Jessica

Inconsistent

Revisado: 12-10-16

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Perks of Being a Wallflower?

There were a lot of remarks and observations by the main character that made me think that he was learning-impaired, or possibly had some kind of intellectual disability. But it turned out that he was supposed to be gifted AND well-read! If he wasn't a reader, I could have overlooked some of this and chalked it up to naivete, but it's just too preposterous that a reasonably intelligent, erudite teenager could be so in the dark.

Any additional comments?

The narration was kind of irritating, but I actually didn't mind too much because I thought it seemed true to the character. Of course, that's when I was assuming that the character was very backward and needed a little more patience from the reader.

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Oh my word!

Revisado: 12-10-16

Who was the most memorable character of A Town Like Alice and why?

Joe. I know I'm supposed to say the main character, Jean, here, but I've found myself saying "Oh, my word!" in an Aussie accent ever since listening to this.

Any additional comments?

I really liked the way Jean was written. She has a lot of Mary Sue traits, but somehow manages to avoid seeming obnoxiously perfect. She was very pragmatic about all things: life, loss, love, family, money..., but she also admitted to craving the trifles of womanhood.

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I'm glad this wasn't my first Coben.

Revisado: 09-18-16

What would have made Missing You better?

More well-rounded and believable characters. Most characters - especially the females, but also some of the "seasoned" cops and mob guys - were caricatures. They didn't seem authentic.

Would you ever listen to anything by Harlan Coben again?

This was my second Coben book, after reading The Woods about a year ago. If I had read this one first, I probably wouldn’t have tried anymore. The Woods had surprises. This was predictable.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Annoyed: The main character was very judgmental, and I didn’t think the trait aligned very well with her age or profession. Yes, a lot of the males that she encountered were d-bags, but that doesn’t mean that you should snap to judgment about people.

Disappointed: It was unrealistic that no one figured out what was going on earlier.

Any additional comments?

Several corny jokes and bad lines were included. It doesn’t make it any more clever to admit that it’s a stale joke. My advice would be to think of something better or leave it out.

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Gave me chills

Revisado: 09-18-16

I just love the playful way that Gaiman narrates. His stories were made to be read aloud...in his voice.

The twists and turns in the stories carry you in unexpected directions. Sometimes I thought I knew where the story was going and a creepy, ominous sentence would make me question everything.

“Orange” was a favorite because of the inventive questionnaire format.

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And I had such high hopes...

Revisado: 08-13-16

What was most disappointing about Gigi Pandian’s story?

It was much easier to go along with the fantasy aspects of the story than to suspend disbelief during the “reality” parts. Some of the police procedures, in particular, were way too far-fetched. It really seemed like a book written by a teenage girl with too little life experience or research to cobble a plot together. The dialogue was stilted. The ending was rushed. The only convincing character in the whole book was the darn gargoyle! (He was a charming little guy though.)

Would you be willing to try another one of Julia Motyka’s performances?

It wouldn't be an immediate disqualification, but I'd prefer to avoid her in the future. She pronounced some words in an unusual way. I won’t say that they were wrong, but they certainly weren’t the preferred pronunciations and it was sort of jarring every time I encountered one. I also thought I could hear a smile in her voice during inappropriate moments in the story. It would have been nice if her tone of voice matched the emotion of the scene.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

A healthy dose of eye-rolling: There was a somewhat preachy theme of veganism and healthy living. The author spent A LOT of time talking about her meals and the energy that she got from them. Some of the dishes did sound yummy, but I didn’t need to hear the ingredients of every smoothie and how she felt the veggies refreshing her parched cells. I know how food works.

Any additional comments?

The main character was supposed to be much older than she appeared, but her inner dialogue sounded like a girl in her late teens.

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Great book; mediocre narration

Revisado: 07-09-16

What did you love best about The Prince of Tides?

There was a lot of foreshadowing, so I spent a good deal of time speculating as to how various characters would meet their destiny. Sometimes I was right (Lila); sometimes I was wrong (Luke - well, until much closer to the end of the book), but Conroy kept me guessing.

Also, I have to admit that books make me cry on a regular basis so maybe it doesn't mean much, but I did both laugh and cry. I think I would have laughed and cried more with a better narrator, but I did truly love this book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Luke Wingo was a witty, complicated, tragic hero. He had a taste for adventure, and the best parts of the book prominently featured him.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Frank Muller?

Will Patton has that perfect Southern accent, and his voice has a lovely modulation that Muller lacked. Muller's performance had a heavy cadence with no variation. He stressed almost every word. His style is more of an orator, less of a storyteller.

If you could take any character from The Prince of Tides out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Savannah. She was a poet, and I admired the way she spoke about the importance of words. She worried when Luke became a Navy SEAL because of a grisly event from their childhood involving seals (the animals).

Any additional comments?

The story is told from Tom's point of view, but he is not the star of my favorite parts. Savannah criticized Tom for taking a back seat in his own life, and I think the author did a good job of providing evidence for that accusation.

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Elementary!

Revisado: 06-25-16

What made the experience of listening to A Study in Scarlet the most enjoyable?

I felt like I was cuddling up with some old friends every time I listened.

Any additional comments?

This book feels a little fractured, but the mystery plays out well in spite of that. It opens on the meeting of Holmes and Watson and how they happened to live together. Quickly they become embroiled in a mystery. They mystery is solved with approximately half the book left, and then there is an account of the back-story of the murderer and victims. Finally, the loose ends are tied into a neat little bow and Holmes and Watson retire back to their happy living arrangement.

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Somewhat unexpected

Revisado: 06-25-16

Would you try another book from M. R. Carey and/or Finty Williams?

I would read another book by Carey. His characters were complex, including some strong females. Each had their own motivations. Sometimes they worked in concert; at other times, they worked against one another. Sometimes I thought there was cooperation, but there was self-interest below the surface.

Finty Williams was average. I wouldn't rush out to find another of her performances, but I wouldn't avoid a book just because she's the narrator either.

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Remarkable performance; tremendous book

Revisado: 06-18-16

Which character – as performed by Jeremy Irons – was your favorite?

Irons gave a rich performance that lent an authenticity to the creepy character of H.H. He oscillated between the lyrical speech of a poet and the ranting diatribe of a madman. It was repugnant and alluring, disturbing and beautiful.

Any additional comments?

I just adore an unreliable narrator...

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Just another YA novel

Revisado: 06-18-16

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

Meh...I've done worse things with my time. Truthfully, the book wasn't very good though.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It all felt stale and unoriginal. The author was purposefully going after my emotions...which made it impossible for me to really feel much of anything (except manipulated).

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

He does sound appropriately teen angst-y.

Did Looking for Alaska inspire you to do anything?

Nope. Uh-uh. Can't think of a thing.

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