Titus Groan (Abridged) Audiobook

" This is not a work of fiction. Instead, it was Mervyn Peake's attempt to document adjectives. "

" If you liked this book, you might also enjoy Foundling, Lamplighter, and Factotum by D.M. Cornish. "

" Thick, furry, alternate, and important, Peake captures a different genre of fantasy that is the path less taken. "

" This is the first book in a British trilogy for kids. A former boyfriend recommended it and I can't imagine reading it as a child. It's dark and dreary and pretty sophisticated language for kids. I should have read this while we were still dating; it would have given me better insight about him earlier on! "

" Honestly, I was not a fan. I can see why it's a classic, but I found the plot to be just this side of nonexistent, the descriptions too similar to Hawthorne's style, and the characters rather unlikable. Ultimately, I was disappointed. "

" This is a tough one to rate. In its class it is really a five star. Peake is a true classic writer. This book the first of the trilogy is a good read in the Gothic style. There are few writers today who could hold a candle to Peake in writing. Sow why did I rate him only three? For this book there is no time or urgency. Even in a sword/knife fight the writer continues to define and delve into thoughts and meanings. There is nothing left for the reader to add or figure out, the writer provides it all. But in real life the moment of time doesn't delay and give way to thought. So I find myself giving a story teller and yet not a great writer like Peake five stars because the story was amazing and made me keep turning pages and wanting to know what was going to happen next. There was no such urgency to turn pages in Titus Groan. There was no rush; no time. If you like this form of classic writing than this is great book. I prefer the story teller to the writer. There is much fantasy and magic and such in the book I don't mean to play that down but the writing, which is superb, doesn't draw the excitement and importance of time from me. "

" This bleak portrait of an unforgivingly rigid world is painted in some of the most beautiful prose ever written. Stunningly crafted characters nimbly weave in and out of the surreal environment portraying various forms of discontent, claustrophobia and madness to perfection. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. "

" Peake creates wonderful characters--strange, extreme, yet beneath the grotesqueness are real human emotions. The castle is like a character itself, it seems almost alive. Peake can spend pages describing a scene, but it is well worth it because the events and surroundings stay with you vividly. "

" Not what I expected. Some of it is hilarious, if you're paying attention. Some of it annoyed me. To be sure, his character development is aces. "

" This series contributed to my lifelong love of sprawling, atmospheric fantasy writing. Peake's grim and extravagant world is unforgettable. "

" This book really bogged down in my opinion. It could've been much better, but it was low on action and high on cerebral nonsense. "

" Too, too many adjectives and I love this book anyway. "

" I loved the idea, but I just couldn't finish the book. None of the characters had personality, they were dull cut-outs intended to perform a role, but there was no soul in this book. If you're going to do surreal and bizarre then fine, but the characters must have some humanity to support that. "

" Review forthcoming, but initial impressions are that this book is extraordinarily claustrophobic, uncomfortable, and yet very compelling. "

" A truly unique book. A bit slow and ponderous, but that's the nature of the amazing and original world Peake has created. A classic. "

" It's apparent that the author, Mervyn Peake, lovingly wrote Titus Groan. The prose was beautiful and the narrator, Robert Whitfield, was good. Unfortunately, I didn't feel compelled to continue with the story as none of the characters interested me. "

" Fabulous fantasy; extraordinarily rich in texture. I used to sit and reread individual paragraphs just for the joy of the language. I should read it again. "

" Wow. This ain't fantasy. This is a yarn, exaggerated and absurd and funny and creepy and gross and gloomy and depressing and comical. Who cares about plot and characters when every sentence is so much fun? Reminded me most of Charles Dickens. "

" Not the easiest writer to read the darkness of the storyline and the stream of unlovable characters do not make for light reading. I found the BBC interpretation very good and a lot more watchable than reading all the books. "

" Just fucking exquisite. "

" I only read the first book Titus Groan and found it tedious and boring. It's not very often I find myself in such a position with any book. "

" I can't claim to have read all the way to the end of the third book. Titus Groan and Gormenghast keep your interest, especially in the author's description of the peculiarities of the society he's created. But Titus Alone was such a departure from what I was expecting that I stopped reading. "

" 1168 pages of pure awesomeness. "

" Titus Groan, Gormenghast, and Titus Alone. Great, great, and far out (but great). "

" It was an epic slog, but I did manage to make it all the way through. Interesting, but...rather dull. "

" I have got to read these books again! "

" Must be in the mood, doesn't move fast but very atmospheric. "

" BEST. VOCABULARY. EVER. I am in awe of this man's vast knowledge of the English language. And the world he creates in this trilogy was the Elsewhere I needed to escape to at a not very nice time in my life. Great books for many reasons. "

" Strange and beautiful. Unlike anything I'd ever read before. <br/>I loved Titus Groan and Gormenghast; Titus Alone was a little too science-fiction-y for my taste. <br/>I'm looking forward to re-reading the whole thing again, maybe this summer. "

" They're just not like regular books... "

" Part 1 is wonderful<br/>Part 2 is pretty good<br/>Part 3 is mediocre "