The City of Dreaming Books

By: Walter Moers, John Brownjohn - translator

Narrated by: Richard Powers

Following The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear and Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures comes a third hilarious and beloved Zamonia book, the most popular yet. It is a fantastic tale for every book lover.

Optimus Yarnspinner inherits from his godfather an unpublished manuscript by an unknown writer and sets off to track down the mysterious author, who disappeared into Bookholm - the so-called City of Dreaming Books. Yarnspinner falls under the spell of this book-obsessed metropolis, where an avid reader and budding author can find any number of charming attractions: priceless signed first editions, salivating literary agents, and for-hire critics. But as Yarnspinner pursues the trail of the missing author, the darker side of Bookholm begins to unveil itself - cold-blooded book hunters, cyclopean Fearsome Booklings, sharp-toothed Animatomes, and of course, the Shadow King, whose howls rise from deep beneath the city at night. Will Yarnspinner survive his quest into this world where reading is a genuine adventure?

©2004 Piper Verlag GmbH, München; Translation 2006 by John Brownjohn (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A delightfully imaginative mélange of Shel Silverstein zaniness and oddball anthropomorphism à la Terry Pratchett’s Discworld…. A wonderfully whimsical story that will appeal to readers of all ages.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A salmagundi of whimsy, imagination and book lore - remarkable fun.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Clever but...

i loved the 13 1/2 lives of Captain Bluebear, and as a book lover thought I would love this one. But the main character is less likeable and there is a LOT of doom, gloom, and slime in this one. Still many laugh out loud moments and brilliant bits of creativity (Spink= speaking with garlic breath)

Walter Moers was touched by the orm!!!!!!!!

Any additional comments?

The City of Dreaming Books is my favorite book-period. It is so well written, beautiful, funny, and strangely sad that I actually wept at the end; I didn't just produce crocodile tears but full on whole-hearted giant gasping sobs. This book is NOT for the faint of heart but for those that at office parties and social gatherings scoff at the notion of the existence of magic when engaged in "intellectual" conversation, yet when no one is looking still clap their hands just incase we may bring back a fairy or two. Walter Moers and translators 'John Brownjohn' have done a marvelous job at developing a world of strange exotic creatures and making them believable all the while revealing such humble and beautiful concepts such as recognizing and cherishing the talents of others, friendship, and loyalty.

I highly recommend this book and all of Walter Moers' other books from the world of Zamonia. The author of this audio book was absolutely magnificent. He took on the task of reading an epic adventure and in the process brought this colorful book even more to life if that could even be thought possible.

So wonderfully planned

Just when I thought had figured out the plot it would twist and turn . Brilliant

Not for everybody, but definitely for me!

What did you love best about The City of Dreaming Books?

I love these books, there is something about Zamonian literature that captures my imagination and sends my on a fascinating adventure of such wonderful quality. It's impossible for me to describe.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved all the characters but of course Optimus Yarnspinner and The Shadow King were me favorites.

Any additional comments?

If you like the books of Jasper FFoote you will like these.

Superb, Unique, Hilarious, Moving, Inspiring

I've read this novel in paperback for 3 or 4 times now and I've listened to the audiobook more times than I care to recount

Phenomenal

The performance of this audiobook gave me chills on several occasions. The story caught me by surprise and had me laughing, crying, and deeply devoted to finishing it. 11/10

Great

Really great audiobook. I am really looking forward to listening to the next one, and I hope it is just as good.

Inventive Moers, not quite Rumo

the story stalled at times, and the reader was a bit over animated, but by the end of it I enjoyed the story's unique creativity. the author likes his tangents but they all fit together by the end to add to the bigger story.

Love love love this book

I have read this book previously and loved it. Just listened to it and the narration is exquisite.

amazing

I loved this book. Walter Moers books are all amazing!! This book was paced so we'll.