The Sound of Things Falling

By: Juan Gabriel Vasquez

Narrated by: Mike Vendetti

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Juan Gabriel Vsquez has been hailed not only as one of South America’s greatest literary stars, but also as one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation. In this gorgeously wrought, award-winning novel, Vsquez confronts the history of his home country, Colombia.

In the city of Bogot, Antonio Yammara reads an article about a hippo that had escaped from a derelict zoo once owned by legendary Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The article transports Antonio back to when the war between Escobar’s Medelln cartel and government forces played out violently in Colombia’s streets and in the skies above. Back then, Antonio witnessed a friend’s murder, an event that haunts him still. As he investigates, he discovers the many ways in which his own life and his friend’s family have been shaped by his country’s recent violent past. His journey leads him all the way back to the 1960s and a world on the brink of change: a time before narco-trafficking trapped a whole generation in a living nightmare.

Vsquez is “one of the most original new voices of Latin American literature” according to Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, and The Sound of Things Falling is his most personal, most contemporary novel to date, a masterpiece that takes his writing - and will take his literary star - even higher.

©2012 Juan Gabriel Vasquez (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A Novel Set in Colombia Should Be Narrated by Someone Familiar with Spanish Pronunciation

I downloaded this book to learn more about Colombia, as I am ghostwriting the autobiography of an ex-pat who lived there for more than 40 years. For this purpose, The Sound of Things Falling was adequate, as it included many references to real people, places, and events. However, I was distracted by the narrator, who read with an upper Midwest (Minnesota? Wisconsin?) accent and seemed to struggle to pronounce the Spanish words sprinkled throughout. It is one thing to stumble over phrases that may be unfamiliar to most American readers, but it is really bad when you can't even pronounce one of the characters' names the same way twice in a row.

Sonorous voice sad compelling story

This novel sucked me in. I marveled at the writer’s use of language and his ability to cram such truth about the human condition into one sentence.

Good story, well told.

This audiobook is easy to follow and also tells a good story using delicate language at times.

Great narrator

The narrator is great, even his squirmy Spanish is somewhat lovely. The translation gives Vásquez a Belowish tone he doesn't necessarily have in Spanish. It's a good book, steady rhythm, stable masculinity.

Excellent read; narration lacking

This was a deeply personal story of a difficult time in Colombian recent history. Vendetti’s skills as a reader are obvious; however he was a poor choice for this novel. His lack of Spanish pronunciation of places and other Spanish words detracted from this reader’s enjoyment. I find it shocking that he did not put in te necessary effort to learn proper pronunciation of the words he was reading and that Audible accepted and published the performance In spite of this shortcoming. Nevertheless, it was a fascinating read and an excellent view of some of the complexities of contemporary life in Colombia.

Poetry Triumphs Over Inept Reading

Poetic and perceptive observation, poetic exploration of relationships, and confirmation that random happenstance can provoke relentless patterns of cause and effect. Some mysteries are pursued and solved; the most important questions, perhaps, remain appropriately elusive.

I loved the book-- but loathed the narration. Would have much preferred reading it to listening to this poor rendering.

This project was terribly conceived !!!

I was so very excited about hearing this novel after glowing reviews on BBC radio.

The narrator Mike Vendetti sounds like he is a Policeman from a Philip Marlowe novel. He as much animation as if he were reading a phone book. Worse he so mangles the Spanish names. Who was in charge of producing this?

I will opt to read this book!!

Narrator makes book or book makes narrator

What did you love best about The Sound of Things Falling?

the combination of the narrator and the prose make it a perfect listen

Who was your favorite character and why?

no favorite characters but Elenor Fritz because of Mike's pronunciation and the sonerous way that her husband kept saying it made her memorable. The author doesn't realize her fully and her motives for her abrupt return to the US and then her return when her husband summons her doesn't work

What about Mike Vendetti’s performance did you like?

Her captured the mood and voice of the author perfectly. The prose is poetic and sinister, the story romantic and yet ominous and bleak, it's a mirror of the dense jungles and mountainous terrain of Colombia and it's all there in his performance. I listen to the book again just to hear him read it.

If you could rename The Sound of Things Falling, what would you call it?

Slouching toward Byzantine --the book is reminiscent of the Yeats poem in its bleakness and beauty and about the end of things, a culture, a people, love.

Any additional comments?

Perfect audible experience

Ditto all previous criticism of narrator

The narrator showed no evidence of having practiced before narrating this book. And it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because he was terrible in every one of the ways described by prior reviewers.
What would be an improvement over this narrator? How about a parrot raised in a Spanish household.

La vida de los colombianos en los años 70

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Este libro es escrito por un Colombiano, que nunca habia oido antes, pero que tiene un estilo similar a Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Si, te hace recordar los años que vivimos de 1970 hasta los 90. Fueron tiempos dificiles, la muerte de tanta gente inocente por una persona que cambio su alma por un puñado de oro y poder. Pablo Escobar ha sido una de las peores personas colombianas y que no entiendo el porque la gente mira su pelicula en Netflix.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Antonio, el abogado de 26 años que nacio en 1970 y aunque no vivio nada de esa violencia conocio a Ricardo Laverde un Piloto que habia pasado 20 años en prision y que la relacion con el le cambio su vida por completo. Esta epoca cambio la vida de muchas personas, Ricardo, su hija, su familia y no solo lo de ellos, los de muchas familias colombianas.

Which scene was your favorite?

Todo el libro en general es interesante, bien escrito.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Me llevo al pasado, recorde la cantidades de veces que mataron personas en las heladerias de la 70, en la Macarena de Medellin, la explotada del avion de Avianca, los periodistas y jueces matados por orden de Escobar un tipo sin alma. Las matazones que se hicieron por personas en motos. Yo y mi familia fuimos de buenas nunca estuvimos en el lugar equivocado en esa epoca, unque todos seguimos viviendo nuestras vidas normales pero con precaucion y nadie de ellos se metio en las drogas.

Any additional comments?

El audio tiene problemas, no fue bien editado. Me hubiera gustado oir el libro en Español, pero no lo encontre en audibles. Y yo practicamente no leo.