Tlclovesme

Awful narration, had to return

Revisado: 07-15-17

It's too bad the narrator performs as if she's reading to a bunch of kindergarteners. It was hard to tell with the sample, but once downloaded and after about a half hour, i thought I was going to go crazy! Her singsong-y timbre was just too much. On top of that the prose is written in what I can only assume the author wants us to think is "authentic " medieval discourse. Which would be impossible, of course. So instead it reads like a campy fairy-tale. I imagine in the print version the prose wouldn't stick out so much, but with this particular narrator, it's highlighted in all the wrong ways. The story line up to the point that I had to quit was interesting, so maybe reading it will be different. Bad narration just kills a book. Oh well. Glad Audible allows you to refund a pie

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What a disappointment from Weir!

Revisado: 06-04-15

Any additional comments?

Ugh! I like Weirs other novels, and I like a little sex (sometimes even a lot) in my historical fiction - our ancestors were human, after all. But this is like reading a Harlequin Romance right off the bat! In the first chapter, Eleanor and Henry are groping and effing each other - no character development, nothing. Just lust at first sight - and that first sight is within the first few pages of the book! How can you call it anything other than a trashy romance novel if you don't have time to get to know the characters - understand what their motivations are and why they are doing what they're doing? I was looking forward to another perspective on Eleanor's life - but this could have been anyone. I think another reviewer likened her "character" to a slutty, ditzy housewife. Well put. Won't listen past the first chapter - I'm returning the audiobook. As a side note, I think the narrator was fine - but maybe not for this book. She is too old for the time that this book (at least the beginning) covers - Eleanor was only 28 or 29 at the time, the narrator sounds like she's in her 60's. Please please please someone record more Sharon Kay Penman novels!!!!

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Eloquently Written

Revisado: 06-03-15

Any additional comments?

I'm not generally a Zombie fiction fan. But this was an exceptional read. The narrator was very good, although she didn't have much range so it was hard to tell sometimes which character was speaking. But her reading voice is pleasant, so I didn't find it to me much of a distraction. The book is eloquently written, full of beautiful imagery, and the author does a very good job with character development. Other reviewers have said they were blown away by the twist ending. I wasn't blown away - it became clear to me what might happen later in the book. But the ending was certainly different than the standard Zombie story. I found myself thinking about this book for days after I finished it. Highly recommend.

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Mediocre story - terrible narration

Revisado: 04-28-15

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator. His intonations and lilt were too...I don't know....eager? Some of his characterizations didn't really fit the character. In fact, there were very few characterizations that seemed spot-on - Minty Fresh being the only one I can think of that was actually any good. I think it might have been a fun book to read, but the narration ruined it for me.

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

Aside from the narration, the overall book was a little over the top. I understand that it's a comedy, but it started to get really bogged down from the middle right to the end. The character Audrey - and everything tied to her story - was almost unnecessary. In addition - it was clear from almost the beginning of the book the role the daughter would play. SO clear, in fact, that it was totally improbable that the other characters (especially the protagonist!) could not see it until the very last minute of the book! Really disappointing.

How could the performance have been better?

Having chosen a more experienced and/or flexible narrator.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Perhaps.

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Annoying background noise: poor production

Revisado: 09-03-12

Any additional comments?

The narrator is excellent, and the story had me hooked within 10 minutes. It's as good as all of the other reviewers say, so I don't have anything to add in that respect. However, the production quality is on the poor side. If you listen with good headphones like I do, then you can clearly hear people talking and coughing in the background. The sound booth was definitely not soundproofed. One would think that this would have been picked up and cut out during the post production editing process . If you're listening in your car,on the train, etc then it's not a problem. But if there's no background noise where you are, be forewarned the background noise of the recording is quite distracting.

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Terrible Narration!

Revisado: 08-28-12

What disappointed you about Dynasty 4: The Oak Apple?

The narrator for this book is simply awful. His voice is cloying and over-dramatic. So much so, that I had to turn it off after thirty minutes. I can't bear to listen to a narrator who sounds like he's telling a pirate adventure story to a seven year old. It's annoying and exasperating.

What could Cynthia Harrod-Eagles have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Unless the choice of narrator was hers, I'm not sure. I don't k ow how the story is, as I couldn't get through more than a half an hour of it.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

See above. Cloying, breathy, over-dramatic. I was totally distracted by this and wasn't able to follow the story line. I kept thinking (hoping) it would change, but I couldn't bear to listen any longer. A good narrator makes you forget that you're listening to a story at all. A good narrator lets your minds eye take over and the story unfold naturally. A good narrator should never be the main character, but should slip into the background. Terry Wale seems to read the story as if HE is the primary character, and it's HIS voice you bought the book for. Over-acted and in the way.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Dynasty 4: The Oak Apple?

Any scene read by Terry Wale.

Any additional comments?

I find it hard to believe that this actor was hired to read the rest of this very long series! The first three narrators were all very good - each a little different (one very different, as she was a woman) - but all were very believable. I'm so disappointed, because I was beginning to really like this series, and was excited that between the umpteen more books in it I had at least fifty or sixty more hours of listening time. I absolutely love falling into a good historical novel, and because I travel so much for work I don't have a lot of time to read. Now I feel like there's been a death in the family. Boo on you Hachette for hiring this wanker to read the entire series!

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