Fantastic writer, not a great reader.

I wanted to like this, but found the reading very hard to follow. Solnit often pauses halfway through a sentence at an unnatural point, in a way that makes it a challenge to correctly parse. This is a flaw when each sentence is so heavy with meaning.
I was somewhat heartened to read other reviews, which similarly say the reading is difficult to follow. It’s not just me!

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8 people found this helpful

Not really my thing

It was OK, not really my kind of thing. Not a fan of the narrator/writers voice , very monotone or some such. I struggled to focus on her voice. And you need to focus. Interesting stories through out, but if your focus slips for a second you're lost. (maybe that's deliberate given the topic of the book)

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A good read but I want my credit back

The book is great but Solnit destroys it. Her voice/reading being thin, dreamy and monotonous. She makes you feel like you are listening to some self-help lullaby and it, duh, takes away of the otherwise great and convincing content of the book. There is a reason for professional narrators existing. Ended up reading the book.

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1 person found this helpful

Good for insomnia

Like most others, I can’t listen for the narration, but I do visit the book when I’m having trouble sleeping. I set the sleep timer and never hear more than the first few hypnotically delivered sentences…

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2 people found this helpful

I prefer to read than to listen to Rebecca

It's one of those tricky and hard to find things: the ability to recognize when you are great at something and not so great at something else. I love Rebecca's writing and have all her books. This book is special for all the insights and reflexive journey it offers, but Rebecca didn't manage to narrate it well. Her voice sounds almost lifeless, and even the punctuation reading is off. I'd stick to the printed version or the e-book.

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Good book, irritating narration

Sorry, but I found myself not hearing what the narrator was saying because I was getting so annoyed with her whispery breathy pain-filled voice. Next time time the author should hire a reader. It's like that voice sample from the Orb's 'Little Fluffy Clouds' but over and over again for hours. Perhaps she should re-record it over a cool dance sample.

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An interesting listen

I loved the narration, dreamlike & airy. The story was beautifully told.
I’m unsure what to think of the story, meandering from piece to piece.

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One of the greatest books ever written

Solnit's observations of human and non-human life are some of the deepest, truest, most nuanced and broadly informed, that I have ever come across in my 70 years, and her writing is breathtakingly beautiful. This exquisite book is only enhanced by her own reading. After listening to the first hour, I bought a hard copy to put away in a 'time capsule' of treasures I am collecting for my granddaughter for when she is older.

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2 people found this helpful

Depressing narration

I was looking forward to hearing this book but couldn’t stand listening to that droning voice. Very disappointed.

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A mapping of the emotional worlds

Listening to this book is like mini meditations, on the histories, natural worlds and the sensations we receive from them. The arousal of geotainment. Highly recommend you treat each chapter as a gift of mindful richness.

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1 person found this helpful