Couldn't stop listening

I felt compelled to write this review because of the very average ratings this book was receiving. When I first thought to write, there were four ratings averaging a 3.0/ 5. My rating was the fifth which was a 5/5 and then there was a sixth - the rating still averaged a 3.0/5. It may be that this is a book you either love or hate. The book is rich with detail and character development and I could imagine that some listeners might be put off by this though I personally never found it slow. I love my airport thrillers but I also enjoy epic novels like Dune. If you enjoy books like Patrick Rothfuss' 'The name of the Wind' then your will love Wool. If you love apocalyptic horror then Wool will be a slow burner.For me this is the best book I have listened to in at least a year.

45 people found this helpful

Good

A good story. There is a fair amount of "deep thinking" and attempts (or at least it feels like an attempt) to make the listener/reader consider parallels with our own perceptions of our current world. A novel idea. Whilst lots of "thinking", the pace is still ok.
Enjoyed it, but not sure how much scope there is for more story in the rest of the trilogy. Not disappointed I listened to it, but don't think it's held me sufficiently to purchase parts 2 & 3.

13 people found this helpful

Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant

Really impressed with the writing, riveted in fact. The best suspense thriller I have read in sooo looong a time... it knocks other apocalyptic novels like 'the passage' etc into a cocked hat.. won't be forgetting this one for a while.. the almost painful pace H.H sets was excruciating as he ratcheted up the suspense, it was as if I was living and breathing in those silo's..Superb, I loved it.. worth every penny, not a book to forget easily.

9 people found this helpful

Poor narration

Wool is an excellent novel, I have read it a while ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've only recently joined the audiobook crowd after spending many years thinking it's well... Cheating in some way.

The thing is there's only so much time in the day and so much time of that day which you can spend just sitting on your arse reading. So.... I recently got myself an Audible subscription, spent far too much money already and gotten Wool as a trip down memory lane which won't disappoint. Or so I thought.

I am honestly still trying to marry this awesome book being delivered in such a way. Every sentence that's not dialog ends up in a downward slant so pronounced I was expecting a new chapter every few seconds. It's like every sentence is a standalone finding itself surprised to be tossed in with the rest. When we read books, or when I read books, the reading voice in my mind doesn't present the novel as bad poetry, its rather like making an observation in a conversation. You're aware of the purpose of each sentence, why it is spoken and precisely what it is it's trying to deliver. The delivery of Wool here is monotonous, devoid of most emotion and because of it makes the whole novel sound.... Well bland. And it's not, it's anything but in fact. At the very beginning, a man sacrifices himself to join his dead wife and you might as well felt like you came to a party, starving, to find out that the only thing left on a tray is a cucumber sandwich. I kid you not, it felt the same.

I don't know... Maybe I am too new to this audio thing, or too spoiled by my previous limited experience. But havens to Betsy, it could've used some sass.

7 people found this helpful

The only bad part is that it ends

A strange one this. The Wool your looking at here is actually an omnibus of 5 stories that was published in one volume last year. When it was published I read a review describing it as the best book the reviewer had read. I was going to buy it but was confused as the old editions where cheap and the new edition was expensive and I couldn't work out which to buy. It didn't take long to invest an audible credit then, and it was as credit well spent.

Wool proved un-putdownable. It isn't the longest book at 16 hours but I found my self wishing it was longer. looking at the timer and beign thankful that there was still 6 hours left... still 4 hours left.

There must be a sequel. I need to find out what happens next.

16 people found this helpful

Full slow and uncompelling

Wool was originally conceived as a short story. There is a good plot for that. As this blockbuster novel the elements of the story are stretched and stretched again then padded with infinite detail about stairs doors and infrastructure. This makes the story drag and so rather like a soap if you miss a bit it doesn't matter, it will be recapped more than once.
The long format is less forgiving of the plot than would be the case with a short story. The concept of a self-sustaining silo is hard to buy fully. Sizes are prone to the Lewis Carroll effect where at one moment the silo has its own oil refinery and then it is much smaller than would be possible. I won't detail that in case readers plan to listen since a spoiler is part of that criticism. Perhaps the least satisfying plot element is the "with one bound everyone was free and happy ever after" ending which is as though the writer finally became tired of this padding and expansion exercise. I would have given this only one star but I was foolish enough to try the prequel "Shift" which is so abject that it makes Wool look like a Steinbeck. Avoid Wool. Do not give money for Shift. I think there's another one too but I have no interest in finding out. We really shouldn't encourage this author to write.

4 people found this helpful

Enjoyed to more than I could have imagined

This book is a far cry from what I usually listen too, which is Medieval/ historical fiction and memoirs. Browsing though the titles I came across top reviews for this and decided to try it.
I am so glad I did as I thoroughly enjoyed it and found that once I started I could not put it down.
The ending came all too quickly and i felt it could have been explained better. Having said that I cannot wait to listen to the next one (Shift) and and the final part of the trilogy when it is released.
I will be listening to this again soon as my husband wants to listen to it and I cannot miss the chance to relive life in Silo 18/17 again.
A superb read.....................................

8 people found this helpful

FANTASTIC!

Quite simply the best book Ive had off audible.....Brilliant story and characters.Author writes brilliantly creating vivid pictures in your mind of this huge underground world and the secrets it keeps..... Only bad thing is this book ended....GET THIS BOOK YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

Hope there is a sequel??

12 people found this helpful

In the Beginning

Where does Wool rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I found the first storyline intriguing, and while I did not quite understand where the author was leading the reader, went along with him, even though it was a tad claustrophobic.

What other book might you compare Wool to, and why?

Set in the future, it portrays all life existing below ground level - a brave new world I did not want to associate with at all, and yet...

Would you listen to another book narrated by Susannah Harker?

I found the calm narration by Susannah Harker helps one to understand the various levels occupied by the characters who were there for a particular reason, and it was up to the reader to discover why.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

So, while slightly ill at ease with the claustrophobic and at times, threatening environment, I was unable to break away.

Any additional comments?

I warn you in advance that one has to read or listen to the trilogy in its entirety to fully appreciate and understand Hugh Howey's credible creation.

3 people found this helpful

good story

well narrated good story best part was the up rising looking forward to the next book .

2 people found this helpful