david

Not as good as the rest

Revisado: 01-16-24

I have read/listened to nearly all of his other books and this is the only one that I could not get engaged with. Maybe it's the story itself; it seems like he's really forcing the 'historical liberties' on this one to make the story more compelling than it is.

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Snoozer

Revisado: 11-15-23

I apologize, but if you are under 60 you are probably not going to enjoy this book. I’m sure there is a good story line in here somewhere, but I missed it. This is one of those stories, written from the perspective of a traditionally classic English gentleman. Our main character is an ex-jockey, transports horses for a living, talks about his flower garden, drinks a spot of tea, and all that properly boring stuff. And somehow he’s the main guy solving this mystery? Reminded me a lot of some of the dusty British crime series my mom watches. Narrator is great. He’s British.

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Very Meh

Revisado: 09-18-23

At 12 hours I said to myself, ‘how can there be 20 more hours?’ At 20, ‘how can there be 12 more hours?’
It’s generally a good scary story that is frustratingly flabbily written. A less-famous author would never have been permitted to print this without some heavy edits. Unlike Under The Dome, which has a pace and structure that supports its length, IT is just kind of a mess. I literally lost the plot multiple times while listening to this. But like UTD, it has an equally lame ending. Much like most King novels, the big scares are in the moments dealing with the multiple sociopaths in this story. That’s really wehere UTD shined for most of its length. But IT’s monster conflicts are just campy and boring.
The narrator did ok. My only issue was his depiction of Bill’s stutter. Made him sound more like he was intellectually disabled.
I thought I was getting my credit’s-worth with such a long book, but that is now debatable.

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Preferred audio-version

Revisado: 08-01-23

I tried to read the book a few years back and just couldn’t get into it. I’m glad I gave the audio a try. I thought the writing could be a little wandering and convoluted at times. Even listening to it I had a tough time figuring out what was happening and had to re-listen (the near-drowning scene particularly). Also, I was thrown by the passage of time, which doesn’t come off well. When the main character returns to a place she spent ‘many weeks’ at previously, I never had a sense of that much time passing by. Generally, it’s good sci-fi.

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This is a solid 3

Revisado: 10-03-21

I am about 85% through this book, but really wanted to just stop at 70%. Alas, I am trudging forward. The book is not bad, it's just not great. I don't think I would place this into the realm of Asimov by any means. There are a couple of issues I am struggling with right now. One, the obviously well-researched use of all things physics and engineering. Every few minutes the main protagonist is figuring out yet another problem through his vast and overwhelming knowledge of physics, engineering, and apparently a sublime knowledge of software engineering. It reaches a point where it would take way to long to validate all of this use of physics and just have to assume the book is loaded with a lot; I mean A LOT of fuzzy math. I think what makes the books by the greats like Asimov of PKD is that there is just enough imagination mixed with reality to create a sense of, 'this could happen'. And in The Martian this was done very well. Right now it's just becoming a little too redundant. There is no problem the protagonist and his alien friend (whom he wrote a software program to speak to fluently) will not figure out.
My second issue is with the character himself. He's just so dang 'campy'. I read that Ryan Gosling is being eyeballed to play this role in a possible movie. Considering Gosling's roles in First Man and Blade Runner, this is a terrible fit without some major re-writes, which are going to be necessary to make this book watchable. In my mind's eye, it's easier to picture Seth Rogan as the protagonist or John C Reilly. Actually, Ben Stiller would be great.
Ultimately, it's ok, just a little long-winded at this point.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Agree, this should be a magazine article

Revisado: 08-24-21

I get it, 'tidy' is in the title of this book. But there is just something about that word. You just don't want to hear it reported 100 times in the first hour of a book. But really, you get it from the beginning that this poor girl has been a bit obsessive compulsive from a very early age. I mean, what child prefers to hang out in the library 'tidying' than being outside playing with the rest of the kiddos? And early on you do just...get..it. Brevity and tidying should go hand in hand.

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Layers upon layers

Revisado: 08-06-21

The best kind of historical thrillers. Layers and layers of history. So rich, so beautiful, and so creepy.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

It's....OK

Revisado: 08-05-21

This is a review of the audible version of the book. First, I just could not get past the narrator, who is the author. This is on me completely. He sounded just like this creepy-suave English actor that narrated this pick-up artist book I purchased in my not so formidable years (I returned that weirdness back).
I will also preface by stating I did not finish this book. I just couldn't get past the beginning. I always find it troubling when authors reference their own work, and Hancock does this quite a bit in just the first 45 minutes. For myself, this does not lend much credibility. He likely does have some valid arguments, but while I am driving around listening to this, it sounds too much like one of those comedy skits when someone says something like, 'Ok, so there is a city in the middle of the desert and the desert is hot and heat is needed to boil water. And boiled water had to be made with fire, which needed trees. And trees have monkeys in them. So this was an ancient civilization of super intelligent monkeys...if you look back at my last book I talk about this.'

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Great insight into the media industrial complex but...

Revisado: 02-11-21

About five hours too long. You get the gist four hours in. Worth the listen though and will make for great conversation with your liberal friends. ; )

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Better have a strong stomach

Revisado: 01-29-21

I thought I knew what I was getting into, but after hour 7 or 8 I had to stop. A good chunk of the book is spent on exhibiting how a caste system has been established in America from day one. Then much of the book is spent simply recounting one terrible atrocity after another. It becomes exhausting and you lose focus of the larger point the book is attempting to make.

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