Christine Harper

Best book in my library

Revisado: 12-15-23

Yes, you've seen/heard versions of many of these mysteries before and can guess the endings for most of them, but that's because Arthur Conan Doyle INVENTED THEM! I so rarely don't want a book to end these days, but I wish there were another 62 hours of material, especially with Stephen Fry narrating.

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Hard press marketing campaign can’t overcome books inherent flaws

Revisado: 10-15-23

A hard lesson that algorithms are not always correct nor does mass popularity indicate a good read. I was bored within three hours of listening. A good lesson that your local bookstore is your friend. My go-to recommender there (who aligns with my tastes better than any algorithm) warned me too late that this didn’t live up to the hype. I realize I’m not giving specific critiques but “boring” is usually enough for me to take a hard pass.

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Such a good story, such a GREAT narrator

Revisado: 12-28-20

The story itself, especially the lengthy monologue in the first part by the main character relating her life history, was fantastic. But the narrator managed to raise the level to enthralling, with her mesmerizing delivery and (please excuse my American ears) wonderful, varied accents.

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Solid story, good character development

Revisado: 09-27-20

The story is good. The narrator is very good. The outcome is greatly satisfying. Overall I was deeply interested/invested in the story. Complaints from others about spurious details/length are noted, but honestly, are we ever truly unhappy when Galbraith/Rowling add that extra 100-200 pages? Tight storytelling it is not, but other authors can provide that. Galbraith paints a full picture of the two main characters' lives - albeit messy and complex - but that's how lives are lived. One complaint: no one over the age of ten puts as much thought/reads as much into presents from colleagues - or even "best friends" - as these two do.

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Childish, misogynistic and completely unbelievable

Revisado: 11-21-09

I read Pillars of the Earth in high school and absolutely loved it. The horror that was my experience of listening to the first half of this sequel has made it necessary for me to re-evaluate that opinion. Maybe Follett's writing appealed to a 15-year old girl, because it could have come from the pen (MacBook, whatever) of a 15-year old girl. To be fair, I stopped listening halfway through--about the time that one of the principal female character's rape turned into consensual sex mid-act FOR THE SECOND TIME (with different assailants, mind you)--so it is just barely possible that what comes later somehow salvages what I suffered through. But I doubt it.

I love good historical fiction, but what Follett has produced here is neither good history nor good fiction. He has given modern-day characters with modern-day beliefs and speech medieval names and dropped them into a medieval setting (or perhaps it's a parallel universe. That might begin to explain things). I shouldn't say modern, really, however. Follett's tendency to insert nymphomaniacs into his work (I made the mistake of reading one of his novels set in the modern-day and came across the same character) smacks of 1940's and 50's pulp fiction.

For all lovers of truly good historical fiction, steer clear of this disaster. I'm still angry about the 20 hours I lost to this dressed-up bodice ripper, and it's been three years since I was first exposed.

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