Shop portable fans
Your audiobook is waiting!
Enjoy a free trial on us
$0.00
  • One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection to keep (you’ll use your first credit now).
  • Unlimited listening on select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
  • You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
  • $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Learn more about membership
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
List Price: $19.95
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

The Opening Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Ron Savarese (Author), Don Moffit (Narrator), Home Planet Publishing (Publisher)
4.0 out of 5 stars 155 ratings

The Opening addresses the age-old question "what happens when we die?" with a spiritual fantasy of immense charm and imagination. At once an insightful meditation on life's passages and a vision of unearthly realms, it creates an enchanted world where characters connect with one another between here and the hereafter across the thinnest of lines.

Joe St. John wanders into a blizzard and falls through an opening that leads him to amazing, sometimes harrowing places where he encounters the major turning points in his life. Along the way, he revisits his missed opportunities, uncovers his life's core trauma, and is given mysterious geometrical symbols that hold the key to his future.

As Joe's soul hovers between two worlds he will discover the truth about life and death, and be confronted with the ultimate choice: save his own life, or give it up for someone he loves.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    5 hours and 39 minutes
  2. Author
    Ron Savarese
  3. Narrator
    Don Moffit
  4. Audible release date
    September 2, 2015
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Home Planet Publishing
  7. ASIN
    B014TB71C0
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Read & Listen

Switch back and forth between reading the Kindle book and listening to Audible audiobook.
Add the audiobook for a reduced price of $3.11 after you get the Kindle book as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Product details

Listening Length 5 hours and 39 minutes
Author Ron Savarese
Narrator Don Moffit
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 02, 2015
Publisher Home Planet Publishing
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B014TB71C0
Best Sellers Rank #657,581 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#12,996 in Spirituality (Audible Books & Originals)
#91,365 in Religious Literature & Fiction
#217,656 in Literature & Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
155 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and thought-provoking, describing it as spiritual and enlightening. Moreover, the writing quality receives positive feedback for being well-written and easy to read. However, the plot receives mixed reactions, with several customers expressing disappointment with the ending.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

29 customers mention "Readability"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book compelling and engaging, with several noting it kept their interest throughout. One customer mentions it offers new insights with each reading, while another describes it as a great story for fast reading.

"...Opening was just the right length, it was written well and the story was compelling and kept me turning the pages...." Read more

"The book had a good start and it did hold my interest until the end. However, to me, the ending was a let down...." Read more

"...I really liked this book. I liked how every word had value and was wonderfully cashed in at the very end as beautiful literary treasure." Read more

"...The Opening" is a very good book to launch a good discussion, or simply to get one looking inward at their own life...." Read more

17 customers mention "Thought provoking"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and spiritual, with one customer describing it as an interesting spirit quest for the modern man.

"...But Ron's book gave me comfort and also makes me ask what will my legacy be when I'm gone and that is something i am creating with my daily actions...." Read more

"...It's not. Savarese constructed a tale with purpose and forethought...." Read more

"...I wanted MORE!! Bless you Mr. Savarese for this fantastic piece of comfort for my soul. When you lose a loved oned, you will always wonder where?..." Read more

"...This book was based on a VERY similar concept but with a lot of ho hum fillers, in my honest opinion...." Read more

14 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it very well written and easy to read, with one customer noting its beautiful use of descriptive language.

"...The Opening was just the right length, it was written well and the story was compelling and kept me turning the pages...." Read more

"...had value and was wonderfully cashed in at the very end as beautiful literary treasure." Read more

"What a beautiful visual experience this book is! The author has portrayed the experience of transistion exactly as I've always believed it to be...." Read more

"...He was an ordinary guy or so it seemed. The attention to details and descriptions of scenery made it hard to put the book down...." Read more

8 customers mention "Plot"0 positive8 negative

Customers find the plot of the book unsatisfactory, with several mentioning that the ending left them less than thrilled.

"...However, to me, the ending was a let down. I was expecting a little more Spiritual and less spiritist vibe...." Read more

"...(some were WAY too long though), but then the actual plot of the chapter was short, as if the author didn't really have much to say or didn't know..." Read more

"...There were also a lot of cliches used, making the book less enjoyable because it's less original...." Read more

"...seemed interesting, but then, and maybe it's just me, the plot kept getting kind of weird...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Steve Woodburn
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Wow reead
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I honestly don't recall what prompted me to get this book, but I'm so glad I did. As someone who is in the fall of their life I find myself asking many questions I didn't when I was younger. What will my legacy be, what's beyond, if anything (I have a hard time with the typical Heaven scenario), what will the transition be like and will I see those I knew in this life on the other side? One can have faith, but in the end we truly won't know what is beyond until we go there ourselves. But Ron's book gave me comfort and also makes me ask what will my legacy be when I'm gone and that is something i am creating with my daily actions. The Opening was just the right length, it was written well and the story was compelling and kept me turning the pages. I'm looking forward to seeing the follow-up to The Opening.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Gayle
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The book had a good start and it did hold my interest until the end. However, to me, the ending was a let down. I was expecting a little more Spiritual and less spiritist vibe. I guess the "symbols" and the idea of being "fully enlightened" did tip it off, but I was hoping for more. If you're looking for a mystical combo of "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol," this is your book.
    Helpful
     Report
  • The Digital Ink Spot
    4.0 out of 5 stars A treasure
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Joe St. John is dying in an ice cave. As he slowly fades away, his past comes to haunt him.

    I think this story is as much as about the main character, Joe St. John's, decisions as it is about the character's cousin, Albert. I made the mistake of ignoring Albert. It was easy to do. Albert is portrayed as someone to be ignored. I read the book and was intrigued by a laundry list of missed opportunities by Joe through out his life. Joe made a lot of bad decisions like we all have but Joe is afforded an opportunity to look back and see the weight of his words and choices.

    Through Joe reflections we see Albert there, woven in like a thread in a seemingly random fashion. It's not. Savarese constructed a tale with purpose and forethought. The character, Joe, is bombarded with regret and remorse until the final pages where he seeks the ultimate redemption. Lo and behold, Albert returns to the story and ties the entire reason for Joe's trip into the past into a perfect, neat and beautiful bow and presented to me for my approval. Approve, I do. My mind was blown.

    I really liked this book. I liked how every word had value and was wonderfully cashed in at the very end as beautiful literary treasure.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Cici
    5.0 out of 5 stars A look into our futures
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I often go back and re-read other reviews after I have finished a book. I'm interested in seeing if others came away with the same impressions I did, and if the reviews reflect my thinking also. I'm in agreement with the large majority of reviewers of this book, and have an urge to try to explain to the people with negative or low reviews how very much they missed. But then, not everyone enjoys the same things, so it is to be expected, I'm sure.

    "The Opening" is a very good book to launch a good discussion, or simply to get one looking inward at their own life. The premise of the book has been reviewed by others, so I will focus on my impressions. I did not notice spelling errors a reviewer cited, or if there were some, the content had my attention too much to notice. I think anyone who shied away from this book because of a misspelled word on page one should reconsider. I didn't spot it, and frankly wasn't aware of any other misspellings. Not saying there are none - I certainly might have missed them, but I am saying they are inconsequential to the totality of the book, and should not be a factor in deciding to purchase.

    If you just read the surface of the story, you may be confused at times. You may miss the symbolism of the well described scenery. You may be put off by writing tricks that are intended to accomplish something other than just a recital of facts. But let the story seep into your mind and your heart, and let it open your awareness of the paths and choices that are in front of you.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Butterfly Wings
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Opening
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a gift from heaven! I cannot remember the last time I was so absorbed in one book. I could not put it down, and when it stated I had finished the book, I was sad. I wanted MORE!! Bless you Mr. Savarese for this fantastic piece of comfort for my soul. When you lose a loved oned, you will always wonder where? I beleive for me this book has answered many of my questions.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Road Rage
    3.0 out of 5 stars Just so - so
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Three stars is a bit generous, in my opinion, but I felt it deserved more than two, so off I go with my review.

    NO SPOILERS IN MY REVIEW -- This book was too much like Mitch Albom's "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and I was more than a little turned off by that because I truly loved that book. This book was based on a VERY similar concept but with a lot of ho hum fillers, in my honest opinion. I didn't mind the bouncing back and forth from scene to scene, and I didn't even mind seeing the chapters sharing the same name. I sort of took it to be more like a map that helped me figure out where I was, so I was ok with that. However, the story just fell sort of flat for me. Each little journey he took seemed lacking. We'd get loads of descriptions on the scenes, which normally turns me off in a BIG way, but I didn't mind too terribly much because it really did set the stage in some scenes (some were WAY too long though), but then the actual plot of the chapter was short, as if the author didn't really have much to say or didn't know where to go with it, so I felt as if I was reading more descriptions than plot. He could've developed the characters a little more, or given each chapter a little more "meat" for us to read. The ending left me less than thrilled, too. If the author were to double the size of this book and develop each of the chapters more, I'd probably really enjoy it.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I don't normally take the time to review a book however I feel this book is pretty special. As a dreamer myself this story resonated with my dream experiences on many levels and would have been the book I would have been proud to write. Well done to the author. Buy it, read it. Brilliant.
    Report
  • Rach
    3.0 out of 5 stars The opening, Ron Savarese.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Good light read by Ron Savarese thank you. I would say it is definitely worth a read. Very well written.
    Report