Gregor the Overlander

Underland Chronicles, Book 1

By: Suzanne Collins

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Rich in suspense and brimming with adventure, the New York Times-bestselling Underland Chronicles unfold the fate of the Underland and the great warrior, Gregor. Suzanne Collins is also the author of the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy.

When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, and cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it, until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.

©2003 Suzanne Collins (P)2005 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Collins introduces her young heroes Gregor and his little sister Boots into a wonderland....A fantastically engaging place." (Publishers Weekly)
"Collins creates a fascinating, vivid, highly original world and a superb story." (Booklist)

enjoyable story

I got this because I liked other books from the author. I think is a good story and enjoyable to listen to. May not be up there with Homer's Iliad but was enjoyable and a good story. Hoping the reset in the series are the same quality.

Overall - it's really good

The story is great and easy to follow. It has lots of action, comedy, and tugs at the heartstrings. The guy who reads it, does alright. I don't feel like his voices are the best, but he's not hard to listen too.

Incredible Story Ruined by Ghastly Narration

I've read this series numerous times and have loved every minute of it. Finally broke down and purchased the Audible versions so I could enjoy on the run. Gakk! What a mistake! There are some narrators who could make even a grocery list sound amazing (Ralph Cosham and Jim Dale, for example). Sadly, Paul Boehmer is not one of them. This is truly one of the worst performances I've run across. Emphasis is used in very strange places, as if every third word was written with an exclamation mark. Pointless dramatic pauses. Why? Why? And I'm still trying to figure out if the toddler's voice is just annoying or actually kinda creepy. (Kind of like Scratchy's voice on the Simpsons, only worse.)
I recommend the print or Kindle versions. Wholeheartedly! But skip the audio version. It's a train wreck!

Great fun!

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

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend as it is a well done story of a boy and his little sister in another world. I enjoyed both the story and its reading.

What did you like best about this story?

The interaction between Gregor and his little sister, Boots.

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

Mr. Boehmer read the book very well. He brought life to everyone and everything in the story.

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

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book, as it is written for children.

Any additional comments?

I will be purchasing the other titles in this series. I really enjoyed both the story and how the reader performed it.

easy nice read

this book may be more for tweens but I really enjoyed it as an adult. nice story!

This is not Hunger Games

Would you listen to Gregor the Overlander again? Why?

I first looked for this book because of Suzanne Collins. I thought I would listen to something similar to the Hunger games, since most reviews point toward that direction. However, it is a completely different story, with a quest which includes people from different species and beliefs even, and I would listen to it again, but this is NOT similar to The Hunger Games.

I love teen literature, and I feel most passionately about it, so I can say I liked this book very much. The story is envolving, engaging, but I didn't feel like when I read the Hunger Games. That sort of emotion you won't find with Gregor.

You will find, though, sense of family, belonging, care, tenderness, struggle and lots of adventures lived by Gregor, an 11-year- old boy who misses his father, who has disappeared for more that two years, and also, by mistake "falls" into the underland with his two-year-old sister, gets to know amazing creatures and have unimaginable experiences.

What did you like best about this story?

Boots, The little embassador, who loved with no distiction and such sweetness, that is it impossible not to love her.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

Surprizingly, he struck me most when performing Boots. If you can perform like a child so well, you can do anything.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

An amazing adventure through the underland.

Any additional comments?

Read this book with an open heart and mind.

Good story, strong performance

The narrator was good. The story was decent, but appeals best to young readers. I would recommend this book to friends.

Great story for adults and kids

What did you love best about Gregor the Overlander?

This is a compelling story and Gregor is a very likable main character. I read the books one after another and then got the audio book in hopes that my kids would listen on long car rides. They both like it, which is pretty amazing at 4 and 8. Because Gregor's little sister Boots is two, her periodic remarks are easy for kids to relate to, and add humor.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gregor the Overlander?

This whole story is very memorable. The setting makes it interesting and the issues are timeless.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

The narration was good. I often find it difficult initially to get used to the narration, because it's not what I am expecting, but it is actually perfect in that it does not get in the way of the story, it just delivers it. He does just enough changing of his voice for each character that it helps with the tracking.

Any additional comments?

This is a book the whole family can enjoy. My husband is enjoying it as much as I did. I highly recommend it for family trips.

Enjoyable

This was an enjoyable book. The characters were interesting. The narrators performance was also well done.

SO GOOD

I love the story and characters it so intriguing just to good like bro