Richard

Fantastic!

Revisado: 02-22-23

The Ballad of Perilous Graves was a thoroughly enjoyable listen! When I read the book jacket summary, I hoped the Audible version would feature a narrator who would be able to do the richness of New Orleans's dialects justice. I was not disappointed! The story itself was satisfyingly twisty and detailed.It will surely become an audio that I return to regularly.

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Even bad guys have redeeming qualities.

Revisado: 09-18-17

Sam Hawley made lots of money doing bad things. Then he lost his wife. He struggles to redeem himself by keeping their daughter safe and raising her to be smart and strong. Their relationship is surprisingly touching. The organization of the book alternates between Sam's story, told one gunshot wound at a time, and his daughter, Lu's. Both voices are compelling.

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Interesting Material Undermined by the Writer

Revisado: 02-08-15

Toobin has good material. The research is thorough. However, as in his OJ book, his biases and attempts at analysis undermine the book rather than make it more interesting. I say that even though I share his political and social leanings. His thinking is that of an outsider who misunderstands the perceptions and motivations of those he watches. As someone who spent many years practicing law, my reaction while reading/listening to the book was often that he just didn't "get it." Instead he "gets it" about 50% of the time. It's the writing of someone who is well educated in the law but not in the behavior of the humans in the courts and in cases. Nonetheless, the facts he describes are fascinating, and it's easy enough to separate out and ignore his speculation and opinion.

I think Toobin could write a very good book if he made a conscious effort to write a "neutral" book, with the assistance of an editor that insisted on that principle. He understands the mechanics of the law and our legal system. His writing, in other books, and elsewhere, is clear and easy to read. He's a good reporter who simply does not have good insight about the cases and institutions he covers. The next time he gets an advance to tackle some interesting case or legal institution, he should stick to the facts.

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Pure Gothic Pleasure

Revisado: 03-24-14

Both this title and its predecessor, A Dark Unwinding, provide pure gothic entertainment following the tried and true gothic formula--an orphaned heroine journeying to unknown relatives, two potential love interests--one dark, one light--a surly housekeeper, potential insanity, an inheritance. What distinguishes them from gothic drivel are Katherine's Uncle Tully, a loveable autistic savant, and Katherine herself, who learns to take matters into her own hands rather than wait for rescue. Because the author has followed the traditional gothic formula, the listener will be able to predict some details. Ms. Cameron, however, delights in finding other ways to surprise. Her characters develop beyond their 2-dimensional prototypes and provide delightful suspense. While not necessarily "improving literature," both books are excellent stories, well narrated. Worth the credits.

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good book--droning narrator

Revisado: 04-21-11

It makes me terribly sad to give a Jackson Brodie novel by Kate Atkinson less than 5 stars, but the narrator nearly ruined it for me. His voice did not change for any of the characters, nor did his pitch or inflection ever vary from a near monotone. I gave up listening and went to my local bookstore to buy the hard copy, which was wonderful (although not as good as When Will There Be Good News? or One Good Turn). I can't imagine why the publisher went with a narrator other than Ellen Archer, who read WWTBGN. She was spectacular. Graeme Malcolm wasn't. Kate Atkinson does lovely plot twists and I really like what she has been doing with Jackson and his delayed cultural growth--reading poetry, going to museums, attending the theatre. I did miss the tension between Jackson and Louise, so I am hoping that the end of this book is not just a tease.

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Kate Atkinson pleases again.

Revisado: 10-19-08

If you've read (or listened to) Case Histories and One Good Turn, then When Will There Be Good News? is just what you'd expect from Kate Atkinson. If this is your first experience with this author, be prepared. Her characters and their predicaments will draw you in to the point where you'll find yourself sitting in the driveway or tuning out your family to find out what happens next. Jackson Brodie is back along with the string of misfortunes that have been plaguing him since Case Histories. In addition, we get better acquainted with DCI Louise Monroe and meet the ineffably persistent Reggie Chase. The mysteries in this book are compelling and, as always with Kate Atkinson, twisted together in ways that do not all become apparent until the very end of the book. When Will There Be Good News?, along with Atkinson's other Jackson Brodie books, are mystery thrillers for people who don't like mystery thrillers. The characters are as intricately developed as the plot line. The dialogue is natural, never forced. The endings are like good chocolate--satisfying, but leaving you wanting just a little more. The reader does a creditable job of managing a variety of British accents and both male and female voices.

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timeless story

Revisado: 03-15-08

I didn't realize until I was part of the way through this listen that it was anything more than a work of fiction. Imagine my surprise when I started seeing the names of characters from Palace of Illusions in the actual book I was reading. Upon doing a little internet searching, I discovered that Palace of Illusions is actually a re-telling of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, told from the point of view of Draupadi, the main female character.
You will not always like or sympathize with Draupadi--she is a pampered, self-centered, vindictive woman who doesn't appreciate what she has until it is gone. Her story is compelling, however, and the reader does a wonderful job, using subtle changes in her voice and accent to characterize the many different people in the story. This one is definitely worth your time. A note of caution, however--the author's previous books on audible, from The Brotherhood of the Conch, are aimed at upper elementary or middle school aged children. The Palace of Illusions is probably not appropriate for children of that age.

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Just Awful!

Revisado: 02-24-08

I could only listen to 20 minutes of this drivel. The writing was bad and the reading was worse, both of which were extremely disappointing because the premise was interesting. Don't waste your time with this one.

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Tiffany Rocks!

Revisado: 07-07-07

My daughter and I have thoroughly enjoyed all three of Terry Pratchett's books about Tiffany Aching. As a middle school teacher and parent, I love the message that everyone makes mistakes--the important thing is what you do about it--and being smart is more about listening to other people than using big words. The humor makes the message completely palatable and opens the door for great conversations with your tween. Plus, it's hard to resist Rob Anybody, Daft Wully, and Wee Billy Big-Chin.

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The Book Thief Steals Hearts, Too

Revisado: 01-04-07

By the time this book finishes, Leisl, Rudi and the Hubermanns will feel like people you have known and loved forever. Leisl's story is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Given up to foster care by an impoverished, Communist mother during the Third Reich, ten year old Leisl is taught to read, to trust and to love by her foster father, Hans Hubermann. As she learns and grows, she touches other lives through her love for words. The narrator does a marvelous job with the voices and German accents--they do not sound like caricatures, but like real people. Zusak's writing is unique and elegant. He has a very sensory style that I found very appealing. He writes the kind of sentences that you notice for the quality of the language as well as the thought expressed. I did not want this book to end.

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