La Piel de Zapa (The Spade Skin) (Abridged) Audiobook, by Honore de Balzac Play Audiobook Sample

La Piel de Zapa (The Spade Skin) (Abridged) Audiobook

La Piel de Zapa (The Spade Skin) (Abridged) Audiobook, by Honore de Balzac Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Laura Garcia Publisher: Yoyo USA Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 2.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 1.75 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: May 2006 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN:

Publisher Description

Un joven desilusionado de la vida recibe como regalo una piel de zapa, que le concedera todos sus deseos, pero cada vez que eso sucede, la piel se vuelve mas pequena y cuando ella desaparezca, el joven morira. Ese dilema, de si se quiere cambiar la felicidad (representada por el cumplimiento de los deseos) por la muerte es el fondo de esta famosa novela de Balzac, donde en forma continua esta la rivalidad entre el destino y el libre albedrio. Esta fantastica creacion del insigne novelista es igualmente una de sus obras mas acabadas y el interes no desaparece en ningun momento.

A young man, disappointed with his life, receives as a gift a spade skin that allows him to satisfy all his whims, but whenever it happens, the skin becomes smaller and whenever it disappears, the young man will die. The dilemma, to exchange happiness (represented by the fulfillment of the desires) for death is the foundation of Balzac's famous novel where, in a continuous form, there is rivalry between destiny and freewill.

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"Magical realism form a much earlier age. I had no real expectations -- didn't even expect to actually read it -- but this ended up being a pretty gripping page-turner. Amazing ruminations on the flailing nature of desire and its various ill effects."

— Andy (5 out of 5 stars)

La Piel de Zapa (The Spade Skin) Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.38888888888889 out of 53.38888888888889 out of 53.38888888888889 out of 53.38888888888889 out of 53.38888888888889 out of 5 (3.39)
5 Stars: 5
4 Stars: 5
3 Stars: 1
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Slow "philosophical" novel. "

    — Geoffrey, 2/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " in the time I had to read it, and knowing little as to author and context, this is the best I could do. I'm sure I could like it a lot, but eh. "

    — Lisa, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It petered out a bit towards the end, but I was entertained nonetheless. "

    — kasia, 11/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I tried listening to this book, but was unable to finish it and returned it to the library. Usually, I try to finish books. Cousin Bette was much more interesting. "

    — Heywu, 6/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I read this for my French class (in French, of course). "

    — Cait, 5/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " My whole life in a book... Unfortunately i dont have any talisman on my hands. "

    — Rolando, 8/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " No one's learned anything from this story. "

    — D.w., 8/3/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I kept seeing Balzac's name come up in other French novels, so I figured I'd give him a shot. What a downer! About as chipper as "The Scarlet Letter". The main character is a self-centered jackass who gets his just deserts. That's it. That's the whole story. "

    — Jen, 1/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " If you like Wilde's Pic of Dorian Grey, you'll love this one. We all go through this at some point; we all consider selling our soul's in some form or other. "

    — Shon, 9/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I'm glad that this was not the first book that I read by Balzac or I would never have read another. While the story line itself held my interest, the long periods of prosaic observations made my mind wander. "

    — Murray, 9/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is a classic just one of the most wonderful stories that captures the essential predicament of the human condition "

    — John, 1/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Simply stunning. The depictions of emotional uncertainty and the fluctuations of fortune were remarkable. The display of ornate and obscure objects, avocations and sundry theory were equally compelling. "

    — Jonfaith, 11/2/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It petered out a bit towards the end, but I was entertained nonetheless. "

    — kasia, 7/26/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I kept seeing Balzac's name come up in other French novels, so I figured I'd give him a shot. What a downer! About as chipper as "The Scarlet Letter". The main character is a self-centered jackass who gets his just deserts. That's it. That's the whole story. "

    — Jen, 6/5/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of the best books I have read! "

    — Dk11, 3/12/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I tried listening to this book, but was unable to finish it and returned it to the library. Usually, I try to finish books. Cousin Bette was much more interesting. "

    — Heywu, 12/17/2009
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " It's one of those books which is romantic and philosophical too, well not really philosophical textbook but having some philosophical material in it. Well, I think any book dealing somehow with suicide have some philosophy in it. Right? "

    — Erfaan, 7/15/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " No one's learned anything from this story. "

    — D.w., 6/5/2009