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.

Horrible performance

The voice is so slow and so deep that I had to play the book at 1.25 speed.

So discriptive!

I at first struggled. I felt like he said allot but said nothing to many words . The further into it I got I began to see his words were so descriptive in order to transport us to Columbia, to feel as if you are a fly on the wall.

Can’t stand to have the narrator unable to pronounce any Spanish

This is a great story but I could not get over how the narrator doesn’t have the most basic Spanish sounds! If this had been a French translation I bet every reader would have complain about a narrator with no basic French
I wished I had a written copy so I could understand what places he was talking about

Insulted by the narrator's performance

What did you like best about The Sound of Things Falling? What did you like least?

The story was fascinating and well told.The narration was an insult, particularly to Latinos (I am Hispanic). Mr. Vendetti couldn't be bothered to learn the correct way to pronounce Spanish names, places and words? I can't believe that the editors at Audible would approve such a dismal performance.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Mike Vendetti?

I've listened to literally hundreds of narrators on Audible. When I buy a book, I never really pay attention to the narrator, because they have consistently been terrific. Lesson learned. I'll preview the book before purchasing and NEVER purchase one that has Mike Vendetti as the narrator.

Horrendous pronunciation!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The Narrator. Horrendous pronunciation! This book was written in Spanish and you would think that the narrator could have at least learned how to pronounce the names of the main characters and the cities in which this story takes place. As a native English speaker but fluent in Spanish, I found it hard to understand what he was even talking about. Pathetic.

Disappointed!

Sorry but I expected more details about the birth of drug trafficking. I hate to complain but this book was so much worse for me because of the narration. First of all, it was taped at a volume lower than my next book. Worse was the laid back voice of the narrator. He had a nice deep voice but inappropriate for this text. My mind would wonder off because the reading showed no enthusiasm, just monotone. I expected a Spanish accented voice. I found that I had to change the speaking speed to 1.5 on my iPhone to listen and stay awake. Sorry but I did not enjoy this and could not wait to get finished to have it behind me.

The worst reading of a good book

What did you like best about The Sound of Things Falling? What did you like least?

A deeply felt, human story winding its way through the period of Colombia'a drug war, without taking the route of assassins, bloody violence or druglord sagas.

What didn’t you like about Mike Vendetti’s performance?

Where do I start? The narrator had no pacing, sense of timing, pauses between chapters, paragraphs, or subjects. His pronunciation in ENGLISH was horrendous (couldn't seem to handle "th" sounds, or any words of three syllables or more.) Let alone his mangling of Spanish place names and words. Honestly, the worst reading I've ever encountered -- almost laughable, except it was so excruciating.

Was The Sound of Things Falling worth the listening time?

Yes, which shows how good the book was, even while handicapped by the reading.

Any additional comments?

A new, quality production is needed -- the book deserves it. In the meantime, read it in print.

Intriguing Story, totally deficient reader

What did you like best about The Sound of Things Falling? What did you like least?

Slow paced, I think deliberately like the country of Colombia. Even though nothing much happens, you get carried along by the thoughts of the main character

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He sounded like a robot, couldn't pronounce English words correctly, let alone Spanish.

Any additional comments?

Audible should pull this book from it's catalog until it can be re-recorded by a competent reader.

The Great Columbian Novel for Gen X?

Wow.
Great story, weaving through time--personal and political histories in Columbia since the 1960s. Wonderfully written, left me wanting to read more about Columbian history. Issues relate to to our world today.
Performance was good, too.
I did not want the story to end.

Good Story All But Ruined by Narrator

Narrator Mike Vendetti destroys the prose in this book, with his harsh mid-Western American accent and inability to pronounce even the most basic Spanish words and Colombian cities correctly. He didn’t even try. How could the producers choose such an inappropriate narrator for this particular book. It’s infuriating. I started and stopped listening so many times. There was no one better suited to reading this book? It sounds like a cold, bitter Wilford Brimley. Extremely off putting.