Dull and predictable

Looking at all of the five star reviews, I’m quite shocked that we were reading the same book.

Both of the later parts of the book were obvious from very early in the book, the characters were all really dull, including the main character, who was the dullest of the lot.

The narrator was excellent though, was really impressed with him.

It read to me like a 1 hour short story that had been padded out and stretched to a totally inappropriate 11 hours.

Imagine getting on a plane and a bloke with an interesting voice sits next to you, and starts telling you some anecdote that sounds half interesting - 11 hours into the long haul flight he finally gets to the punchline that you’d already worked out 10 hours earlier, and in the meantime you’ve gouged out one of your own eyeballs with a plastic spoon, just through sheer boredom. That’s how this book made me feel.

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Brilliant, truly!

Not sure why would anyone rate this anything below 4,5.
That is the lowest I'd go, if I had to do some real tough neat picking.

The story line, no, scratch that, it can hardly be described as such.
Neither it could be described as narrative.
It felt rather like a diary.
Yes!
Besides, I've thought of various alternative titles to this book, while listening to it.
None would be as discrete and non revealing as its current title, however.

One particular title that popped up to mind, rather more often than I'd like to admit... SPOILER ALERT...
Was...
"Diary of a Madman"

That squabble aside, the "thought processing", a better alternative to the words "plot, story line or narrative", as already mentioned earlier, was intriguing, mesmerising, provocative, profound and very educating too an various topics such as philosophy, religion, politics, sciences and more.

The execution and delivery of it was nothing short of outstanding.

The tones, paces and intonations of voices brilliantly portraying the somewhat nihilistic stance of the protagonist's take on things within and without his world.

What's there not to like?

Some raw violence depicted here and there throughout the book didn't deter me personally nor did it make me feel anything at all besides admiration at the way it was all woven into the rest of the story.

This book comes with a distinguished and somewhat implicit sense of fluidity, coherence and... Not sure... Perhaps, even, some sort of literary choreography in it's core.


All in all, a brilliant dance of words and ideas, masterfully composed and executed!

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Very Enjoyable

Really enjoyed this. To be honest I thought the story was going to change direction and was mildly disappointed when I realised that it wasn’t. But then it becomes clear why it doesn’t and I took my slight admonishment by the author for desiring it to be otherwise. Cleverly done.
The reader is the best I’ve heard. I usually speed up recordings to get through audiobooks. I want to hear the story not spend a night in the Theatre at a one-man show. But not this one. Here, the theatricality was still there and the voices excellent. But the pace never dragged. I will definitely seek out more of this reader’s recordings.

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Rather strange but couldn't stop listening

This was my first Sebastian Faulks book and although I found it strange I just couldn't stop listening to it. The narration was simply superb.

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Brilliant

What a fantastic novel. Fantastic narration best I have heard on audible. Highly recommended Sebastian faulks at his best and I have read and listened to a few of the author

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A work of genius from one of my favourite authors!

Engleby is so different from other books I've read by Faulks and I know I'll be turning it over in my mind for a long time. The writing is brilliant and Michael Maloney handles the narration perfectly.

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A must-listen!

This book defies categorisation. It is at times hilarious and at others deeply disturbing. You literally don't know what is going to happen next. I have had a soft spot for Michael Maloney since Truly Madly Deeply and his narration here is probably the best of any book I have listened to.

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Perfect narration of a wonderful book

Not a happy book, but a fascinating and even thrilling listen - and the narration was absolutely superb. Would recommend to Faulks fans old and new.

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Skilled and well crafted psychopath

I loved the fluidity of his prose. The descriptions of Cambridge and student life with Mike's recall of events shows how the authors well crafted plan expanded into a clever analysis of a psychopathic mind.
Following Mike's career into journalism and the construction of his successful life and the links back to the negative experience in the hideous public school he went to, proved to feed into the chain of events that followed.
I enjoyed the novel very much.

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Terrible - In the very best way!

This was my introduction to Sebastian Faulks (I know, I know). To be honest, the first thing that struck me was the quality of the reading which is so well measured against the text. Then comes the narrative - gripping, nostalgic (70's - if you were there)and symapthetic; and a story that unravels in what initially appears to be an obvious way and then changes direction like a waterboatman. Mesmerising.
I have not heard a finer audiobook in the last three years - and I listen to lots. I actually believe that hearing this version, rather than reading the book myself, was a better experience on this occasion.

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145 people found this helpful