Does Thomas Hardy justice

Thomas Hardy is one of my favorite authors and this book is probaby my favorite of his books. It has the darkness that a lot of his novels have, but it has some light as well. Bathsheba is a very complex character with very definite faults. Nobody in this novel is too perfect and everyone seems very human. Nathaniel Parker is a great narrator. At first I thought he read a little fast, but either he slowed down or I got used to it because I really enjoyed his reading. He does a wonderful job with the characters, and Bathsheba doesn't have that annoying sound that some male narrators give their female characters. I will definitely be listening to this one again.

18 of 18 people found this review helpful

Wonderful story and perfect narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This Thomas Hardy masterpiece is presented with excellent narration. The quality of the production is wonderful. My only question, why doesn't Nathaniel Parker do more of Thomas Hardy?

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gabriel Oak is man of virtue and integrity, a giant in fiction.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I loved this book!

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Nathaniel Parker is PERFECT as narrator

Would you listen to Far From The Madding Crowd again? Why?

yes. The writing of Hardy is worth second third and fourth looks. Beautiful descriptions and keen observations of the human condition, with just the right balance of humor and pathos.

What did you like best about this story?

Nathaniel Parker's narration; Thomas Hardy's exquisite descriptions, observations and character development.

Which character – as performed by Nathaniel Parker – was your favorite?

Gabriel Oak

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, hard to put down, but it is a long book, and it needed to "breathe" as the story went on.

Any additional comments?

It will be hard to top anything that Nathaniel Parker narrates. He did an excellent job. Only wish there were more books available narrated by him!

12 of 13 people found this review helpful

Outstanding Narrator

Would you consider the audio edition of Far From The Madding Crowd to be better than the print version?

Nathaniel Parker's characters are stunning. Accents, toning, even breath sounds make Hardy's world so real as to seem to belong to the listener.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Worth listening to

Where does Far From The Madding Crowd rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Definitely near the top of my list/.

What did you like best about this story?

A great story. I was glad it was a long book and sad to see it end. Really believable characters.

What about Nathaniel Parker’s performance did you like?

I didn't think about the narrator at all, which is how it should be.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I listen when driving. I looked forward to long drives when I was listening to this book.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Far from the maddening crowd

Love the story. Fantastic writing great description . Wonderful character development . I would like to read by Thomas hardy he is brilliant .

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Loved the book.. Parker is an awesome narrator.

I read this book 30 years ago, it was like visiting an old friend as I lisrened to the book in the background.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Snake, Fruitcake and Beefcake; Much Heartache

Bathsheba Everdeen has inherited a sheep farm from her late uncle in the idyllic Victorian farming community, the village of Weatherbury, Wessex County, England. The novel was published in 1874 and reportedly was Hardy's first commercial success (his 4th novel).

Bathsheba is haughty and creates her own set of madding problems by sending a Valentine to the shy, very strange William Boldwood, after turning down a marriage proposal from the heady shepherd/farmer Gabe Oak. Then as giddy as a schoolgirl, she falls head over heels for the cad Sergeant Troy (a distant relative of Major Tom and Captain Jack).

To say more on the story would reveal a spoiler. Hardy deftly focuses on themes of honor, love and betrayal. He took the title from a poem called "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray (1751).

"Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife
Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray;
Along the cool sequester'd vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way."

I was quite frustrated by Bathsheba's total infatuation with Sergeant Troy. Have young women always worn blinders to the duplicity of the attractive snakes, going back to the Original Sin? Can nothing be done to save such heartaches, that everyone except the lady can see coming?

Probably so and likely not. In any case, I found this a good, but not great, novel.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Really enjoyable

Nathaniel Parker is amazing. My goodness, what else has he recorded for Audible? Sign me up.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Entertaining but predictable (mostly)

If you could sum up Far From The Madding Crowd in three words, what would they be?

entertaining but predictable

Would you be willing to try another book from Thomas Hardy? Why or why not?

This is my 2nd (the first was "The Mayor of Casterbridge"--a better book) so I think I am done with Hardy

Which scene was your favorite?

the sheep stampede

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Lush and beautiful but predictable

Any additional comments?

The portrayal of the strong independant woman was probably groundbreaking in the 188o's but the piece seems a little dated for the 21st century. Good story but you know how it's going to turn out from the start.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful