Jessica Kayuha

Decently Good Performance

Revisado: 10-29-19

Firstly, I have always read all of the books in this series with accents from the UK in my head. So, it was jarring to me to hear a very American voice using very British exclamations. That's not in the narrator's control though. My biggest critique of her actual performance was how verrrryyyy slowly she made Fearghus speak. I think she was going for haughty, but instead it came out like he was just slow. I am afraid for some of the future books in the series, because there are scenes where the characters are rapidly arguing back and forth and this drawling voice will be awful.

Still very much worth a listen as this series of books is my favorite of all time, and being able to listen to it during my commute back and forth to work, and during the day while at work, is making me happy.

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Not Sure Which Is Worse

Revisado: 02-11-17

What disappointed you about Private Practice?

If I ever had a doctor as ignorant of real life as Ellie, I would turn right back around and walk out of the door of her practice, and run, not walk to the car to get away. I can't finish this book, because I can't feel any connection at all to the main character. She is the very definition of Too Stupid To Love/Live...which is doubly scary since she's a doctor. Totally unbelievable character, and no way Tyler would be able to put up with someone like that. Add to that a narrator with a nasally, rhythmically flat performance, and I couldn't finish this book. As it was, I was screaming in my car that "nobody is that f---king stupid!", and that's even with the boring narration.

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

I love a geeky, smart, strong woman. I get OCD, because I married it. In no way did Ellie realistically portray either of those things. I need someone that is so obsessed with being smart, and making lists, to at least know as much as the average 8th grade dropout. Habitat for Humanity is not a secret society. So. Completely. Unbelievable.

Would you be willing to try another one of Holly Fielding’s performances?

NO. Just, no. It's an erotic, contemporary romance. Not a a recitation of a boring textbook from school. The nasal part I can get over. The rhythmic cadence, no matter if she's telling us what the character is wearing, or if the main couple in the book are smack dab in the middle of the best sex that's ever been had in the universe, is not at all what I need to hear in a romance book narration.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointing, on so many levels.

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Interesting plot, good narration, awful writing

Revisado: 12-31-12

Would you try another book from John Scalzi and/or Wil Wheaton?

I'm torn on this. I would definitely listen to Wil Wheaton narrate again, but I'm not sure about listening to him read a John Scalzi book again. I think I will purchase my next Scalzi book in Kindle format and see if it reads better in my own head than it did while listening to Wheaton narrate.

Would you be willing to try another book from John Scalzi? Why or why not?

Yes, but as I said above, I won't be buying it in audiobook format. The plot to this book is very interesting. How can a crew of a starship be controlled by a television show script? I'm not sure I completely followed Scalzi's explanation of it all, but it did make for a fun listen overall.

The biggest flaw to this story came from the writing style. For some reason, Scalzi felt the need to add a "he said" or "she said" after EVERY single line of dialogue. And having to listen to Wil Wheaton narrate all of those "he saids-she saids" became very annoying and took me out of the story, as it completely negated the back and forth nature of some of the banter I think Scalzi was aiming for between the characters.

I am hoping that if I were to be the one reading to myself, I would be able to skip over the "he saids" and have the story be much more entertaining.

What about Wil Wheaton’s performance did you like?

Wil Wheaton's performance was the best part of the story. He seemed to enjoy narrating the book, and was able to overcome all of the "he saids" that kept pulling me out of the story.

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

I would see this book if it were made into a movie. It has a "Galaxy Quest" feel to it and I think it could be fun to see it brought to the big screen.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book on my commute back and forth to work, as a way to keep my road rage to a minimum. It kept me entertained enough to allow me to ignore the idiots on the road, and therefore I would recommend the purchase of this book. All I ever ask of a book (movie, play, etc) is that it keep me entertained. And this successfully did that.

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James Marsters makes this story come alive!

Revisado: 05-28-12

Long story short:

Love James Marsters as narrator and as Harry Dresden. Totally recommend this book. Hate Lt. Murphy as a character, but otherwise love Jim Butcher's integration of magic into the "real world".

Long story long:

I remember trying to read this book several years ago on the recommendation of one of my best friends. I got about 1/3 of the way through it and just never got into it. I very easily put it down. And since I had checked out the download from my library, the time ran out before I got it finished. And I didn't care.

So I had great doubts when I purchased the book on Audible, but, my friend doesn't usually steer me wrong, and James Marsters will always have a special place in my heart as an actor. I listened to the preview that was available, and found myself really loving the way he was interpreting the story. Plus, I was able to get the book at the $4.95-introduction-to-a-series price. Even if I hated it, I hadn't even spent enough money for lunch on it! I am so VERY glad that I went ahead and bought it. Marsters's narration truly makes this book amazing. For some reason, I couldn't get a good grip on how Harry Dresden should sound when I was reading it, hence my boredom with it. No such problems anymore!

I don't have much experience with audiobooks yet, but, I do have to say that those that I have listened to that have been narrated by actors are far superior to non-actors. They just "get" how to bring a character to life much better. They have a better sense of timing, which is so important. I've had two audiobooks now where the narrator spoke so slowly, I had to bump up the speed to 1.5x normal. Marsters narrates at exactly the speed the story needs. I know this sounds nit-picky, but it really makes a huge difference in my enjoyment of an audiobook. I've read several reviews that make mention of bad editing, and hearing the narrator breathe and such. I am of the opinion that those weren't meant to be edited out. The book is written as a first person narration, and always sounds like Dresden is dictating his life story for his memoirs, or for a journalism piece. In which case, the breathing and swallowing fit perfectly. I never heard a swallow by the narrator that wasn't at a point in the story where Dresden wasn't fearing for his life or some other situation where a swallow would totally happen. He's an actor, he's bringing the character to life. Not just reading words on a page!

As for the actual plot of the book, it's quite fun. And a very good introduction to the world of Harry Dresden. A good combination of mystery & paranormal. I won't write a book report here and completely retell the story (what's up with reviews that do this?? I want an opinion on the book...not a plot summary!), just say that I loved how this book weaved the magic and the other paranormal elements seamlessly into the crime mystery. I love the character of Harry. He seems to be quite powerful, so at times his lack of belief in his own abilities aggravated me. But his mastery of sarcasm and snark totally make up for this and I can't wait to continue with the other books in the series. The biggest negative of the book is Lt. Murphy. Harry borders on worship of her, but if you ask me, she's a complete idiot. She continually jumps to conclusions, never listens to Harry, but then has the audacity to be pissed off at him when bad things happen. I will admit to being halfway through the next book, and it seems to be only getting worse. I only hope that this behavior from her stops, or that she stops playing such a big role in the books.

I definitely recommend this book as a good use of a credit. And an even better deal if Audible runs a "first of series" sale again!

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