Jazztyke

Funny and Fun - well written and well read

Revisado: 06-21-13

Another instalment in Molly Harper's universe of ordinary life with a twist of the supernatural. All her characters are believable and likeable....the one's you're meant to like anyway; and there's always a twist in the tale to keep the story interesting up to the end.
These aren't deep and meaningful stories and they aren't meant to be, what they are is a lot of fun, and funny to boot. This book in the series is no exception.
This is the story of an Irish lass who comes to Half Moon Hollow to collect some special items once held by a long lost, now deceased relative who owned the bookshop now owned and run by likeable, disaster magnet Jane, who just happens to be a vampire.
....and then there's the drop dead gorgeous neighbour who seems to have an aversion to wearing shirts.
This is a wonderful lighthearted 'read' that will give you a laugh, and leave you feeling much better about your day.

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The best performance of a book I've read to date

Revisado: 01-09-13

I've loved listening to this book. I read it in hard cover many years ago but the terrific performance of Marc Thompson just bought the whole story to life - unlike some who's questionable performance is just a distraction.

With all the added sound effects it was almost like watching a movie (or maybe I just have a great imagination ;D).

The story is set a few years after Return of the Jedi. Leia and Han are married and expecting twins, and Luke is trying to train Leia to be a Jedi, meanwhile Grand Admiral Thrawn is travelling the Galaxy trying to drag the Empire back to it's former greatness and among his other plans, is trying to capture Leia...or Luke....or is he? And could there be another Jedi other than Luke working with Thrawn?

It's an exciting ride, and there are some new characters like Mara Jade who become pivotal to the future of Luke and the Republic.

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A man with more substance than just muscle

Revisado: 10-29-12

Being in a similar age group to Mr Schwarzenegger I could relate to the times and social climate he grew up in. I've read critics remarks that the book demonstrated his huge ego blah blah. Well folks, that's true - but it's an autobiography. Who was he supposed to be talking about? I really enjoyed the way it was written in the first person, and that he narrated a few chapters himself - that really helped to get into it.

All in all, he has led an interesting and extraordinary life propelled by his self-confidence and determination. Yes he has a big ego, but he wouldn't have made much of himself if he hadn't. This is well worth buying and it's well narrated too. I found the chapters on those parts of his life not covered by the media to be fascinating; ie. his youth and the events that made him the larger than life figure he became.

I recommend this to anyone interested in people and what makes them who they are.

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I think this is the best book in the Hannay series

Revisado: 09-21-12

Mr Standfast has so much going on in it that you really need to listen to it more than once. Buchan had really reached his stride by the time he came to this book and wove a compelling and intricate story around his hero and recurring characters.

I would say there is more wartime propaganda espoused in this than in any of the other books, but considering where the world was in the course of the first world war when this was written, that's perfectly understandable. I found the characters better rounded too. Even the newer characters introduced just in this book.

Another standout for me was the detail given to Hannay's friendship with his best friend Peter, when he went to nurse him back to health. Nowadays if an author tried to go into that detail everyone would be crying 'Gay', but there was no question in Mr Buchan's narrative of anything but a deep respect and regard for his closest confidante. That kind of writing is a rare and wonderful thing.

Along with the author's mastery of words was to immerse the reader (listener) in the taste and texture of life and war in those times.

As for the narrator, I can't speak highly enough. He did (for me at least) what few narrators seem able to do, and that is to present the story without a sense that he was doing anything but presenting a voice in my head to impart the progress of the characters and events they found themselves a part of. By this I mean, I forgot I was listening to someone else reading and simply absorbed the story much the same as I would if I were reading it to myself.

I highly recommend this book.

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Lose yourself in the Holmes Universe

Revisado: 09-21-12

Where does The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is among the best presentations of all the classic books I've bought. Well, how can you go wrong with Arthur Conan Doyle?

What aspect of Charlton Griffin’s performance would you have changed?

It is a shame, that Mr Griffin's mispronunciations of names, places and commonplace words are so regular as to be really distracting, and after a while very annoying.His dramatisation however is exemplary. The range of his voice to play parts and imitate male, female and children's voices is quite extraordinary. Easily the best of any I've heard in any of the books I've bought.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tried valiantly to listen to all of the book at one sitting, but of course it's a too long for that...but I tried my best.

Any additional comments?

For anyone who loves detective stories and wants an engaging audiobook to keep them company whilst driving or going about their chores, you won't find better than this.

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The next story in the Mortal Instruments

Revisado: 08-10-12

What did you love best about City of Fallen Angels?

The development of the present day Shadowhunters universe seems to be moving toward a juxtaposition with The Infernal Instruments books. Cassandra Clare is brilliant.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

That last scene with Jace had me on tenterhooks until the City of Lost Souls came out. I can't wait for it to come out in Audiobook.

Any additional comments?

Excellent series, I recommend it to everyone who like a little action with their romance in a supernatural 'verse.

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Wonderful story from 1915

Revisado: 08-10-12

Where does Greenmantle rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This story is the perfect sequel to The Thirty-Nine Steps. It's so well written it's easy to imagine yourself walking the same streets and living in pre WWI.

What other book might you compare Greenmantle to and why?

This is a story of espionage and I kept thinking back to Callan (book by James Mitchell, currently out of print) - a TV series from the 1970s. Like Hannay, Callan was an 'everyman' and a reluctant spy living in dangerous times.

What does Robert Whitfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reader really made the characters come alive. His accents were quite believable and not at all distracting (as some are in their 'awfulness'). I've listened to a couple of different readers 'do' this book, but Robert Whitfield is the best in my opinion.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, definately a one-sitting book

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Really entertaining and funny

Revisado: 08-10-12

If you could sum up The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires in three words, what would they be?

funny - suspenseful - erotic

What did you like best about this story?

Really liked the humour. This is a very entertaining book with interesting characters. Makes me want to listen to/read more of this author's books.

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

Amanda Ronconi reads this story so well, I'm definately going to look out for more of 'her' reads.

Any additional comments?

This book is addictive. Once I started I found myself putting everything else off as much as possible to listen to it all. But it was a very enjoyable, very entertaining hole out of my day. I've recommended it to several of my friends and family already (and that was before I'd even finished it).

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Interesting Premise - classic Stephen King

Revisado: 07-09-12

If you could sum up 11.22.63 in three words, what would they be?

interesting, heart-warming, entertaining

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to this over the period of a day and a half while I repaired a dozen laptops, and I only wanted to fast forward it once as it got toward the end. That was only because I was exhausted and didn't want to go to bed without hearing the end.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this story - it's quite unique, and reminiscent of the quality of books Stephen King wrote 20 or 30 years ago. I highly recommend it. In addition, while I found Craig Wasson's New England accent a little hard to bear at some points, all in all, he read the story well with very few mispronunciations.

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Funny, poignant, shocking

Revisado: 07-09-12

Where does Charlie Wilson's War rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

CWW is definately at the top of the list of audiobooks I've listened to. Very entertaining.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found some of the 'disclosure' horrifying. The things we citizens aren't told about is shocking....and yet we are held to account for our country's actions. More than anything, this book brought home to me how flawed the American Political System is.

Any additional comments?

Entertaining book, and a great 'read'. Put it on when you're leaving on a long trip, I guarantee it will keep you interested up to the end.

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