Diane Bear

I expected more

Revisado: 09-03-19

Maybe a little dated. I read that this was the author's favorite and first book. I found it too predictable.

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True history is so interesting!

Revisado: 09-03-19

...And this book kept it interesting. A slice of the American Revolution I guess very few people know about. I found it well written and well read and thoroughly enjoyed it!

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At least I listened to the whole thing....

Revisado: 08-17-19

Not a lot of surprises despite the twists and turns. The characters were not surprising with a few exceptions. I could have overlooked much of that except I felt the language lacked lyricism. All in all “not surprising” enough.

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Loved it!

Revisado: 06-03-19

I loved Pat Barker's spare, descriptive writing, and Kristen Atherton's English accented recitation. I guessed that Atherton was a woman but wasn't really sure. Her descriptions of female slavery in a war camp, smells of breastfeeding and menstrual blood, early pregnancy, motherly things are the kind of things older women know. But her writing is not feminine, but strong, not willowy, almost masculine. The use of this ancient classic to tell a story that is rather universal and ageless, except to those of us who have lived far from wars and perhaps in between wars, give a voice that is quite moving. I didn't know much about the story but I loved reading the back--story on wiki and learning more about these ancient characters. Justice is well done to them by Pat and Kristen!

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Fine literature!

Revisado: 06-26-18

I realized I am a literature snob after listening to Charles Dickens "The Chimes". When you realize how magical, moving and transportive words can be its hard to go back. This book by Amor Towles has been like that for me. The story of the tragedies and joys of Count Alexander after the Bolshevik revolution destroyed his prior life is such a pleasure to listen to. Towles is a master with words and the story, conversations, small adventures of this gentleman's severely circumscribed life is not to be missed. I am not yet done with this listen but I had to find out what else he has written. Amazing that this is only his second book! I am eagerly awaiting more! And I loved hearing Nicholas Guy Smith reading it. Perfection!

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Good story, not great literature, but you knew....

Revisado: 05-26-17

If you could sum up The Witching Hour in three words, what would they be?

Kept my interest. I keep longing for writers like Charles Dickens but that's asking a lot. I haven't read Anne Rice in a long time. I think after viewing Interview with the Vampire I read the book and liked it. The writing isn't brilliant but the story kept me involved.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narration was good, not great. The one thing I found annoying was the accent she gave the lead male character. He was raised in New Orleans, moved to San Francisco at aged 10. Instead of giving him a New Orleans drawl or a flat California sound he has more of a New Jersey accent.

Any additional comments?

I love getting long books. More listening for my credit! I liked the ending. It surprised me!

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Huh? I don't get it.

Revisado: 04-27-17

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

I'm a fan of George RR because of Game of Thrones. I've read other books of stories he's edited. This one is just not very good. I guess the stories are each based on the same set of characters and a plot. But its just a guess..... I found this very confusing to listen too. The readers change. The authors apparently change. The readers are not very good, the stories not very good. Not much to like

What didn’t you like about the narrators’s performance?

Flat. Flat. Flat

Any additional comments?

A big disappointment.

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Absolutely loved it!

Revisado: 04-27-17

What made the experience of listening to Longbourn the most enjoyable?

The writing and reading were both top notch. I'm kind of a literary snob. I need literature with a love of language and the way it works on the tongue, the mind, the heart. This was altogether delicious and delightful!

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

I have not heard Emma Fielding's performances before but I will be looking at her others, now! The reader is very important to me and she did a GREAT job!

Any additional comments?

Others have spoken to their disappointment about the treatment of the Bennets. Although I believe I read Pride and Prejudice many years ago and recently watched Death Comes to Pemberly (which was wonderful!) I had no real attachment to the Bennets. The story rang very true to me about the view from the servants. The serving girl puts a towel down on the floor for her mistress to stand on as she washes her body. I was thinking of that towel as one more thing the servant will have to wash on laundry day.

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Enjoyed it!

Revisado: 03-22-17

Would you listen to Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings again? Why?

Yes. I enjoyed the often surprising and humorous language twists Jodi Taylor uses. Nice timing. I found myself laughing out loud frequently. The characters are believable in the fantastic situations they find themselves.

Any additional comments?

The reader was great. I liked her and her accent and the way she played the characters.

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Liked it. Didn't love it.

Revisado: 03-22-17

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

I like stories that involve classic literature. This was good. I just found the characters somewhat confusing for the first half of the story. And the switches in time periods.

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

I have not listened to her before. I liked her voice and she did a really good job with the different accents

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