Lauren Goodsmith

Decent British thriller elevated by super narrator

Revisado: 04-16-25

I found this had an engaging premise, and I was drawn in for the first half of the story. However, the gaps in logic (spoiler: the Brotish secret service would not realize that the agent they put on duty is the best friend of the person they're trailing??) and the unguardedness of characters who, by the midway point, should be wary of ANYONE who approaches them, became frustrating. I stuck with it because of the superb skills of the narrator, who rendered every voice and accent - - male, female, child, Irish, American, Yorkshire etc -- superbly. Kudos to her; she really elevated the material,

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Outstanding-- lyrical and evocative

Revisado: 01-29-25

I had planned to read this even before it was identified in the New York Times Book Review as one of the best audiobooks of 2024. I found it striking and original in every regard: the unique and evocative setting; the compelling central figure of Manod, the young woman born and bred on the island, yet imagining a life beyond its shores; the lyrical prose; and the outstanding vocal performances. Highly recommended.

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Several fine performances, though disappointing narration

Revisado: 12-28-24

I began this with high hopes, having enormously enjoyed the Audible version of "Emma" by the same production team. This was very disappointing, however, the main issue being the narration. I found it inexplicably flat and inexpressive, and taken at such a fast clip that it gave the impression that the reader (for that is what it sounded like - - a reading, not a performance) wished to get through it as quickly as possible. Remakably, the credits were read with far more animation and expressiveness than any portion of the novel itself!, The actors in the various lead characters' roles were quite good overall, with those playing Anne, Elizabeth, Mary, pompous Mr. Elliott, and Mrs Croft especially well done. Unfortunately, many of the other female voices were not highly distinct from one another.

A technical problem I encountered in listening to this in my car was that the narration came through far louder than the dialogue between these performers, resulting in the need to constantly adjust the volume. This was not quite as apoarent when I listened directly through my phone, but still noticeable.

The issues with the narration are unfortunate, as in general it was a quite good adaptation, with adept creation of interactive scenes based on descriptive/narrative sequences in the novel, and nice touches in ambient sound effects-- clocks ticking,, china clinking, hooves clip-clopping (although personally, I could have done without the little "ooh"s and "ah"s and gasps that were included in certain sequences of dialogue, doubtless intended to add a touch of verisimilitude).

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Engaging & original premise, and a heroine to root for

Revisado: 06-10-24

Although the first portion of the novel seemed to bear certain plot and character similarities to "The Summer Before the War," the premise and setting grew in originality as it progressed, and the protagonist, Constance, grew in strength and depth. She is most definitely a heroine to root for; likewise Harris, the wounded and moody but deeply decent man she is gradually drawn to, similar to the romantic male figure in "Summer". The second half of the work, and especially the last chapters, also gain in depth and are very moving, as is the lovely afterword by the author. One pivotal scene brought a sequence from "The Age of Innocence" to mind (and a conservatory plays a role in both); at other times, the compelling romantic storyline evoked elements of "Sense and Sensibility." The narrator, Fiona Hardingham, delivers yet another superb performance. Like Simonson's other novels, this one is evocative atmospherically and in setting and description, with vivid and diverse characters all wonderfully voiced by Hardingham (although Poppy can be a little strident at times), and one can imagine - - and look forward to --the film adaptation.

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Delightful-- and bittersweet.

Revisado: 05-16-24

I was immediately charmed by the narrative and by the performance, as well as by the engaging plot line and clearly drawn characters. The narrator was perfect on every way. I will say that I was surprised by the bittersweet developments, but deeply moved.

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Superlative

Revisado: 04-21-24

An absolutely superb production of this classic novel. Thandiwe Newton's performance goes far beyond narration. The nuance with which she voices Jane, and the skill with which she depicts eveey other character, with astonishing shifts in pitch, accent, and intonation, are extraordinary. IMHO, one of the absolutely best renditions on audio of a classic novel, up there with Nathaniel Parker's reading of "Far From the Madding Crowd." Most highly recommended.

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Delightful.

Revisado: 01-27-24

Wonderful performances, superb narration by Emma Thompson. Judicious use of atmospheric effects and ambient sounds enhence the experience.

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Delightful, smart and sexy

Revisado: 11-23-23

This is a delightful, zingy contemporary riff on "Pride and Prejudice." The writing is whip- smart and the dialogue pitch perfect. The lead narrator -- the Elizabeth Bennett figure, here a DC-based DJ with a keen social justice bent--is terrific, and she voices her various family members superbly. The delivery of the male narrator voicing the Darcy role is a little flat in contrast and far less expressive, but this is a minor quibble.

I really admired the ingenious and engaging parallels the author devised in her plotting of a modern-day P&P. While many serious current social issues are addressed--and debated--by the lead characters, there is also terrific humor throughout, andI found myself laughing aloud at several points.

One very major and very contemporary difference between this work and its predecessor is the steamy sex! I was not quite expecting those scenes, and though they are certainly vividly written, I personally found them a bit distracting from the larger story, which is at its core a big-hearted celebration of self-discovery and connection with families, both biological ones and created ones.

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Superior historical fiction, though ponderous

Revisado: 10-09-23

l found this a finely detailed though rather ponderous, if superior, work of historical fiction. I often wished that the action would move along a little more briskly, without so many deviations and delvings into the minutiae of seafaring, housekeeping, and horticultural and botanical matters. Of course, these are of primary concern to the characters, and therefore important-- but I felt those characters getting lost in the thick of it all. in particular, the authors seemed to be unable to resist lists-- lists that go on and on at length, and often felt like all-inclusive inventories of period factoids rather than integral story elements.

Juliet Stevenson, as always, is a superb narrator; she aptly conveyed Alma's desire for learning and voracious reading habits. I just wish that there had been a little more showing and less telling in this tale, so that we could become even more deeply engaged in her story.

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Fascinating account, superlative narrator

Revisado: 08-09-23

I was intrigued to come across the description of this autobiographical historical work, issued as an Amazon Classic. I began listening, and was hooked. The narrator is absolutely superb; the Jamaican lilt of the protagonist is engaging in and of itself; in addition, she renders the voices of other characters, from British naval officers to Turkish tradesmen and humble soldiers, wonderfully and distinctively. It was fascinating to learn about the adventures of Mary Seacole as she sought, undaunted by any and all obstacles, to use her skills as a nurse and healer in support of the British forces in the Crimea. Her account offers a unique perspective on everything from colonial/imperial ventures to class, gender and racial attitudes of that period, delivered in the voice of a feisty and fascinating real life individual. Her account sometimes jumps around a bit in terms of chronology, but is nevertheless easy to follow, and enormously interesting. Seacole comes across as both modest and fully confident in her skills; her writing is vivid, ranging from clinical precision to poignant description, and also quite funny at times. I found myself actually feeling grateful to Amazon for issuing this work and making it available, especially with such an excellent narrator. Highly recommended.

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