Summerland

A Novel

De: Michael Chabon

Narrado por: Michael Chabon

Duración: 15 h y 28 m

Resumen del Editor

From Pulitzer Prize-winning Michael Chabon comes this best-selling novel for listeners of all ages that blends fantasy and folklore with that most American coming-of-age ritual: baseball. Now in a new edition, with an original introduction by the author.

Ethan Feld is having a terrible summer: His father has moved them to Clam Island, Washington, where Ethan has quickly established himself as the least gifted baseball player the island has ever seen. Ethan's luck begins to change, however, when a mysterious baseball scout named Ringfinger Brown and a 765-year-old werefox enter his life, dragging Ethan into another world called the Summerlands. But this beautiful, winterless place is facing destruction at the hands of the villainous Coyote, and it has been prophesized that only Ethan can save it.

In this cherished modern classic, the New York Times best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author brings his masterful storytelling, dexterous plotting, and singularly envisioned characters to a coming-of-age novel for listeners of all ages.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2012, 2016 Michael Chabon (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

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Love Chabon but this one lost me

I loved the intro chapters about why he pivoted into youth fantasy more than the book itself. The baselines of the story are great and maybe this type of fantasy just isn't my thing. It's still written with Chabon's wordsmith mastery, just lost me through most of the middle of the book. I'm a sucker for anything baseball and found myself liking those parts and the connection between Ethan and his father and mother who passed much more than the fantasy aspects. Will continue to adore Chabon though

Kid friendly but lacking

Begins with an interesting plot. Gets long and anticlimactic in stretches. Too many unaddressed holes.

Nostalgic and Fun

Listening to this book reminded me what it was like to play baseball as a kid, all the good and bad that that entails. Chabon really captures the heart of what it is to be a child; forced to put up with the expectations of a world which increases in seriousness and complexity every day while still maintaining a foot in the realm of fantasy and dark legend. Themes of loss and survivor's guilt trickle through the story in realistic and heartfelt ways, without overshadowing the lighthearted and dark whimsy of giants, wear-foxes, and thunderbirds that carry the pained protagonists across the 3 realms. The writing trends purposfuly towards a YA reading level, but strikes a good balance and would likely have suffered from being any more or less complex. Pretty gr8. 8/8

a beautiful book for any age

simply one of the most engaging books I've "read" in a long time. Di not make the mistake of skipping it because it says "Young Adult" - it's a heart tending story of triumph and growing up for anyone. pay close attention to the preface before you dig in; it will break your heart and put the whole take in.perspective.

Great summertime fantasy

A great summer time fantasy and dip into American mythology. Enjoyable by all ages. Play ball.

I love Michael Chabon, his vulnerability, and his

This book is like listening to a story by a campfire late at night on a summer camping trip. It reminded me of roasting marshmallows and making smores. There is such an interesting balance between the "boy" being the protagonist and recognizing the "girl" as having as significant a role in this story - but it's still a story about a boy (from boy perspective). I loved it and it's nice to see the author balance and recognize "others" in the telling of this story.

Crazy, but charming.

The author has a crazy imagination, but the combination of humor, fantasy, love seems to work.

5-Star Narration Elevates 3.25-Star Story

I know, I know. How can I say the much-loved Michael Chabon put out a 3.25 story... for kids at that?
Hear me out...
First, yes, if you listen to the Introduction, the man is coming from an emotional and heartfelt place--totally touching (which by the way, you might listen to without the kids unless you want to explain to an 8-yr old what pregnancy termination entails).
Second, his narration of his own work is flawless and enjoyable; it's the best part of the book. When you, and your kids, listen to it, you have the feeling that he is there in the room reading to you, giving it his all, just as though he were reading to his own children (and when you listen to it, you start wishing that you were his own kids because obviously the guy puts a lot of love into performance). Each character is wonderfully voiced, emotion and drama conveyed brilliantly.
But that's it. The Publisher's Summary says the book is for all ages, but I have a feeling parents will be nodding off during this one, despite Chabon's fantastic performance. This is for 10 and much, much younger. The main character is 11, but eleven-year olds will see things coming a mile away, plus they demand excitement, suspense, big pay-offs.
As it is, "Summerland" has sweet, quirky characters who go from one minor adventure to another minor adventure, nothing building to anything, and each (short) adventure is solved oh so quickly and oh so successfully. Period.
There is no failure to be found. Items that are needed magically appear; bad guys are tripped up right when they need to be, nothing, not a thing--from information that is conveniently and lengthily conveyed in a speech, to food on a journey that should be hard to find but isn't (actually, a character turns up who just so happens to cook impossibly well)--is difficult. The characters don't struggle, with evil, with each other, they don't even struggle with themselves. Okay, so Ethan isn't much of a batter, always strikes out--even that isn't much of anything and you ALWAYS know how that's going to turn out from one at-bat to the next.
I wish I could say that I loved this, and I did love some of the writing (a giant clearing his throat sounds "like bricks tumbling in a dryer," and a queen is "like a cold, tiny moon") but similes aside, there's not much here to engage anyone older than 7 or 8.
Your younger kids might like this, if they like stories that have no suspense, no breathless cliffhanger chapter endings, and ultra-easy character interactions without spice, but you and your older kids might be dozing.
Most every dilemma is solved by baseball, whether by a game thrown out as a challenge, or by a book the group carries that just happens to have all the answers in it... Sweet. But after a while, you realize that nobody, not even Michael Chabon can bat a thousand all the time.

Summer Road Trip with my Kids

Filled the majority of 2000+ mile road trip with a 9 y/o baseball fan boy and his 7 y/o doesn't really care what home plate is sister. A modern Odyssey with rarely a dull moment.