Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry

By: Neil Gaiman, The Twitterverse

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 1 hr and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

“Sam was brushing her hair when the girl in the mirror put down the hairbrush, smiled, and said, "We don't love you anymore." So began the Twitter Audio project, with a dazzling first line penned by New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman. What followed was an epic tale of imaginary lands, magical objects, haunting melodies, plucky sidekicks, menacing villains, and much more.

From mystical blue roses to enchanted mirrors to pesky puppets, this classic fable was born from the collective creativity of more than one hundred contributors via the social network Twitter.com in a groundbreaking literary experiment. Together, virtual strangers crafted a rollicking story of a young girl’s journey with love, forgiveness, and acceptance.

©2010 BBC Audiobooks America (P)2009 BBC Audiobooks America

Interessante

Essa história foi curtinha mas bem gostosa de escutar, bem criativa e é interessante o fato de que ela foi escrita pelo Neil Gaiman e por outras pessoas no Twitter. Ela demonstra como muitas pessoas tem bastante criatividade mas elas provavelmente só não sabem desse fato.

Unique collabrative writing project

This was a fun idea. The story has merit. Although it is overall enjoyable, it understandably lacks cohesion throughout. The different voices and styles of the overlapping authors did make the narrative feel disjointed at times, and like a nonsensical fever dream at others.
The late great Katherine Kellgren's narration helps to keep the listeners steady through out this off-kilter children's parable. She of course gives a wonderful performance and lovely distinctive voices for the many, many interesting characters we meet along the way.
Even though I liked it, I think I loved the idea of this experiment more than it's final results. It goes a long way to prove why creativity by committee rarely works out well.

~*Cheeky & Solid*~

Here is a sturdy little edition to the genre of “Wonderland/Looking Glass” tales that holds its own as quasi-combo of ‘Coraline’ x ‘Labyrinth’—but with puppets! Also, shout out to Katherine Kellgren for all-out committing to the story with individualized voices & excellent delivery!

It’s fine.

It’s fine. It’s entertaining enough, and it’s silly and not too serious when it shouldn’t be, but also creepy when it needs to be. But for someone like Neil Gaiman, who has done many versions of Alice in Wonderland-style stories in his career, this is hardly his best version of that story.

not bad

The acting was well done but the story was just ok. Twists were made sometimes by introducing info from the past that hadn't been mentioned.

Neil Gaiman Never Fails

Would you consider the audio edition of Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry to be better than the print version?

Never read the book but I can imagine it would be about the same.

Any additional comments?

This is just another story by Neil Gaiman that was pure enjoyment! It was interesting to know that he used Twitter posts to construct this story.

Neil

Gaiman is interesting. I don't know why i started to listen to him, maybe some cooperation thing. However his voice is good for non English listeners (as not having English as first language) I reading sandman aswell. Seems good!

This was strange, but not more than usual.
(I think he did something with Terry pratchett?) Remembered! Good Omens (tv and book, very good adaption!) and tv of American gods (have not read it, waiting for hopefully new season..

(how is that going to be regarding covid 19?i think most actors believe that it is a problem. Maybe a big chance for u nknow actors /waiters to get actor work if not taking procossions regards to their health!!)
Idea for a novel
Acting in time of corona! How anyone which can still read can be actors. (just add some years and mutation and people have to be inside and need entertainment. Many ideas for surviors show, maybe be in cast of a series is also a survivor game. Your character gets a bigger part the longer you survive from covid "20"..

worth the listen

Kind of a cross between Neverwhere and Alice in Wonderland.

To meet the word quota I must say: blarg.

A bit of Oz, a little Wonderland, & Coraline

Loved this, especially as a plus membership bonus! It reminded me of Dorothy in Oz, Alice and her looking glass, and of course, Gaiman's own Coraline! I found the story enjoyable, and would love to see how Tim Burton would create this world! I found the narrator spot on with her narrative of the story.

reminded me of labrynth. fun short story

narrator did an amazing job. very fun short story, would recommend it to younger readers, or those who loved the labrynth movie