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4.4 AVERAGE
4.4 AVERAGE
This was genuinely so fun. James McAvoy suits Morpheus so much!!
Goodreads doesn’t allow me enough stars to adequately rate this experience. Gaiman is always perfection when it comes to his narrating. The full cast was amazing and the score was gorgeous.
The production value and voice acting alone should warrant this five stars. I could listen to James McAvoy be the lead in every audio book I listened to for the rest of my life and be happy to listen to more. But I'm sure an actor makes a whole lot more than an audio book narrator, so probably not going to happen.
I really liked most of the stories. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more with John Constantine or the Justice League. It wasn't rushed by any means, I just didn't realize it wasn't going to be the entire story. The story of the man who didn't want to die was really cool. It really showed the growth of Morpheus over time, just as his sister wanted, I think.
There were a couple short stories that felt off or didn't really fit, like the cat one. Some of the serial killer stuff was a bit over the top for me as well. Overall, a great production and a very enjoyable listen.
I really liked most of the stories. I was a little disappointed there wasn't more with John Constantine or the Justice League. It wasn't rushed by any means, I just didn't realize it wasn't going to be the entire story. The story of the man who didn't want to die was really cool. It really showed the growth of Morpheus over time, just as his sister wanted, I think.
There were a couple short stories that felt off or didn't really fit, like the cat one. Some of the serial killer stuff was a bit over the top for me as well. Overall, a great production and a very enjoyable listen.
CW: sexual assault, abuse.
As a lover of audiobooks and someone who has enjoyed many of Neil Gaiman's books, I was expecting to really like this (especially given the overwhelmingly positive reviews). I haven't read the Sandman graphic novels but again, they're widely regarded as excellent... but dear lord, most of this audiobook was extremely unpleasant for me to listen to. Despite a great soundtrack and an incredible cast, I found myself at first distracted from the story by overacting and unnecessarily gross sound effects (slurping, eating noises, people moaning while having sex) and subsequently extremely turned off by the meaningless violence (including sexual violence) and abuse that recurred in so many of the story lines. I'm a fan of dark fantasy but I guess I'm not a fan of the type of meaningless cruelty exhibited by so many of the villains in this episodic series of stories. Probably my biggest issue was with the "so EVIL because he's so DERANGED" Joker-like villains, which recurred a few times. They really don't do it for me, maybe because there's nothing redeeming or realistic about these types of characters. Then there's the storyline in which a writer has imprisoned and repeatedly rapes Calliope (the Muse of epic poetry) which infuses him with inspiration for his work. I could go on about other things I disliked, but overall it was just extremely unpleasant. The last couple hours of the audiobook were an improvement, and I particularly liked the Shakespearean episode that closed out the story. If they adapt subsequent volumes I would probably give them a try, but wow, this was such a big disappointment.
As a lover of audiobooks and someone who has enjoyed many of Neil Gaiman's books, I was expecting to really like this (especially given the overwhelmingly positive reviews). I haven't read the Sandman graphic novels but again, they're widely regarded as excellent... but dear lord, most of this audiobook was extremely unpleasant for me to listen to. Despite a great soundtrack and an incredible cast, I found myself at first distracted from the story by overacting and unnecessarily gross sound effects (slurping, eating noises, people moaning while having sex) and subsequently extremely turned off by the meaningless violence (including sexual violence) and abuse that recurred in so many of the story lines. I'm a fan of dark fantasy but I guess I'm not a fan of the type of meaningless cruelty exhibited by so many of the villains in this episodic series of stories. Probably my biggest issue was with the "so EVIL because he's so DERANGED" Joker-like villains, which recurred a few times. They really don't do it for me, maybe because there's nothing redeeming or realistic about these types of characters. Then there's the storyline in which a writer has imprisoned and repeatedly rapes Calliope (the Muse of epic poetry) which infuses him with inspiration for his work.
Spoiler
Even if he got his comeuppance in the end, it's still an extremely gross concept that someone would gain artistic power from raping a woman. Fuck that.
This was a fantastic audiobook. Great sound design, voice acting, music and narration. I've read some of the Sandman comic, and now I'm definitely going to seek those out to add to my shelf.
An excellent audio adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s darkly brilliant Sandman series of graphic novels, amply performed by a wonderful cast. Led by the ever-reliable and ever-fantastic James McAvoy as Morpheus/Dream, the eponymous ‘Sandman’, and Gaiman himself as narrator, this audiobook adaptation of the first few issues of the comics is a great experience.
For the uninitiated, the audiobook is very episodic (literally 20 different episodes) and, though there are some narrative threads that run across certain episodes, there are others that are standalone adventures. Some are more gripping than others but the audio direction and acting are exemplary throughout. Gaiman is such a great storyteller and I could listen to him read to me all day. I enjoyed following along with the comics at the same time and I’d recommend to all that you begin by reading those first, or at least alongside the audiobook.
The plot? Well it’s best to experience it for yourself. When you’re dealing with the land of dreams, the plot is appropriately erratic, whimsical and nightmarish. But look out for a very special Shakespeare performance, serial killer convention and an unforgettable trip to the diner.
For the uninitiated, the audiobook is very episodic (literally 20 different episodes) and, though there are some narrative threads that run across certain episodes, there are others that are standalone adventures. Some are more gripping than others but the audio direction and acting are exemplary throughout. Gaiman is such a great storyteller and I could listen to him read to me all day. I enjoyed following along with the comics at the same time and I’d recommend to all that you begin by reading those first, or at least alongside the audiobook.
The plot? Well it’s best to experience it for yourself. When you’re dealing with the land of dreams, the plot is appropriately erratic, whimsical and nightmarish. But look out for a very special Shakespeare performance, serial killer convention and an unforgettable trip to the diner.
I read the Sandman series when I was quite young (middle school I think? Maybe the start of HS) (I'm now 34 or something so it's been a while either way). I remembered the overall universe but not a lot of details. This was a little more graphic than my little mind remembered (but I think things affected me less when I was younger anyway because my empathy hadn't developed as much). Anyways, I still enjoyed it then but also felt like I was missing a lot-that feeling was much less listening this time around.
Most of this was intriguing and very engaging, extra pizazz for audio with a full cast and sound effects were pretty cool-once in a while things seemed over-acted but I tend to think that a lot.
Anyways, I enjoyed this a lot and would anticipate it would have a pretty large audience that would enjoy it, even if they're not normally very into audiobooks.
I'm never a huge fan of the shorter spin-off stories, so the ending was a letdown, but. I look forward to more installments.
Most of this was intriguing and very engaging, extra pizazz for audio with a full cast and sound effects were pretty cool-once in a while things seemed over-acted but I tend to think that a lot.
Anyways, I enjoyed this a lot and would anticipate it would have a pretty large audience that would enjoy it, even if they're not normally very into audiobooks.
I'm never a huge fan of the shorter spin-off stories, so the ending was a letdown, but. I look forward to more installments.
Look, I understand this is a classic, and the voice acting is great. But this is literally just 8 hours of murder, and rape, and homophobia, and child abuse, and then some more torture and murder, and I just… do not need that in my life.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes