Brazilgirl

Top-notch story telling

Revisado: 04-19-24

Richard Armitage could narrate the phone book and I would listen to it. But this audiobook was exceptional in other ways. It was fun to see Hastings bumbling through each case always thinking he knew better than Poirot how to solve it. Poirot's vanity was somehow endearing rather than offensive. And the mysteries were varied and interesting.

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Astonishing in its Simplicity and Beauty

Revisado: 09-03-21

The story starts out slowly but gains speed rather quickly. John Howard is a wonderful protagonist whose heroism is of the quiet kind (no hoopla, just dogged perseverance.) The narrator, David Rintoul, did a fantastic job not only with the pronunciation of different languages but also with the accents (Germans and Frenchman speaking English, children's and women's voices, etc.) This was an audio book that I could barely put down.

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A Hidden Treasure!

Revisado: 12-24-18

Thank you, Audible, for unearthing this Christmas gem. Richard Armitage did a splendid job with all the voices, but he outdid himself with Moppet by making her adorable but not cloying. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because of the overdose of Victorian melodrama near the end. Still, this was a lovely book that I look forward to revisiting during future Christmases.

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A Classic Swashbuckler

Revisado: 10-11-18

Though The Scarlet Pimpernel is not great literature, it is well-written and loads of fun. The narrator did a terrific job with all the voices.

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A Kid's Classic for Grown-ups

Revisado: 09-15-18

Poignant, tender, witty and wise. The animals with "no brains" have all the heart. Wonderfully narrated by Peter Dennis.

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Well Done, George Sarris!

Revisado: 03-07-18

It's difficult to create just the right tone for reading the Bible out loud - to keep your voice interesting without overdoing emotion. Sarris does a superb job reading these beautiful psalms. I listened 5 to 10 minutes each morning while getting ready for the day. Very worthwhile.

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The Healing Power of Love

Revisado: 02-14-18

I rarely read modern fiction, so I'm not quite sure how this book landed on my radar. But I'm glad it did.

Seventy-one year old Captain Jefferson Kidd is travelling through Texas, carrying "the news of the world" to small towns where folks will pay a dime to hear him read the papers. It's just after the Civil War and, in many ways, Texas is the wild west. Kidd had hoped that sharing stories from all over the world would help bring unity to divided people but now knows that is a false hope. But then something happens that changes his perspective. He's given a 10 year old orphan to deliver to her next-of-kin. As they travel together, warding off bandits and busybodies, they learn to communicate and to build a friendship that brings healing to both of them.

The exquisite writing was balm to my soul. Jiles also does a wonderful job establishing the historical context of the story. The narrator's gravelly voice was perfect. The denouement in the final chapter was spot on. In spite of the occasional profanity (none of it felt gratuitous), this is a beautiful story of grace in the midst of brokenness. Highly recommended.

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Great Way for Book Lovers to Prepare for Xmas

Revisado: 12-16-17

Intermingled with devout poetry such as Rosetti's "In the Bleak Midwinter" and Donne's "Nativity" are readings from classics such as Little Women, Emma, and A Christmas Carol. It was delightful to hear favorite passages and to be introduced to new ones. (Who actually remembers that there is a Christmas passage in Wuthering Heights?)

By only complaint is that the reading near the end from Emma, when taken out of context, makes Mr. Knightly appear to be a horrible boor, which he definitely is not, but that's a personal quibble.

The two narrators are outstanding.

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Wonderful Overview of Classics and their Authors

Revisado: 10-25-17

Political correctness has made the study of classic literature a scary proposition. Now that all white male authors are taboo, what exactly are we supposed to read? Knowing the propensity of modern scholasticism to disparage traditional classics, I went into this series with some trepidation, but, happily, my fears were relieved.

Professor John Sutherland covers 600 years of British literature in witty, bite-sized chunks and he isn't afraid to give each author his due. It's true that he occasionally gives a nod to political correctness, but for the most part I found him to be even-handed. He doesn't ignore the Bible's impact on literature. Nor does he try to portray Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë as ardent feminists. He describes sexual tawdriness in books (and in the lives of their authors) without a hint of crudeness, which is no easy feat.

These 48 lectures are a great intro to those wanting to learn about British literature and also a great review for those who are already immersed in it.

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Wonderfully Narrated Vintage Spy Story

Revisado: 07-13-16

Although not as tightly written as some other books of the same genre, this is a suspenseful tale of Nazi spies on the eve of WWII. David Thorn's excellent narration coupled with Buchan's British understated humor made this a thoroughly enjoyable audio book.

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