The Curiosity

A Novel

By: Stephen Kiernan

Narrated by: Kate Udall, Erik Bergmann, George Guidall

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2014

A powerful debut novel in which a man, frozen in the Arctic ice for more than a century, awakens in the present day and finds the greatest discovery is love....

Dr. Kate Philo and her scientific exploration team make a breathtaking discovery in the Arctic: the body of a man buried deep in the ice. As a scientist in a groundbreaking project run by the egocentric and paranoid Erastus Carthage, Kate has brought small creatures - plankton, krill, shrimp - back to life for short periods of time. But the team's methods have never been attempted on larger life-forms.

Heedless of the potential consequences, Carthage orders that the frozen man be brought back to the lab in Boston and reanimated. The endeavor is named "The Lazarus Project". As the man begins to regain his memories, the team learns that he was - is - a judge, Jeremiah Rice, and the last thing he remembers is falling overboard into the Arctic Ocean in 1906. When news of the project and Jeremiah Rice breaks, it ignites a media firestorm and protests by religious fundamentalists.

Thrown together by fate, Kate and Jeremiah grow closer. But the clock is ticking and Jeremiah's new life is slipping away. With Carthage planning to exploit Jeremiah while he can, Kate must decide how far she is willing to go to protect the man she has come to love.

A gripping, poignant, and thoroughly original thriller, Stephen P. Kiernan's provocative debut novel raises disturbing questions about the very nature of life and humanity - man as a scientific subject, as a tabloid novelty, as a living being: a curiosity.

©2013 Stephen P. Kiernan (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Almost perfect

If you could sum up The Curiosity in three words, what would they be?

Can't sum it up in three words or less, but Characters, Story and Plot are all very good. The narrators were wonderful - they powerfully projected the feelings and thoughts of the characters which led me in quickly.

Would you be willing to try another book from Stephen Kiernan? Why or why not?

Up until the last chapter I would have said YES, but I feel so let down by the ending of The Curiosity, I'm not sure I would.

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

They were all fantastic - their voices were pleasurable to listen to and they enacted their characters wonderfully.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Killed the Cat.

Any additional comments?

I suppose some people will find the ending believable and enjoy it - I thought it was abrupt and without thought or planning. It sounded like the author put so much into the rest of the book he was worn out and just wanted it done.

SOOO disappointing

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I thought this book was exactly the kind of book I would enjoy, but it was so badly written that I could barely get through it. I accidentally skipped a section and didn't even bother to go back - I was just happy that I was that much closer to the end. The storyline was ridiculous. It's not even about suspending belief at what a ridiculous idea this is - the storyline is just plain annoying and plays out in slow motion. I mean SLOW. You can see things coming a mile away but it takes FOREVER to get there.

Did the narrators do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

It was a cast reading, and for the most part, the best part of the book by far. The female lead had a weird, tired and flat aspect to her voice, but it sort of fit the character.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Just relief when it was over. The main characters were ridiculous - especially the Frozen Man himself.

Any additional comments?

What had the potential of being an excellent read was instead a huge disappointment. I have never not finished a book, but this one came VERY close. Save your credit.

Exceptional

Scientific,but in terms one can understand,some romance,a study in many unusual relationships , it’s all here. Very well written - possibly a “sleeper” as far as popularity goes but a very enjoyable book.
I’m very glad I found it - will listen to it again sooner than later. I highly recommend.

Fascinating - Believable - Unbelievable

Science, adventure, mystery, history, motives, memories, madness, loyalty, love. This story has it all. Similar to a Michael Crichton, but with several narrators, Kiernan allows the reader into the thoughts each main character.

Could have been great.

What was most disappointing about Stephen Kiernan’s story?

Good idea......bad execution. It could have been a great story but instead it is told as a fladhback and you know how it ends in the very begining. Should have just told the story.

What didn’t you like about the narrators’s performance?

Reader was fine.