Mimus [Audio CD]

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Listening Library
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739348655
• ISBN-13: 978-0739348659
• Product Dimensions: 2.4 x 0.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,030,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual and good, September 3, 2005

By 

Diana C. Cook - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mimus (Paperback)

This is a good read--similar to many novels of heroic fantasy. The hero is a 12 year old prince who is betrayed by his enemies and must survive to win back his kingdom. But a number of things make this novel unique. First of all, the book is quite good at showing the character of the young prince. He has to endure and survive.
In most heroic fantasies, the protagonist triumphs by power or success in evading the enemy and winning allies. We experience the forces and struggles of good vs. evil. The hero's success is always underscored by failure to submit and fighting back.
But in this book, the hero must survive imprisonment and learn to handle defeat. That is quite a challenge for a young prince who was trained to be number one and never to show weakness.
The title, "Mimus," is the name of the king's fool--a court jester who is universally despised. The book is quite good at showing the role of the jester in medieval court life. Jesters entertain by a variety of skills as well as "gross-outs" similar to those of the crudest vaudeville shows. If they fail to please, they may be whipped or starved or even killed. The young prince is apprenticed to such a jester and must learn to survive with all of his intelligence, courage, and physical fitness. But it is Florin's social skills and flexibility that enable him to prevail in his new position.
Throughout this novel we find that things are not always black and white. That is what I enjoyed most about this book. The ending is so much more complex than a simple restoration of the prince to his role as head of the kingdom and humiliation of his former captors. Florin has been transformed by his experiences which become part of his character as he matures--not just a bad misfortune to be forever left behind.
I enjoyed this novel and recommend it.
Diana Cook
Woodside, New York

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2005 'Gold' Medal Winner!, July 2, 2006

By 

Chrissy K. McVay "Writer" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mimus (Paperback)

Congratulations to Lilli Thal on her first place 'Gold' win in the 2005 ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards! Translated from Thal's native German by John Brownjohn, 'Mimus' is a prodigious tale of a young prince who is forced to become a Fool when tricked by his father's old enemy, King Theodo. The experience is humbling for the sheltered Prince Florin, who doesn't understand why King Theodo loathes his family so deeply. Revenge is taken upon the entire kingdom of Moltovia and Florin's father, King Phillip.
The story has a subtle message regarding the double-edged sword of revenge and the need for forgiveness, even if the crimes committed are horrid. There's also humor weaved skillfully on the pages. The banter between Mimus (King Theodo's Jester) and Prince Florin, who becomes the Jester's pupil, is very witty. The jokes and riddles lighten the horrors of torture and war. I'm hoping to find a sequel to Mimus, for I already miss the 'poetic jousting' between the Jester and Prince Florin.

Chrissy K. McVay
author of 'Souls of the North Wind', Silver winner in 2005 ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprising and happy find, January 25, 2007

By 

Kaila Searl "a girl who likes military history" (Eugene, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mimus (Paperback)

I am victim to what many other reviewers have said about this book, I picked it up on a whim and didn't cherish high hopes for it. Within the first chapter though, I could tell I would enjoy reading it. Lilli Thal's writing style borders on romantic, entwining fantasy and poem seemlessly into her prose. Normally I hate books that do that, and I usually skip over the songs the authors put in as I can't be bothered to read them, but every tale and every silly song that she wrote enhances the story. Each line has a second meaning, and it's up to you, dear reader, and our young hero to decipher it. I personally can't wait until someone else I know reads it so I can discuss the book at length!