Joel

Thanks for the Pacey

Revisado: 04-22-25

Look, the other narrator was fine, and it was not his fault he was not Pacey. That said, thanks for the Pacey. He does bring extra snap to the affair. Another Abercrombie masterpiece

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Like the show, except it moves

Revisado: 03-21-25

Did you like the TV show? Then you'll love this, since the story is actually brisk here and without the pile on of filler conflicts courtesy of a writer's room. (In the show, a big deal is made of Solo's name origin, which is not a thing in the book but did somehow manage to encompass fifteen minutes of air time.) They fluffed this book out into two seasons, perhaps already codging from sequels for parts/characters.
Not to rag on the show too much because it has merit, and I'll keep watching because the performances, design and at times the writing are superb, and the transliteration is fascinating. But I do prefer it directly from the tap, here in the book.

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Stick with it

Revisado: 12-22-22

I too was alarmed by the narrator at first, but he levels out after the first hour and then he hits his stride and the performance is masterful and inventive. And the book itself deserves its reputation as a classic. It's brutal, hilarious and emotional without being cloying at all. A must listen. Now off to 'read' everything else McMurtry has written...

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Stick with it

Revisado: 12-22-22

I too was alarmed by the narrator at first, but he levels out after the first hour and then he hits his stride and the performance is masterful and inventive. And the book itself deserves its reputation as a classic. It's brutal, hilarious and emotional without being cloying at all. A must listen. Now off to 'read' everything else McMurtry has written...

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Engaging and well written

Revisado: 01-25-22

I'd compare it to HP Lovecraft, but the dialogue was too good! Fun, scary, absorbing.

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Decent King yarn, some weird narration decisions

Revisado: 09-23-19

First, this was a good King story. It was well-paced with interesting characters in suspenseful situations. I'm a lifelong fan, and while I've not been on board with all the work (uh Lisey's Story for one) I appreciate his willingness to try anything and I'm so thankful for the output. I do not need every one of his stories to be his best; he has my trust and I'm always game for the ride. This was a fun one with an epilogue that will leave you pondering the implications.

But man, I have to address the narration choices. Fontana is a fantastic narrator with great character voices. However, these voices bleed into the general narration itself. For instance, when the story turns to a minor character, Little Orphan Annie, the narration itself begins to use the voice established for the character. At first you think she's talking, then you realize that it's the general narration that is suddenly spoken using her voice. It's an interesting choice, but one I found confusing and more than a little distracting. I found myself yelling "Stop doing that!" to my phone, which is a perfectly dignified thing to do.

But do I blame Fontana for this? No, he's great, and even if this was his idea, it was still someone else's choice. The audiobook was produced and directed by Christina Zerofinitas, so she's the one who either came up with it or let it happen. It was a bold choice. I didn't think it worked, but I guess it was worth a shot! Please don't do that again!

And I have no idea if I spelled Zerofinitas' name correctly. You can only hear it at the end of the audiobook. I tried, but it's apparently impossible to find audiobook production credits anywhere on the internet. That's too bad. I reckon there are a lot of narrators out there getting beaten down for their director's mandates.

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Absolutely thoroughly brutal and well crafted

Revisado: 05-04-19

This book kept cropping up on the best-of horror novel lists so I had to try it. The premise sounded inane so I was doubly curious as to why it's so revered. Now that I've trudged through every agonizing moment of the blood soaked plot, I get it. This novel is a slow burn which leads to an infinite furnace, as the characters weather a dark, powerful force that is as evil as it is abstract. If you're a huge fan of watching hope shrivel and die (and then get stomped and pissed on) over the course of fifteen hours, well sir you're in luck. I like being affected by my reading, and this one really got to me.

Oh hey, and Patrick Wilson does a great job with the narration! He barely ever does this apparently. He should read us more books.

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A masterpiece of surrealist horror

Revisado: 12-13-18

*Edit: Years later I discover that this book is the first of a trilogy of interconnected but standalone titles. Each subsequent book gives information and context critical to understanding the 'why' of this story, though of course it is best to not know this right away because the characters do not know. Taken together, the 3 novels tell an epic story with dozens of complex characters (including the author's fictional-yet-historical self) spanning decades and always coming to the field. I can't wait to circle back and read this one again, knowing what I now know.
But polish up your reading glasses because I Always Find You and I Am the Tiger are only in print. Audible should get some more Lindqvist on offer in the United States, including his newest, The Kindness, as well as Little Star, and Let the Old Dreams Die (includes the story sequel to Let the Right One In, a must).

This is the second title I have read by Mr. Lindqvist. Let Me In was the first, and after that Lindqvist had my complete and utter trust, so I was not put off by the middling reviews here and plunged right into this novel. I was not disappointed.
It is a slow burn to be sure, but not a word is wasted in its depiction of fascinating characters with rich and tragic backstories, and the strange and completely original nightmare they find themselves in. There are no easy answers about how they have found themselves in their desperate situation, nor for the mechanics of this new terrible world, but there are just enough breadcrumbs to savor and reflect upon as you are taken through a wild and nailbiting existential ride.
There were several instances where I had to pause the story and digest the next bleak turn of events, and at least one part towards the end where I felt I might not be able to take it anymore. But I'm glad I stuck with it, as things don't go quite as poorly as I feared. There are certainly lighter moments, especially the sections where the story is told from the perspective of a dog, As the story shifts from character to character, your investment in them and their predicament grows, and each development is felt viscerally.
Kudos to the narrator for clearly delineating each character's voice and attitude.

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