N. Franzen

I AM an English teacher...

Revisado: 04-02-19

...and Austen's S & S is one of my all-time favorites, upon which part of my Master's thesis was based, but still, this recording IS genuinely glorious! Rosamund Pike does a wonderful job, and since I've only read this on paper before, I am thrilled with the audio for a change. Get it. Love it. Appreciate Austen. What a talent!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Read while driving across the USA

Revisado: 03-22-19

I started this in California, and finished it in South Carolina. It kept me focused on all that driving!

A long-time Grisham fan, I knew from the first chapter that I would love this one almost as much as A Time to Kill, which, to me, is still Grisham's finest. The web of characters and their stories was brilliantly interwoven through the entire novel. And the characterization of the snobby, greedy children of Seth Hubbard is masterful.

Beck's narration is superb, and I was totally engrossed in the storyline, plus, Harry Rex and Jake Brigance are some of the most wonderful characters in modern literature. Grisham really dug deep for this one, which I thoroughly appreciate. Definitely up there in the Grisham top five for me.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Pretty OK

Revisado: 05-29-18

So, as someone who read Outlander first (before any other romance/time travel books), nothing will ever compare. However, even dismissing the perfection that is Jamie and Claire, I didn't dislike the characters in this book, I just wasn't that impressed.

There are many similarities in the storyline of this book to Gabaldon's plot, which kind of bothered me, but let me mention the few things I did like.

The headstrong female character and her sassy comments to just about everyone. Yes, she decides to stay in the past for love, but I mean, I'm not going to lie--I might be tempted to leave my career behind if given the chance to be taken care of by a sexy highlander.

Darcy, the lead male character, is quite good, and the narration of his character is well done.

Which leads me to...the narrator. First, I listened at 1.15 speed because I like to be efficient. Second, there were a number of words that she just had trouble pronouncing correctly: Don Quixote? Come on. You need to know how to pronounce one of the most widely read books of all time if you are going to get paid to narrate audio books. Further? It sounded like "father." There were a few more, but I just rolled my eyes and kept on.

One other thing I thought was weird was the magic in the book: A car just appears when an albino's flesh is cut? It came out of nowhere. I feel like the explanation for the time travel could have been a little more thoughtful. Anyway, what are you going to do?

The author could have done with just using modern English in the prose sections. There is an over abundance of "mayhap" and other dialectical words that would have best been saved for dialogue.

I've read a number of these romance titles since I first started with Outlander last summer, and this one definitely is not the worst, but for a quick read, it's not a let down.

I have the romance package, so this is "free" to me, which is the other reason I read them so quickly--to get my monthly subscription fee's worth, but it was a decent read nonetheless. I stuck in for the romance, because let's face it, that's why we're all here.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

No Disrespect to Mr. Golding...

Revisado: 05-21-18

I've used this audio book for the last three years teaching this novel. Sometimes I use the whole thing, sometimes I only use a few chapters. William Golding is not the easiest narrator to listen to, mostly because he's very monotone. I don't mind the pace of the recording, and his pronunciations of the British vernacular are better than mine, but many of my students say it's one that almost puts them to sleep. Overall, great to have when I don't feel like reading, or making students read silently.

It's a great novel, though. Every time I read it I like it more and more.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Fabulous!

Revisado: 05-08-18

I use this in my 9th grade English classroom and it's a hit year after year. Great recording!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Fantastic History--Reads Almost Like a Novel!

Revisado: 04-30-18

What did you love best about Empire of Blue Water?

Honestly, the writing is great--which makes for an easy read. I did not want to stop reading it!

Which scene was your favorite?

I learned a lot about the power struggles of England and Spain during the 17th century, generally stuff I never paid attention to in school, but am very interested in now.

Any additional comments?

As an English major, I only took history to meet the minimum requirements in school. I have renewed my interest in European history lately, and came across this book after reading Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson. Anyway, it was highly enjoyable, and with the addition of a typical pirate character (Roderick), who the author follows through the book, it really makes reading it seem like part fiction (though the character is based on what historians know about the average pirate at this time) and part non-fiction.

It helps that I like adventure and history, because this book fits both genres very well.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I Keep Going Back to It...

Revisado: 04-30-18

Where does Outlander rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably in the top 3. (The others are Outlander novels, so you know....)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Outlander?

What about this story ISN'T great? I will reread this multiple times in my life, guaranteed.

However, if I had to choose a moment, it's when Claire chooses to stay in the past.

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

Hands down, Porter is the greatest narrator of all time, forever and ever, amen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It just makes me forget about everything, like I am actually living the book.

Any additional comments?

Get it. You won't regret it. Also, the romance is delicious.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I Keep Going Back to It...

Revisado: 04-30-18

Where does Outlander rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably in the top 3. (The others are Outlander novels, so you know....)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Outlander?

What about this story ISN'T great? I will reread this multiple times in my life, guaranteed.

However, if I had to choose a moment, it's when Claire chooses to stay in the past.

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

Hands down, Porter is the greatest narrator of all time, forever and ever, amen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It just makes me forget about everything, like I am actually living the book.

Any additional comments?

Get it. You won't regret it. Also, the romance is delicious.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not Spectacular, but I'll Still Finish

Revisado: 04-30-18

What did you like best about A Desperate Fortune? What did you like least?

I am about half-way through this book.

I initially liked the idea of it, but the plot seems a bit flimsy, and the the discovery and interpretation a cipher doesn't seem to be a worthy enough goal to carry a whole novel. The two worlds she creates seem a little detached, which I didn't feel occurred in some of her other books.

Would you be willing to try another book from Susanna Kearsley? Why or why not?

I've read maybe five of her books at this point, so I will probably take a break.

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

I liked the narrator--easy to listen to (and she does a good job with some of Kearsley's long sentences:))

Any additional comments?

I will finish it, but I am not totally enthralled as I have been with other Kearsley titles.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not the best...but some redeeming qualities

Revisado: 12-22-17

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended the first three books in the series unabashedly, but I'd hesitate on this one. I am about 2/3 through, and even though I enjoyed the first half of the book, I'm starting to get annoyed at this point.

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

Brianna (sp?) is frustrating as hell, and I am kind of annoyed she went through to find her parents. She's a mess, and not using her head at all. At least Claire is tempered a bit (she fits better in the 18th century, and knows her "place" a little better at this point).

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

She's the best. Everything.

Any additional comments?

The whole Roger/Brianna thing is killing me. Just...if you read it, you'll understand. This book really gets away from Jamie and Claire's relationship (not totally, but it's not the whole thing). They had more time in the earlier part of the novel, and some really good conversations, actually, but as soon as the whole cast of characters was interacting with each other, relationships get muddy, and everyone is in a fit all the time. I hope the last 20 chapters bring me some relief from my annoyance.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña