LauraRose

Pre-1980 SF fan field day

Revisado: 10-03-18

Slow but sweet plot about an academic semi-outcast, fairy-seeing, SF obsessed heroine coming of age. I knew enough of the litany of books and authors the main character mentions to enjoy it. I need to look for the print edition of this to see if it has a bibliography. I downloaded this years ago because I love(d) Katherine Kellgren, but I only just listened to the end recently upon finding out about her passing. She is fabulous here as always. I don’t know what a Welsh accent sounds like so I’m good with hers. What a treasure to have so much of her work available through Audible.

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She's a better author than narrator

Revisado: 05-05-16

I really enjoyed the story. Strong, believable women in all the main characters. Just enough sexiness to make it fun, but nothing too explicit. Fun double plot between pirate and modern research librarian lives.
The narration was just ok. She sounded more or less fine for the modern bits, though her cadence needs work, and pretty awkward for the historical parts. It wasn't awful, but there's a reason people become authors and it's not because they are awesome narrators.
I would totally listen to another book BY C. friend, and if she took a few more lessons from some real pro narrators, I would even listen TO her read her own work.
Worth it if you like pirates, women and mysteries!

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Farewell Jacky! Farewell Lou!

Revisado: 04-08-16

I hesitated for over a year to listen to this, because I didn't want Jacky to die. I even re-listened to all the others! I almost wish I hadn't re-listened because the one thing I didn't care for in this one was that Jacky actually seemed younger psychologically to me, which I might not have noticed had I not been thinking how much she had grown over the years. I imagine this was largely a result of having actually been written earlier, as Mr Meyer explained that he did. Of course I am very glad he did, because in the end it was a satisfying ending, and I am deeply saddened at the passing of such a wonderful author. The first hour or so was super shrill with Jacky swearing off men and raging about Clarissa, and a painfully long letter from Clarissa herself. Anyhow, suffice it to say, it is far from the best of the series

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She says it herself

Revisado: 07-09-15

This is not Bossypants. This is not God said "Ha!" This was a memoir written by a woman who is just really starting the grown up half of her career, written while juggling too many other things to make it really polished, and then gussied up by guest appearances. Disclaimer: I only made it through the intro and half of chapter one before I was bored and annoyed by her voice (which seems to translate better through her TV appearances than audiobook). I'm only here to see if it's too late to return it. Maybe in 20 more years she should try again.

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Husband Loved It, Too

Revisado: 06-28-15

I guess this is basically a YA level novel, but it was so clever & fun, anyone who likes dragons and castles will enjoy it. We started this one on a road trip and then had to get out a puzzle when we got home so we could just sit and listen in the living room?

The narration was very good and fit the main character and genre quite well. The "voices" were maybe not utterly perfect, but they were pretty darn good. Her phrasing was excellent in my opinion. The pauses at periods and proper observation of punctuation made it much easier to absorb all the little details of the writing, which is quite literate and, at times, amusing, and the hints about the various ongoing intrigues.

It says there are 2 narrators above? Huh. I didn't see that on the "cover" and I didn't notice in listening. I guess if there were two they worked well together!

Even though most of the intrigue obviously gets cleared up by the end (it wouldn't be very satisfyingly YA if it didn't) the excellent characters have us thinking about planning another road trip to start the sequel.

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Parent/Tween Listen Along Potential

Revisado: 05-09-15

I am a teacher, so I love YA/Children's Literature generally, but I truly enjoyed this just on it's own merits. It has so many funny fairytale references and phrases that younger kids might Not notice, but which are very entertaining for more advanced listeners.

A very "appropriate," as we say, book for both boys and girls ages 9-14 or so. Excellent strong, intelligent characters of different genders ( and species) .

Excellent narration (especially Ed the troll!) and audio production values. Listen and Live Audio has never let me down on production.

Really a fun listen-- I will definitely look for more by this author and narrator.

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Can't Listen, but at Least I Learned A Lesson

Revisado: 05-07-15

I couldn't get through the first chapter, due to the narrator. The story sounds cute and fun, but I just can't listen. Wish I hadn't waited to listen until it was too long past to return it. Ah, well, learned that lesson for a credit I guess.

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I had to Grit my Teeth, but I Learned Quite A Bit

Revisado: 05-07-15

I decided to listen to this BEFORE listing to any adult level books or lectures on the subject, in order to get a first draft in my brain. It was just right for that, though I thought he glossed over the very early sections a little faster than necessary, and there were a few too many superlatives. Let the listener decide for themselves what is the "loveliest piece of music ever written." Also, the sound effects were pretty silly, even for kids, and really distracting. Possibly some could even be confusing when they say things like, "This is Beethoven walking to hear an organ concert.: clomp, clomp, clomp." I think it was Beethoven.... Anyhow, whoever it was there is certainly no recording of them walking.

I appreciated the author's efforts to tie in other historical events of the time to give some context. I particularly learned a lot about more modern composers, who will, undoubtedly, become more well known as they start to die off.

Alsop is one of my classical music heroes (she used to be our little city's conductor!), and she has done great things for popularizing it and helping kids and adults understand it, so I applaud this effort. However, though she is well-spoken and insightful and in every way a wonderful person, she is not a professional narrator and by the end I felt like she was just reading along, hoping it would be over soon. Her intonation got more predictable, and the phrasing less meaningful, which will not be helpful to young listeners' comprehension.

I am totally ready for a grown up version now. For kids, it might be a lot to absorb just listening passively. If I was listening to this with kids, I would listen to a section then stop and go find some longer recordings or a picture of the composer or something to tie it to. Maybe draw a timeline on a big piece of paper.

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Not my Favorite, but My Second Listen Nonetheless

Revisado: 05-07-15

They can't ALL be my favorite individually, but the series sure is!

Once again: I love the historical contexts. I am starting to get my early 19th century authors, wars and British Expansion history down!

Another smashing, consistent performance from Katherine Kellgren brings the unlikely, but oddly believable take of L.A. Meyers' Jacky to life.

Hey, it could happen.

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Good long story; women OK not great

Revisado: 04-18-15

I enjoyed how Hamilton tied in so many ideas with all the characters and worlds and whatnot. I actually LIKE how the narration just flows from one scene to the next, and it is actually less monotone then I would think for reading 70 hours of the same story. The narrator changes how he says the name of a lake he has been talking about for the last book and s half partway through which was weird and there's the occasional misplaced emphasis, but like I said, not bad at all for 70 hours!The thing that lees me from giving it a 5 is that even with all these pages and this time the female characters are all just a little lacking. I can tell Hamilton is trying for strong women, which I appreciate, but all the main action/power players really are men. The women--all have some "reason" they are special and cool: Genetics/family power/sex appeal etc. He doesn't even bother to tell you what happens to one of the main women at the very end. After 70 hours I want a wrap up for everyone. I felt like he just got too tired to care by the end. Or maybe his editor made him cut it. Anyhow, I did enjoy it, but this bothered me when it was all over.

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