Doc: A Novel

We are listening to "Doc" and the combination of great writing and a gifted narrator equals an amazing experience. This book is an example of how a well written book can be elevated to heights that cannot be reached by just reading the written word. Congratulations to the author for having such elite writing skills and to the narrator and his perfect voice. Thank you.

Mary Doria Russell does it again with another detailed absorbing tale. The narration was excellent and really brought the story to life.

I loved this book! I'm a big fan of "LONESOME DOVE" and I enjoyed this one just as much. This book is very different, but still, a western. A GOOD western is a rare thing! This is a good one.

The narrator is so good I have been searching for other books he's done. He is a new find too!

5 stars for the book and the narrator.

This was so much more than just GREAT, a thoroughly readable, (OK, listenable,) book that adhered to the verifiable historical facts, even when those facts put our hero in a not so heroic light...Excellent!

I have always admired Mary Doria Russell's writing and was not disappointed with this latest story of Doc. She brings a depth of character to Doc from her imagination and paints pictures with words that make you able to visualize the place, time and character of the people in Doc's life. The reader Mark Bramhall, makes the story come alive. His ability to play the part of each of the characters is very good. I will pay attention to other books he reads. It is a turn-off to have a reader that sounds false when portraying, for instance, females. Mr. Bramhall is believable and non-offending.

This is a fantastic audio book - the writing is wonderful and the performanc makes it all the better.

Although I'm not a western fan this author (and narrator) have brought the characters to life so well that I truly believe I know and like them. Hate to have it end but want to solve the mystery.

Most of the reviews on here point out how deep and well fleshed-out the characters are in this book. They're right. The characters are AMAZING. If all you want is a period piece with interesting Western characters and nothing more, then this is your book. As for the story.... NOTHING HAPPENS! Well, things happen, but nothing that's all that entertaining. Some people get sick... some people play the piano well... some people drink and play cards.... and I fall asleep! Are you serious? How do you take two iconic characters like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, and manage to make them THIS BORING?? Somehow, it was possible, because Russell did it.

Narrator is very good.

Bottom line, if you like Old West stories about places like Dodge City, and you don't mind if the story truly goes nowhere, then this is for you. As a pure character piece, this book is wonderful. However, I need a great story in order to enjoy a period piece like this.

Doc was recommended highly and since I'm not much into Westerns, I hesitated, yet so pleased I stepped into the world of Dodge City. I was quickly ensconced in the lives of Doc Holiday, Kate, the Earp Brothers and a cast of characters so vividly described by the author, it was like I stepped back in time.
Mary Doria Russell has an exceptional writing talent of depicting the characters and locations so that one feels as though you are visiting Western towns of the late 1800's with the likes of cowpokes, saloons and small town activities all the while demonstrating events which influenced John Henry Holiday's life.

There are too many memorable moments within this novel to note which makes this book so wonderful! You just need to experience for yourself!

Mark Bramhall compliments the story by capturing a slow Georgia drawl while easily transitioning to an Irish brogue or female Hungarian dialect. His gasping for air as he read of the ongoing coughing spells plagued by Doc Holiday emphasized the pain and torment experienced every day in the life of this young man.

It is rare when a novel comes along where I wish life's surroundings would stop and allow me to just participate in another world and Doc is one of those books.

A true enjoyment!

I was very impressed with the story and the narration. Something for almost anyone in this book, western history, American history, romance, philosophy and a lot of truth. I was particularly taken by the writers knowledge on the truth about the civil war (although the book only just touches on the civil war) - she has obviously not fallen for the politically correct data on the subject.