OYENTE

Holly

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  • opiniones
  • 297
  • votos útiles
  • 496
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Charming & beguiling, more complex than you think

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-28-25

Initially, I did not think I would like it as much as other DES novels, but how wrong I was. I went through the same emotions when I picked it up again after many years. Something about the opening puts me off for a moment. Despite a novel of charm and honorable, fully detailed characters, the novel has some extremely unpleasant cast members, who, of course, contribute greatly to the plot. DES is beguilingly sophisticated at character and plot, despite the overall deception that these are cozy, comfort reading. Highly recommended.

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A charming character-driven slice of British life

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-27-25

Although not as beloved as some of my other five star DES novels (the book doesn't completely engage me until the odious Aunt Rona is disrupting life), it's wonderfully written and is the perfect salvo for when battered by today's worldly problems. I've read it several times, but there's a huge gap of neglect until this week.

The narrator is perfect. I wish she had delivered all the DES novels.

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Superbly written and perfectly narrated

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-21-25

Superbly written story set before and after World War One. The time and setting is critical to avoid applying standards from today on behavior and society viewpoints. This is truly top-notch writing. Character development is at the highest possible skill, and the author definitely manipulates our view point, which makes the plotting wonderful. I just re-read this book after many years gap and appreciate it ten-fold more. Karen Cass reads this to perfection. I checked her Audible books and not nearly enough are books by D.E. Stevenson. She presented this splendidly.

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Front 3/4ths utterly superb

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-19-25

Pirateaba is a superb storyteller and Andrea Parsneau is equally superb at reading the story. I absolutely loved the opening and the many chapters that followed, focused on Erin and the Inn. I am not part of the demographic that most loves The Wandering Inn (the author said it was younger males, based on a survey at one point), so perhaps that is why, when it suddenly turned to a group of characters I am not invested in...well, I dislike the King of Destruction, Trey and his sister, Gaza, the Quarass and Floss's minions. I wish they would disappear. It was painfully hard to listen to Floss screaming and read his answer to all, brutal violence. A complete dichotomy in an artificially cut book. But I can recognize the author's plotting and other skills in play, and stick with it (have read this before, of course). Based on the Izril sections...A+ overall.

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On the uptick

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-12-25

This was more engaging than the fourth, so I was generous in rating it. I started to lose interest with the rough handling of yet another kidnapping and the male voiced interruptions were slightly confusing, and not enjoyable. But my interest picked up in the last third. Still, not nearly as grand as the first two episodes. The ending was fun, when she realized she could really have something she wanted.

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Masterful storytelling

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-10-25

What a masterful storyteller! This tale was completely absorbing. Not least because of so many backstories of characters I felt such empathy for in prior books. Haymitch is so much more than a deeply wounded Hunger Games victim and alcoholic. I found the entire book engaging throughout. I am grateful for the epilogue, too. I feel the author brought everything together and delivered it with enormous skill. It's a flawless story. Jefferson White was superb, including the recitation of poetry, that the author so skillfully selected. Highly recommended.

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Perfection...

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-07-25

An utter delight, except when too unbearably sad...a perfect gem of a book. Nancy Mitford is in her own class of writers, or is the leader of the sharp and inciteful most superior writers. I first discovered this in 1981-82 and devoured everything I could find by Nancy and her sisters. This is the star. It's been several years since I re-read them. An enchanting and complete distraction from worries. The narration by Bessie Carter is flawless. I am grateful as many of my favorites from this time frame are not read with an understanding of the narrating character. Perfection!

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A perfect gem

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-05-25

The Diary of a Provincial Lady is among my top lifetime favorites...greatly adored and re-read over and over for decades. At one point I translated the French (mostly from one character) into English, in ink in the margins of my first paperback copy. My paperbacks are falling apart, but I just listened to this version. Although I prefer the written version, I've heard this read by three different women and none sound like the Provincial Lady in my mind--though this was the best rendition. I certainly loved every word. It is beautifully penned, full of irony, humor, pathos, and quite a perfect period piece. It is endlessly interesting and diverting, so I chose it as the book to accompany me to the hospital when I delivered my child, oh so many years ago. Warmly recommended.

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Mixed reading experience

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-04-25

Meeting with the wizard acquaintance of Hump's former master was the highlight of the book, for me. I enjoyed the character development and plot in that section. I was not engaged at all with the monster/evil fights, so not certain I'll continue on. As I own both the Audible and Kindle versions of this, I might re-visit in a year by reading the Kindle version and seeing if I want to continue. The narrator is excellent.

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Solid story & strong suspension of disbelief

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-29-25

I enjoy the thorough suspension of disbelief the author achieves. The class and skill evolution is an aspect I love as a great distraction while doing mundane tasks in real life. Creative and satisfyingly long tale. I enjoy the leveling; less so the bloodshed and cruelty.

Could do without the overuse of expletives--three times in three successive sentences, as an example. The author is too talented and creative not to look for better words.

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