The Rowan Tree

A Novel

By: Robert W. Fuller

Narrated by: Robert W. Fuller

Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

As Arthurian myth sowed the seeds of democracy, The Rowan Tree foretells a world of founded upon dignity. Anchored by a pair of interlocking love stories, this unflinching novel of ideas brims with passionate quests, revelatory failures, and inextinguishable hope.

The Rowan Tree is an inspirational tour de force that reaches from the rebellious American '60s into humanity's global future. Soul-searching treks around the world intersect with campus revolution, basketball, math, ballet, and a destined rise to the White House. Love runs ahead of politics and lights the way for nations to follow.

©2013 Robert W. Fuller (P)2013 Robert W. Fuller

Good book, bad narration

While I enjoyed the story, I would have enjoyed it more if the narrator had not sounded like he was being forced to read aloud in 6th grade English class. There was little to no emotion in his performance. Also, it could get difficult to tell who was supposed to be speaking in parts with multiple characters having a conversation.

Author's are NOT narrators

Would you try another book from Robert W. Fuller and/or Robert W. Fuller?

Having the author read this book was a disaster. No inflection, no ability to switch voices between characters, I returned it before I was half way through. Could not force myself to endure another minute.

Would you recommend The Rowan Tree to your friends? Why or why not?

Not on a bet.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

See above

Worse narrator

I honestly couldn’t get through this book. I just couldn’t listen to the author any longer. I would think that the author reading it would make it better, but he had no inflection, no tone change, no difference between the characters. The story was interesting until it became political commentary.

Writers should not read their own work.

What would have made The Rowan Tree better?

An actor for the narrator.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The story was fine but the narration was terrible. He reads with a monotone and it's difficult to stay focused on the storyline.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story was OK.

history, concepts overshadowed by male fantasy

Would you recommend The Rowan Tree to your friends? Why or why not?

No. The review of changes in higher education is interesting, and the vision for how to make the world better is appealing, but telling this story through a fantasy character (so smart, so wise, so able to use power effectively, so brave, so so sexy) makes that character an unreliable narrator. He will fight for necessary changes with more rights for students, especially women and minorities, but he abuses his power as a college president to sleep with (exploit) a student.

Would you be willing to try another one of Robert W. Fuller’s performances?

No. His voice is deep and resonant, but the reading is surprisingly flat in places, and sometimes I couldn't tell which character was speaking. I finish everything (dinner, my projects, my audible books), but I couldn't finish this book. It might have been better to read this book.

Not my favorite

I thought this story was a bit far fetched. Everyone was so successful and the brother sister story line was strange. Just found it hard to believe Adam and his friend would make it to the White House. I also didn't like that the story just skipped to the future in the prologue. Author should not have read the book. He had a monotone voice that got to be irritating.

Boring Listening

Would you try another book from Robert W. Fuller and/or Robert W. Fuller?

Listening to this narrative was awful. No change in voice at all for different characters. Almost like having a computer read for the lack of inflection.

Would you be willing to try another one of Robert W. Fuller’s performances?

Not if he reads it.

Any additional comments?

Didn't finish the story because of the awful narration.

Needs professional narrator and editor

This author did his book an injustice by narrating it himself. It was extremely difficult to listen to - dull, expressionless and monotone..

As for the story, a good editor could have cut its length in half and greatly improved the story. It is cluttered with unnecessary, mundane detail and preaches to the reader about the way the author views the world. By far the first part of the book set in the 1970s was the most interesting and even that needed editing.

Narrator/Author ugh

I have started and stopped this book 3 times. the Narration is sooooooo boring. No inflection in his tone. he reads like an elementary student just trying to get through the chapter, outloud. wish I could get a refund.

somewhat boring

robotic story telling, got bored with it and couldn't finish. would not recommend this read.