Power through for a deep exam. of a man's psyche

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

This is a complicated book. I'm not sure it lends itself all that well to an audio version. But I'm still new to audio books, and find I like them best when I can be a tad bit distracted when listening to them. This is a not a book to digest while being distracted. It requires full attention.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the many levels this story exists on. It is a story, told from one (increasingly crazy) man about his desires, actions, and motivations.

What about Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance did you like?

I read this book as I listened, so I noticed he occasionally took small liberties. Jocelyn spoke with more contractions! So if you are a purist, know that. But the voices he infused the characters with were fantastic.

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Self torture

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Anyone who wants to punish themselves.

Would you ever listen to anything by William Golding again?

Yes...I would listen to Lore of the Flies as I have read that .

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

I would not have been able to endure this had he not performed...and this was a great performance.

What character would you cut from The Spire?

The main one.

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A relentless exploration of vanity

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I am unsure if I would recommend this audiobook. This book might be better consumed ocularly via Kindle or (gasp) old-fashioned book. The story is predictable and I found the characters somewhat unremarkable - surprising for Mr. Golding. However, the writing was superb as usual. I think reading it would allow more appreciation of the language without relying upon attention-grabbing characters. That being said, Mr. Cumberbatch does a FANTASTIC job of narrating. I loved his voices, and his voice in general.

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So so so so sooooo confusing.

I'll be honest. I'm not a philosophical person. I don't enjoy super deep thinking or huge amounts of reading between the lines. This book felt like it was 80% reading between the lines with the constant psychological and philosophical interpretations of the actions and scenes around the main character. Which means, I was utterly lost on what was happening like 70% of the time.
I love Mr Cumberbatch, with his grand scale of varying voices, but at times, the characters were so wildly voiced due to the interpretation of their emotions, that I had no idea who was speaking and who said what.
I will only mention this book to others whom might enjoy the challenge of a severely confusing read.

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Twisty and dark

Twisty and dark story with a building sense of doom. Wonderfully read by Benedict Cumberbatch, who employs a wide range of voices and creates the dean's character brilliantly.

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Enjoyable book

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

Most others are stories, I'd say this should be required reading for Engineering students (especially those who will specialize in Project Management) in Freshman English class.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Spire?

The confrontation between Roger Mason and Jocelin, when Roger Mason shows how much he'd already done to try and make the Spire work and Jocelin's blind faith practically drives him to despair, though he still tries his best to find a solution.

Which scene was your favorite?

The memorable moment mentioned above.

If you could rename The Spire, what would you call it?

Watching a Train Wreck About to Happen

Any additional comments?

The performance by Benedict Cumberbatch was phenomenal. He inhabited his characters and the voices he created for each character made the book easy to follow and kept me riveted.

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Even Benedict Cumberbatch couldn't save this

What disappointed you about The Spire?

I think it was the characters themselves. The main character was so annoying.

Has The Spire turned you off from other books in this genre?

I doubt it.

Which scene was your favorite?

None

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The Spire Inspires

Captivating story. The writing was exquisite-- practically poetry. Cumberbatch used his talents of creating accents to the fullest. Fabulous book!

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Best Audible performance yet heard

I have used hundreds of Audible recordings, but Benedict Cumberbatch performing William Golding’s exceptional novel, The Spire, is the best I have heard. It is a performance, a true dramatic performance that enhanced the reading and appreciation of the novel. And this is what I desire in an Audible reader.

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worth reading

I liked the story, probably will come back to it.
The performance was great (not a surprise).

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