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Omari and the People
In a squalid ancient city on the edge of a desert (based in part on the African Sahara’s Empty Quarter) a weary, thrill-seeking thief named Omari sets his home afire to start anew and to cover his many crimes. When the entire city is unintentionally destroyed by the flames, the cornered thief tells the displaced people a lie about a better place which only he can lead them to, across the desert. With the help of an aged, mysterious woman who knows a better place actually does exist, they set out. The desperate people must come together to fight their way through bandits, storms, epidemics, and more. As a result of Omari's involvement with Saba, a fiercely independent woman who is out to break him in the pay of a merchant whom he has offended, his ability to lead is jeopardized.
11 hrs and 17 mins
11 hrs and 17 mins
Audible Audio
First published August 22, 2014
21 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Whitfield
6 books12 followersChicago-born Stephen Whitfield began writing as a Marine Corps print journalist. His writing has appeared in military publications, as well as the Kansas City Star and the Jersey Journal. He holds degrees from Loyola University Chicago, Chicago Theological Seminary, and Indiana University. His various adventures have taken him to such places as London, Paris, Trondheim, Johannesburg, Beirut, most of The Virgin Islands and the wilder neighborhoods of Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 9, 2016
(This review is for the audiobook version of Omari and the People.)
★★★★1/2
Practically all of the folktales that survive today have origins in the oral tradition. They were passed down from generation to generation and from culture to culture by master storytellers. Omari and the People, by Stephan Whitfield, is written in the style of a folktale — one that tells the story of a hero on a journey to save himself and his wandering band of nomads — and as such is a perfect fit for the audiobook format. Having Curt Simmons performing the narration just makes it that much better!
Stephan Whitfield’s prose is simple and stark, yet utterly powerful. As the story unfolds, we travel with the titular Omari and his caravan as they search for a new life beyond the seemingly endless swaths of desert separating them from their potential future. The story may seem simple on the surface — a group of characters must travel from Point A to Point B despite numerous conflicts — but Omari and the People is far from simplistic. Trials and tribulations abound as Omari and his fellow travelers must come to terms with sandstorms, food shortages, infectious diseases, insects, raiders, water shortages, and deeper philosophical issues. Even in its quietest moments, Omari and the People never slows down.
As a protagonist, Omari is deeply flawed. His past is dark and his decision-making abilities are almost certainly compromised by those around him. Will he do what needs to be done to save his people? Or will he succumb to the temptations of his past and present?
This novel is essentially a classic epic hero’s journey and the audiobook narration of Curt Simmons only adds to this sense of grandeur. Simmons’ voice takes on a not-quite-placeable Middle-Eastern accent which he somehow manages to keep up for the nearly eleven-and-a-half hours of run-time. His performance is multi-layered and manages to capture the characters in amazing detail. Simply put, Simmons’ narration is a revelation. (Seriously. Check out samples of his other work on Audible.com. He always seems to bring something completely fresh to each performance!)
If and when I listen to audiobooks, they are nearly always non-fiction in nature. Omari and the People, and Simmons’ narration in particular, may very well change this. Although the conclusion wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped it would be, this audiobook gets my complete recommendation. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Omari and the People today!
★★★★1/2
Practically all of the folktales that survive today have origins in the oral tradition. They were passed down from generation to generation and from culture to culture by master storytellers. Omari and the People, by Stephan Whitfield, is written in the style of a folktale — one that tells the story of a hero on a journey to save himself and his wandering band of nomads — and as such is a perfect fit for the audiobook format. Having Curt Simmons performing the narration just makes it that much better!
Stephan Whitfield’s prose is simple and stark, yet utterly powerful. As the story unfolds, we travel with the titular Omari and his caravan as they search for a new life beyond the seemingly endless swaths of desert separating them from their potential future. The story may seem simple on the surface — a group of characters must travel from Point A to Point B despite numerous conflicts — but Omari and the People is far from simplistic. Trials and tribulations abound as Omari and his fellow travelers must come to terms with sandstorms, food shortages, infectious diseases, insects, raiders, water shortages, and deeper philosophical issues. Even in its quietest moments, Omari and the People never slows down.
As a protagonist, Omari is deeply flawed. His past is dark and his decision-making abilities are almost certainly compromised by those around him. Will he do what needs to be done to save his people? Or will he succumb to the temptations of his past and present?
This novel is essentially a classic epic hero’s journey and the audiobook narration of Curt Simmons only adds to this sense of grandeur. Simmons’ voice takes on a not-quite-placeable Middle-Eastern accent which he somehow manages to keep up for the nearly eleven-and-a-half hours of run-time. His performance is multi-layered and manages to capture the characters in amazing detail. Simply put, Simmons’ narration is a revelation. (Seriously. Check out samples of his other work on Audible.com. He always seems to bring something completely fresh to each performance!)
If and when I listen to audiobooks, they are nearly always non-fiction in nature. Omari and the People, and Simmons’ narration in particular, may very well change this. Although the conclusion wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped it would be, this audiobook gets my complete recommendation. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Omari and the People today!
August 7, 2016
4.75★ Audiobook⎮ After finishing Omari and the People, I’m left with both a feeling of wonderment and confusion. Sort of like what I experience at magic shows. On the one hand, I’m in awe. On the other, I’m left a little baffled, but not in an unpleasant way. If you understand how the magician performs the trick, it’s not quite as magical.
Every single second of this audiobook captivated me. I was initially a bit intimidated by the 11-hour runtime. Long audiobooks are always a gamble. If you happen to dislike it, listening becomes a chore. But Steven Whitfield had me in the palm of his hand throughout the entire time.
This was one of the most well-paced audiobooks I’ve ever heard. There were no highs and lows. I don’t remember ever experiencing a dip or lull in the story. It wasn’t what I would call fast-paced or action-packed, but steady and constant.
The characters were the backbone of this story. There was definitely a plot, but it developed through the characters instead of the other way around. This was storytelling at its best.
Imagine a child sitting at an elder’s knee, listening to stories of old and hanging on every word. Now imagine that the child is you and the elder is this audiobook. That was my experience in a nutshell. It wasn’t so much the story itself, but more the way it was told. Whitfield’s writing was entrancing.
The escapist quality that so many people search for in a good story is fully present in Omari and the People. It whisked me away to wherever this story is set for several hours a day. I got to the point where I was wanting to turn in early at night just so I could have an extra hour to listen.
Mysticism only played in a small part in this story, but the overall effect of the storytelling was absolutely magical. The mystery of not knowing where or when the story took place merely added to that effect. Unlike some other reviewers, I preferred thinking of this story as existing outside of our reality. It held many similarities to Biblical lore, without being too identifiable with any one particular legend.
Certain elements of the story reminded me of Rae Carson’s Fire and Thorns series. Omari and the People featured very strong female characters and had a rich, but identifiable cultural backdrop. It really left a lot to the listener’s imagination, including the solution of a few key plot points.
This could annoy some, but I decided to view it like abstract art. Omari and the People is painted with broad strokes and it is up to the listener to to decide how to fill in the details and how to interpret the finished product.
After all, a magician never reveals their secrets.
Narration review: I actually wanted to start this review by talking about the narration because it captivated me as much as the storytelling. Someone give Curt Simmons an Audie Award because he held a thick and distinct accent for the entire 11 hours and 17 minutes of this audiobook. It did not slip once. The accent was not particularly distinguishable as belonging to one group or another, which tremendously enhanced the story’s mysteriousness and aided my suspension of disbelief. It was thick enough to be remarkable, but not so thick as to hinder my understanding. I’m very curious to know how exactly Mr. Simmons came to choose this particular accent for the performance (and also how he held it for so long!).
This experience, along with sampling a bit of his other work, assured me that Curt Simmons is a narrator who can do just about anything (and do it very well). ♣︎
➜ This audiobook was graciously gifted to me by its narrator, Curt Simmons, in exchange for a review containing my honest thoughts and opinions. Thanks, Curt!
Every single second of this audiobook captivated me. I was initially a bit intimidated by the 11-hour runtime. Long audiobooks are always a gamble. If you happen to dislike it, listening becomes a chore. But Steven Whitfield had me in the palm of his hand throughout the entire time.
This was one of the most well-paced audiobooks I’ve ever heard. There were no highs and lows. I don’t remember ever experiencing a dip or lull in the story. It wasn’t what I would call fast-paced or action-packed, but steady and constant.
The characters were the backbone of this story. There was definitely a plot, but it developed through the characters instead of the other way around. This was storytelling at its best.
Imagine a child sitting at an elder’s knee, listening to stories of old and hanging on every word. Now imagine that the child is you and the elder is this audiobook. That was my experience in a nutshell. It wasn’t so much the story itself, but more the way it was told. Whitfield’s writing was entrancing.
The escapist quality that so many people search for in a good story is fully present in Omari and the People. It whisked me away to wherever this story is set for several hours a day. I got to the point where I was wanting to turn in early at night just so I could have an extra hour to listen.
Mysticism only played in a small part in this story, but the overall effect of the storytelling was absolutely magical. The mystery of not knowing where or when the story took place merely added to that effect. Unlike some other reviewers, I preferred thinking of this story as existing outside of our reality. It held many similarities to Biblical lore, without being too identifiable with any one particular legend.
Certain elements of the story reminded me of Rae Carson’s Fire and Thorns series. Omari and the People featured very strong female characters and had a rich, but identifiable cultural backdrop. It really left a lot to the listener’s imagination, including the solution of a few key plot points.
This could annoy some, but I decided to view it like abstract art. Omari and the People is painted with broad strokes and it is up to the listener to to decide how to fill in the details and how to interpret the finished product.
After all, a magician never reveals their secrets.
Narration review: I actually wanted to start this review by talking about the narration because it captivated me as much as the storytelling. Someone give Curt Simmons an Audie Award because he held a thick and distinct accent for the entire 11 hours and 17 minutes of this audiobook. It did not slip once. The accent was not particularly distinguishable as belonging to one group or another, which tremendously enhanced the story’s mysteriousness and aided my suspension of disbelief. It was thick enough to be remarkable, but not so thick as to hinder my understanding. I’m very curious to know how exactly Mr. Simmons came to choose this particular accent for the performance (and also how he held it for so long!).
This experience, along with sampling a bit of his other work, assured me that Curt Simmons is a narrator who can do just about anything (and do it very well). ♣︎
➜ This audiobook was graciously gifted to me by its narrator, Curt Simmons, in exchange for a review containing my honest thoughts and opinions. Thanks, Curt!
October 15, 2016
You can find this review and others on my blog, Novelties.
Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect with Stephen's book. It definitely intrigues me. And I'm happy to be given the opportunity to review the audiobook. The audiobook adds an extra level of interest. Stephen's writing and Curt's narration produce powerful images in your mind. The author has an intrinsic ability to shape his words into something tangible. He doesn't tell you what happens; he shows you. And Curt complements Stephen's work beautifully. You can smell the fire and picture the people as they flee the burning city. Omari and the People is truly a character-driven piece.
Omari, the elusive Phantom Thief and an unlikely saviour who fears his identity will be figured out, leads people across the unforgiving desert after he intentionally sets his house on fire to escape a life he loathes, and thus accidentally burns down their City. He's reluctant to help them. He has no love for them. They aren't his people. He'd rather abandon them and leave. But when an elderly and often forgotten woman encourages him to guide them to a paradise just past the desert, he sees an opportunity he knows he can't refuse.
Omari and the People reminds me of the classic legends. People pass them down from generation to generation. And this book touches on that lore. I love how Stephen captures the human condition. He creates beautiful yet mortal characters. You can see a lot of yourself in them. And you ask yourself what you're willing to do to survive, what you'll give up in order to believe in a man who says he'll give you more.
Along their path, Omari and the caravan face illnesses, threats of starvation, raiders, insects, and internal conflicts. But the people are at the heart of this story. Omari is flawed, yes. But he's a good example of being a human. The people shape him, and he, too, moulds them into a family. One character who surprised me the most is Umal, the woman who sets Omari on his path. This sorceress is the shining beacon in a bleak desert backdrop. I adore her.
Sometimes there are stories that you may never have picked up because you thought they're the same old. This one? No. This book will surprise you. Curt's narration will hook you, and Stephen's clever writing will make you want more.
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"Like wisps of vapour that form a cloud, their shared memories and desires rise up from their souls, merge, and become the story."
Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect with Stephen's book. It definitely intrigues me. And I'm happy to be given the opportunity to review the audiobook. The audiobook adds an extra level of interest. Stephen's writing and Curt's narration produce powerful images in your mind. The author has an intrinsic ability to shape his words into something tangible. He doesn't tell you what happens; he shows you. And Curt complements Stephen's work beautifully. You can smell the fire and picture the people as they flee the burning city. Omari and the People is truly a character-driven piece.
"You are smart. You are strong. You are brave. And you care. This is why you will lead these people across the sands."
Omari, the elusive Phantom Thief and an unlikely saviour who fears his identity will be figured out, leads people across the unforgiving desert after he intentionally sets his house on fire to escape a life he loathes, and thus accidentally burns down their City. He's reluctant to help them. He has no love for them. They aren't his people. He'd rather abandon them and leave. But when an elderly and often forgotten woman encourages him to guide them to a paradise just past the desert, he sees an opportunity he knows he can't refuse.
Omari and the People reminds me of the classic legends. People pass them down from generation to generation. And this book touches on that lore. I love how Stephen captures the human condition. He creates beautiful yet mortal characters. You can see a lot of yourself in them. And you ask yourself what you're willing to do to survive, what you'll give up in order to believe in a man who says he'll give you more.
Along their path, Omari and the caravan face illnesses, threats of starvation, raiders, insects, and internal conflicts. But the people are at the heart of this story. Omari is flawed, yes. But he's a good example of being a human. The people shape him, and he, too, moulds them into a family. One character who surprised me the most is Umal, the woman who sets Omari on his path. This sorceress is the shining beacon in a bleak desert backdrop. I adore her.
Sometimes there are stories that you may never have picked up because you thought they're the same old. This one? No. This book will surprise you. Curt's narration will hook you, and Stephen's clever writing will make you want more.
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December 28, 2016
Full disclosure, I am the narrator for the Audible Audio edition of Omari and the People by Stephen Whitfield. I decided to write this review of the novel because of the unique and personal experience I had with Stephen and his work. I'm thinking this should be in the forward to his next novel.
I answered Stephen’s email request for an audition to narrate his book from ICU at Harborview Trauma Center in Seattle where my wife was recovering from emergency surgery after a terrible car accident two days earlier. Now, five months later, her recovery is still on track and she will soon be back to normal life.
In my reply to Stephen’s email, I told him what had just happened and said it was probably not the best time for me to be working on an audiobook. Stephen completely understood. He conveyed his concern and heartfelt best wishes and said not to hesitate if I changed my mind. Then I read his Kindle edition. Not without some trepidation, I determined that I could, in fact, care for my wife and work on a book if the production timeline was flexible. I could do the work in my home studio. I auditioned and Stephen hired me. Production took twice as long as it would have under normal circumstances, but it was definitely the right thing to do. My reading of the novel was what convinced me to accept the job, thus the following review.
Omari and the People is the story of a catastrophic event and the arduous journey that follows. A reluctant hero is guided and assisted by the least likely of supernatural helpers, a decrepit and crazed old woman of the streets. Joseph Campbell would be proud. Most of all, Omari’s central themes of time and forgiveness are archetypal. The story has all the elements of classic adventure romance. Betrayal, revenge, torn love, loss, atonement, destiny. Throw in healing and you have a Stephen Whitfield debut that is entertaining, thought-provoking, and even funny.
Stephen creates a romantic desert setting hidden somewhere behind the sandstorms of undefined antiquity and with no references to earthly geography or sociopolitical entities by name, which enhances its charm and mystique. Strong and complex female characters are a joy to read and unexpected wisdom is accented by events that appear to be magic. But are they really? Exotic desert life and vast beauty is revealed in prose that is satisfying to the ear and at times exhilarating. Or was it just the state I was in? I don't think so.
I answered Stephen’s email request for an audition to narrate his book from ICU at Harborview Trauma Center in Seattle where my wife was recovering from emergency surgery after a terrible car accident two days earlier. Now, five months later, her recovery is still on track and she will soon be back to normal life.
In my reply to Stephen’s email, I told him what had just happened and said it was probably not the best time for me to be working on an audiobook. Stephen completely understood. He conveyed his concern and heartfelt best wishes and said not to hesitate if I changed my mind. Then I read his Kindle edition. Not without some trepidation, I determined that I could, in fact, care for my wife and work on a book if the production timeline was flexible. I could do the work in my home studio. I auditioned and Stephen hired me. Production took twice as long as it would have under normal circumstances, but it was definitely the right thing to do. My reading of the novel was what convinced me to accept the job, thus the following review.
Omari and the People is the story of a catastrophic event and the arduous journey that follows. A reluctant hero is guided and assisted by the least likely of supernatural helpers, a decrepit and crazed old woman of the streets. Joseph Campbell would be proud. Most of all, Omari’s central themes of time and forgiveness are archetypal. The story has all the elements of classic adventure romance. Betrayal, revenge, torn love, loss, atonement, destiny. Throw in healing and you have a Stephen Whitfield debut that is entertaining, thought-provoking, and even funny.
Stephen creates a romantic desert setting hidden somewhere behind the sandstorms of undefined antiquity and with no references to earthly geography or sociopolitical entities by name, which enhances its charm and mystique. Strong and complex female characters are a joy to read and unexpected wisdom is accented by events that appear to be magic. But are they really? Exotic desert life and vast beauty is revealed in prose that is satisfying to the ear and at times exhilarating. Or was it just the state I was in? I don't think so.
May 6, 2017
I enjoyed Omari and the People. It’s a journey-based story, with commentary on human nature- love, friendship, independence, the desire for challenges, the fear of insecurity, and the nature of hope. It’s got magical realism (or perhaps I should say, the world is akin to ours but there’s a character who is magical). It’s got a reluctant hero (Omari). It’s got a stoic best friend that I adored (Umbarek…I may be misspelling that as I listened to it on audiobook). It’s got several fierce female characters, all very different from one another (Saba, Safia, Gonzala, Umal, etc). It’s pretty much got all the elements of an epic.
And the writing is excellent in that storytelling way, because even though it’s a hefty 366 pages, I felt like parts of it were rushed and I wasn’t quite ready for the ending. Or rather, I wanted more middle. I’m thinking it would make an excellent movie or mini-series.
The narration was well done. When a narrator maintains a solid accent for long enough, I have a difficult time reconciling their headshot with the mental image I have of them. I also appreciate that the narrator did convincingly gendered voices without sounding like mockery or he was straining. Yay!
Honestly, the only thing missing was my connection to Omari. I don’t know why, and likely it’s an error on my part, but I didn’t emotionally connect with Omari at all. Oftentimes, it felt like events were happening to him, instead of Omari directing events. And aside from his turmoil over Saba, he never felt vulnerable or relatable to me. And that may have been a deliberate choice by the author, as the emotional reader/character connection is clearly meant to be to the caravan as a whole. Which DID happen- I was worried when certain decisions were made, I feared what would happen with certain unhappy characters, I could easily imagine the celebrations.
Overall, I recommend this for fans of epic travel stories, ensemble casts, magical realism/mysticism in reality, Persian-esque ancient settings, well-rounded and realistic characters, and of course, I recommend the audiobook for a good atmosphere.
And the writing is excellent in that storytelling way, because even though it’s a hefty 366 pages, I felt like parts of it were rushed and I wasn’t quite ready for the ending. Or rather, I wanted more middle. I’m thinking it would make an excellent movie or mini-series.
The narration was well done. When a narrator maintains a solid accent for long enough, I have a difficult time reconciling their headshot with the mental image I have of them. I also appreciate that the narrator did convincingly gendered voices without sounding like mockery or he was straining. Yay!
Honestly, the only thing missing was my connection to Omari. I don’t know why, and likely it’s an error on my part, but I didn’t emotionally connect with Omari at all. Oftentimes, it felt like events were happening to him, instead of Omari directing events. And aside from his turmoil over Saba, he never felt vulnerable or relatable to me. And that may have been a deliberate choice by the author, as the emotional reader/character connection is clearly meant to be to the caravan as a whole. Which DID happen- I was worried when certain decisions were made, I feared what would happen with certain unhappy characters, I could easily imagine the celebrations.
Overall, I recommend this for fans of epic travel stories, ensemble casts, magical realism/mysticism in reality, Persian-esque ancient settings, well-rounded and realistic characters, and of course, I recommend the audiobook for a good atmosphere.
October 8, 2016
My Rating: 4 ½ stars
*I received a complimentary audio book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I have to confess that I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks. In fact, I think the last one I listened to told me to turn the page at the chime and involved my favorite animated characters. So when I agreed to listen to and review Omari and The People, I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I was going to review an audio book…especially one this long… but as I listened to this wonderful book, I quickly became a fan of the format and knew this wouldn’t be my last.
Omari and The People was a wonderful story and I am so glad I chose it to be one of the first I listened to and reviewed. I loved the ease in which you get lost in a story as you listen and how you can “see” or rather hear the story through another person’s point of view. The narrator brought this story to life in a way that I am not sure I could have by just reading the words on a page. His soothing voice and tone drew me into the story and captured my attention to the point that I didn’t want to stop listening. I quickly became immersed in the story and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I could’ve easily listened to this story in one 11+ hour sitting if life hadn’t demanded otherwise.
And what a story! With the author’s wonderful and vivid descriptions, I became fascinated by the characters, the setting, and the story as a whole. I felt for these characters and wanted them to succeed and thrive in this fascinating world. And despite Omari’s faults, of which there are many, I wanted him to succeed as well. I had compassion for him…compassion I may not have had if I had not been listening to an audio book version of the story. As I said, the narrator did a fabulous job of bringing the author’s words to life painting a beautiful picture in my mind of both the setting and the characters.
*I received a complimentary audio book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I have to confess that I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks. In fact, I think the last one I listened to told me to turn the page at the chime and involved my favorite animated characters. So when I agreed to listen to and review Omari and The People, I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I was going to review an audio book…especially one this long… but as I listened to this wonderful book, I quickly became a fan of the format and knew this wouldn’t be my last.
Omari and The People was a wonderful story and I am so glad I chose it to be one of the first I listened to and reviewed. I loved the ease in which you get lost in a story as you listen and how you can “see” or rather hear the story through another person’s point of view. The narrator brought this story to life in a way that I am not sure I could have by just reading the words on a page. His soothing voice and tone drew me into the story and captured my attention to the point that I didn’t want to stop listening. I quickly became immersed in the story and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I could’ve easily listened to this story in one 11+ hour sitting if life hadn’t demanded otherwise.
And what a story! With the author’s wonderful and vivid descriptions, I became fascinated by the characters, the setting, and the story as a whole. I felt for these characters and wanted them to succeed and thrive in this fascinating world. And despite Omari’s faults, of which there are many, I wanted him to succeed as well. I had compassion for him…compassion I may not have had if I had not been listening to an audio book version of the story. As I said, the narrator did a fabulous job of bringing the author’s words to life painting a beautiful picture in my mind of both the setting and the characters.
October 7, 2016
This story is reminiscent of the classic adventure stories. There is adventure, magic, romance, and intrigue and the story kept me entertained and wanting to know what was going to happen from the beginning. I loved the way the author describes the landscape in which the story unfolds. I felt like I had been transported to a Middle Eastern desert and could picture it so vividly in my mind.
There is magic, but it is subtle. There are sword fights, but they're few and far between. This book is much more about the characters and their development and relationships than about the excitement of magic and battle. The characters will draw you in at times, irritate you at others, and from time to time there will a character or two that have you wondering whether those characters are good or evil.
The Narration
I listened to this audiobook rather than reading it, so I wanted to include some thoughts on the narration. There have been many audiobooks that I started listening to and had to stop early on because, despite the fact that the story was great, the narrator was irritating. This was definitely not one of those books. Curt Simmons does an amazing job with this audiobook. He really becomes the characters and part of the caravan. Nothing feels forced or unnatural. He does use an accent, which is appropriate, since the story takes place in a desert far away. The accent took me by surprise to begin with, but once I really got into the audiobook, the accent made the story come to life even more.
I recommend this audiobook or ebook to teenagers and adults who enjoy a tale of adventure and magic. The main characters are adults, but the story is clean, so I think young adult readers would enjoy the story as well as adults!
There is magic, but it is subtle. There are sword fights, but they're few and far between. This book is much more about the characters and their development and relationships than about the excitement of magic and battle. The characters will draw you in at times, irritate you at others, and from time to time there will a character or two that have you wondering whether those characters are good or evil.
The Narration
I listened to this audiobook rather than reading it, so I wanted to include some thoughts on the narration. There have been many audiobooks that I started listening to and had to stop early on because, despite the fact that the story was great, the narrator was irritating. This was definitely not one of those books. Curt Simmons does an amazing job with this audiobook. He really becomes the characters and part of the caravan. Nothing feels forced or unnatural. He does use an accent, which is appropriate, since the story takes place in a desert far away. The accent took me by surprise to begin with, but once I really got into the audiobook, the accent made the story come to life even more.
I recommend this audiobook or ebook to teenagers and adults who enjoy a tale of adventure and magic. The main characters are adults, but the story is clean, so I think young adult readers would enjoy the story as well as adults!
October 1, 2016
Omari is a talented thief, but he’s not so smart when it comes to women. He has riches, a beautiful wife, and a big house. Yet his wife becomes angry with him and heads off to the city guard to tell of his many crimes. In an attempt to erase evidence of his wrongdoings, he sets fire to his house. Unfortunately, the flames don’t stop there and the entire city is lost. Now Omari, feeling quite bad about this, tells the people a lie about a wonderful land beyond the desert sands. There the adventure begins as a discordant group of people must either come together to succeed or will fall apart under the numerous assaults they suffer.
This is a beautiful, captivating story. In very little time, I was caught up in the tale. Omari is a flawed young man with a good heart. He grew up thieving, having no one to take care of him. Yet, he also goes out of his way to see that the homeless old woman, Umal, has regular food and wine. Once he accidentally burns the city down, he knows he can’t stay with Sumosi’s group of people, for Sumosi and many of his guards would love to beat Omari to death. Yet he can’t survive in the desert on his own. Partly out of hope, partly out of desperation, he concocts a story about a far off land, rich in food and water. Others wish to leave and so they band together behind Omari.
One of my favorite things about this story is that the women were just as varied, useful, and flawed as the men. Saba is great with a bow. Jasmina was the best dance instructor in the city before it burned. Umal is a unique character who perhaps has special powers, or perhaps is just very good at reading people and lucky in circumstance. Sofia, mother of two young sons (Haroun and Zolani), teaches this newly formed caravan how to make flatbread. The men are just as interesting. Bin Aswad, a cloth merchant with two daughters, has his pride and when his pride is injured, he can’t let it go. Umbaric used to be the captain of the guards. As such, he knows about Omari’s previous life. It was great to see how Omari eventually won Umbaric over. There’s plenty more characters, and each one brings some facet to this caravan story.
As Omari’s caravan searches for this fabled land, they have to endure much. The first difficulty is in procuring camels, then in learning how to load, ride, and care for the camels. Desert storms, swarms of flies, pestilence, severe dehydration, and raiders are all things the caravan will have to learn to deal with. I appreciate that the author didn’t keep everything all roses; he threw in some thorns and not every character comes out of this story intact.
As a side note, there were oryx, which I have a fondness for. It was great to read about the first oryx hunt by these once-city dwellers. It reminded me of my first time seeing oryx in the New Mexico desert, chasing them in a Jeep. I, like some of those hunters, was not too smart in that moment.
The ending was very satisfying. Omari has changed little by little throughout the story. Other characters have also grown through their experiences. Umal eventually reveals a little more about her nature, though much is left to the reader to guess. I recommend this excellent story be paired with a strong mint tea.
I received this audiobook at no cost from the author (via The Audio Book Worm) in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: Curt Simmons does an excellent job with this story. He had a light Arabic accent, perhaps Egyptian, for the entire book. I love it when narrators go out of their way to do this as it makes such a difference in how much I become submerged in the story. He had a great young man’s voice for Omari. He also did a great job with the female voices. Umal sounds like an old woman, Sofia sounds like a worried mother, Saba sounds like a determined young lady. I especially liked his half-joking, sometimes sly voice for Umbaric.
This is a beautiful, captivating story. In very little time, I was caught up in the tale. Omari is a flawed young man with a good heart. He grew up thieving, having no one to take care of him. Yet, he also goes out of his way to see that the homeless old woman, Umal, has regular food and wine. Once he accidentally burns the city down, he knows he can’t stay with Sumosi’s group of people, for Sumosi and many of his guards would love to beat Omari to death. Yet he can’t survive in the desert on his own. Partly out of hope, partly out of desperation, he concocts a story about a far off land, rich in food and water. Others wish to leave and so they band together behind Omari.
One of my favorite things about this story is that the women were just as varied, useful, and flawed as the men. Saba is great with a bow. Jasmina was the best dance instructor in the city before it burned. Umal is a unique character who perhaps has special powers, or perhaps is just very good at reading people and lucky in circumstance. Sofia, mother of two young sons (Haroun and Zolani), teaches this newly formed caravan how to make flatbread. The men are just as interesting. Bin Aswad, a cloth merchant with two daughters, has his pride and when his pride is injured, he can’t let it go. Umbaric used to be the captain of the guards. As such, he knows about Omari’s previous life. It was great to see how Omari eventually won Umbaric over. There’s plenty more characters, and each one brings some facet to this caravan story.
As Omari’s caravan searches for this fabled land, they have to endure much. The first difficulty is in procuring camels, then in learning how to load, ride, and care for the camels. Desert storms, swarms of flies, pestilence, severe dehydration, and raiders are all things the caravan will have to learn to deal with. I appreciate that the author didn’t keep everything all roses; he threw in some thorns and not every character comes out of this story intact.
As a side note, there were oryx, which I have a fondness for. It was great to read about the first oryx hunt by these once-city dwellers. It reminded me of my first time seeing oryx in the New Mexico desert, chasing them in a Jeep. I, like some of those hunters, was not too smart in that moment.
The ending was very satisfying. Omari has changed little by little throughout the story. Other characters have also grown through their experiences. Umal eventually reveals a little more about her nature, though much is left to the reader to guess. I recommend this excellent story be paired with a strong mint tea.
I received this audiobook at no cost from the author (via The Audio Book Worm) in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: Curt Simmons does an excellent job with this story. He had a light Arabic accent, perhaps Egyptian, for the entire book. I love it when narrators go out of their way to do this as it makes such a difference in how much I become submerged in the story. He had a great young man’s voice for Omari. He also did a great job with the female voices. Umal sounds like an old woman, Sofia sounds like a worried mother, Saba sounds like a determined young lady. I especially liked his half-joking, sometimes sly voice for Umbaric.
October 25, 2016
My original Omari and the People audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
The thief Omari unwittingly becomes the leader of his people when they must travel on a long journey through the desert to find a new home. During this journey, Omari must make many decisions that he has no experience with. An old beggar woman, who seems to be unlike any like any other woman and is uncannily powerful, guides him with mysterious advice. Through the guidance of this old woman, Omari leads the people forward with faith that the land that they are trying to find really does exist. Throughout this journey, Omari makes mistakes, but ultimately he must learn how to trust, to love, and ultimately to lead if he wishes to bring the people safely to their new home.
I really enjoyed this story. It feels like an old folk tale from the Arab deserts. It’s filled with humanity and majestic awe of nature and just a little bit of magic. And ultimately, it’s a story about right and wrong and how these decisions can impact a person’s personality. Throughout the hardships of the journey in the unrelenting desert, the struggles and conflicts that Omari and the people face change them. And as the story progresses, he and we learn about how people change and how peoples’ responses to situations are not always singularly driven. And so, this is a story about change. Omari himself is a likable character. From the beginning, the reader quickly becomes aligned with him and hates his enemies and loves his friends. Also, I liked the addition of the magic to the story. It really added to the folklore feel of the story and made it seem just a little more magical. Overall, this is a story about people and peoples’ lives.
The narration by Curt Simmons was fantastic. His characterization of each of the characters was amazing and they were all distinctive. The changes to peoples’ accents and way of speaking were consistent. I would definitely listen to another audiobook narrated by him. The production quality was also good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes listening to folklore and stories that are inspired by folklore.
Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.
The thief Omari unwittingly becomes the leader of his people when they must travel on a long journey through the desert to find a new home. During this journey, Omari must make many decisions that he has no experience with. An old beggar woman, who seems to be unlike any like any other woman and is uncannily powerful, guides him with mysterious advice. Through the guidance of this old woman, Omari leads the people forward with faith that the land that they are trying to find really does exist. Throughout this journey, Omari makes mistakes, but ultimately he must learn how to trust, to love, and ultimately to lead if he wishes to bring the people safely to their new home.
I really enjoyed this story. It feels like an old folk tale from the Arab deserts. It’s filled with humanity and majestic awe of nature and just a little bit of magic. And ultimately, it’s a story about right and wrong and how these decisions can impact a person’s personality. Throughout the hardships of the journey in the unrelenting desert, the struggles and conflicts that Omari and the people face change them. And as the story progresses, he and we learn about how people change and how peoples’ responses to situations are not always singularly driven. And so, this is a story about change. Omari himself is a likable character. From the beginning, the reader quickly becomes aligned with him and hates his enemies and loves his friends. Also, I liked the addition of the magic to the story. It really added to the folklore feel of the story and made it seem just a little more magical. Overall, this is a story about people and peoples’ lives.
The narration by Curt Simmons was fantastic. His characterization of each of the characters was amazing and they were all distinctive. The changes to peoples’ accents and way of speaking were consistent. I would definitely listen to another audiobook narrated by him. The production quality was also good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes listening to folklore and stories that are inspired by folklore.
Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.
June 20, 2015
Omari’s skills as a thief have allowed him to live a life of luxury. However, when it looks like his world is about to tumble down, he decides to take matters into his own hands – he sets his house on fire. Unfortunately, the fire spreads and soon the entire town is engulfed in flames. The survivors gather outside of town, wondering what is to become of them. Omari, in an attempt to avoid capture, hints that he knows of a land across the desert where they can make a much better life than the one they have lost. For the first time in his life, Omari finds himself leading a group of people who put all their faith and hope in him but can this unrepentant thief and loner change enough to really keep his promise – especially as he has never actually crossed the desert before and has no idea if this promised land actually exists?
Omari and the People by Stephen Whitfield is one entertaining realist fantasy – a completely engrossing sword & sorcery tale with very little of either. Not to say there isn’t some sword play and a bit of magic but the story is more character-driven which, with a less deft hand, could have made for a very dull tale. Fortunately, Omari and the people are all complex and interesting characters and the tensions and the relationships that arise throughout their long journey through the desert makes for some very addicting reading. The characters must rely more on themselves and each other to survive their very grueling trek rather than some outside supernatural force. Reminiscent of old folk tales like Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, even the desert seems more a living, breathing and always unpredictable character than a place perhaps because it is responsible for so many of the struggles, disappointments and hopes but also perhaps because, as Whitfield says, he based it on the real Sahara desert.
Omari and the People is more than a simple quest story – it is a tale of love and struggle, of growth and courage and faith, and of the resilience of the human heart. But more than that, it is a really engrossing reality fantasy that will grab and keep the reader’s attention throughout.
Omari and the People by Stephen Whitfield is one entertaining realist fantasy – a completely engrossing sword & sorcery tale with very little of either. Not to say there isn’t some sword play and a bit of magic but the story is more character-driven which, with a less deft hand, could have made for a very dull tale. Fortunately, Omari and the people are all complex and interesting characters and the tensions and the relationships that arise throughout their long journey through the desert makes for some very addicting reading. The characters must rely more on themselves and each other to survive their very grueling trek rather than some outside supernatural force. Reminiscent of old folk tales like Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, even the desert seems more a living, breathing and always unpredictable character than a place perhaps because it is responsible for so many of the struggles, disappointments and hopes but also perhaps because, as Whitfield says, he based it on the real Sahara desert.
Omari and the People is more than a simple quest story – it is a tale of love and struggle, of growth and courage and faith, and of the resilience of the human heart. But more than that, it is a really engrossing reality fantasy that will grab and keep the reader’s attention throughout.
October 15, 2016
I received a free audio narration of this book from The Audiobookworm in exchange for an honest review. This did not impact my opinion of the story or performance.
Omari and the People was a huge leap outside of my comfort area. This novel did not disappoint though and it was a great introduction to audiobooks and adult fiction in the magical realism /fantasy genre (although it's contemporary too because this is very much a character driven novel).
Omari and the People is a beautifully written adventure of Omari, a thief and self-proclaimed loner, and his journey not only leading a caravan of newly disenfranchised people across the dangerous, dry desert, but a journey to find himself and his purpose along the way. As the caravan makes its way across the desert seeking a rumored but never seen oasis, they have to overcome numerous obstacles from hunger and dehydration, heat, and sandstorms to war with an opposing caravan and betrayal by those unhappy within their own camp.
The narration brings this beautiful imagery and assortment of larger-than-life characters to life in a way I’ve never experienced. Curt Simmons’ steady and distinctive accent throughout the performance, coupled with Stephen Whitfield’s vivid descriptions, created mental characters and images that were as real as looking at a picture. The narration immerses you into the story and the daunting 11-hour run-time is almost over before you know it!
Omari and the People was a huge leap outside of my comfort area. This novel did not disappoint though and it was a great introduction to audiobooks and adult fiction in the magical realism /fantasy genre (although it's contemporary too because this is very much a character driven novel).
Omari and the People is a beautifully written adventure of Omari, a thief and self-proclaimed loner, and his journey not only leading a caravan of newly disenfranchised people across the dangerous, dry desert, but a journey to find himself and his purpose along the way. As the caravan makes its way across the desert seeking a rumored but never seen oasis, they have to overcome numerous obstacles from hunger and dehydration, heat, and sandstorms to war with an opposing caravan and betrayal by those unhappy within their own camp.
The narration brings this beautiful imagery and assortment of larger-than-life characters to life in a way I’ve never experienced. Curt Simmons’ steady and distinctive accent throughout the performance, coupled with Stephen Whitfield’s vivid descriptions, created mental characters and images that were as real as looking at a picture. The narration immerses you into the story and the daunting 11-hour run-time is almost over before you know it!
May 11, 2017
In a squalid ancient city on the edge of a desert (based in part on the Empty Quarter in Arabia) a weary, thrill-seeking thief named Omari sets his home afire to start anew and to cover his many crimes. When the entire city is unintentionally destroyed by the flames, the cornered thief tells the displaced people a lie about a better place which only he can lead them to, across the desert. With the help of an aged, mysterious woman who knows a better place actually does exist, they set out. The desperate people must come together to fight their way through bandits, storms, epidemics, and more. As a result of Omari’s involvement with Saba, a fiercely independent woman who is out to break him in the pay of a merchant whom he has offended, his ability to lead – his very life – is jeopardized.
I was contacted by Jess, The Audiobookworm, to see if I was interested in reviewing the audiobook of Omari and the People, and I was nervous, but I agreed to do it. I’ve never reviewed an audiobook before, because audiobooks are a new thing for me. That being said, I loved this book. I loved Omari’s voice, I loved Curt Simmons’ narration, and I loved the journey that Omari led us on through the desert.
Read the full review here!
I was contacted by Jess, The Audiobookworm, to see if I was interested in reviewing the audiobook of Omari and the People, and I was nervous, but I agreed to do it. I’ve never reviewed an audiobook before, because audiobooks are a new thing for me. That being said, I loved this book. I loved Omari’s voice, I loved Curt Simmons’ narration, and I loved the journey that Omari led us on through the desert.
Read the full review here!
October 11, 2016
This a book about Omari and his quest as a leader across the desert to restore the lives of the people who lost their homes. Omari's character is one that has a troubled past (he often stole things to get by), yet of one of a man trying to prove he can do the things that he set out to do. I especially enjoyed the audio parts of the books when it came to expressing his emotions.
Throughout the book we get exposed to a variety of other characters. Influential women, merchants trying to get things to go their way, and so many more. The characters of this book really came alive to me through the audio story. In part, it reminded me of Aladdin and I enjoyed that very much.
I have not listened to alot of audio books, but I enjoyed the narrator of this book. He had a number of voice changes, inflections, and other phrasing that he used to keep the book interesting. The book in total was about 11 hours long, so when it takes that much time you hope to stay engaged throughout the story.
All in all, it was an interesting book and I am glad that I had a chance to participate! While I was provided a copy of this book as part of the tour, all opinions are my own.
Throughout the book we get exposed to a variety of other characters. Influential women, merchants trying to get things to go their way, and so many more. The characters of this book really came alive to me through the audio story. In part, it reminded me of Aladdin and I enjoyed that very much.
I have not listened to alot of audio books, but I enjoyed the narrator of this book. He had a number of voice changes, inflections, and other phrasing that he used to keep the book interesting. The book in total was about 11 hours long, so when it takes that much time you hope to stay engaged throughout the story.
All in all, it was an interesting book and I am glad that I had a chance to participate! While I was provided a copy of this book as part of the tour, all opinions are my own.
June 7, 2017
3.5 Stars
Note: I received this book from Jess at Audiobook Promotions in exchange for an honest review as a part of this tour. The tour is being sponsored by Stephen Whitfield and Curt Simmons. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Although not a story I would usually reach for, "Omari and the People" was a solid read.
First of all, the narration in this book was fantastic. Curt's slight accent kept me captivated and coming back for more. With a relatively slow plot and overall story arc, that was important for me. It also serves to further highlight that this was not, indeed, a european setting. I’m not great with accents, but I believe his was possibly arabic.
"Omari and the People" is largely character driven, rather than plot heavy. The characters, while slightly hard to keep track of due to similar sounding names on audio, were interesting and developed throughout the story. Umal, an older lady, was my favourite character as she was the most intriguing - shrouded in mystery, constantly surprising everyone, incredibly wise, and perhaps even possessing paranormal abilities, Umal was always one to look forward to. Sofia, mother of two young sons, and Umbaric, former captain of the city guard, were also quite interesting.
On a quick side note, shout out to Dab of Darkness for including character names in her review, for otherwise I would have no idea what any of them were (save Omari and perhaps Saba).
The setting, according to Stephen, is loosely based off Africa, but to me - perhaps because of the accent Curt assumes - it appears to be more Middle Eastern, the characters Arabic. However, due to the nature of the descriptions, the desert could really be anywhere. The whole “exodus across the desert” is reminiscent of the story of Moses, but there are no real religious mentions - with the exception of a few characters having possibly supernatural gifts. So, again, the story is one that encourages readers to build the overall world and time for themselves.
A character-driven exodus of a people lead by hope and just looking to survive, this story does have some elements of romance but it is more a side element than anything. I recommend giving "Omari and the People" a read (or listen, as I would suggest) if you’re looking for something slightly different but enjoyable none the less.
Note: I received this book from Jess at Audiobook Promotions in exchange for an honest review as a part of this tour. The tour is being sponsored by Stephen Whitfield and Curt Simmons. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Although not a story I would usually reach for, "Omari and the People" was a solid read.
First of all, the narration in this book was fantastic. Curt's slight accent kept me captivated and coming back for more. With a relatively slow plot and overall story arc, that was important for me. It also serves to further highlight that this was not, indeed, a european setting. I’m not great with accents, but I believe his was possibly arabic.
"Omari and the People" is largely character driven, rather than plot heavy. The characters, while slightly hard to keep track of due to similar sounding names on audio, were interesting and developed throughout the story. Umal, an older lady, was my favourite character as she was the most intriguing - shrouded in mystery, constantly surprising everyone, incredibly wise, and perhaps even possessing paranormal abilities, Umal was always one to look forward to. Sofia, mother of two young sons, and Umbaric, former captain of the city guard, were also quite interesting.
On a quick side note, shout out to Dab of Darkness for including character names in her review, for otherwise I would have no idea what any of them were (save Omari and perhaps Saba).
The setting, according to Stephen, is loosely based off Africa, but to me - perhaps because of the accent Curt assumes - it appears to be more Middle Eastern, the characters Arabic. However, due to the nature of the descriptions, the desert could really be anywhere. The whole “exodus across the desert” is reminiscent of the story of Moses, but there are no real religious mentions - with the exception of a few characters having possibly supernatural gifts. So, again, the story is one that encourages readers to build the overall world and time for themselves.
A character-driven exodus of a people lead by hope and just looking to survive, this story does have some elements of romance but it is more a side element than anything. I recommend giving "Omari and the People" a read (or listen, as I would suggest) if you’re looking for something slightly different but enjoyable none the less.
November 30, 2014
I just loved this book! The story of this people was so fascinating I had to drop everything else I was reading and concentrate only on this. For starters, I really liked the characters. Omari felt like a real person, unlike the "normal" storybook hero, who rises up to the challenge and saves the day without presenting a single flaw. On the contrary, he is tormented by his sudden rise to power, as it is so much out of his character: as a thief used to being on his own, he struggles to even just care about the people he is supposed to lead. I also liked the fact that Omari (and as a matter of fact all the other characters) really evolve during the journey, as the challenges they face daily change them, for better or worse, as I think would only be natural in a situation such as theirs.
Another big, big bonus for me was the presence of so many strong female characters. From the enigmatic Umal to the fiercely independent Saba, the women in this book are not just bystanders, but are actively involved in the shaping of the story. They fight for their rights and to be treated as equals to men, and they really do make a difference when it counts most. The secondary characters in general are well-developed, with antagonists I loved to hate falling prey to their greed and lust for power in a very realistic way. And the realism is what surprised me most in this book: even though there are some supernatural elements and some magic, the story as a whole is really believable, as are the dynamics of such a diverse group of people. The tensions between rich and poor and the various clans, the people's difficulties in letting go of their previous lifestyle and social position or their reluctance to follow a thief's lead all add to the feeling that the story is real - or at least it could be.
This book is highly recommended to anyone looking for an epic adventure, a tale of friendship, love and betrayals with a touch of magical realism.
Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review. You can find this review and more on my blog .
Another big, big bonus for me was the presence of so many strong female characters. From the enigmatic Umal to the fiercely independent Saba, the women in this book are not just bystanders, but are actively involved in the shaping of the story. They fight for their rights and to be treated as equals to men, and they really do make a difference when it counts most. The secondary characters in general are well-developed, with antagonists I loved to hate falling prey to their greed and lust for power in a very realistic way. And the realism is what surprised me most in this book: even though there are some supernatural elements and some magic, the story as a whole is really believable, as are the dynamics of such a diverse group of people. The tensions between rich and poor and the various clans, the people's difficulties in letting go of their previous lifestyle and social position or their reluctance to follow a thief's lead all add to the feeling that the story is real - or at least it could be.
This book is highly recommended to anyone looking for an epic adventure, a tale of friendship, love and betrayals with a touch of magical realism.
Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book from Story Cartel in exchange for my honest review. You can find this review and more on my blog .
March 13, 2015
It’s rare when reading an epic that you find yourself enthralled with each page. I for one can’t count how many times I’ve rolled my eyes at the minutiae or yawned and skipped pages as the author droned on about the texture of parchment for twelve paragraphs. Fortunately there is nothing of that sort in this book. The writer knows how to not only distill his words down to what’s necessary for the progression of the story, but he also relays it in such an imaginative and poetic way that it’s all too easy to be seduced by the material. This, my friends, is a real story; a masterful tale of survival, growth, loss, and struggle within an unyielding landscape that will swallow you whole. Omari and company makes suspension of disbelief so easy that before you know it, you’ve moved way past bedtime and into the wee hours.
From the Battle of Sweetwell and getting to know and ultimately care for Omari, to dealing with pestilences and being intrigued by the advisor Umal, there is so much to delight in as the story progresses forward. By the end, the group has been through so much that the denouement was not only satisfying, but a great precursor to thoughts about a possible sequel.
In summation, if you love an epic novel with a charismatic but troubled hero and multidimensional characters around every corner, you can’t do better than this one. I’m keeping this one in my library without a doubt and can only sit impatiently in the hopes that the author will make a sequel.
From the Battle of Sweetwell and getting to know and ultimately care for Omari, to dealing with pestilences and being intrigued by the advisor Umal, there is so much to delight in as the story progresses forward. By the end, the group has been through so much that the denouement was not only satisfying, but a great precursor to thoughts about a possible sequel.
In summation, if you love an epic novel with a charismatic but troubled hero and multidimensional characters around every corner, you can’t do better than this one. I’m keeping this one in my library without a doubt and can only sit impatiently in the hopes that the author will make a sequel.
August 22, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It takes place in a mysterious, ancient land and has amazing and mysterious characters. I always found myself wanting to know more and came to care about them. There are lots of strong females, and the hero, Omari, is very realistic. I would probably consider this an adventure novel as it is exciting and we see the characters travelling across the land in search of a better place and fighting bandits, but there are also elements of fantasy and romance. I think this book has a bit of everything which makes it well-rounded and will appeal to readers of many genres. I listened to the Audible audio version of this book narrated by Curt Simmons. I really enjoyed his narration. He did an excellent job with pacing, accents, and character differentiation. When I first started listening, I realized right away that I want to listen to more books he has narrated. Overall, this is a really exciting book that really takes you away and puts you in the middle of the story. I highly recommend it.
October 17, 2016
Excellent piece of desert fantasy. Well-written and narrated just as successfully. A very enjoyable read.
April 1, 2017
Omari and the People is a story about he journey of a people from a city full of selfish desires to a place where they can find themselves and all they are capable of.
This story really reminds me of the stories that have been passed down through oral traditions, it has a beautiful feel to it that translates perfectly to the audiobook format. Omari is a thief who has built a life for himself among his stolen riches, but finds himself unhappy and restless. In a fit of anger and desperation he seeks to destroy his own home, but instead destroys his city leaving himself and others homeless. Omari is a deeply flawed man that finds himself in the position to help those around him, and with the help of a mysterious old woman whom he has cared for over the year he becomes the leader of the unlikely band of travelers. I think because Omari is someone who has a past drenched in misdeeds and selfishness that the story was one that captured my attention with ease. The journey across the desert is one full with perils and problems and I really loved that we get to see not just Omari change but the entire caravan as a whole. The changes are not always for the better, but it was interesting to see how people learn to adapt over time and how that affects their outlook on their situation.
I really loved the way this story is told, as both the writing style and the narration add a sort of campfire feel to it. The writing is inviting and beautiful, and the narration of Curt Simmons is absolutely perfect for it. His voice has such a wonderful soothing quality to it, making the story even more enjoyable.
Overall I found this to be an excellent standalone that proved to be absolutely perfect for the audiobook format! I shall definitely be on the lookout for more from both Stephen Whitfield and Curt Simmons!
This story really reminds me of the stories that have been passed down through oral traditions, it has a beautiful feel to it that translates perfectly to the audiobook format. Omari is a thief who has built a life for himself among his stolen riches, but finds himself unhappy and restless. In a fit of anger and desperation he seeks to destroy his own home, but instead destroys his city leaving himself and others homeless. Omari is a deeply flawed man that finds himself in the position to help those around him, and with the help of a mysterious old woman whom he has cared for over the year he becomes the leader of the unlikely band of travelers. I think because Omari is someone who has a past drenched in misdeeds and selfishness that the story was one that captured my attention with ease. The journey across the desert is one full with perils and problems and I really loved that we get to see not just Omari change but the entire caravan as a whole. The changes are not always for the better, but it was interesting to see how people learn to adapt over time and how that affects their outlook on their situation.
I really loved the way this story is told, as both the writing style and the narration add a sort of campfire feel to it. The writing is inviting and beautiful, and the narration of Curt Simmons is absolutely perfect for it. His voice has such a wonderful soothing quality to it, making the story even more enjoyable.
Overall I found this to be an excellent standalone that proved to be absolutely perfect for the audiobook format! I shall definitely be on the lookout for more from both Stephen Whitfield and Curt Simmons!
July 2, 2015
As a thief Omari lives a life of comfort until believing that he is about to be captures after learning that not only is his wife cheating on him but that she has turned his name into the authorities, he sets his house on fire and the whole town ends up in flames. He hints to the survivors that he knows of a land across the desert where life can be much better than the ones that they lost. Can this former thief lead the people who have put their faith in him across the desert to a land he is unsure even exists? Will he make a new beginning and change his life or will he disappoint those who are depending on him? This story kept me involved from the start.
The author has done an excellent job with character development I felt like I was part of their lives and I wanted them to overcome all their obstacles and have an easier, happier life in their new land. I like that the main female characters were strong, capable and confident women, not the “I need a man to save me” type. The world building and magic are excellent and reading this was thoroughly enjoyable.
4.5/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**
The author has done an excellent job with character development I felt like I was part of their lives and I wanted them to overcome all their obstacles and have an easier, happier life in their new land. I like that the main female characters were strong, capable and confident women, not the “I need a man to save me” type. The world building and magic are excellent and reading this was thoroughly enjoyable.
4.5/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**
December 10, 2015
(Spanish translation to follow)
This novel was moving and intriguing. It played upon both my emotional state and my willing suspension of disbelief. There was a wonderful balance between fantasy and real-world themes of community, passion, introspection and fate. I would highly recommend this book and hope to see it as a film.
Esta novela se movía e intrigante. Jugó en tanto mi estado emocional y mi suspensión voluntaria de la incredulidad . Había un maravilloso equilibrio entre la fantasía y el mundo real los temas de la comunidad , la pasión , la introspección y el destino . Yo recomendaría este libro y la esperanza de verlo como una película.
This novel was moving and intriguing. It played upon both my emotional state and my willing suspension of disbelief. There was a wonderful balance between fantasy and real-world themes of community, passion, introspection and fate. I would highly recommend this book and hope to see it as a film.
Esta novela se movía e intrigante. Jugó en tanto mi estado emocional y mi suspensión voluntaria de la incredulidad . Había un maravilloso equilibrio entre la fantasía y el mundo real los temas de la comunidad , la pasión , la introspección y el destino . Yo recomendaría este libro y la esperanza de verlo como una película.
July 10, 2016
This is a heart-warming tale of a man who gets caught up in events and ends up realizing his full potential as a leader and a courageous man of passion.
This story is full of surprises and was enjoyable, though I struggled at some points as the story was bogged down in politics or the drudgery of walking through a desert.
The narration was excellent and I will definitely pick up anything else narrated by Mr. Curt Simmons.
If you enjoy stories of brave peoples doing the impossible, this is probably the story for you.
**Full disclosure: I received a review copy of this title.**
This story is full of surprises and was enjoyable, though I struggled at some points as the story was bogged down in politics or the drudgery of walking through a desert.
The narration was excellent and I will definitely pick up anything else narrated by Mr. Curt Simmons.
If you enjoy stories of brave peoples doing the impossible, this is probably the story for you.
**Full disclosure: I received a review copy of this title.**
February 19, 2016
Omari And The People is an unexpected gift.
A most unlikely twist of events pulled me into the lives of some amazing people and kept me turning the page.
This book captures the human experience in so many ways.
It is a tale I won't forget.
A most unlikely twist of events pulled me into the lives of some amazing people and kept me turning the page.
This book captures the human experience in so many ways.
It is a tale I won't forget.
December 21, 2017
I did an audiobook review of this here on my blog:
https://jenniely.com/2016/09/28/audio...
https://jenniely.com/2016/09/28/audio...
May 19, 2015
I received an advance review copy from publisher via NetGalley. A HUGE thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this opportunity to read and review.
I'm a huge fan of ancient historical fiction. However, this story did not draw me in like I expected it to. In Steven Saylor's "Roma," the first 1000 years of a group of people are detailed as the people eventually settle and form the Roman Empire remembered today. Throughout Saylor's storyline, there was always a strong cultural element that was recognizable and which shaped the relationships, social structure, and morals. This story does not have that element tying elements together. It is about a group of people, but it needed a stronger base element that had first held the people together when they were a part of the same city. There was a little song and dance, but the story lacked strong characters representing different pieces of society. You had merchants and you had the poor. Yet there are many layers needed to make a group of people function together.
The book "Dawn of Empire" is an example of the beginnings of a society switching from nomadic clans to farming clans. I find "Omari and the People" similar to Sam Barone's story. Both are not particularly exciting reads, but they were very well thought out. Actions were carefully planned and executed.
There is always a strong dynamic between personal struggles and caravan struggles that weighs heavily on Whitfield's characters. I liked Umal and Umbarak. I was also a big fan of Ghazala and would have loved more of her. I think she represented a different type of strong female character that would have really added to the story had she been more present within the plot twists. The other characters occasionally seemed to get lost in the storytelling. It felt at times in the reading, particularly around 87%, the author had left out a page. Some of the plot and character developments jumped forward without a spring board. And I was not a fan of how after Saba left, Omari held a wedding banquet for the two of "them." Seemed a little brazen in a disrespectful way to Saba. Omari loved Saba because of who she was. He always knew she was destined to leave. Having a wedding banquet for them seemed to disrespect Saba's nature. Thankfully, Whitfield brought the characters to a satisfying resolution by the last page.
Overall, the story is well thought out. I liked many of the characters. At times, I felt the story slowed down. There were also places where the author could have dug deeper to explore the emotions of a situation. Near the end when the drum leader sang a song about their journey, the author only included a few lines. I did not like that. I think a meaningful, heartfelt poetic summation at the end to highlight the struggles and triumphs would have lifted the climax of the tale. Instead, I think the author stopped short a few times and missed out on baring the heart of the story to the reader. I never felt very connected to the characters. I think the author is scratching the surface of his potential, and I would read more of his writing.
I'm a huge fan of ancient historical fiction. However, this story did not draw me in like I expected it to. In Steven Saylor's "Roma," the first 1000 years of a group of people are detailed as the people eventually settle and form the Roman Empire remembered today. Throughout Saylor's storyline, there was always a strong cultural element that was recognizable and which shaped the relationships, social structure, and morals. This story does not have that element tying elements together. It is about a group of people, but it needed a stronger base element that had first held the people together when they were a part of the same city. There was a little song and dance, but the story lacked strong characters representing different pieces of society. You had merchants and you had the poor. Yet there are many layers needed to make a group of people function together.
The book "Dawn of Empire" is an example of the beginnings of a society switching from nomadic clans to farming clans. I find "Omari and the People" similar to Sam Barone's story. Both are not particularly exciting reads, but they were very well thought out. Actions were carefully planned and executed.
There is always a strong dynamic between personal struggles and caravan struggles that weighs heavily on Whitfield's characters. I liked Umal and Umbarak. I was also a big fan of Ghazala and would have loved more of her. I think she represented a different type of strong female character that would have really added to the story had she been more present within the plot twists. The other characters occasionally seemed to get lost in the storytelling. It felt at times in the reading, particularly around 87%, the author had left out a page. Some of the plot and character developments jumped forward without a spring board. And I was not a fan of how after Saba left, Omari held a wedding banquet for the two of "them." Seemed a little brazen in a disrespectful way to Saba. Omari loved Saba because of who she was. He always knew she was destined to leave. Having a wedding banquet for them seemed to disrespect Saba's nature. Thankfully, Whitfield brought the characters to a satisfying resolution by the last page.
Overall, the story is well thought out. I liked many of the characters. At times, I felt the story slowed down. There were also places where the author could have dug deeper to explore the emotions of a situation. Near the end when the drum leader sang a song about their journey, the author only included a few lines. I did not like that. I think a meaningful, heartfelt poetic summation at the end to highlight the struggles and triumphs would have lifted the climax of the tale. Instead, I think the author stopped short a few times and missed out on baring the heart of the story to the reader. I never felt very connected to the characters. I think the author is scratching the surface of his potential, and I would read more of his writing.
August 5, 2017
I don't quite remember how I came across this novel. Don't remember if I saw it in the Amazon ad emails and the cover struck me. Don't recall if I was searching for something and it came up in the search. Perhaps the reason I can't remember how I found the book is because I didn't find it. I believe it found me. The novel was definitely entertaining. But it was much more. It was edifying. It had loads of lessons about leadership. And that is why I believe I was drawn to it. That's also why I gave it a roaring and resounding five stars.
Omari is a thief. A Good one at that. So good that he was able to amass a large amount of wealth. But his estranged wife ratted him out and with his back against the wall, he decided to burn his house down. But he ends up burning down the entire city. This act starts a whirlwind adventure that includes salvation and starvation, war and feasting, love and deception. We see Umal, the Old Mother, who transforms over the course of the novel, showing us just how mysterious she is. We meet Umbarak, the uneasy at first but soon fast friend. We meet the sneaky Bin Aswad, a classic villain who stays the course through the journey, providing inner turmoil. And what would any story be without love interest? Saba Khan, appears as the apple of Omari’s eye. But perhaps also the poisonous apple that would lead to his destruction. Omari transforms from thief to chief, leading a people through an unforgiving and oddly alive desert, to a destination they're unsure of. And isn't that just like life and leadership? Big tasks. Lots of characters. Adversity. But how do you perform in the midst of it all? What types of decisions do you make when people are counting on you? How do you lead people you dislike, in the spirit of fairness and not selfishness? These are the challenges that Omari faced. I found myself turning the pages and finding nuggets within them to make me a better man and leader.
I loved the novel overall but wished at times that less detail was given. The reader gets details about side actions I thought were unnecessary and caused drags in some spots. Other than that, the novel was outstanding. I'm glad I found it. Check that. I'm glad it found me.
Omari is a thief. A Good one at that. So good that he was able to amass a large amount of wealth. But his estranged wife ratted him out and with his back against the wall, he decided to burn his house down. But he ends up burning down the entire city. This act starts a whirlwind adventure that includes salvation and starvation, war and feasting, love and deception. We see Umal, the Old Mother, who transforms over the course of the novel, showing us just how mysterious she is. We meet Umbarak, the uneasy at first but soon fast friend. We meet the sneaky Bin Aswad, a classic villain who stays the course through the journey, providing inner turmoil. And what would any story be without love interest? Saba Khan, appears as the apple of Omari’s eye. But perhaps also the poisonous apple that would lead to his destruction. Omari transforms from thief to chief, leading a people through an unforgiving and oddly alive desert, to a destination they're unsure of. And isn't that just like life and leadership? Big tasks. Lots of characters. Adversity. But how do you perform in the midst of it all? What types of decisions do you make when people are counting on you? How do you lead people you dislike, in the spirit of fairness and not selfishness? These are the challenges that Omari faced. I found myself turning the pages and finding nuggets within them to make me a better man and leader.
I loved the novel overall but wished at times that less detail was given. The reader gets details about side actions I thought were unnecessary and caused drags in some spots. Other than that, the novel was outstanding. I'm glad I found it. Check that. I'm glad it found me.
May 14, 2015
Based on a promotional eBook received from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Omari and the People
Written by Stephen Whitfield
Overall Rating: 3/5
Plot: 4
Characters: 3
Writing: 2
Omari and the People is a sweeping, epic quest story of a thief so successful that he becomes bored with his life. In a whirlwind decision, he burns his city to the ground, stranding thousands of people of varying classes without homes in the desert. With the backing of an elderly drifter who appears to have semi-magical powers, he becomes the leader of the city's middle and lower classes and takes them on a journey through the desert to seek a new home.
I felt like I was missing something profound in this story. It has excellent reviews on GoodReads and it feels to me that I was reading an entirely different book from those other reviewers. I wonder if there is a cultural framework that I'm missing. While the story is compelling, the characters interesting and the world immersive, the writing does not appeal to me. It has a storytelling quality which works for short stories or children's books, but doesn't seem to work for longer fiction. In particular, the narrator frequently explains the feelings of a character and then the character speaks about those feelings, giving a sense of redundancy to the exposition. Also, there are several places where the author says via narration that a character has a feeling, in spite of something that will happen later but hasn't happened yet. It works for face-to-face storytelling especially in groups where the story is a well-known folk tale or part of local mythology, but falls flat in new text.
I enjoyed the relationships between Omari and the various women in his life, as well as the development of trust among the men. Unfortunately, I don't find the characters to be well-developed. While Omari has a personal emotional journey, the rest of the cast of characters are only cardboard cut-outs in support of that journey. This greatly reduces the importance of the women, who had potential to be strong, vibrant female figures and are instead reduced to the love interest, the witch, and the lost mother-figure.
While the material is decent, I suspect it was not written for me. This distance from the target audience made the story hard for me to relate to and in the end, I didn't enjoy it very much. I wanted to know more about the world and the culture, but feel that the author expected me to already have that information instead of providing it in an accessible way.
Omari and the People
Written by Stephen Whitfield
Overall Rating: 3/5
Plot: 4
Characters: 3
Writing: 2
Omari and the People is a sweeping, epic quest story of a thief so successful that he becomes bored with his life. In a whirlwind decision, he burns his city to the ground, stranding thousands of people of varying classes without homes in the desert. With the backing of an elderly drifter who appears to have semi-magical powers, he becomes the leader of the city's middle and lower classes and takes them on a journey through the desert to seek a new home.
I felt like I was missing something profound in this story. It has excellent reviews on GoodReads and it feels to me that I was reading an entirely different book from those other reviewers. I wonder if there is a cultural framework that I'm missing. While the story is compelling, the characters interesting and the world immersive, the writing does not appeal to me. It has a storytelling quality which works for short stories or children's books, but doesn't seem to work for longer fiction. In particular, the narrator frequently explains the feelings of a character and then the character speaks about those feelings, giving a sense of redundancy to the exposition. Also, there are several places where the author says via narration that a character has a feeling, in spite of something that will happen later but hasn't happened yet. It works for face-to-face storytelling especially in groups where the story is a well-known folk tale or part of local mythology, but falls flat in new text.
I enjoyed the relationships between Omari and the various women in his life, as well as the development of trust among the men. Unfortunately, I don't find the characters to be well-developed. While Omari has a personal emotional journey, the rest of the cast of characters are only cardboard cut-outs in support of that journey. This greatly reduces the importance of the women, who had potential to be strong, vibrant female figures and are instead reduced to the love interest, the witch, and the lost mother-figure.
While the material is decent, I suspect it was not written for me. This distance from the target audience made the story hard for me to relate to and in the end, I didn't enjoy it very much. I wanted to know more about the world and the culture, but feel that the author expected me to already have that information instead of providing it in an accessible way.
September 15, 2016
Audiobook review: 3 STARS (narrator 4 STARS)
I wasn't overall impressed and captivated like other reviewers and I can't quite figure out, what I was missing. Omari and the People is on the limit of being 'epic fiction', but I felt it lacked some important elements.
Omari is a thief who build his wealth so successful that he need a new purpose in life. When betrayed by his wife, he burns his house down and accendently burns the entire village. The survivors are now homeless and follows Omari on a journey through the desert and make him their new leader.
Throughout the story Omari fights for his leadership and meets villains who want to destroy him. We'll also meet elderly people with magical powers and wise words.
The world reminded me of the Game of Thrones world in Essos where Daneares builds her following. Omari does the same thing, actually. I enjoyed many of the characters, but they weren't fully developed. There was a lot of dialougue, which I usually like, but many times I wondered who these characters really were.
I liked that despite this world/culture the female characters are strong and wise. It was really like they mattered.
Narrator Curt Simmons did a splendid job and was higly involved with the story. He portrayed all the characters in an exellent way, with differents voices, tones and accents. However, I wondered why he chose to narrate with an accent in most of the book. The book is in English and they all come from the same place. It was Curt Simmons that impressed me more than the book itself.
*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. Read all my reviews at My Book Hype
I wasn't overall impressed and captivated like other reviewers and I can't quite figure out, what I was missing. Omari and the People is on the limit of being 'epic fiction', but I felt it lacked some important elements.
Omari is a thief who build his wealth so successful that he need a new purpose in life. When betrayed by his wife, he burns his house down and accendently burns the entire village. The survivors are now homeless and follows Omari on a journey through the desert and make him their new leader.
Throughout the story Omari fights for his leadership and meets villains who want to destroy him. We'll also meet elderly people with magical powers and wise words.
The world reminded me of the Game of Thrones world in Essos where Daneares builds her following. Omari does the same thing, actually. I enjoyed many of the characters, but they weren't fully developed. There was a lot of dialougue, which I usually like, but many times I wondered who these characters really were.
I liked that despite this world/culture the female characters are strong and wise. It was really like they mattered.
Narrator Curt Simmons did a splendid job and was higly involved with the story. He portrayed all the characters in an exellent way, with differents voices, tones and accents. However, I wondered why he chose to narrate with an accent in most of the book. The book is in English and they all come from the same place. It was Curt Simmons that impressed me more than the book itself.
*This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. Read all my reviews at My Book Hype
November 2, 2016
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Stephen Whitfield and Curt Simmons. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks. That being said, I did this because I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone. Not only was the audiobook style out of my comfort zone, but so was the story itself.
Right off the bat, I was not a big fan of our protagonist, that is until about a quarter of the way through the story. Even throughout the rest of the story I found him to be completely selfish and I didn’t like several things that he did. I felt as thought he was a good leader for the caravan more to save his own skin, but in that sense, he did help the people as best he could. I do believe that without the help of the people closest to him, he would have failed miserably.
However, the writing was a total A+ for me!! I loved the style of writing and the general story behind this book. Saba was by far my favorite character, right up there with the Old Mother. Both of them were for sure brains behind much of what Omari did and they knew more about the people. This all being said, I would not want to end up with his job so god for him for not running away when he could.
As far as the narration went, I enjoyed it and I think that is one of the things about the audiobook. I’ve found that a narration can make or break an audiobook. Mr Simmons did a wonderful job. As far as one of my fist audiobooks (fifth in total, I suppose) I really did enjoy it, just was super annoyed with the main character. 3.5 beans from me!
I don’t listen to a lot of audiobooks. That being said, I did this because I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone. Not only was the audiobook style out of my comfort zone, but so was the story itself.
Right off the bat, I was not a big fan of our protagonist, that is until about a quarter of the way through the story. Even throughout the rest of the story I found him to be completely selfish and I didn’t like several things that he did. I felt as thought he was a good leader for the caravan more to save his own skin, but in that sense, he did help the people as best he could. I do believe that without the help of the people closest to him, he would have failed miserably.
However, the writing was a total A+ for me!! I loved the style of writing and the general story behind this book. Saba was by far my favorite character, right up there with the Old Mother. Both of them were for sure brains behind much of what Omari did and they knew more about the people. This all being said, I would not want to end up with his job so god for him for not running away when he could.
As far as the narration went, I enjoyed it and I think that is one of the things about the audiobook. I’ve found that a narration can make or break an audiobook. Mr Simmons did a wonderful job. As far as one of my fist audiobooks (fifth in total, I suppose) I really did enjoy it, just was super annoyed with the main character. 3.5 beans from me!
May 22, 2015
This is a story about a large caravan of people traveling through the desert of what I believe is northern Africa. I think the best description of this book is "sweeping desert adventure." It's a big story, full of potential, but at times I really wanted to reign in the grandness of it all and focus more on the small stuff. I wanted to know more about the culture of the community and what drove them to continue their desert journey. Omari is their leader, but I was surprised that there isn't any sort of deity mentioned- even pagan. It's not that I minded it, but when you have a story of people wandering in the desert it just kind of screams for some sort of religious undertone. There are hints that the "old mother" figure is some sort of witch, which I wish was explored more by the author because her story was one of the most interesting parts of the book. Overall, this book is about a 3.5 for me. There's a lot there, but for some reason it just felt like something was missing.
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