Eliza H.

Wow. Just Wow.

Revisado: 06-16-23

I was captivated by this very long book. While all the minute detail can seem overwhelming it really provides insight into both medical procedures and Ethiopian and Indian culture. It felt like we were rewarded for getting through the first part by the last part and the ending, which moved along much more like we are accustomed to. I was particularly interested by the commentary on the healthcare system and disparities in the United States, especially contrasted to the situation in Ethiopia. Looking forward to The Covenant of Water, and hoping the great reviews of it are accurate!

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Excellent historical fiction

Revisado: 01-09-23

While I can understand how the narrator’s mispronunciation of some words would grate on people from the UP, I don’t have that context so it didn’t bother me. Once again Mary Doria Russell gave us a beautifully written novel that was true to the historical facts. The characters were well developed and the plot line flowed along seamlessly. The labor movement is an important part of US history that is easy to overlook with everything going on in the early twentieth century. You have to wonder if we are just letting history repeat itself.

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A bit drawn out

Revisado: 01-01-23

This was a beautiful story that gets to the heart of the grief experience. While I loved it overall, I don’t think it needed to be as long as it was, it just got to be surreal about 3/4 of the way through. And maybe some of that would have been fine, it just went on and on.
The narrator lost a star in an otherwise flawless performance for pronouncing “quanTIco” instead of “QUANtico”.

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Meh

Revisado: 08-02-22

John Grisham needs to stick to lawyer thrillers! This story just didn’t quite work. What redeemed it somewhat were the descriptions of Italy—made me think of the Stanley Tucci “In Search of Italy” television seris.

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Too much character build up at the beginning.

Revisado: 03-31-22

I listened to this book after having both read and listened to Woman on Fire. Fugitive Colors was Lisa Barr’s first book, and it is evident her style has evolved. The beginning of Fugitive Colors moved entirely too slowly, we could have had a snap shot of the trio’s early years in Paris rather than chapter after chapter in excruciating detail. I am glad I stuck with it because things pick up when they go to Berlin. Yes Jakov/Julian was hopelessly naïve, but he came around in the end, and the depiction of all of the dangers and intrigue along with his sheltered past really provides an explanation for why he did what he did. The times were extraordinary. And Lisa Barr is bringing to our attention the very real atrocities the Nazis inflicted on the art world, particularly to avant garde art. One wonders how the world would be now if Hitler had had real art talent and been accepted as an artist.
I thought the narrator did an excellent job with all of the various characters and their distinctive voices.

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Just what is needed during Christmas!

Revisado: 12-23-21

Thank you for this. It was interesting and the narrator was an excellent story teller. Her parting thoughts were reassuring and particularly important in this time of COVID, where gatherings are being cancelled due to Omicron surges: that even if it is not possible to do everything the way it is done every year the traditions are important and serve a purpose. “It is sufficient to just be in the forest.” YES!!!👍🏻

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A good multitasking audiobook

Revisado: 11-01-21

I listened to this book while doing other things, because it moved slowly—what I am finding with Carol Goodman’s books. I had been expecting a thriller like The Widow’s house, but it was not like that at all, much more a psychological study. The story lost one star for not realistically portraying psychiatric care in modern times—Claire might have been locked away in her day, but Neal would have been in the hospital these days tops for two weeks and then sent to some place like Bridges as a transition and by the time the story takes place back into society. Also, hanging over the story is the old assumption that mental illness is inherited. We know now there can be predispositions, but these characters experienced plenty of environmental factors (and other people’s agendas) to throw them over the edge.
I was intrigued by the nuances of creating stained glass and also the mythology that was the underpinning of the stories—applied to now and a couple generations ago. I really liked the soft tone and hint of an English accent in the narrator’s voice. Definitely plan to listen to more of this author’s works.

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Loved it!

Revisado: 09-30-21

If you were planning on a chilling kind of thriller, this isn’t your podcast. It carefully and slowly builds the intrigue, and the author gets some interesting digs in at the mental health system. I really liked it.

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An Interesting Perspective

Revisado: 12-28-20

This book is different than other Eleanor Roosevelt biographies in that it is written by the wife of Eleanor’s later in life doctor and dearest friend. She is far more charitable towards her husband than other biographers have been. Today we would say that David crossed numerous professional boundaries. She goes into far more detail about Eleanor’s final months than other biographers, very sad, but important. The performance was excellent.

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Wonderful storytelling!

Revisado: 12-27-20

I would highly recommend this book for those like me who are Eleanor Roosevelt admirers. The stories of this relationship with these two women are necessarily shortchanged in Eleanor Roosevelt biographies that cover the entire depth and breadth of a very complicated and interesting life. This one focuses more on Eleanor than Nan and Marianne, but that is inevitable. The calm richness of the narrator’s voice and the most interesting telling of stories we haven’t heard from this perspective made for delightful listening the weekend after Christmas.

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