S.J.

A Deep Dive Into an Early Year of the War

Revisado: 08-07-20

1861 takes an in-depth look into the beginning year of the civil War. Focusing first on fort Sumter, the author looks before the first shots of the war were fired and at how the situation came about, decisions made, and even how they ended up at that Fort in the first place. Then Goodheart takes us back to the beginning of the tumultuous year and we learn of key players throughout the nation who’s decisions and actions laid the foundation for the next several years of war. From the Freemonts in California whisepastor friend some say was the main reason for keeping the state in the union, choices made between the governor and the Army in St. Louis, and even a fort commander holding a few acres in Virginia, so many people that are rarely talked about who played vital roles on stage both large and small. Well some of the information was very familiar to me, there was much that I either had never heard of or had never heard talked about so in depth before. As for the narration, I found Jonathan Davis to be very easy to listen to. His attempts at reading quotes in the vernacular and with proper accents helped to not only keep your interest but also to focus on those accounts from people of the time period. A wonderful book that I know I will definitely revisit again.

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Wish I’d had this when I was a Young Mortal!

Revisado: 07-17-20

As someone who has long loved mysteries and crime shows, grew up as a pastor’s daughter going to many funerals, and who has now lost all of my Grandparents, death is something I’ve long had a need to understand as well as questions about. I wish I’d had this book when I was younger. Taking an honest with the necessary dash of humor look at tough questions about death and what it leaves behind without somehow ever turning ghoulish or disgusting, Doughty manages what I would have deemed impossible. She knows how to answer the question and discuss difficult issues with the right amount of knowledge and tact.
This is a book I could see parents using to help their kids answer their questions after a death in the family or just one to point them to if they have a lot of questions. I would recommend however, particularly on certain chapters, the parents have read the book previously and have an understanding of what their children would be reading. That way they could answer any further questions or, with certain children, maybe have them only read certain chapters if they think some might be a problem. I know from personal experience that at the age most children would read this book, I would not have been able to handle a couple of the chapters at that time in my life. While not true of all kids it would certainly be true if some. Even adults can gain a lot of knowledge and understanding from this book. More than one of these questions were ones I’ve always had and never had the guts to ask.
Doughty has put together a wonderful resource for those needing answers to questions they may have feared to ask and for those simply curious to know more about what will happen to all of us in the end.

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So very good but...

Revisado: 07-08-19

I discovered the Lore podcast quite awhile ago and while I’m an infrequent listener, I binge till I catch up when I do. Having recently done this turned out to be a detriment for me when listening to this podcast. Let me explain. If you love folklore and stories of the many different places and people around the world, Aaron Mahnke’s well researched Lore work is for you. He covers tales across the globe, many a fan of this stuff would know but some I’ve never encountered before. The information is amazing but it is his voice: tone, cadence, and timing that makes the series. He is a storyteller and the medium of audiobooks works just as well as podcasts for this. I’m sure books would be great but nothing to hearing it. So yes, I loved this audiobook. But the stories started to sound very familiar. I knew what was coming before he got there and how he was going to word it. Psychic? No, I’d just finished the stories on the podcast less then a week ago. Now, these obvious take a ton of work and I can understand putting them in a more concise format. I’m actually not a fan of most podcast platforms so having this audiobook ultimately makes me very happy. But I saw no mention that this was information I’d had access to before and, understandably I feel, assumed this was new material. So this is a big thumbs up for the creator/reader’s work but with an FYI to old fans that you’ve probably heard this before. But you know, I don’t mind a repeat listen!

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A new favorite series

Revisado: 07-27-15

Having discovered the Lady Darby series last year, it's come to rank among some of my favorites. This, the third book, is no exception. Not only is there another intriguing mystery but Kiera and Gage team up again. They are one of my favorite couples and their humorous and at time aggravating connection really shines in this book.

Heather Wilds does a great job with accents and voices, though I find her normal reading voice dips a tad close to droning. Not in any way bad, I just feel the dialogue aspects are better.

A fun listen and I look forward to the fourth book in audio format.

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Thoughts on my somethingth re-read

Revisado: 06-18-15

I could not tell you how many times I've read this book but I think this is my second time listening to it. If you like Sci-Fi, great characters, and interesting stories, this is the start of a great series. I usually don't like a lot of technical info in my science fiction - I usually skip it - but I've never skipped nor gotten bored with Weber's. High praise for me.

The reader is...okay. While I like many of the voices she gives the characters, some are real misses. And though I know it's not her fault, the way she says Mantacorian throws me every time.

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Finishing was such sweet sorrow

Revisado: 12-09-14

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

Definitely. Any Star Wars fan would love this and I know some where unsure of reading the script in such a different format. Shakespeare is so much easier to understand if listened to or spoken aloud, so this is a more accessible form.

Who was your favorite character and why?

What a hard question! Because I loved the slightly different look at all of them. R2-D2 would definitely be one as we finally get to learn what he's thinking with his asides. Obi-Wan Kenobi stands out more from this as well. I think I loved most though how Han Solo took on many quotes and paraphrasing from various Shakespeare characters. They all fit so well!

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

So much! As said above, Shakespeare was meant to be heard and so the text really comes alive just reading it aloud. With the cast and the attempts to sound like the well-remembered characters, they bring the script and the wonderful combination of well known quotes shaped into Shakespearean text. The sounds effects worked with them to almost make you believe you were watching a play - which this should totally be.

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

There are many times the book got a laugh out of me, even though I'd already read this once. The redone quotes I know so well as well as some of the asides by various characters often were very humorous.

There were also times that saddened me though. Vader's asides and when Leia sings the song were very moving, more so at times spoken then they were in the book.

Any additional comments?

Even though I owned the book, this was well worth the purchase. The performances were all very good and it really brought the book to life.

I'm still waiting impatiently for the play. It absolutely needs to happen.

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A Most Interesting Sequel!

Revisado: 06-17-14

What made the experience of listening to A Monstrous Regiment of Women: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes the most enjoyable?

Once again, listening to a story I've read multiple times gives me a new perspective on a story I know very well. There's a lot of academia in this one and yet listening to it makes it much more interesting.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending! Without a doubt! It's one of the best parts of the series.

What does Jenny Sterlin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sterlin has given both Russell and Holmes perfect voices as well as very other people they meet along the way. Her emotional reading of one particular situation Russell finds herself in touches me every time. It's as if I'm experiencing it for the first time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. There was no way I could but I had it playing every moment I could.

Any additional comments?

Whether this is your first time experiencing the series or you've read it basically once a year for a decade, this is an audiobook you'll enjoy!

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My All Time Favorite Book!

Revisado: 04-17-14

I have read this book more times then I care to count. As an audiobook, this is one of the best I've ever heard. It also serves as a great example of how to correctly narrate an audiobook.

One of my favorites scenes takes place as they race along roads to solve a crime:

"Russell, if you decide to take up Grand Prix racing, do ask Watson to do your navigating. This is just his métier."

"Why, Holmes, do you have doubts about my driving?"

"No, Russell, I freely admit that when it comes to your driving abilities, I have no doubts whatsoever. The doubts I have are concerned with the other end of our journey. The question of our arrival, for one thing."

"And what we shall find when we get there?"

"That too, but it is perhaps not of such immediate concern. Russell, did you see that tree back there?"

"Yes, a fine old oak, wasn't it?"

"I hope it still is," he muttered.

Now imagine that in a "high, biting voice" for Holmes and an almost sarcastic, blasé, lower female voice for Russell and you have an inkling of how funny this section is.

If you love mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, and historical settings; I'd give this series a try. Jenny Sterlin gives the perfect voice to so many of these characters. She captures Holmes' voice just as the author describes it and is also able to fill in the right accents and more. No matter how many times I've read or listened to this, I can't wait to turn the next page or listen to the next minute - even though I know exactly what's going to happen.

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