Warlight

A Novel

By: Michael Ondaatje

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

From the internationally acclaimed, best-selling author of The English Patient: a mesmerizing new novel that tells a dramatic story set in the decade after World War II through the lives of a small group of unexpected characters and two teenagers whose lives are indelibly shaped by their unwitting involvement.

In a narrative as beguiling and mysterious as memory itself - shadowed and luminous at once - we follow the story of 14-year-old Nathaniel, and his older sister, Rachel.

In 1945, just after World War II, they stay behind in London when their parents move to Singapore, leaving them in the care of a mysterious figure named The Moth. They suspect he might be a criminal, and they grow both more convinced and less concerned as they come to know his eccentric crew of friends: men and women joined by a shared history of unspecified service during the war, all of whom seem, in some way, determined now to protect, and educate (in rather unusual ways) Rachel and Nathaniel.

But are they really what and who they claim to be? And what does it mean when the siblings' mother returns after months of silence without their father, explaining nothing, excusing nothing? A dozen years later, Nathaniel begins to uncover all that he didn't know and understand in that time, and it is this journey - through facts, recollection, and imagination - that he narrates in this masterwork from one of the great writers of our time.

©2018 Michael Ondaatje (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"London-born narrator Steve West effortlessly mixes tones of mystery, uncertain memory, sophistication, and innocence in Ondaatje's latest novel.... A wholly original listening experience." (AudioFile)

“Warlight is a quiet new masterpiece from Michael Ondaatje… An elegiac thriller [with] the immediate allure of a dark fairy tale. In Warlight, all is illuminated, at first dimly then starkly, but always brilliantly.” (Anna Mundow, The Washington Post)

“If writers are cartographers of the heart, Michael Ondaatje’s oeuvre could fill an atlas...[he] evokes a kaleidoscope of ideas and moods with exquisite lyricism... Warlight is an intricate ballet of longing and deception, and a singular ode to the mother-child bond .” (Hamilton Cain, O Magazine)

Time and location ring true

listener felt part of action. characters
interesting,
ll
very realistic action . Look forward to mors

Excellent narration- storyline a bit convoluted

I could listen to this narrator's voice all day long. I enjoyed parts of this poetic story very much. Other aspects dragged, but overall, I don't regret having been introduced to this book.

Odaantje writes again

Typical of Ondaatje his writing is superb. Unfortunately with this book it is done with fits and starts.
The story held me but I was not impressed with this one. He has his best works to live up to.

Put me to sleep!

Started out well enough. The narration was different but decided to go with it although that might be what put me to sleep. I just couldn't keep up with the story. I had difficulty keeping up. After awhile the narration seemed overdramatic and almost sinister. I honestly did not follow this book well at all.

Not engaging!

_Warlight_ by Michael Ondaatje receives three stars from me for two reasons--the narration isn't engaging, and the characters were not sympathetic.

First, let me address this about the characters. It isn't that they are unsympathetic, I just didn't care about them. The novel is about secrets and the effect on a family by keeping secrets. What makes this interesting is the secrets are national secrets and are due to the war effort. Even though one may argue that these secrets were to benefit the nation, there is still a negative effect on the family. For me, the premise is strong, but the narration doesn't engage the reader. It is all summary, told as summary. One could label the narration as What I learned about my family through official documents with me filling in some too.

Some reviewers have noted the plot doesn't exist. I agree, there is no core plot, no going from point A to Z. The story is fragmented. I think this would be a good way to present a character-driven text, and maybe this one is, but I feel that the characters are growing or we are not learning as much about them as I think we should for a character-driven novel. It all revolves around the secrets the family keeps for national security.

This was an audiobook, so I'd like to address the reader. It is read by Steve West. I read some reviews that did not like his narration. I, however, did. I felt that his tempo and style for reading this novel enforced the sense of secrecy of the novel. His voice is quiet but not a whisper, his tempo is not slow but measured as if to say I can only say this once. I would buy a book narrated by West again.

Recommended: I don't think so, the plot isn't really engaging and the character development isn't as enlightening as it should be. However, if you like espionage, you might like this. It has the elements of secrecy that make espionage interesting, but it is missing hte danger.

A Bit Too Long

I enjoyed to mood of the story, but it was much too stretched out in fine detail.

Excellent - heartbreaking

Slow in parts but the unsaid or unwritten parts of the story are as important as the ‘ink’; giving texturized emotion to the characters and the times- quite wonderful.

Yawn!!

What could have been a very interesting story was impeded by such languid ( some might say tedious) writing that I could barely finish listening. If you enjoy that kind of writing or The Goldfinch then this is the book for you. If not, skip it. There were too many characters introduced who didn't seem essential to the story. The few sex scenes were clearly told from a male fantasy.

Michael Odjatje

This is a beautifully written book. One of the best I’ve read in many years. remarkable.

Exquisitely delicate & bold!

A splendid narration of Ondatje's graceful stitches and colorful threads of broken hearts, damaged souls!