Gali

snooze

Revisado: 12-01-23

Torment. Like being stuck in an elevator with your rambling yente neighbor, but longer. Story? What story? Can't believe this won an award. Anyone who can slog through this snoozefest deserves one instead. I do usually like this author, but I don't know what the heck this was. Caved in the middle, just wanted my life back. Don't.

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Laughably awful narration

Revisado: 10-28-23

The narrator clearly has little education and it shows. After a while it becomes annoying and distracting. "Merely" is NOT pronounced "merrily", and "Deutchland" is certainly NOT pronouncef "doucheland". it's embarrasseing and there's a lot of it. Couple that with the author's explanations of sorely basic concepts and words and the shared ignorance detracts from the listening experience. Why is it so hard to find a narrator who speaks proper English?

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Decent writing - awful narration

Revisado: 10-16-21

There is not a single name of a person or place in the last two-thirds of this book that is not somehow mispronounced. One would think that a professional narrator would try to learn the correct pronunciation of the Hebrew text, as well as the English translation ("chasm" - the ch should sound like "kasm", just one example that made me cringe) It also strikes me as a bizarre choice to narrate a Hebrew novel with a heavy Indian accent as if anything not originally in English is somehow lumped under "ethnic". The narrator did not even have the decency to pronounce the author's name correctly in the end. Altogether a reasonably decent and readable novel was thoughtlessly slaughtered by this narration.

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Exquisite, surgically accurate writing

Revisado: 12-07-20

Exposing human vulnerabilities, relationships, government, cultures, hatred and small mindedness, expat experience, love and sensuality, this is a beautifully crafted novel that spares no punches. The author narrates his own work, usually a mistake, but in this case the best choice. He has a lovely soothing voice and his own style and cadence that was perfect for the content. I was sorry when it was over.

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a masterpiece

Revisado: 05-15-19

Beautifully crafted, and highly descriptive, this is a sensitive, intricate, multi-layered work of art. Depressing as heck, with believable characters and family dynamics. Totally worth slogging through the beginning. The narrator is the best I've ever heard, just brilliant, and breathes life into the characters without detracting from the book's literary value. Highly recommended.

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mediocre writing, juicy gossip

Revisado: 01-09-19

Even Netanyahu's detractors can't deny that he's a fascinating politician and his complex character makes for great material. Unfortunately, Caspit's writing style is monotonous and makes the book feels like a slog. None of this is made easier by the narrator's halting staccato and grating voice. The translation is cringeworthy, and Ora Cummings seemingly translated the text word for word rather than conveying the spirit of the writing in a fluid style. This could have been a great book if there had been a decent editor, translator, and narrator along the way. It makes for an irritating listen, but the subject matter is juicy enough to somehow make it worthwhile.

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