Freddy and Fredericka

It was weird, beautiful, and funny. I listened to much of it hiking alone through the Sierra Nevada, which is strangely appropriate. (Why I might think it strangely appropriate to listen to a comic novel about a mythical Prince and Princess of Wales while hiking through a pristine American forest will only become apparent after reading the book.) I finished it a week ago, and it still hangs on. There were times it seemed overly repetitive, overly long, overly repetitive, and overly long but that is part of what makes it so hypnotic. It feels more like a dream that I've woken from rather than something I've just listened to. Then again, maybe that was the forest. Anyway, Its really worth a try, because however overlong you may find it, it is still beautiful and strange and funny, or so says Mr. Neil (who you may look up if you have a 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica) Yes, now that I think about it, I liked it quite a bit. How often do you get to dream that you are the Prince (or Princess) of Wales? God save Mark Helprin!

I admit it, I?m easier on audio books than printed ones because I tend to use them while occupying myself ?doing something else? but I?ve never listened to one twice before. This is fabulous. I highly recommend it for humor, fun and plain old smart stupid wit. It?s a romp and a pun and a mockery of everything dull. As an aside, if you haven?t listened to ?dr. strange and mister norrel? I also recommend that. These are two books I have gone out and bought in print after the audio. That (for me, the cheapest of the cheap) is a rarity.Get it, listen to it, lighten up and enjoy a fairy tale of america.

After listening to the first forty-five minutes, I thought it was just going to be subtle, boring, and looong. I gave it a bit more of a chance though, and am so glad that I did! I love the narrator and definitely think that he brings out the many nuances of the story. Albeit a bit of a fluff ending, but the body of the story switches between hilarious dialogue and nice descriptions of the surroundings and background story. All in all a great buy.

This is a wonderful book and I could not stop laughing out loud as I listened (which is a first for me). While the narrator's inability to even try an American accent is jarring, you can get used to it eventually and he does do an excellent job with the English characters. His high class "twit" (think Monty Python- the Graham Chapman and John Cleese characters) voice for the absurdist "Who's on first?" colloquys between the title characters are right on point. In fact I'm not sure they would be so humorous if I read them as opposed to listening to this narrator.
The overall themes of the novel are somewhat forgettable (hard work and bravery are the spice of life....) but cannot overshadow the essential humor. Prepare to be entertained not edified.

You can see from the other reviews that people either love or hate this book. I loved it. Helprin has a wonderful sense of comic timing that is drawn out to great (sometimes excruciating) effect when experienced "out loud" vs. on paper. I loved both the laugh out loud descriptions of American and British politics; well as the idiosyncracies and beauties of american life and landscape. I listened to some parts of this book multiple times. Helprin has a unique viewpoint; somehow both sorrowful and silly. Enjoy!

After listening to another british comedy fiction (In Your Dreams) which was very funny and enjoyable to listen to, I bought Freddy and Fredericka. Okay, now imagine Monty Python only the actors aren't funny and they think they're being serious dramatic actors.

Inane banter over ear-size, estate names, and other worthless topics dominate the story. I've got a pretty good tolerance for silly humor (I do like Monty Python) but this was just dumb...

I loved Winters Tale by Helprin and was willing to take on another 20+ hours with him. Perhaps it is my state of mind, but Freddy, Fredericka and I just didn't click. After a many minutes long exchange on the word "bosom," I had to bail. Maybe another time and place, but for now, whew, it was too much work.

I've read other Halprin books, and he's always shown a lot of potential, and some terrific writing in places. But in this book he really put it all together: wit, satire, tenderness. My wife and I loved it. Be patient: he takes his time, but it's worth the wait. Listen to the UNabridged. Despite its length, Helprin isn't trying to get you there quickly. Rather, he's letting you savor the details of each event, so you have to be patient. But if you are, you'll be amply rewarded.

I listened to this walking through the supermarket and I was laughing so hard tears ran down my cheeks. People stared. I was helpless...

This book seemed to have a lot going for it - good author, fresh plot, interesting characters - unfortunately Mark Helprin fell in love with comedy based on inane misunderstandings between characters and dialog repetition. It seemed as though a quarter of the book was comprised of nothing more than Freddy making a comment and Fredericka repeating it back to him - or vice versa. Add to that a weak ending and what's left is just not enough to make this novel worth while.