Book so good, it'll make you want to slap yo momma

Wow..this book? THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE..this is THE book. If I was stuck on a desert island... why is it always a desert island anyways?, why not a tropical island?. Does a desert island even exist? I digress, this book would be my Wilson, after I was done reading it (errr.. listening to it) I would talk to it, play chess against it, caress it close on those long island nights, make sweet love to it. The author seems like the kinda guy who would be awesome to hang out with and have a beer, or maybe watch a mad max flick and eat nachos. The narration, while not Wil Wheaton, was still very good, but I do think Wil Wheaton would have done a better job. I can't wait for a movie to come out based on this book and all I can hope for is Samuel L. Jackson as the fish. "I'm Fallin Mutha$#©k@!!"

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23 people found this helpful

STELLAR PERFORMANCE + MAGICAL TALE = VIRTUAL JOY!

If you could sum up Fishbowl in three words, what would they be?

LYRICAL
LIFE-AFFIRMING (counts as one)
JOYOUS

What did you like best about this story?

In some way it is reminiscent of Salmon Rushdie's "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" only the magic comes from the simplest everyday things. I think the format itself creates that magic, the wildly imaginative notion of an entire book taking place in the span of time it takes for a goldfish to fall from the 27th floor of a building to the ground below.

This book reads like a slice of life but because of all the lives that intertwine, it's more like the whole pie. I don't want to give anything away but real time is repeated over and over from a variety of perspectives. This works on many levels and allows the narrator to remain somewhat omniscient and yet able telescope in almost on the cellular level when called for.

The narrator is brilliant at this. Spinning a yarn from a great distance and yet walking, crawling and gliding alongside the people we meet, he's like a friendly presence throughout. The result is the feeling that the story is being told to the listener in an intimate setting, as if anyone else who wants to hear the story would have to wait in line.

Have you listened to any of Peter Berkrot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Quite a lot of them actually. He's seems to be an especially gifted actor because he gets inside the minds of the characters' and breathes individual and specific life into each of them. He can be very funny and very chilling. In this book he uncovers all the clues provided by a wonderful writer to take us on a fairy tale kind of journey and make us feel like we are right there with him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

YES! Without giving too much away, there is a wonderful scene in which someone is giving birth and the exchange between the characters is priceless. The way the scene culminates is quite moving.

Any additional comments?

I think I've said enough. : ) MORE BY THIS AUTHOR AND NARRATOR PLEASE. : )))

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19 people found this helpful

What a Nice Surprise

Lovely book about multiple people living in an apartment building - each with their own stories. So glad I didn't let it pass me by. About life.

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11 people found this helpful

Cute and awkward

This wasn't for me. The telling and reselling from different perspectives got old, in my opinion. I understand the premise, and I appreciate the way the story was told, but it got tiresome. A good story with an abundantly wide variety of EXTREME characters. The fish was the best part... he and his 4 second descent.

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8 people found this helpful

Excellent. Loved it!

I loved everything about this well-written book and the narration was an ideal match. If you are searching for a creative, intelligent, enjoyable read, this is it. The first and last chapters were particularly exquisite--excepting the classics, rare is the modern novel that exhibits writing in such fine form. THIS is storytelling and narration at their best. Kudos to the author and narrator!

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8 people found this helpful

Wonderful tale!

This was such a romp! I loved the style so much and it was very unique. And, the narrator was fabulous!!!

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7 people found this helpful

Almost perfect!

How could I not listen to a book about a fish falling from the 27th floor of an apartment building?? The chapters each start out with the Pooh-style, "In which (something happens)". I loved that. And oh - some of the little observances about Ian being a fish and finding himself in the predicament of no longer being in water! They made me laugh. The stories of the inhabitants in the building were "unputdownable" or in this case, I couldn't stop listening! It made a grueling day sitting in immigration be almost enjoyable, as I had nothing else to do, so no distractions from this unique story. Of course, all along, I'm wondering what's going to happen to Ian the fish, but also, in such a short time, I was all wrapped up in all of the characters and their sad, funny, poignant, hopeful stories. There was some unnecessary repetition in hearing the stories from two points of view at times, but it worked. And as for Ian...well, it was totally worth the ending, even if I hadn't liked all the in-between. But I did, so all around a fun listen!

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6 people found this helpful

an unexpected treat of a book.

it had a little suspense, a little romance and a lot of tongue in cheek.

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6 people found this helpful

Great story beautiful written and narrated

Fishbowl is a story of apartment building residents and their lives as seen from a perspective of Ian the goldfish. As Ian plummets to his freedom from the very top of a high rise he witnesses stories of love, betrayal, lust, new beginnings and endings. All of the stories put together make up a lifetime of experiences we all go through and experience at one point or another in our lives. Beautiful story with so many great characters! I loved every minute of it!!!

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6 people found this helpful

Excellent! Excellent! Excelent!

A very deep look into the human experience! A thinking persons book for sure. Well written, fast moving, and entertaining. I love it and hope that we get
to read more about Ian's future experiences.

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5 people found this helpful