Dian

Partake of the prose of Truman Capote

Revisado: 08-17-18

I enjoyed listening to this book very much. At first I was annoyed by the narrator's drawl, but after a couple of chapters it all fell into line and I was completely engrossed in the story.
One critic has compared Capote’s prose to a vodka martini, " clear and intoxicating." I agree. A wonderful story by a remarkable writer.

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Classic Oates

Revisado: 04-16-18

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

Yes, because Joyce Carol Oates characters are never boring and this collection of plays is so well acted that the characters and their stories really come to life.

What other book might you compare The Joyce Carol Oates Collection to and why?

I've really enjoyed all the audible collections from The L.A. Theater group, I've purchased. The Joyce carol Oates Collection is right up there with the rest.

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

The excellent narration really brings the characters to life. The plays are fluent and vivid.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Prepare to be engaged!

Any additional comments?

Although, I thoroughly enjoyed the plays, I was not so fond of the operatic interpretation of Black Water. Not my cup of tea.

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Like falling down a Rabbit Hole

Revisado: 02-11-18

What made the experience of listening to If on a Winter's Night a Traveler the most enjoyable?

This book is a one of a kind experience. The author sets out to upset the readers equilibrium and destroy any initial expectations of how this novel might play out. Intriguing!
At some point you also realize you are the main character. This adds a whole layer to the experience. This is not the kind of book where you can just take it easy and expect a normal plot to unfold.

What other book might you compare If on a Winter's Night a Traveler to and why?

The only book I've read that I can compare to "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler" is "Steppenwolf" by Herman Hesse. Not because the literary styles are the same, but because it was also a very different reading experience that I found sometimes frustrating and sometimes difficult to understand and had to read more then once. Other than that they are very different novels.

Which character – as performed by Jefferson Mays – was your favorite?

Ermes Marana "The bad guy". What makes him so villainous is everything he does is meant to destroy the usual benefits we expect from our reading experience. Who can be any meaner than that?

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

The first Chapter of "If On a Winters Night a Traveler" Not only did I find the writing lovely initially, but on reflection it was the first hint of the readers real role in the book.
It follows:

"The novel begins in a railway station, a locomotive huffs, steam from a piston covers the opening of the hapter, a cloud of smoke hides part of the first paragraph. In the odor of the station there is a passing whiff of station café odor. There is someone looking through the befogged class, he opens the glass door of the bar, everything is misty, inside, too, as if seen by nearsighted eyes, or eyes irritated by coal dust. The pages of the book are clouded like the windows of an old train, the cloud of smoke rests on the sentences."

This is the passage that puts the reader in the book.

Any additional comments?

This was one audio book that I wish I had the hard copy as a reference, it would make it easier to understand what's going on. I know this is a book I will be listening to again and again.

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Required Reading for Christmas

Revisado: 12-08-17

What made the experience of listening to Jacob T. Marley the most enjoyable?

Although this book was written by a Christian, it appealed to my secular humanist mindset. The very humanist idea: How we live our lives and treat other human beings affects the well-being of every person we connect with including ourselves.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jacob T. Marley?

When he was dying. His recognition of how his selfish life had impacted others became the theme of his path to redemption.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Jacob Marley was visited by the spirit guide after his death and shown the many opportunities he had been given to get on the right path, so to speak.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A fresh perspective on a classic redemption story.

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timeless and contemporary

Revisado: 03-19-12

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

I enjoyed the setting of the novel and it's raw psychoanalytic theme. As a person who lived through the 1960's and 1970's, I've always been curious about the impact this 1920's novel had on that era. Now I understand what that was all about.

What other book might you compare Steppenwolf to and why?

Steppenwolf is unique but I'd compare it to some of Kafka's works and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein.

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

No. But I enjoyed it very much.

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

No way.

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