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Insomnia

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Insomnia

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Eli Wallach
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You'll lose a lot of sleep.... Ralph does. At first he starts waking up earlier. And earlier. Then the hallucinations start - the colours, shapes and strange auras. Not to mention the bald doctors who always turn up at the scene of a death.

That's when Ralph begins to lose a lot more than sleep. When he begins to understand why his hitherto mild-mannered friend, Ed, is getting out of control - dangerously so. And why his hometown is about to become the new Armageddon....

©1994 Stephen King Horror Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scary
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The story is great and Eli Wallach performance is good, but Audible seem to have managed to re-create everything that is bad about cheesy Stephen King film adaptions.

I never usually write reviews but I was so annoyed by the music that was added to this book. It seems like they have managed to find a deaf - mute chimp and asked him to write the music.

On reflection, I think that is being too kind.

The music is terrible and whoever decided to add it to the narration should be wiped off the face of the earth.

Apart from that minor problem the book is great.

Good but be warned...

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I have about 5 hours to go and I think I've given up, for the first time in over 100 audio books, Inc many of King's, I don't think I'll finish. I just wasn't engaged by the story, though the narrator is good I marked the performance down due to the music as others mention. It was like someone taking a cheese grater to my balls at the end of every chapter.

Disengaged

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This is one of my fave books but why oh why is that silly music played over the top of the reader really spoilt my listening experience, whoever had the idea of adding music please think again.

Stupid Music

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I read the paperback version of Insomnia several years ago and absolutely loved the story, the characters, setting, everything. So I thought it would be a nice thing to rediscover it again in audiobook for. Seeing as it was read by Eli Wallachtoo added an unnecessary incentive for me to get the book.
Sadly though, I was wrong. First, as much as I respect Mr Wallach he was the wrong choice for narration. He does not give a lot of differing, convincing characterisation, nor convey the characters’ emotion very well throughout. At times sounding like he is straining his voice in case the wrong people in the real world should complain about his swearing or shouting.
That said, the short-comings of his narrative performance pails next to the unfathomably poor logic behind the decision regarding the “music” accompanying each chapter of the book. To say it is unnecessary, intrusive, an affront to the ears, perfectly destroys your submergence into the mood of the book is doing it a woeful injustice!
The tuneless “nails-on-blackboard” screeching violins and heavy electric guitar are not only wholesomely out of place but they also completely and comprehensively destroy the listeners’ experience and entertainment of the already weak performance.
I would advise falling back to the paperback if you are reading the reviews and considering the audiobook or perhaps the ebook version. This offering is simply appalling.

Ruined

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Whenever I read Stephen King I lose myself in his words and vividly imagine the scenario he paints.
I chose an Audible version of the book Insomnia as I drive long distances and the radio can seem soulless.
The Audible book allowed me to emotionally connect with the narrative and I actually cried at the end.
Loved the reader and his voice, will definitely choose another Audible book immediately!

Very engaging.

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