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Painfully slow - Not a book about Australia

Revisado: 01-26-16

What did you like best about Scapegallows? What did you like least?

I was looking for a historical fiction set in Australia, which I thought this book would be. It starts out in Australia, gets exciting, and then abruptly, becomes a very lengthy, detailed life story of the main character. I made it to chapter 77 out of 87 chapters, and she's still not in Australia. I can't take it any more. I'm returning it. The only thing that kept me listening this long is the performer. It's a lovely story, but in excruciating detail. It's nearly a day by day account of her entire life...and other than one chapter so far, all of the 77 chapters I've listened to are set in England. And she's still there.

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

No, but she's absolutely fabulous. Her performance is the only thing that kept me hanging in for so long.

Any additional comments?

The main character makes stupid decision after stupid decision because of a love for a man who never asks her to marry him and she never expects him to. That's enormously frustrating to listen to, too.

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For once, the movie is better than the book

Revisado: 01-23-16

What did you like best about A Walk in the Woods? What did you like least?

The story is great. But - the author goes off on long lectures about the environment and global warming and past bad Forest Services practices. The problem is that this takes you away from a great story. The movie leaves out the lectures, and you're left with a great story. There's just one scene where the environment is discussed, which was good. When I want to read about depressing environmental stories, I'll go read one. When I want an entertaining story about two old guys in the woods, that's what I want. I don't think the two can be blended without putting a major damper on an otherwise good story. I am returning the book. I didn't finish it. I watched the movie instead hoping they filtered out the lectures, and they did. I've never said a movie was better than the book before. But, in this case, it was.

Which character – as performed by Rob McQuay – was your favorite?

Enjoyed them all.

Could you see A Walk in the Woods being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Has been done. Movie is great. Better than the book, because it leaves out all the lectures.

Any additional comments?

Watch the movie instead. I'm returning the book unfinished. Got sick of getting a lecture when I just wanted to know what happens next.

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Great historical ranching love story

Revisado: 09-23-15

Would you listen to A Tough Man's Woman again? Why?

Yes. This was a great story that wasn't too hokey, which a lot of westerns tend to be. I really liked the characters. I also appreciated that the sex scenes were mild enough and infrequent enough that they didn't take over the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked them all, but maybe the Mexican house maid Olita (guessing on spelling). She starts out being very timid and pretty much just hovers in the background of the story, but ends up being surprisingly wise.

What about Dawn Harvey’s performance did you like?

She did a great job performing different voices and portraying the energy of the scenes. The only negative, which made me continually chuckle, was her horribly bad Mexican accent for Olita. She sounded like a female Cheech and Chong character LOL. But, otherwise she was so good, I could forgive her for that.

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

Yes, which surprised me. I like historical American fiction after the Revolutionary War, and especially pioneer stories and ranch stories, especially that involve strong women trying to improve their lives. Unfortunately, so many westerns are just so hokey like bad Spaghetti Western movies done in Italy.

But, this was a good story and I was really enjoying the struggles and romance that was growing against their wills - not a typical boy meets girl romance. And even though it was pretty clear from early on who the bad guy was, the side stories and relationships happening until the climax when they catch the bad guy, made me want to listen anyway.

I also appreciated that the sex scenes weren't too long or too detailed, which can get in the way of a good story.

Any additional comments?

If you like a good western and don't mind a couple detailed, but short sex scenes, I think you'll enjoy this.

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Great story but too detailed in sex scenes for me

Revisado: 09-23-15

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I was really enjoying this story until they started having sex. When I read her books, I can just flip past the graphic sex scenes (I like to write my own, thank you), and get on with the stories. She writes such great stories. But, with the audio book, I felt captive and didn't want to deal with continually fast forwarding to get back to the story. It was too much for me and I quit listening.

What was one of the most memorable moments of To Taste the Wine?

I love stories about women who move to another country (in historical fiction) to better their lives. Love stories about Australia. The memorable moment for me was when I made the decision to let go of this great story, because I just couldn't listen to another pornographic detailed sex scene. All I need is, "and then they had great sex" and woke up and the adventure continues. But, page after page of lengthy excruciating detail? Ugh. If you're into porn, you'll love it.

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

Yes. She's fantastic. I highly recommend listening to her read Sara Lark's books about mail order brides that move to Australia, which is a trilogy, including Song of the Spirits.

Was To Taste the Wine worth the listening time?

Yes, until the sloppy sex scenes took over the story.

Any additional comments?

I will continue to read Fern Michaels books because she writes such good stories, but where I can just flip past the sex scenes, not an audible book.

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Narrator sounds just like Captain Kirk

Revisado: 09-23-15

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A different narrator.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Didn't listen long enough to find out because the narrator was so horrible.

How could the performance have been better?

A good narrator. This one sounds just like Captain Kirk from Star Trek (played by William Shatner) with that stilting, oddly phrased way of talking with weird pauses and unnatural emphasis on words, like a horridly bad Shakespeare actor. I just kept seeing Captain Kirk telling the story of a family in China. Way too distracting. Listened for about 30 minutes and kept hoping the narrator would grow on me in a good way. Sad, because I really wanted to listen to this story.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Good Earth?

Can't say. Didn't listen long enough.

Any additional comments?

Read the book unless you want the voice of Captain Kirk to read this story to you.

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Slow and plodding. More textbook than novel.

Revisado: 09-14-15

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I made it about 23 chapters. There's a mystery of where some orphans ended up who were separated from each other. But, the story would take a turn where there would be a wedding and that became the focus forever in minute details, then another wedding, this and that.

The book starts out more like a novel that happens to teach you some history, but it's like the author couldn't keep that up and it became very apparent her mission was to educate. So there'd be info on contraceptives from that period and lengthy explanations about medical procedures used back then, and women's rights and orphans, and people of mixed races.

I cared about the characters, but the story just became so plodding and kept taking turns into other textbook subjects....ugh, I just couldn't make myself listen to another 20 chapters to find out, finally, what happened to the orphans.

The performer is perfect. If she wasn't so good, I wouldn't have made it this far.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I need something faster moving. Maybe a crime thriller to wake me up.

Which character – as performed by Cassandra Campbell – was your favorite?

Hmmm, I guess Jack, the love interest of the main female doctor. He's down-to-earth and practical and loveable.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Gilded Hour?

All of the lengthy descriptions of medical procedures. Anything where the writing becomes textbook teaching, instead of novel story-telling. I'd suggest the story sticks to the main focus of finding the orphans, keeping the reader engaged. There are just too many side stories that become the main focus for too long.

Any additional comments?

I like to learn history with historical fiction. But, I want the emphasis to be fiction, a good story. If I want to learn the technical procedures or laws for this and that, I'll pick up a textook.

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What a surprise! As good as any legal bestseller.

Revisado: 08-30-15

If you could sum up The Neon Lawyer in three words, what would they be?

Couldn't stop listening.

What other book might you compare The Neon Lawyer to and why?

Robert K. Tanenbaum if I had to pick one legal bestselling author, because of his quirky characters and humor, mixed in with serious subjects. This book was a complete surprise based on the reviews. I expected a book that wasn't completely engaging. I couldn't stop listening. I loved the characters, there was just enough humor, and I love that the book puts the main character up against arrogant seasoned lawyers, and he turns out to be an unexpected match for them.

Which character – as performed by Nick Podehl – was your favorite?

Believe it or not, I loved several equally. I felt I got to know the different characters of the quirky law firm the main character gets hired into.

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

There is a vivid and very upsetting description of torture done to a young girl as part of a courtroom scene. It's over quickly, but as the author describes jurors in tears, I was, too.

Any additional comments?

The book is written in 3rd person. I don't care for 1st person novels, so wanted to let you know in case you're like me.

I listened to the book in one day while doing mindless work. I actually considered missing an evening appointment because I wanted to find out how the story ended. Fortunately, the book ended just in time for me to also make my appointment. But, that's how engaging I found this story.

I realize that this book may stretch reality a bit as far as a new lawyer getting a major case and going up against seasoned lawyers. But, it's written so well, and the narration is so good, that it never mattered to me. Plus, by the way, he does have other lawyers to consult. It's not so ridiculous as to be distracting while listening/reading.

I found myself cheering him on and wanting him to kick butt. So, if you can suspend analyzing reality just a little, and you enjoy a good courtroom drama (most of the book is in preparing for trial as opposed to the actual trial), and a good underdog story, I think you'll love this book. I'll be eagerly looking for anything else this author writes.

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Sarah Lark is my new favorite author!

Revisado: 08-30-15

Where does Island of a Thousand Springs rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

My absolute favorite.

What other book might you compare Island of a Thousand Springs to and why?

Any of Sarah Lark's books. All available audio versions are done by the same narrator and she's perfect.

Which scene was your favorite?

I could never name just one.

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

Yes!

Any additional comments?

This book is written in 3rd person. I don't care for 1st person novels, so in case you are like me, I wanted to mention this. I absolutely can't wait for more of Sarah Lark's books to be translated into English, and for more audio versions. I could read and listen to her books over and over and over, and I'm a very picky reader. Her books are very well researched, and although she takes some liberties with history, I like that the basic history is authentic. Be sure and listen to the afterword, for the author's detailed explanations of her research and the actual history of the time and characters.

Her characters are all so well developed that you feel like you know them all. I miss them!

You should know that the main subject of this book is slavery in Jamaica, in case you find the subject upsetting. Without spoiling the story, though, all of the slaves are not victims.

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Fantastic epic! If you loved The Thorn Birds...

Revisado: 08-06-15

What other book might you compare In the Land of the Long White Cloud to and why?

I'd compare this to The Thorn Birds, in that it spans a couple generations, and is an epic story with characters you come to love and loathe. From mail order brides, to pioneers developing a new country, with all of the loveable and sinister people that entails. I can't wait to read the next two books in the series.

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

Yes!

Any additional comments?

The performer was perfect. At first, I thought I'd prefer a softer female voice, but it soon becomes apparent that would not be appropriate for this book, as the performer has to not only handle a lot of male dialogue, but explicit violent and hunting scenes, including a seal and whale hunt. She was masterful!

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Performer is so bad I couldn't listen to this book

Revisado: 07-26-15

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I've never stopped a book purely because I couldn't stand listening to the performer before. The actress who reads this book sounds angry and barks out the words, no matter what she's conveying. I couldn't take the sound of her voice and stopped the book before even finishing Chapter 1.

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