Silver

Return to Treasure Island

By: Andrew Motion

Narrated by: David Tennant

Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the eastern reaches of the Thames lies the Hispaniola, an inn kept by Jim Hawkins and his son. Late one night, a mysterious girl named Natty arrives on the river with a request for Jim from her father - Long John Silver. Aged and weak, but still possessing a strange power, the pirate proposes Jim and Natty sail to Treasure Island in search of Captain Flint's hidden bounty. But the thrill of the ocean odyssey gives way to terror as the Nightingale reaches its destination, for it seems Treasure Island is not as uninhabited as it once was....

Silver is a worthy sequel to Treasure Island and a work of extraordinary authenticity and imaginative power from one of England's greatest writers.

©2012 Andrew Motion (P)2012 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic Reviews

"...rich and thrilling narrative which so ingeniously complements [Treasure Island]." ( The Independent)

"Motion writes beautifully...a darker world than Stevenson's with real evil and genuine loss in it - and a tentative but credible burgeoning love story. Considered as a sequel, Silver more than holds its own as an adventure story." ( Irish Independent)

"...a splendid adventure story in its own right." ( The Guardian)

An Enchanting Idea

This book is so beautifully conceived and beautifully written -- astonishing imagery coupled with shrewd insight -- that I ran out and bought a HARDBOUND copy for my sister! The son of Jim Hawkins and the daughter of Long John Silver set off for treasure, just as their fathers did, and, like their fathers, end up in the land of mature experience, a treasure in itself. If there is a fault, it is that it devolves into mere action adventure at the very end (keeping an eye on a Disney franchise?). But on the way it delivers some very thoughtful entertainment.

Special praise goes to the narrator, David Tennant, for providing excellent characterizations for a large cast -- not too broad, not too dry.

Wait... it's over?

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I really enjoyed it because David Tennant. The book's well-written and entertaining, but I was nonplussed by the abrupt ending and had to look to make sure there wasn't supposed to be another part to the audiobook.

Would you be willing to try another book from Andrew Motion? Why or why not?

I suppose I will have to read the sequel to this because I need to know what happens next... which shows that Mr. Motion got me hooked enough to want to carry on.

What does David Tennant bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He's a remarkable actor who brings all the characters to life. It's always easy to tell who's talking because he doesn't just read the book, he really acts all the parts and makes them vivid and unique. I've listened to a lot of Tennant's audiobooks and I think this is one of his best.

Could you see Silver being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I could see this being a movie.

Tennant exalts while Motion's story collapses.

Would you try another book from Andrew Motion and/or David Tennant?

David Tennant is an excellent narrator. Motion raised me up and shot me down with a morbid ending.

Would you recommend Silver to your friends? Why or why not?

I couldn't recommend a story, with an ending thats like a fatal bus crash, after a winning trip to Atlantic City.

What about David Tennant’s performance did you like?

Spirited and emotionally entertaining storyteller. Can always recommend Mr Tennant.

Do you think Silver needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It obviously was written with the author expecting to write a follow up. He could easily have wrapped things up neatly in another 3 chapters. The ending of this has soured me to his intents.

Any additional comments?

If not for the narration of David Tennant, this would have been the only audio book, I have gotten, that I would have returned.

Fun Sequel to a Classic

I read the Stevenson original, Treasure Island, countless times as a youngster. Stevenson created indelible characters in Israel Hands, Jim Hawkins, Squire Trelawney, and of course, Long John Silver. So I was happy to find this audiobook but I assumed it would be a pale imitation of the original. Well, yes, there is a lot of the original in this book but it features the descendants of the original as a twist. I thought having similar plot structure might make it tedious but I thought this was instead a lovely little homage. Fine line between being derivative and an homage, right?

So, no, it doesn't veer too wildly from the core idea of the original which made it so fun. Pirates, treasure, villains, betrayal, but added to this one is a nice little love story. This is not great literature but it is one heck of a fun book. Enjoy it as a nice piece of nostalgia and just let yourself forget all the cliches that Stevenson inspired.

Silver tongue

Enjoyed it immensely. David Tennant does voices beautifully! At times I had to remind myself it was just him reading!

Overly Simplistic

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

More in depth writing and realistic character development, reactions, and thought processes.

Would you ever listen to anything by Andrew Motion again?

Not likely. The writing style was very simplistic, the characters were two dimensional, and I got very tired of hearing how the main character knew another character "so well" after they had know each other for a few hours or weeks.

Did David Tennant do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

He did very well differentiating the voices, I had no difficulty telling who was speaking. I wish there had been more emotion portrayed, but that was due in large part to the writing.

What character would you cut from Silver?

Nat

Any additional comments?

Save your money and time and look elsewhere.

Way too abrupt an ending

Any additional comments?

Perhaps if listeners had a notion that this novel might be part of a series the abrupt last chapters would be more bearable.

David Tennant is a superb narrator who brings life to all of the characters. Andrew Motion's novel was descriptive and prosy to a point and then the story line unraveled with side tangents and long commentary from Jim that just went on and on and on. I was annoyed enough to wish to turn the page, only to have the story end without closure or sense.

I do not know whether I would purchase a next novel if there was a series.

abrupt ending (no spoilers)

I got this book mainly because it was on sale and it was narrated by my second favorite Dr Who. Tennant does very nice work bringing the story to life. I was enjoying the book, which moved a little slowly at times but compensated with interesting descriptions and philosophical views and some good twists, until the ending which was inconsistently abrupt and non-explanatory. it was like the author decided he was tired of the story or did not want to figure out a more nuanced ending. I don't want to get specific so as not to give away anything. This story also had some poor decisions akin to LOTR "we have the One Ring, lets stay in Hobbiton a few more months" (fixed in the film).

It was just meh.

This book is not a bad book but it's not a great book either. The story failed to captivate me and I found the characters bland. I stuck it out to the very end to give it a chance just for the ending to anger my very soul. I'm glad to have finished it but I don't think I'd ever go back to it.

hot garbage

Don't waste your time. The setting and characters are amazing but the story itself is junk. No resolution and random events for the author to use flower language in order to stretch out his flimsy story.....but then again what do I know.