R Rifkin

One of the best of a wonderful series

Revisado: 08-06-24

The book was gripping and had a great storyline. I love all of Donna Leon's books, and this was one of my favorites.

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A complex family navigates climate change, and the pandemic, in New York and French Polynesia

Revisado: 06-17-24

This was one of the best books of the year for me. It focuses on the two wives and family of a prominent NY cardiologist during the COVID pandemic. The 1st wife is a marine biologist conducting research in French Polynesia. The 2nd, current wife, is a NY public school teacher who is both newly pregnant, and suddenly given tremendous responsibility for caring for her teen aged step-daughter after she's sent from French Polynesia to NY for school. The relationships and fault lines between all the characters are depicted with clarity. The author deftly interweaves climate change, the pandemic, issues of environmental damage caused by the global west to the environment of French Polynesia, and economic and social justice into a compelling story. The novel moves between characters and locations seamlessly. I'm looking forward to reading this author's earlier novels.

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New British-Nigerian book, worth it!

Revisado: 06-03-24

This debut novel chronicles the path of a British- Nigerian woman & her family. The protagonist, Glory, had relocated to Los Angeles but returns to England after her father dies. She encounters unexpected family problems upon her return, and struggles to help while also trying to resettle and sort out issues of her own as well as family secrets. The book is moving and uses humor to lighten some painful scenes. Each character is well characterized as are the relationships between the characters. I felt empathy for each character & for the family. I haven't enjoyed a book so much in a long time. Hearing it enhanced the experience and the narrator was outstanding.

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The Other Side of Nantucket Life and a great story

Revisado: 05-23-24

I loved this book. Set primarily on Nantucket, it tells the story of college best friends from vastly different worlds. One, a Nantucket year rounder, is the daughter of an undocumented immigrant who'd worked hard
and raised her 2 daughters on the island but is deported right before the graduation. The other is a gay woman from a liberal, extremely wealthy family with an opulent summer home on the island. The book opens right before college graduation, and focuses on the post-graduation summer when both girls end up unexpectedly on Nantucket. It's a tale of friendship tried by class differences and privilege, the relationships between a now deported immigrant mother & her 2 daughters, and the sister's relationships and challenges as they navigate homelessness after their childhood home is destroyed to be rebuilt for the gentrified island. The author deftly weaves a sophisticated coming of age tale about friendships between those with and without privilege, family love, laying bare the societal tensions underlying the interpersonal.

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Unique, fascinating novel written by different authors - a great story

Revisado: 03-04-24

I usually buy books I already know something about, but this novel called to me. I'm v glad I bought it. It's about 14 days during covid lockdown in a NY Lower East side tenement building. The narrator is the building's new superintendent, a fairly young woman, who gets to know her neighbors when they begin to gather on the rooftop each evening to share stories. Each chapter is written by a different author, ranging from Margaret Atwood to RL Stine. As a whole, the authors create a compelling story, yet almost every chapter could also stand alone as a short story. Most of the stories are hard to put down.. While they address important issues such as income inequality, race, gender,& the experiences of immigrants from many places, this book is not a polemic. Rather, it's a beautiful tapestry of writing by highly talented & creative story tellers. I will be listening to it again & again for the sheer beauty of the language & wonderful tales.

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Great book for Slough House Fans

Revisado: 01-18-24

Although it started a bit slowly, the story picked up & became deeply engrossing. Complex & though- provoking,, it quickly became a story I couldn't stop listening to. It's hard to describe the plot without spoilers, so will just say that it shines a new light on Slough House while also bringing us to 1994 Germany soon after the fall of Berlin Wall. I basically listened to it in 1 long session because I couldn't stop, but will probably go back & listen again because there were so many layers that I want to enjoy the book again.

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Worst book I've heard in a while

Revisado: 07-28-22

I'll skip describing the plot of this book because it's widely available elsewhere, and will try to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say that if you're looking for a traditional mystery, or a traditional psychological thriller, you may be as disappointed as I was. The plot sounded interesting in reviews I'd read. Unfortunately, it started as a so-so story and then veered off into a plot turn that was completely ridiculous and unbelievable. I wasn't enjoying the book much before that point, but had decided to stick with it because I'd begun to care for the characters, and had become curious to learn who'd done what. But, by the time the mystery was revealed, its core was so preposterous that I was angry I'd invested time or money into the book. Additionally, although the lead character was a 35 yo woman, the narrator made her sound as if she were a much older woman, which further added to my disappointment.

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A waste of time and money

Revisado: 01-26-22

I bought this book because I wanted a light read and love books set in Nantucket. I ignored other reviews that said the book was lacking the types of details that make a book a novel. Although the basic plot is good, the lack of depth and detail made it uninteresting. It could have been set anywhere in the US given the scant description of Nantucket. Worse, the characters and major life events were described so minimally that there was no emotional depth to the characters or story. Perhaps this writer has put more effort into other books, but this felt quickly written. It's a shame because it could have been an excellent book if more effort had gone into its writing.

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Great story, don't be put off by negative reviews

Revisado: 03-15-20

I'd been discouraged by the negative reviews here, so almost didn't listen to this outstanding VI Warshovski book. I finally bought it after I'd binged on all the other books in the series & was desperate for more. I thought this was one of the best books in the series & am so glad I heard it. The narrator is very different from the other narrators. In this audiobook, VI almost seems like a different person - less flippant, and a bit flat. I prefer other narrators in the series, but am still glad I listened to this excellent book.There were some minor technical issues but they didn't affect my listening experience. I would probably not recommend this if you're only going to listen to 1 or 2 books in the series, but if you're a Warshovski devotee, this is worth a credit.

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