April Adventuring

Simple Premise, Intriguing Perspective

Revisado: 06-26-17

Where does White Fang rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Somewhere in the middle... This was a quick, easy listen. Part of me wished that there was more of a plot, but this story lent itself to a simple telling of White Fang's life through his own perspective.

What was one of the most memorable moments of White Fang?

I enjoyed many moments that made me feel I could really get inside the head of a wild dog experiencing new things, such as the bulldog.

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

Of course White Fang ending up with a benevolent owner was satisfying and memorable.

Any additional comments?

Probably wouldn't relisten to this book as the storyline didn't interest me enough, but would recommend simply for the unique insight to how animals are shaped by human behavior.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Imaginative, Creepy, and Satisfying

Revisado: 06-20-17

I had always wanted to read Stephen King and with the new movie being released this fall, I decided to start with IT. I wasn't sure I would enjoy it because I didn't think it was possible to find a book scary or even very creepy. IT definitely impressed me!

This wasn't the simple "sinister clown" story I expected. The supernatural aspects of Pennywise's character and the inclusion of human evil were fascinating and included deeper layers that pushed the creepiness factor up.

In a book of this length, the characters were really able to be fully-formed and developed. Each had their own backstory and personal experiences with IT, which allowed us to see the many faces of Pennywise. I enjoyed the different personalities and tracking them from childhood to adulthood.

Steven Weber did an incredible job narrating this story! There were a myriad of voices to be played, including Richie's many silly personas. Weber's representation of Pennywise was absolutely perfect! I had to look up other works he has narrated so I can listen to more of him.

So glad I decided to tackle this book and can't wait to read more Stephen King.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Magical, Interesting Tale

Revisado: 04-27-17

To be honest, this book isn't my usual preferred genre, but I couldn't find fault with the story or performance. The story is unpredictable and fantastically ambiguous. The characters are dramatic and interesting, especially Orual, whose desperation and crazed obsession push the story forward.

Nadia May did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life; she was stone-cold, pleading, or charming and warm, all with ease.

I only wish some parts of the story were a bit more fleshed out. Orual's recollection left a matter-of-factly feel to some otherwise interesting parts.

This story made me feel like I was back in high school English analyzing the importance of identity or character foils, etc...but overall this was a wonderful book and I would listen again!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Quick, Fun Story with some Laughs

Revisado: 04-27-17

This was an easy book to get through, but I didn't find it riveting enough to prevent me from spacing out and needing to rewind several times. I enjoyed the quirky characters and got a few "laugh out loud" moments from the story.

Don't expect major depth, character dimension, emotional tugging, etc. but if you're looking for some light-hearted entertainment, this book is great!

Drew Campbell did a wonderful job narrating with a brilliant range of voices for the characters.

Would listen again!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Story Unlike Any Other

Revisado: 04-20-17

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

Absolutely! This was such a unique and captivating tale. A little bit of mystery, adventure, and romance all wrapped up in a beautifully-written story with lovable and kooky characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kafka on the Shore?

Poor, old Nakata's run-in with Johnny Walker. Such a bizarre and vivid scene!

What about Sean Barrett and Oliver Le Sueur ’s performance did you like?

Both did a such a fantastic job bringing life to the characters! I found that their voices even helped form my mental images of each and every character. The various voices used were perfectly suited and not at all overly theatrical. Wonderful narration! I'm glad my first encounter with this story was through the audiobook; it feel like watching a movie!

Any additional comments?

This story isn't particularly action-packed or dramatic throughout, but I kept finding myself wanting to listen more and more. Murakami painted a world teetering just enough in fantasy to create whimsy, while still feeling tangible. I also enjoyed his many references to other literary works. Such a brilliant story!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Insightful Immigrant Story with a Droning Narrator

Revisado: 04-05-17

Would you listen to The Jungle: A Signature Performance by Casey Affleck again? Why?

Probably wouldn't listen to this again simply because of the narration. However, I don't find this to be a story in which you'll wish to get lost over and over regardless. There was an initial shock factor during a first reading; hearing of the disgusting practices and horrid conditions wouldn't have the same impact upon further readings.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Immediately upon starting this book, I had to pause and check who the narrator was. Casey Affleck's voice is so uninterested and monotonous it sounded as though he were about to fall asleep...I understand he was chosen due to his ability to pronounce different languages well, but even at those points I found it distracting how he would hesitate and slow down. Unfortunately his reading was one of the most unpleasant parts of listening to this book.

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

The first 2/3 of this book were much more enthralling for me and I could have easily sat through much of that in one sitting. The last bit, however, I found myself picking at in small bits until it was finally over.

Any additional comments?

Overall, a great book with many eye-opening pictures of immigrant life, the meat-packing industry, and workplace cruelty in general. A solid story that didn't linger too long in any one place and kept a wonderful pace. Would recommend!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Quick, Interesting, Easy Listen

Revisado: 02-20-17

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

Yes, this is an easy listen and is a great, classic book. It wasn't what I expected, but I enjoyed where the story went.

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

Could have definitely finished this book in one go. It was easy to digest and enlisted beautiful imagery.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Well-told Time Traveling Tale with some Twists

Revisado: 02-14-17

Would you listen to In Times Like These again? Why?

Yes, this was a great book to get lost in for hours at a time. A few parts were a bit predictable, but overall a great story and there were definitely some twists and interesting plot choices.

What does Neil Hellegers bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Absolutely loved the narration! Perfect pace and register. Used different voices for various characters without coming across too cartoony or theatrical at all.

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

There was no added fluff in this book. I enjoyed that the storyline kept moving and had I had >13 hours of chores or something similar to do, I could have definitely listened through in one go. I actually appreciated while listening that the characters kept declining downtime and continued with the action.

Any additional comments?

Being a physicist, I enjoyed the few times some technical aspects were brought up in the story. They didn't bog down the plot or over-complicate at all. Made the entire book feel a bit more researched and knowledgeable, which I enjoyed.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 26 personas

Some Good Advice, but Not Terribly Interesting...

Revisado: 02-06-17

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Some good info in a very quick read, but there are better guides out there. I found a lot of the information here to be either extremely obvious ("don't give up") or dragged out and repeated too much.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Confidence?

I liked that he mentioned physiological effects of nervousness are interpreted differently by confident and anxious people.

How could the performance have been better?

Found the voice to be a bit droning and difficult to listen to...There were also a few instances in which he emphasized words strangely and I found this distracting.

Did Confidence inspire you to do anything?

Some of the better advice was included in the social aspects of confidence-building. Surround yourself with people that persevere in areas that would make you give up.

Any additional comments?

If I had a dollar for every time this books says "self efficacy".....
My roommate overheard around 10 minutes of this book and commented that he was annoyed by this as well.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Solid Information backed by Interesting Anecdotes

Revisado: 02-06-17

What did you love best about The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck?

There was some quality life advice given in this book. The author's voice isn't too serious and sounds like a long time friend giving you a firm, but maybe needed, talk. Sprinkled with accompanying short stories and examples, famous and personal, these lessons have real substance. Great for people that just need to hear all this said by another person. Not a step-by-step guide of how to live a better, fuller life, but simply "this is what you need to do, now go do it." Not revolutionary, but can be eye-opening to various aspects of your life and priorities.

Would you recommend The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck to your friends? Why or why not?

Would recommend this to my friends! Some motivational words could be the push needed to really start living the life someone wants.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona