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Summary: An involving, and enthralling tale with a very dark soul
Review: "The Stone and the Flute" is easily one of the best books that I have read in the last ten years. I stumbled across it in a library about 8 years ago, and I have still to find a book that has entertained and challenged me as much as this one.It begins very light in tone, detailing Listner's quest to find his Grandfather - but as he travels and tries to discover the mysteries of a beautiful stone given to him by a dying warrior, the story becomes darker - and looks at self obessions and how by looking for one thing, we often over look a lot more. This, at time heart-wrenching and at others hilarious, tale is beautifully paced, and will leave you wanting more by the end. One of the best. Comparable to Lord of the Rings in it's epic scale - and emotional content. You won't be dissapointed.
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Summary: A story about the complexities of life
Review: "The Stone and the Flute" is one of the most emotional and gripping books I have read in a long time. Hans Bemmann describes a web of events that boggles the mind. The story of Listener, a boy who inherits a stone and a magic flute, is a tale of what we can accomplish and the untold hardships we must encounter. The most intriguing part of the book is the constant reminder that it is not an end or goal that we must seek. Additionally, we must also consider the repercussions of our actions.
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Summary: The Stone and the Flute
Review: A naive youth leaves family and home to explore the world little realising how it will change him and how seldom he will return. He encounters magic flutes, peacefully glowing stones and amulets of enchantment. Evil witches, packs of grey wolves and the usual stuff of German folklore are present. The book's length is stunning; 800 pages but unlike many top heavy fantasy novels, there is little I would like to see condensed or omitted. It is very readable. Courageous talking mice, surly stable hands and fickle water sprites kept me glued like Bastian in the attic. The hero only ever succeeds on the third try and the writer follows the fairy tale law of threes. Good deeds are rewarded and evil eventually sees itself. This book brought back all the charm of reading Lloyd Alexander or C.S. Lewis as a child. Intended for adults, it has the initial simplicity of a children' book. And yet like "Lord of the Rings" or Lewis's Narnia, it contains moral complexities and the joy amidst suffering. Similarly to A.A milne's "Winnie the Pooh", and Kenneth Grahame's "Wind in the Willows", I suspect that certain events in the the life of the writer, a German army medic during the second World War have shaped his writing and are parallelled by the young youth who leaves his village. A difficult book to forget.
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Summary: An Amazing Book
Review: After the long process of reading this book I was incredibly surprised at how I did not want it to end. Always compelling, you begin to think that nearly every story or scene is an important life message. I think that if some people in power were to read this our world would be better off. It contains many answers to life's most challenging questions. A great read for anyone. TRUST ME! The legnth is the best part.
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Summary: The Stone and the Flute
Review: I find this one of the greatest fantasy books to ever have been written. It tells the beautiful and also malevolent story a world and it's history. The realistic thing about this book, that makes it so beautiful, is the it explains the repercussions of the characters actions and mistakes as a child and throughout his life, and how they affect him, even tragically and permanently. I have read many Fiction, Sci-Fi, Fantasy and a select other, fiction-class, books. I absolutely am amazed as to the ability of the writer to form the intricate fabric of the world, races, and people by extensively using customs, prejudices, folklore, personalities, emotion, death, tragedy, and the ultimate quest for love, happiness, and wisdom. It is a story for the heart to follow for it will make you feel happy and sad as you follow Listener on his uncertain and powerful path.
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Summary: Beautiful - haunting - poignant - will stay with you forever
Review: I first read this book 9 years ago, and I've made it a point to read it once a year ever since. This book had a profound effect on me which I can't begin to describe unless you read it yourself. Listener is very much a flawed character - good intentions but has his selfish side which gets the better of him sometimes. Note; this is a LONG book, but it must be read slowly to get the full impact. The effects of the novel will linger with you for years after you read the final page.
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Summary: Most underrated book of last century
Review: I own 5 copies of this book: two in German, two in Dutch, one in English. None of them is here in my room, they are where they should be: with people that don't know it. Through me over 30 people have come to read this novel, only one of them didn't it. This person is no longer a friend of mine...
Seriously, in my humble opinion this is the most warm, intricate, and underrated book of the last century. I have read almost every fantasy novel out there: The Stone and Flute surpasses them all (except for maybe George RR Martins work).
Publishers Weekly has never been more wrong in a review. I hope they will let another reviewer give this book a second chance. Maybe the novel was ahead of it's time, and it's easy to be put on the wrong leg by it's naieve language. Yes, it's written as a fairy-tale, but the sub-stories and deeper messages are magnificent and surpass every fairy-tale I know.
In my list of favorite books only Crime and Punishment, and Don Quichot rank higher. It's on par with George RR Martin (who I deem higher than even Tolkien).
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Summary: A must for fans of serious (well written) fantasy
Review: I picked this book up almost a decade ago, I needed something to read, and figured that it would give me *some* entertainment. Basically, I was blown away! Not only is the story varied in plot, but moves with a pace that will keep a reader up till 2 am and beyond. I have to compare this book to Ursula K. Le Guin's "Earthsea" trilogy. This book is that good.
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Summary: What a surprise
Review: I picked up this book from the library shelf while I was trying to avoid my studies (in grad school at the time) and couldn't put it down until I finished it. What a great story. I was surprised that very few people have heard of it, let alone read it. I recommend it to anyone, even those who don't usually care for fantasy.
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Summary: Magical
Review: I read The Stone and the Flute over a year ago and it was an incredible piece of Literature that I will always remember. I agree with the other people in saying that the author was indeed underated which is kind of a shame. The style of writing was simple but at the same time, it was detailed also. The Stone and the Flute was one of those books where the reader did not want the story to end, it was one of those special books. The reader becomes so incredibly attached to the characters and the storyline that when you put the book down you just can't resist continuing the story, ignoring life's other necessity's, food, water, sleep etc. The span of one human life is described in this novel and the advantures of that man, Listener, really captures the heart. If you like Fantasy-Adventure epics, or even if you don't, I strongly recomend that you read The Stone and the Flute. 'Run, don't walk' go and get the damn book, it is very, very good.
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