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whatiswithin 's review for:
The Original
by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal
I've never quite experienced a book quite like this, and I must say, I'm quite impressed! Unlike most audiobooks, which are originally physical books that someone picked up and read, this book was written to be read allowed, and it shows. There is a soundtrack, of a sort, to this book that goes along with it, and there are some sound effects too.
In addition, I also noticed this was a lot more pleasing to the ear than the average audiobook. It was obviously written like a script, with more of an idea of how it would sound, rather than how it would read on paper.
If you're worried this was starting to sound like a 30's radio drama where every sound is meticulously recreated to the point where it sounds awkward to our 21st century ear, have no fear! This strikes a really good balance between the audio and the text. (For instance, they used sound effects for a recording the characters were listening to, but not for when characters take steps, or a crash sounds.)
I believe this is Mary Kowal's experience at play, because she's worked with audio quite a bit, and talked about this kind of thing during her live stream with Brandon Sanderson. (I really want to check out more of her works now.)
Nevertheless, this book also contains a lot of Brandon Sanderson's style as well, with the world building, the twisty turny plot, and an end that kept me guessing up until the last minute.
Weirdly enough, I think I appreciate his genius best when in a novella, or in a tome. With tomes, he has the room to stretch, to grow a world I can vividly see every detail of. In contrast, with novella's he knows exactly what details and information to include to paint a similar world, only in broad strokes where we can easily fill in the details for ourselves.
This novella certainly does that, making a plausible, terrifyingly possible future that's the perfect setting for a mystery thriller.
The plot was riveting. I could never guess quite what was going to happen, I could barely wait the four hours this book lasted to find out the ending. I honestly think I would have skipped the middle had it been a novel, I just had to find out. But this novella length was the perfect length for me to wait out the whole plot.
Holly's pain and confusion and conflict within herself felt so, so real to me. (Perfectly acted by Julia Whelan, the narrator.) How could she murder her own husband, whom she loves so, so dearly? Is she really Holly, or merely a lifeless copy? Can she trust the government that birthed her, or even the rebels that go against it?
My heart ached for her, because I wanted so badly for her to be with her husband again. But then I would remember that there's another Holly out there. One that this Holly has to kill, and that even if her husband lived again, morally I would want him to end up with his original wife. But one can hope.
The only complaint I have is that I really liked the audiobook's music, and I can't seem to find it anywhere on the internet. It was probably used from some music database, but I really enjoyed it and would love to listen to it generally. If anyone knows what music was used, PLEASE let me know.
Overall, pretty much a perfect read for me, so five out of five stars. :)
In addition, I also noticed this was a lot more pleasing to the ear than the average audiobook. It was obviously written like a script, with more of an idea of how it would sound, rather than how it would read on paper.
If you're worried this was starting to sound like a 30's radio drama where every sound is meticulously recreated to the point where it sounds awkward to our 21st century ear, have no fear! This strikes a really good balance between the audio and the text. (For instance, they used sound effects for a recording the characters were listening to, but not for when characters take steps, or a crash sounds.)
I believe this is Mary Kowal's experience at play, because she's worked with audio quite a bit, and talked about this kind of thing during her live stream with Brandon Sanderson. (I really want to check out more of her works now.)
Nevertheless, this book also contains a lot of Brandon Sanderson's style as well, with the world building, the twisty turny plot, and an end that kept me guessing up until the last minute.
Weirdly enough, I think I appreciate his genius best when in a novella, or in a tome. With tomes, he has the room to stretch, to grow a world I can vividly see every detail of. In contrast, with novella's he knows exactly what details and information to include to paint a similar world, only in broad strokes where we can easily fill in the details for ourselves.
This novella certainly does that, making a plausible, terrifyingly possible future that's the perfect setting for a mystery thriller.
The plot was riveting. I could never guess quite what was going to happen, I could barely wait the four hours this book lasted to find out the ending. I honestly think I would have skipped the middle had it been a novel, I just had to find out. But this novella length was the perfect length for me to wait out the whole plot.
Holly's pain and confusion and conflict within herself felt so, so real to me. (Perfectly acted by Julia Whelan, the narrator.) How could she murder her own husband, whom she loves so, so dearly? Is she really Holly, or merely a lifeless copy? Can she trust the government that birthed her, or even the rebels that go against it?
My heart ached for her, because I wanted so badly for her to be with her husband again. But then I would remember that there's another Holly out there. One that this Holly has to kill, and that even if her husband lived again, morally I would want him to end up with his original wife. But one can hope.
The only complaint I have is that I really liked the audiobook's music, and I can't seem to find it anywhere on the internet. It was probably used from some music database, but I really enjoyed it and would love to listen to it generally. If anyone knows what music was used, PLEASE let me know.
Overall, pretty much a perfect read for me, so five out of five stars. :)