Cynthia L. Martin

Thorough and heartbreaking.

Revisado: 07-10-23

History told by a master, who leaves no doubt as to how she feels about those who treated this refined and generous woman so badly. Fraser shows how Mary was tragically buffeted about in the religious disputes of her era, and by her own sheer determination to remain true to her faith and her hereditary responsibility. Narrator had some odd tics (her French and Latin were especially weird) but when she clipped along, did a great job interpreting the meaning and importance of each segment.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Great fun!

Revisado: 10-07-22

I had so much fun listening to this! A historically and literally accurate tour through southern England, and a bit of Wales, made for perfect armchair travel, and the great Barbara Rosenblatt's jaunty narration matches McCrumb's witty story perfectly. This is light, but good quality, entertainment.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Not up to Audible's usual standard

Revisado: 12-18-19

Really bad writing, although the plot is ok. Irritating narrator. I didn't like most of the free choices this month so I thought I'd try something new. Oh well.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Stunning

Revisado: 07-25-19

The combined artistry of Charles Frazier's writing and Will Patton's narration makes for a sublime listening experience. One of my very favorite audiobooks now.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

No mystery here

Revisado: 01-03-19

Audible really hyped this when it first came out, but I found it obvious, predictable, and unrealistic. However the narrator was great; some consolation there. Skip it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

One of my favorites

Revisado: 08-06-18

Wolfe takes all the little pieces that make a life and weaves them together into a luscious expression of small town North Carolina at the early part of the 20th century, and an odd but familiar family that awkwardly and gracelessly accommodates each other's flaws and disappointments. The writing is stunning, but then I love descriptions of the little things in life. If you want a big plot and lots of drama, this won't appeal. But if you appreciate exceptionally skillful writing as a meditation on the subtleties and mystery of ordinary living, you just might love this as I do. The death scene near the end of the book was riveting, for all the perfection of its emotional description, as was the last chapter. I was in thrall. After 26 hours, you'd think I'd be happy to move on to something else, but no, I went back and listened to bits and pieces of it again. I didn't want to leave Wolfe's perceptions, or Sowers voice. Scott Sowers was a narrator I came to appreciate for his readings of Ivan Doig's Montana Trilogy, and here he doesn't disappoint. I cannot imagine anybody else doing a better job. One of my favorites in my Audible library.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Bracing Conclusion

Revisado: 05-04-17

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Maybe not. I really didn't like the narration much, but I did like the story. I'd recommend reading it rather than listening to it. The conclusion was a page-turner, exciting and unpredictable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I found Oscar had a depth that was quiet and compelling.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Coleen Marlo?

No.

Any additional comments?

The narrator is not good at male voices and for that reason seriously mishandles their separate characters. They all sound the same: taciturn, grumbly, short. I've read other reviews that talk about a narrator really getting in the way of the story, and this is the first time I've fully experienced that. Conversely, I had just finished Colin Firth's reading of The End of the Affair, and he never puts on an artificially "female" voice. (Well, Colin Firth is a very talented actor.) He uses his regular voice and changes to discreet female vocal tendencies. That was a revelation to me, and much easier to listen to.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Stayed with me for days after

Revisado: 04-15-17

What made the experience of listening to Dancing at the Rascal Fair the most enjoyable?

Doig's incredible writing and clever turns of phrase, his description of the landscape/climate--which became almost a central character, and the transforming relationships.

What other book might you compare Dancing at the Rascal Fair to and why?

Cannot think of one.

What does Robert Ian MacKenzie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His male characters and the Scottish accents are vibrant. He reads at a good pace for appreciating the quality of the writing--not too fast, which I greatly appreciate. I was troubled by his interpretations of the females, especially Adair, who is a fascinating character but gets short shrift due to his inability to capture female intonation very well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I wanted to savor it, and I was sorry when it was over.

Any additional comments?

This book stayed with me for days after having finished it. I haven't had that experience in a long time. I will definitely continue with the next book in Doig's Montana Trilogy.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Flies By

Revisado: 04-15-17

What made the experience of listening to News of the World the most enjoyable?

Good story and beautiful writing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Captain Kidd. He has integrity, skill, wisdom, intelligence, and heart. He is able to see who Johanna is, and understand the impact of what she's been through.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator makes a wonderful Captain Kidd, but he rushes through the description, so that I feel as though great swathes of fine prose are racing by me without my having the time to appreciate . . .

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved the shoot-out, how Kidd and Johanna got through it together, and how it formed their bond.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Light Entertainment, SLOOOOOOOW Droning Narration

Revisado: 06-18-16

What did you like best about Leaving Time? What did you like least?

Liked the subject of elephants and mourning, and the narrative surrounding the researcher's experiences and observations of elephant behavior while grieving. The rest of the story didn't intrigue or inspire. This is the only Picault story I've ever read, and I won't read any more. Just not my cup of tea.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The elephants were most interesting. The rest of it was way too long and didn't offer much more than light entertainment.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?

No idea. But the narrator of Alice was incredibly irritating. She drones in a hazy monotone; sounds like she's drugged. This listen could have been much shorter if she'd just added some energy to her interpretation. Her alternative voices for men sounded similar and limited their personalities way too much. Really diminished those characters for me.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. I might watch it if it were streaming for free.

Any additional comments?

This is OK as a minor work of entertainment or escapism. If that's what you're looking for, it might be satisfying.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña