White Apples

Surreal, hilarious, mind-stretching.

The entire concept of being dead while being alive.

Vincent

Yes, but unfortunately that is impossible for me, but I couldn't wait to get in my car to and from work.

If you enjoy Murakami, Gaiman, Mieville, or Scalzi you might as well go ahead and get this one. I listened to Land of Laughs first and enjoyed it so much I immediately went for White Apples. I feared it wouldn't live up to "LOL" but it was just as fun to listen too.

I like White Apples for the same reason I like Neil Gaiman's own writing. It's strange and interesting. Like the nightmare that you kind of, almost don't want to wake up from. Victor Bevine was the perfect choice for a narrator. His voice, and the beauty of Jonathan Carroll's language, and the fascinating character driven story... just... delicious.

Victor Bevine is extraordinary. He lights up the beautiful text with his voice and seamless transitions. They could have a spell it read this book and I'd still cry, the story is that interesting. But the marriage of Carrol and Bevine makes this book less of a story and more of an experience.

I doubt they could do this book justice, but if Tarsem or Fincher gave it a shot it would be something like: How far would you go for love?

Listen to this. Don't think, just download.

I would recommend but with caution. It was pretty long and drawn out and though artfully written it was like treading through a dream. Some parts seemed disconnected. With that said, however, there were some incredibly thought provoking parts....particularly in the beginning with the ideas that the main character is dead - and how does he really know he is no longer here.

The most interesting was the idea of the strory was the mosiac and the role of chaos with respect to the mosaic. This was amazing and outstanding!! It definitely changes your view of life after death - or rather what comes after the end. Forever changed my view of chaos and the role it plays in life (or afterlife) if one ascribes to it!

Favorite character by Victor Bevine was Isabelle - and her amazing, flawless accent.

It did remind me some of What Dreams May Come. Scarlett Johansen for Isabelle and Jude Law for Vincent

The credit was worth it for the accent, the mosiac and the chaos!

Probably not.

Less esoteric and less absorbed with Victor. Perhaps a parallel plot with other main characters coming back from the dead. The mosaic idea was not very original but had some poesy.

Isabel

Be less in love with my main characters in my own writing

The narrator was fine. I wasn't that impressed with the book.

I enjoy Neil Gaimans work greatly, and recommend it frequently. While this novel features some of the speculative nature of his work, it is fundamentally flawed.
The premise of the book is intriguing--a man realizes he's dead, his heart has stopped, and needs to learn why he's been brought back to life. For what purpose? He's told repeatedly that he wouldn't understand, there are hints of greater purpose... and when the big reason is finally revealed, I wonder, "really? this was what was so difficult to understand?"
Spoiler alert! The fascination of a novel like this one is to see its philosophy unfold, the rules it sets for itself, and how it can resolve itself within these rules. But at the end, this novel breaks its fundamental premise: that the main character is dead, putting him in the hospital clinging to... what? Death? He needs a blood infusion, this man who is dead and without a heart beat?
The novel does feature some lovely details of a relationship that are interesting and delightful. However, the german accent given to the Austrian girlfriend is distracting and overbearing.

.I ordered this from the Neil Gaiman present's section, thinking as much as I enjoy his stories I might like one he likes himself. Not disappointed at all, except that I want more. This was a unique and fun story. I found myself listening to parts over again because of the details. I hated the way the book ended. It was kind of left up to your own imagination to figure out how things might happen, but it was ended so that there could be more story. I immediately began to look for a book 2. I thought the narration was superbly done, and will definitely look to get more from the author and the narrator both.

Still wondering how it got such glowing reviews! First, the narration was horrible. I felt like Victor was whispering and talking in a very hesitant way that was very distracting to listening to the actual story. Then the story was very disjointed and lacking in depth. Pointless really if I think about it. I almost quit, but ended up staying with it. Don't understand how it got such a recommendation from Neil Gaiman.