Beautifully written. I fell in love with the story and the characters, and the narrator is excellent . I think I’ve listened to this book 5x now, and I’m sure I’ll listen yet again.

I loved loved loved this book. I was totally transported into Theo's world. What a read! And the narrator was amazing.

Her ability to show, not tell, is remarkable. Brilliant work. I liked the narrator except I think a female should have been used for the female voices. All the female voices sounded like they were being read by a transvestite.

It took a few tries to get into it but once I did, I was glad I stuck with it. The narration is Very good.

worth every hour!

Overall good. Never quite got past the female character voices. Distracting.

The narration of characters is very well done. But, overall, I found the plot slow moving, and seemingly pointless. I was interested until the plot twisted one too many ways... and then kept twisting...

I read this novel and loved it so much I had to listen to it, which was delightful. The narrator really brought all the characters to life. Sandra

Very well done. Nice suspense and good ending. Great Character sketches. I really enjoyed the audio book.

Terribly boring. Could only get through it as an audio book where I didn't have to pay attention the whole time. Character belabors his miserable life. Book had potential with possibly good storyline. But 80% of the time it's just focused on describing a drug-addicts miserable withdrawal symptoms. Voice of narrator was terrific though and made it possible to get through it after all.

Quite an entertaining and thought provoking book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Excellent. Could not stop listening. Bought a hardcover so I know I’ll be close to such a brilliant, heartbreaking, surprising story so richly described.

Torn on this one but overall disliked it. Loved the beginning in all its Dickensian goodness... then sadly hated the rest of the book. Monotonous and boring despite a wildly ridiculous and should be entertainibg plot and some good writing. Theo is boring and uninteresting and sadly his view informs the whole story. I wish the author had chosen to center any other character other than this bland, self absorbed, white cis het male. As it is none of the other characters are fleshed out to anything other than cliches. Their love and support of Theo is so unrelenting and unbelievable. It pulled the central conceit of the novel out from under me and I just couldn't engage. The ending ramble on the meaningless chaos of life and the power of art to save us is laughable, pedantic and destroyed any good will I had built. Anyway part one was great.

Fabulous story with spellbinding narration.

One of the greatest books I have ever read. The Author brings the story to life like a movie in your head. A must read!

Words can't describe how much I loved this book. The book itself is great but the narrator does an even better job! I didn't want it to end.

Incredibly long and excruciatingly boring.

I was exhausted by this book. Many turns in the plot, not entirely sure what the point was, sometimes it was sad or made me super anxious. It didn’t lose my interest even with the existential rambles, and the narrator did a great job. Honestly wouldn’t recommend it, just my two cents.

It's very long, but I agree with the other reviewers, you transport to Theo's sad world. The narrator did a great job!

This book will keep you on your toes.

This book won an award?1?! I found this book extremely hard to follow. After reading it I wondered - What did I just read? What was the point of the story? Why am I continuing to read this book? Once I finally finished the book, I watched the movie. The movie is much better. Don't waste your time buying this book - watch the movie.

Best narrator ever. Book keeps getting more and more engaging. Excellent read!

It took me a few tries to get into this book. I didn't like the narrator's voice at first. But once I got into it, I couldn't put it down! The narrator actually was amazing and became such a fun experience to listen as I followed along with my book. I thought the last 10 or so pages weren't necessary and the whole deal with Horst and Sascha was kind of hard to follow. But still, 5 out of 5! Bravo!!

This was probably the best book I have ever listened to. I loved the narrator, I couldn’t put it down; I listened for hours at a time. The writing was 5 star!

Epic, truly epic

Excellent read!

The story's overall depressing tone almost made me stop reading the book. However, it was very well written and compelling so it kept me coming back. This young man, Theo, is the victim of so many atrocities that I shudder to think of the reality that it emulates for some children. Boris was also a difficult character for me to like, because he is every parent's nightmare influence on their precious child. Had Theo's mother been alive, she would have been appalled at Theo's choice of friend. My favorite character in the book was, of course, Hobie. He was a ray of light in an otherwise dark story and one of the reasons I kept getting drawn back to finish the story. My least favorite thing about the book was that Theo kind of lucked in to redemption and as a book about redemption, I felt this redemption was only partial in the end. Some people just call that reality, but I call it only half good. Now, about the narrator! Mr. Pittu is an excellent narrator. He brought the whole book to life. Every character, young, old, rich, poor, male, female, foreign, or domestic was brought to life by his narration. The narrator was the other reason that I kept coming back to this book even when it was something I wasn't exactly enjoying. His voice was easy, descriptive, and just perfect throughout. I would choose to listen to a book simply because he is the narrator.

I enjoyed most of it, but I had a hard time with the ending. It seemed to fall apart.

The author rambles on in overly descriptive ways that become tiresome and the message of the book is very negative. Most of the characters are not likable so in the end it lead me to not really care what happemned to them

One of the best books from a terrific author. You feel you know the characters so well that when the books is over you find yourself missing them. No shortage on suspense, twists and turns. This book will be an old friend that I will have to revisit from time to time. The narrator should win an award. He was a one man movie.

Very dificult book to endure. Just like others have said, and Angelika gave the most accurate review, you have to be prepared for endless hours of drug abuse decribed in excruciatng detail all thoughout this novel. Then you need to be prepared fot the level of vulgarity that would make Marine drill sargeats and inner city rappers blush. I hit the 30 second skip many times just so that I could see how it ended. It would have helped if the main characters were at least likable. They were not. The secondary characters were wonderful and well developed though. The only reason for this novel getting a Pulitzer Prize must have been that the technical style, and depth of the characters as well as the overall structure of the story were done extremly well. A truly beatiful writing style and what was a potentually great storyline. But overall, too ugly of a story to be worth your time. You will feel dirty while reading it and be glad when it is finally over.

This book was a car wreck. All twisted and you could not look away. All I could think of when I finished the book was glad that is over with.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and missed listening to it when it ended. Narrator was excellent. This will stay with me for quite a while Val

top notch audiobook! I was 100% in the story. What a sad tale of drug addition and life choices.

The journey that Theo took me on was complicated and relatable. At times I wasn’t sure if I liked or disliked the main character. I enjoyed it and was sad that it ended but happy that the author gave closure to the story.

The worst day of Theo's life is when he met Boris. Too much drug use throughout. Author rambles in sections. Like many movies - story could have been told much faster. Painfully detailed.

Amazing book - I have listened to many times — narrator is excellent!

I absolutely lived this book and couldn’t wait until I was in the car or walking to listen to it! I agree with another comment that the narrator should have had a female read the female characters parts. I was distracted by the manliness of the voice. Otherwise he did a great job with all of the other characters and I Felt like I was part of the novel

The story? Engaging. The writing? Sub-par. I desperately wanted to find out what happened to Theo, but felt like I was reading a children’s book. Adult content aside, I would have been more impressed if I were a middle schooler when I read it. Entertaining? Yes. Literature? No. Not sure how this won the Pulitzer.

I couldn’t wait till it was over

Loved the book and thought the narrator was excellent!

Was fully transported into Theo’s world. I love the narrator and his portrayal of the characters with accents. Detail was great and was able to visualize the setting. The characters were well developed and kept me in suspense.

I loved this !

I really liked the book, but I couldn't finish the audiobook because of the narrator. He was tolerable when he was reading Theo, but all of the other characters were butchered ... especially the women! What was the narrator thinking??

I agree with some of the other reviews, boring plot and slow moving. The narrator was excellent, that made it tolerable to the end.

What a boring plot! 36 hours of twists and turns that lead nowhere. Very disappointing.

I have both read and listened to this book and clearly, I am a fan. To those looking for a story about the ugly truths of life-this is for you. For those who state this book is boring, maybe try a shorter novel? It's a long read with a beautiful and heartbreaking journey. You can't rush a story such as this one.

loving this book and loving audibooks first time on it :)

I thought it was a bit slow until about 2/3 into book. Last 1/3 very exciting.

Incredibly well written. Push through early pages of detail but difficult to find direction for one of the best books of the decade.

Loved.... Loved this story! It stayed with me after it ended. I do have to say that the narrator made the story...... Well done!

I couldn't finish this book. In fairness I read a synopsis of the book online so I know what happens. This book is extremely thorough in parts that aren't necessary. The author is very boring. I felt bad not liking this book because it was critically acclaimed.

I simply fell in love! I had to tell all my friends to read it!

The story line had potential but it seems to drag too long at times... Characters are complex and the main one tends to go into self analysis too often for my taste. Narrator is good. Overall good book, but it took me longer to finish this book .

The writer's craft is exceptional, but I agree with those who have said that several parts really drag on. It was a very long book to listen to, but it was worth the time. The narrator was exceptional.

Very entertaining read. I'm impressed with the narrator.

Great book and very good narrator! Very immersed story of a boy, family and how one is so similar to their parents.

Fascinating story that is brilliantly read/acted. I was riveted through the whole thing.

The narrator was spot on and the writing was impeccable. I kept thinking I wouldn't care what the story line was as long as it was told by such a fine writer. Loved how the painting weaved lives, countries, people and decades so intimately together. So loved this book!

Narrator was awesome. The book was okay. Definitely not the best I've read. Very boring and uninteresting in many places.

The book drags and you may be hopeful something interesting happens but it never does. I found it boring and wish I could get my 32 hours back.

I loved every minute of this story. The attention to detail and creativity of the story was amazing. I read between 55-70 books a year and there are only a few of this caliber. The reader was excellent and was able to convey the depth of emotions and nuance of every character. I didn't want it to end!

Way too descriptive with boring story line. Tried to listen until halfway, then just had to stop. Pretty awful.

Awesome book. I liked the authors accurate depiction of trauma and how it can affect us. As a NYC transplant, I could see the city attractions and locations in my head while listening. The narrator did a good job representing so many characters.

The best book. Massive and epic. I found myself trying to predict all the time what was going to happen next. Though the end came abruptly and left me low it was a feeling I felt was necessary.

I wish I had these hours back! Horrible. Way too descriptive- This pointless story literally went on forever! My sister recommended this book saying it was one of the best she's ever read- I continually wondered if she'd given me the wrong title!

It pulled me in like a drug habit. Fabulous reading by David Pittu!

An okay book. Definitely not the best! But it was worth a listen. Not a waste of complete time!