Any additional comments?

Great book I read over and over again.

Hat off to the narrator

What did you love best about The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel?

How did Holter Graham narrate this tale without bursting out laughing every few seconds. The story was so so for me, although the idea was quite original, but the narration was awesome!!!

different

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the humanity of the story, and the reactions of the humans to him... I

What does Holter Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

good grunts

Changed my mind

I bought this book a couple of years ago. I listened to about 30 minutes and gave up on it. Then I decided to give it another shot. I was wrong this is a great book and the minotaur was a great character. I hoped for a darker ending.

A touch of magical realism is good for you

If you could sum up The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel in three words, what would they be?

Hopeful mythical realism

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

I think its the growing sense of horror that comes from the last chapters as the minotaur's life spirals once again from his immortal grasp and looks to spiral into disaster. What follows is so touchingly hopeful that it remains with you for some time.

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

When i don't notice a man doing a woman's voice I know the narrator is good. when he does it perfectly

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

It would either be M himself, because this being would be a wonder to behold or it would have to be sweet, gullible Kelly.

A great story

A great story. Of course I felt sorry for the Minotaur. Nice that he might get a happy ending. I enjoyed the reader, he did a lovely job. Very nice job by the author.

unique

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

Quirky charachters

What did you like best about this story?

Great descriptions. Good dialogue.

Have you listened to any of Holter Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Any additional comments?

Sometimes became a bit too poetic, though I enjoy that when reading,, can be difficult to follow when listening to an audio books .

A bit of a plodder

There is nothing inherently wrong with this novel. You may really enjoy it. It just wasn't to my taste. At times while I was listening to this book I thought to myself 'I don't really like this book'. I'm a keen reader of books on the art of writing and so I really wanted to work out why I didn't like it. It's cohesive and obviously written with skill but I felt the descriptions to be overworked. So much so that they really made an already slow pace even slower. I can appreciate that this is a device to emphasise the Minotaur's frame of mind, his difficulty with articulating his thoughts and feelings but I prefer a lighter touch.
I loved Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" and Susanna Clarke's "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" and for me what makes them great is the combination of humour and seriousness.