Synopsis (from Barnes & Noble)

From the author of the bestselling Neanderthal comes this novel of gripping suspense and scientific conquest–a page-turning historical mystery that brilliantly explores the intrigue behind Darwin and his theory of evolution.
It’s 1831, and aboard HMS Beagle the young Charles Darwin sets off down the English Channel for South America. More than 150 years later, two ambitious scholars pursuing their obsession with Darwin (and with each other) come across the diaries and letters of Darwin’s daughter. What they discover is a maze of violent rivalries, petty deceptions, and jealously guarded secrets, and the extraordinary story of an expedition embarked upon by two men. Only one returned–and changed history forever.
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Unabridged CDs, read by Bernadette Qugley, David Colacci, and Buck Schirner.

06/05/08: I finally finished listening to this audio (I got a copy from the library as I mailed this copy off). I enjoyed the three different aspects of this story and the way they were tied together at the end. I didn't care for the part about Hugh and his brother, Cal, as I don't think it added anything to the rest of the story.

I will be mailing this out to my secret santa.

Thanks a lot!
What a surprice, looking forward to listen to this!

I had a wonderful time with this book. 10 points!
Wounderful read, like a theatre!
Thanks!

The picture will have some explanation some day!

Bookring:
Alvhyttan
LeishaCamden
Sota48
notnot
Panzeranzi
Babelfisk
Deepswamp

Thank you Deepswamp for sending out this audio book as a bookring!
I have problems with fibromyalgia right now and can't read "paper books" because I can't hold them - so audio books are very important to me now!!!
I am on the last CD on the book I'm listening to now, so I will soon start listening to this and it will be mailed next week to the next person on the list.

Deepswamp, I really would like to hear an explanation about those socks and the hexagon patchwork! :)

A really interesting and enjoyable book!
Thanks a lot for sharing it!

I will mail it to LeishaCamden tomorrow.

Ok, Alvhyttan!
When listening to the Darwin I was knitting socks... so as a thank to carlissa I sent her a pair. On the picture the socks are placed on my christmas quilt (made of christmasfabrics and handmade - a lot of stiches and a excellent thing to do when listening to an audiobook....)

Thanks for the story about the socks and the quilt, Deepswamp! Lovely!

I'm sorry I haven't mailed the book yet (have had too much pain to be able to send it), it will be sent as soon as possible.

Idag blir den äntligen postad! :)

The book arrived in my mailbox today. It looks fascinating, I'm really looking forward to 'reading' it. :-) More later ... !

I started listening to this book last week. Unfortunately I was out of town this weekend so didn't get any more 'read' then ;-) and this week, from this afternoon till Saturday, I will have a house guest so that I probably won't get much further with the book then either. But the story is very compelling so I will definitely be diving back into it as soon as I get the chance - I am halfway through disc 3 now and am really enjoying it. :-)

I'll write more when I've heard the whole book.

Slow I am ... !!!

I really am an exceptionally slow journaller, I'm sorry to everyone who's been waiting to hear from this book. I actually finished it on March 20th, but am only getting around to journalling it now. I felt it wasn't intensely urgent as I wasn't going to be passing it on till I saw sota48 at the Oslo BC meetup in April ... but now the deadline is fast approaching as the meetup is on Sunday the 6th. Better late than never. :-)

I really enjoyed this book, it was a good book in itself and also done quite cleverly as an audiobook. The three different voices - one for the story of Darwin himself on the Beagle, one for the modern day scholar researching his life (and increasingly his daughter Lizzie's life) and one for Lizzie herself narrating her own story through her letters - brought the story to life in a good way - quite original IMO, I don't think I've come across an audiobook before done in this way. Although I do think they could have found a man who had a better English accent somewhere, but there you go. ;-)

The book seems very well researched, I found the story very credible, the characters believable and well-rounded. Reading it had me wonder what all good historial fiction should make the readers wonder - how much of this is really fiction, and how much has been taken from real life ... ? :-)

Reading this really made me want to learn more about Darwin and his life & work. I have read one biography of him - the one written by his son Francis - but after this I will definitely be looking for more. I do admire him tremendously and he lived an absolutely fascinating life ... even if he was never embroiled in a secret conspiracy. ;-)

This was an entertaining and fascinating 'read'. Very well written and very clever in its use of historical facts in a fictional story. Thank you for sharing it with us, Deepswamp!!

I will hand this book over to sota48 when I see her on Sunday. It'll be interesting to hear what she thinks!

RELEASE NOTES:

Gave this to sota48 at meetup today. Hope she enjoys it! Thanks again to Deepswamp, and happy reading to everyone further on in the ring. :-)

Received this from LeishaCamden at the BC meetup this afternoon. I will put it into my Mp3 to listen to it later on and then pass it on quickly.

RELEASE NOTES:

I have not listened to the book yet. Will return with comments on the book later. It now travels to the next on the list.

The book arrived today. Looking forward to the listening!

I have finished listning now and I must say it was a very good book. Just the kind of historical novel I like where facts and fiction are so cleverly interwoven that you end up wondering what's what? I wish I hadn't listened to the author's post script. I like to ponder the question of fact and fiction by myself and usually end up at the library looking for books on the subject. Even if the author gives away much of this information at the end, I shall probably have to read up on the Darwin family and the Beagel voyage. My knowledge of Darwin until now is the basic curriculum stuff. Hunting for facts when you have read a fiction novel goes a long way to say how great the novel is and how reading makes you that much wiser!!

Thank you, LeishaCamden for sharing this book. And the rest of you: - you've got a good read to look forward to.

A very interesting book with the intertwined stories of fact and fiction. I could repeat much of the things sota48 wrote, but there is not much point in that. I'll just say that I really enjoyed the book.

The book will be on its way towards Panzeranzi tomorrow.

Thank you! As usual I had completely forgotten about this ring, but I look forward to listening to this book!

I like the book a lot, aspecially the story about Hugh and his brother Cal. The story about Lizzie makes me sad.

I listened to the book on my way to and from work and during workdays I listen to the Radio (P1) and I was amazed to hear Darwin's name popping up in all kinds of programs. His work is still up-to-date, which is quite impressive.

I'll send the book as soon as possible - thanks for sharing!

I came yesterday! I look forward to listening to it in the shadow beneath the cork oak!

A very interesting book. Although a lot of it is fiction I still learned a lot about Darwin. It was nice sitting outdoors in the shadow making pictures in my head.
I'll send the book back to Deepswamp now.

Safe at home!

En bok på vandring!

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