SoCalBonnie

The love child of Douglas Adams and Stan Lee!

Revisado: 10-16-18

Wow, what a great surprise! The perfect blend of contemporary sci-fy and humor. I loved it!

Andrea Vernon is perennially broke, an oft-unemployed European Studies/English double major (minor in Psychology) who has wasted most of her twenties trying to finish her historical retelling of Chancellor Metternich's love life -- while toying with the idea of moving to Haiti to do noble work that will be "celebrated for generations". Or maybe she could do both?

In a moment of aimless desperation she fills out an online job application. The job is Administrative Assistant; the requirements of which are typing skills and the ability to never ask questions. Moments after she hits "send", she is propelled into the world of the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection (CUP) run by the no-nonsense Ms. Persephone Oh.

By the way, the Southern Ms Oh is never without a homespun quip, like, "The U.S. government, bless its heart, couldn't run a candy store in Hungry Town." If Kane ever publishes a collection of her quotes on running a business, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Kane describes the office world perfectly, that is, if your daily cubicle adventures included managing super hero teams who are on contract to take care of the world's dark forces, such as "invading aliens, crazed millionaires bent on world domination, and mutant armies."

Sure, this is Andrea's story, but it's also the story of every CUP employee on the profit-sharing plan: from super heroes obsessed with their matching 401K contributions, to staffers in mundane departments like Customer Service, Sales & Operations, and Human Resources. All of them try to get out of their CUPnet training sessions (think Salesforce) and sexual harassment awareness workshops just like the rest of us.

Everything is a joy: all the super hero monikers, the character backstories, the schemes of each super hero management company competing for contracts, the lingo of invading aliens... all of it is amazingly fun and lighthearted... and it just sounds so true to human nature that you can't help but laugh out loud.

Bahni Turpin is now my favorite narrator. She does an outstanding job capturing every personality, handling male and female voices perfectly and performing every accent from multiple "New Yawk" -isms to the mythical Pharoah County, Georgia twang of Ms Oh.

If you love humor and science fiction and have sat through more than one Marvel Comic movie, you won't be disappointed in this book.

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The love child of L'Engle, Dahl and Snicket

Revisado: 12-11-16

After I read a book like this I always tend to feel like one of the unwashed masses who wouldn't be able to recognize good literature if it bit me in the butt.

On one hand, so much of The Oddfits is sheer poetry, especially the descriptions of food. The language is well done and I enjoyed the character development. I found everything written about Singapore and its people so very interesting.

On the other hand, so much of this story is oppressive and almost gratuitous fairy-tale cruelty that I found it difficult to get through to the end.

I wanted to love it and I do see the great talent of the author -- but her plot! It was merciless. Endless repressive actions against a character too clueless to see them for anything other than offerings of pure, sweet love. I repeatedly had to put it down.

The only reason I finished it was because I felt like something was wrong with me if I didn't like it. Like I was missing the whole point, missing the deep message everyone else but me could see.

I began to wish for my own Quest just to escape the tyranny of getting to the end. And in that way, I was finally able to identify with Shwet Fu, but only in the last pages.

(But really? I think it was just my relief that I was done.)

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Good story but inconsistencies abound

Revisado: 11-14-16

This is a very decent time-traveling story that starts out a bit like Connie Willis' "Doomsday Book" and ends up a bit like John Varley's "Millenium". The middle is sprinkled liberally with enough stiff upper lips that Mrs. Miniver starts looking like a bit of a crybaby.

Stuff I didn't like:

1) Plot inconsistencies. The opening chapters set you up to understand that History Just Does Not Allow Changes, proven by the fact that Max and her partner almost get walloped by History when Max goes looking at something she apparently should not.

And then goodness, everybody goes around doing great, big, history-changing stuff like saving lives and blowing up things and all History does is plug her ears and sing, "La la la I'm not listening."

I kept waiting for a Millenium-style "adjustment" through the timestream but it never occurred. So expect several moments when you might wanna say, "Wait a minute! She/He/They can't do that! Jeez."

2) One Character's inconsistency. Mostly everybody acts as you are led to believe. For example, one minor character suddenly goes off the deep end and you think, "ah, well, we had some foreshadowings about this and it's a good plot twist, too".

But then one of main characters who has always been portrayed as a kind and loving soul suddenly acts completely contrary to how he's been drawn -- at the unlikeliest possible time and for the stupidest possible reason -- and it's just so damn obvious that it's only a bit of padding so that story arc can be drawn out a bit.

3) The Deus Ex Machina. I mean, c'mon. Really?

4) The narrator was miscast, I think. She sounded so prim and sweet, and I think she needed to be a bit more saucy and feisty.

I also felt that so many clever turns of phrase could've been read with a little bit better timing, but were instead kind of rushed over.

The narrator has a beautiful voice, I just didn't think she just wasn't right for Max.

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Performance distracts from a good story

Revisado: 09-23-13

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would get rid of the "performed" aspect of the book. All the different voices and the music are distracting and needlessly interrupted the flow of the story. I would also lean less on the romance.

What did you like best about this story?

It's a good tale and kept you guessing. I enjoyed how it played out, when I wasn't grouching about the mismatched voices that kept popping in and out of the narrative. It sounded to me as if everyone recorded it all separately rather than an ensemble. I disliked it enough to decide avoid "performed" books from now on, no matter how good the story.

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

I think Xanthe Elbrick did an excellent job in Fire and I'm wishing she'd been around to record Graceling. I don't believe I would've continued in this series if the crew that "performed" Graceling had "performed" Fire.

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The start of a first-class series

Revisado: 11-10-12

If you could sum up In the Garden of Iden in three words, what would they be?

Imaginative, entertaining, fresh

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joseph, the facilitator. At first glance, a company man who does what he needs to do to get the job done. Later you see there's a lot more to this guy: common sense up the wazoo but a softie at the core. He has heart.I'm glad he gets explored in more depth in Baker's later novels.

Have you listened to any of Janan Raouf’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first time with Ms. Raouf. Like one of the other commenters mentioned, her voice didn't at first fit my idea of the "world-weary Mendoza", but then it made sense. She's only 19, she's just a kid, and it all fits.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I am so looking forward to the rest of "The Company Novels" as well as Kage Baker's collections of short stories. She is one of those incredible, yet under-appreciated authors who never fails to deliver a good tale. God bless Kage Baker, she left this earth too soon.

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Thoughtful, but lapses into a bit of sanctimony

Revisado: 11-10-12

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

Yes and no. It was my first experience with the "back to the earth" genre, and I loved the discussions about our disconnect with the real world. However, it kind of wore me down with breathless descriptions of bucolic living.I also felt the different voices in this narrative were superfluous, like they were just "tacked on".

Would you be willing to try another book from Barbara Kingsolver? Why or why not?

Yes. I've not ready anything else of hers yet but I'd like to see how she does fiction.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Yes. I'm not sure this should've been performed by the author and her family members. They seem like sincere people who really believe in what they are doing but their performance removed me from the narrative.

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More enjoyable than Kingsolver's take on the topic

Revisado: 11-10-12

What made the experience of listening to Farm City the most enjoyable?

I LOVE how Novella and her partner made use of materials that would've otherwise been tossed, and in doing so created something out of nothing. For some reason I find that quite exciting and really enjoyed this book. I also very much appreciated the revelation of her mistakes as well as her successes.

What other book might you compare Farm City to and why?

You can't help but compare it to Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral." I found this to be much less preachy, much more fun and in the end, a better learning experience. Much better narrated, too.

Have you listened to any of Karen White’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't believe I've heard any of Karen White's performances before this, but she did a pretty good job.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The only quibble I had with the author was her interaction with Sheila. Novella ignored so many obvious signals, and then proceeded to blame Sheila for doing what she clearly indicated she would do, no matter what Novella had requested.

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A fun romp through the Martian wastes!

Revisado: 11-10-12

If you could sum up The Empress of Mars in three words, what would they be?

Colorful droll intelligent

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Empress of Mars?

The conversation between Mary Griffith, Mother Willow and Mother Glenda. Inspired commentary on the neo-puritanism that may be found in any religion (or in any social movement)!

What about Nicola Barber’s performance did you like?

This gal nails every character perfectly. Wonderful voice, wonderful talent, wonderful performance. I especially liked her rendering of Mr. De Wit, as well as Ottorino's translation device.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

One of Baker's works that can easily be overlooked as merely a ScFy adventure story, but which is really much, much more.

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Neal Shusterman is a master storyteller, period.

Revisado: 07-17-11

I couldn't stop listening! Shusterman can set up and play a scene so perfectly that I can listen to it over and over again and find something new each time I hear it. This is a top-notch story that ties up all the loose ends in the trilogy in a way that is very satisfying. I adored the new characters, especially Jix and his king. Mikey's relationship with Allie was sweet, funny and romantic. Milos turns into a tragic character. Mary's character continues to descend into something truly frightening, capable of some truly godawful acts. Jill redeems herself... barely, but enough that I was rooting for her. How does Shusterman do this? How does he take someone you should hate, and make you feel sorry for them? Or happy for them? Or merely understand them despite their bad behavior? Mr. Shusterman, I am in awe.

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Loved it!

Revisado: 07-17-11

Neal Shusterman continues the story begun in "Everost" and what a lovely wild ride it is! I was touched by the gentle romance in this story and yet shocked at times by the actions undertaken by some of the characters. Nick, Allie, Mikey, Mary, Milos, Zin and Jackin Jill are unforgettable spirits in this haunting tale. Shusterman's gift for character development and world-building just gets better and better. I think the narrator is one of the best, too. I recommend this book to everyone...but start with Everlost!

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