Subtle Character Piece

I loved this from start to end. Essentially a coming-of-age story, its diary format does not lend itself to strong plot points, and my major criticism is that the denoument is rather rushed at the end. But you can't help falling for Mori, especially for me, as she is such a SF/Fantasy nut and *devours* books.

But I adored Katherine Kellgren's performance, and was amazed to find out she's from the US. The "singsong" accent, with its "changes of inflection" was, to me being a Celt, a really great Welsh accent, along with good Southern English and west-country accents. Well done Katherine! Yes, it may be a little difficult to get used to, but on the eastern side of the pond it works really well.

Give it a go. It's a simple character piece that will make you smile.

49 people found this helpful

I Think it Deserves the Hugo

There are several different ways you could go about narrating a book. You could simply read it aloud, you might go so far as to add inflection to the spoken parts. And if you want to stand out, you try to give each notable character a distinct voice. But if you seek to be as extraordinary as Katherine Kellgren, you must bring the story to life, imbue every word with color. There are some wonderful pieces online about the lengths Ms. Kellgren goes to achieve such dynamic performances, and it truly shows. The result is that this reading is anything but stayed, the narration achieving an artistic quality all its own. Of course, this means that it is even more a separate and distinct creature from the words on a printed page than any audiobook already is, and to some that might be a bad thing, possibly a very bad thing. But with a case such as this where the experience is far more about the person telling you the story than her story per se, the end result is truly delightful.

It is understandable that for someone used to traditional narration, this performance might take some getting used to, because the emphasis on reproducing the character's voice occasionally overrides clarity, requiring you to pay closer attention than you might be used to. But this is more than worth it because if you give in to this way of relating the story, it's very much like listening to Mori speaking to you through her diary entries rather than listening to a woman read.

This approach helps the presentation of the material immensely, since this is so much about one person's journey, her thoughts, fears, ambitions, and observational asides along the way. You cannot help but love this girl who has suffered so much but still loves so dearly in her own way.

As for the end, it is rather sudden, especially given how the beginning so wonderfully takes you by the hand and leads you deeper and deeper into a world where magic is real, but always deniable, infinitely subtle and incalculably powerful. This book is a nominee for the 2012 Hugo Award for best novel. And though there are other worthy candidates this year, I would be very happy if it won.

48 people found this helpful

Great Start, Weak Finish

I like a lot about this book: the vivid characters, the strong narration, and enchanted settings. Jo Walton does a fantastic job creating a captivating world that's filled with characters who seem alive. She deftly builds up the plot, but the book's climax felt rushed and flat - like the author didn't know how to end it.

Among Others was an easy listen and I looked forward to hearing it everyday. I'm not a science fiction fan, but even though there are multiple references to scifi titles it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story. I'm guessing fans of the science fiction genre would appreciate the extra layer, but the book is enjoyable enough if you aren't.

26 people found this helpful

Couldn’t get through it.

Tried this for an hour or so, but simply had to stop. The story moved slowly, and there was Jeff st too much conversation that didn’t seem to go anywhere- the narrator’s voice distracted me too, her pitch varying just too much too often. This is completely a personal feeling, and it might be totally different if I try it another time. I bought it years ago and just realized I had not read it. Maybe some day I will try again, but I need something that moves faster.

6 people found this helpful

Too many book references, not enough plot!!

What did you like best about Among Others? What did you like least?

The story in general is original, and the novel has some excellent parts. However, the constant literary references consume more time and authorial energy than the plot itself, and it gets annoying fast. If I have to hear the term "SF" again I may scream, and this from an admitted bibliophile who adores Science Fiction. I mean, it's nice to hear titles and authors I love mentioned, but, really, who wants to hear what the protagonist is reading ad nasueam? Seriously, it's continuous. I appreciate the connections the character is making between the novels and her own life, and recognize the role this plays in advancing the story, but enough is enough. Also, the narrator's inflections become irritating after a bit.

5 people found this helpful

Excellent book, beautiful narration.

This book is a beautifully written account of what it can be like to grow up with different interests from everyone around you. It's not over-the-top on melodrama, as some "geek anthems" can be, but it's by no means boring. It's thoughtful and feels, above all, honest. As a reader, I felt less like I identified with Mor, and more like she and I might have been friends had we met in school; or maybe we'd have been in the same book club.

Katherine Kellgren was excellent. She has really crisp diction and clear delivery, imbuing the words with emotion and emphasis without overdoing it. I really enjoyed her Welsh accent - I have family in Wales and I've always loved the musical quality of the language, and Ms Kellgren did not disappoint. It also fits the story, naturally enough.

All around, a personal favourite.

22 people found this helpful

kept waiting for a plot then the book was over

What would have made Among Others better?

There was no real plot. Just like reading an interesting journal with a weird fight at the end.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jo Walton again?

Only if recommended by someone I trust.

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

She was actually amazing.

What character would you cut from Among Others?

Characters were fine; they just needed to do something.

Any additional comments?

I bought this book because of the award but was very disappointed. I wish someone would have told me there was no real plot and a weak story to this book.

24 people found this helpful

I do not recommend this book

It felt like a very long book report on all the classics. This story was never told.

7 people found this helpful

Unreadable: absolutely nothing happens

What would have made Among Others better?

This book is almost completely without plot. I listened to the entire thing hoping something, anything would happen and it never did. It became a tedious chore and I wanted to fast forward through the entire thing.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her Welsh accent is reasonably good. This was actually the best part of this book.

Any additional comments?

I suppose this book won the Hugo, Nebula, and British Fantasy Awards for its constant, tiresome name-dropping of science fiction books and authors, both the well-known and abstruse. There is a bit of an insider feel in pages and pages of comments made at a sci-fi book club (seriously, this is a major portion of the book) for people who have read these books (which includes me), but why would I want to read a sci-fi fiction book that is just snippets of conversations about other books. I have read almost 100 audiobooks on audible and I have never gotten to the end of a book and been so thankful that the atrocious thing was over. I honestly for the life of me cannot understand what others see in this book.

7 people found this helpful

Enjoyable

What did you like best about Among Others? What did you like least?

I liked the conflict the narrator feels with her coming adulthood best. I liked the neat and tidy ending least.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jo Walton? Why or why not?

Yes. I do think she is a fair writer with a talent for writing novels literature fans can latch onto.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved the Welsh accent. She makes the narrator come alive and injects personality and character. She made the people in the book real.

Was Among Others worth the listening time?

Yes.

15 people found this helpful