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The Soul Thief Audiobook, by Charles Baxter Play Audiobook Sample

The Soul Thief Audiobook

The Soul Thief Audiobook, by Charles Baxter Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Jefferson Mays Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.00 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: March 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781436117241

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

47

Longest Chapter Length:

29:51 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

47 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

07:42 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

4

Other Audiobooks Written by Charles Baxter: > View All...

Publisher Description

In college, Nathaniel meets someone who knows too much about him. Responsible for his breakdown, this odd character appears 30 years later to suggest <#150> with staggering consequences <#150> that Nathaniel's identity may not be his own. "Mays brings a

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"I'm at a loss on how to rate this one. Enjoyed it when I was reading it, had a suspicion as to where it was heading that proved to be incorrect, and was then thoroughly confused by the ending. After sleeping on it, I still can't decide if it was brilliant or a cop out. In the end I suppose the fact that I'm still thinking about it and trying to figure it out bumps it from 3 star territory into 4, though the fact that I can't decide prevents it moving higher or lower."

— Jacob (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Gloriously done…It’s like watching fire slowly travel up a curtain, waiting for the moment the whole cloth will be engulfed.” 

    — New York Times
  • “Shrewd and mischievous.” 

    — Boston Globe
  • “With a prose style lyrical, accessible and warmly humorous, Charles Baxter has been quietly building a reputation as one of America’s favorite literary authors…His newest novel teems with the same good-natured empathy and wry humor that imbues his earlier works…It surely will delight.” 

    — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • “This is a dandy psychological thriller in which proliferating mirrors will make your head spin. Baxter has given us the writers version of that famous M. C. Escher print in which one hand is drawing the other.”

    — Minneapolis Star Tribune 

The Soul Thief Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.586206896551724 out of 52.586206896551724 out of 52.586206896551724 out of 52.586206896551724 out of 52.586206896551724 out of 5 (2.59)
5 Stars: 3
4 Stars: 2
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 10
1 Stars: 5
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: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The gorgeousness of Baxter's prose does not make up for the half-bakd premise of this novel. Perhaps if I'd stopped reading after Part One..... "

    — Gail, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very cerebral and existential, well-written, but hard to care about the characters. "

    — Leslie, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It is an adult book. The story is not amazing but the writing is amazing. Page after page of prose. Good times! "

    — Earl, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Truly strange. I'm in love with the writing of Charles Baxter... this wasn't one of my favorites, though. "

    — Josh, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good writer with a potentially interesting story, but it never really pulled me in. "

    — Wesley, 2/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Charlie is a friend and a great writer. I think this is one of his best novels. "

    — Sea, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Although it's easy to admire the writer's literary craft through the pages, ultimately the plot lagged too much for my taste, and the ending was a dud. "

    — Sandy, 1/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I have mixed feelings about the story line and the characters. But the quality of writing was excellent. "

    — Lisa, 12/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A trifle dark "

    — Richard, 12/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Uh...what the hell did I just read? "

    — Amie, 11/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I have read several of Chas. Baxter's novels and liked them, but I was very disappointed here. Even the conclusion didn't redeem it. "

    — Karen, 11/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Great writer - underrated and underknown "

    — Jon, 8/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My first B book in the audio section. I did not like it and did not get it. The characters are believeable, but what they are doing is not interesting. There is some stuff at the beginning that never did come together. "

    — Suzanne, 12/31/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book was like a David Lynch movie. "

    — Bethspin, 6/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Kinda trippy and really strange, not to mention it's set in Buffalo, N.Y. "

    — Anne, 12/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " i'm not 100% sure i followed, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. "

    — Heidi, 11/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book was hard to get into... no where near as good as the Feast of Love. I was disappointed. "

    — Liz, 7/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a tough call. The prose and writing passages make me want to give it four stars, but the plot and character development leave me wanting to leave only two. I'll settle for three. "

    — Whitney, 5/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " couldn't get into this one... lots of 1970s humanities grad students being narcissistic. "

    — Nick, 4/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My notes on this book ready only &quot;huh?&quot; So clearly I couldn't follow what was going on. "

    — Kathy, 4/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This was good, but I am not sure I understood all of it. The author is, however, a good story teller. "

    — Linda, 3/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Hard to follow at times for me. "

    — Trinity, 3/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Damn how this book snuck up on me...and sent me reeling back through the pages (literally and figuratively). "

    — Victoria, 3/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not what I expected it to be, but still somewhat interesting. More cerebral than thrilling, like I hoped for. "

    — Kristie, 2/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " the premise is difficult enough to write a good book, but add in flat characters and a unsatisfying twist ending and this is just not worth it. read feast of love instead.. "

    — Zovig, 1/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Did not finish this book as I could not get into it and fell asleep every time I picked it up. Love Baxter and his other writings so will try again at a later date when maybe I can pay attention to it more. "

    — Ried, 1/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I was almost to the end of the first of five discs and I realized that I had no idea what this story was about really, so I decided to give up on it. "

    — Leslie, 12/4/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I have read several of Chas. Baxter's novels and liked them, but I was very disappointed here. Even the conclusion didn't redeem it. "

    — Karen, 11/4/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I didn't like any of the characters and I was generally unimpressed with the whole novel, but the ending was AWESOME! It's enough to make me not regret reading the whole thing, but not enough to make me like the book "

    — Sasha, 10/7/2010

About Charles Baxter

Charles Baxter is the author of several works of fiction, including Saul and Patsy; The Feast of Love, a National Book Award nominee; Through the Safety Net; and Believers. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

About Jefferson Mays

Jefferson Mays, an Earphones Awards-winning narrator, is also an award-winning theater and film actor. In 2004 he won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Obie Award, and a Theatre World Award for his solo Broadway performance in I Am My Own Wife, a Pulitzer Prize–winning play by Doug Wright. He holds a BA from Yale College and an MFA from University of California–San Diego.