MeSS

Thought provoking

Revisado: 02-18-23

My first time reading through for myself, I might like to read in print form as well as there’s a lot of food for thought and interesting commentary here! I thought the narrator should have put a lot more emotion into his words, it was just so flat.

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Very moving

Revisado: 01-25-23

I was surprised to find this story written by a white man, when so much is from the perspective of a black man. I guess I’d like to hear from some of the black people of that time in South Africa that it does capture their experience and feelings and what their reaction to it is before I feel confident in my own evaluation and response to it. It’s not a period or area I know well. Aside from that qualm, I enjoyed it, if enjoy is the right word for a tragic story that has beautiful elements to it. I loved the gentleness between the primary character and his priest friend in Johannesburg and again between Kumalo and the primary white man. There is so much generosity of spirit and attention to feeling (tho not without smacks of racism from the white man tho he seems to be trying) that is lovely to see in male relationships (there is very little development of the female characters in the book). Certainly a book that will stay with me.

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Too hard to follow on audio

Revisado: 01-13-23

I think I would like this book in text, but unfortunately it's not a great audio listen. it's too nuanced and too detailed. Maybe it's my fault for cleaning or getting ready while listening, but I feel I need to do nothing else to try to absorb what he's saying - which isn't something I can usually pull off with audiobooks. So, this one isn't really for me, sadly.

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Some ignorant bias on religious aspects, but overall good

Revisado: 07-11-22

Some of this was awesome, some was really ignorant (you might just want to skip the Christian part, it’s not offensive as he warns, it’s just wrong, not what Christians believe about that the Eucharist and just kind of silly ignorant bias that didn’t help his story or contribute to being a trusted authority. But that section isn’t necessary for enjoying the historical arc of food history so I recommend just skipping that part). I loved the history part more than the modern food industry part, but that was really interesting too. There is soooo much more to say on that topic, he just scratched the surface, but in an engaging and interesting way! Recommend this for sure and I’m glad I didn’t quit at the awful Christian historical section tho I was tempted too because if he couldn’t do his research there, where else might he have skimped?

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Excellent narration and story selection

Revisado: 12-31-21

I wish the stories were indicated in the chapter headings so you could pick what you want to listen to, but the stories and narrators were excellent (esp Christmas Carol!! I’d never enjoyed it so much as this!)! Enjoyed it very much!!

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Listening is a good idea but not this translation

Revisado: 09-23-19

Hearing the Odyssey is a great way to enjoy the story, certainly the ancients would have heard it that way and I enjoyed that aspect a lot. However Danes was only so-so and Wilson explicitly said she wanted her translation to be more novel like so unless your school or book club is using this particular translation, I'd probably suggest a different translation (Fagles etc) that's more poetic and repeats the framing lines verbatim so that it sounds better to the ear.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Love the book and Firth performs it beautifully

Revisado: 04-05-19

Such a stirring, thought-provoking book. Beautiful and painful at the same time. The only downside with audio books is I can't reread a line and sit with it for a moment (normally my hands are busy) and Greene deserves that, he earns it. I may have to relisten immediately!

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Not a Jack London fan

Revisado: 02-21-19

This was my first Jack Landon book, it was OK but just not that impressive. The narrator had an odd distant manner, kinda of airy, I didn't care for her style.

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Interesting, strange, unpleasant, thoughtful

Revisado: 02-14-19

Not a fun read, but interesting. His use of language is intriguing and at times beautiful and at times confusing. The characters aren't really lovable, but at least partially interesting. One reads just to see what these people will do and why. Slow moving but not bad for that. It is one that will stick in your mind I think, persistent like a good essay or a poignant story long after the medium has been forgotten.

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Love this story!

Revisado: 01-10-19

I find Dickens' language and story telling suberb. Occasionally I might prefer it not to be quite so perfect and tidy, but it's a joy to read and who can blame him for preferring happy endings!

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