topcat

A fine old wine in a new bottle

Revisado: 07-19-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This meditative examination of love and attachment takes place in the most unromantic of settings - the departure lounge of an airport. A grouchy author has an unexpected encounter with a long time fan. The device of an accidental meeting developing into a romantic entanglement has been used in many books and films, but Steven Kunes creates a new and compelling perspective through the lengthy introductory soliloquies which form the bulk of the play. Skilfully performed by narrators Marty Krz and Jessie Maldonado whose respective presentations of world-weary disaffection and ingenuous devotion really bring the drama to life. Highly recommended.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Narrator really brings this story to life!

Revisado: 08-20-18

Estelle Watkins is leading an uneventful life in the suburbs - until a body is discovered in her household trash. When her son is subsequently charged with murder, Estelle and her feisty neighbour, Vera, join forces in a campaign to clear his name. Their adventure finds them in situations, which they are totally unqualified to handle, but, through a mixture of brazen inventiveness and good luck, they are able to track down the real killer and rescue Estelle's son.

Amateur detective fiction is a very crowded genre, but the particular strength of this book is the charm and appealing ineptitude of the lady sleuths. While the detecting lacks the complexity of an Agatha Christie novel, there are more than enough twists in the story to keep the reader well engaged.

What really lifts this audiobook above the pack is the superb quality of the narration. Voice characterisations are well-defined and the delivery is beautifully paced.

In short - great fun for any listener who wishes to be entertained. Highly recommended.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

An uplifting beverage!

Revisado: 01-11-16

Many Japanese art forms seek to express the transcendental through through the ordinary, and the art of tea is pre-eminent in this regard. Okakura Kauzo's elegant essay on this most Japanese of past-times invites us into the mystic world of the tea master, presents a potted history of the development of the art and concludes with a heart-rending description of the passing of the Rikyu, the most celebrated of all the masters of the way of tea. This book is a meditation, rather than an essay, and is best enjoyed as such. Wonderfully enhanced by Ken Cohen's calm and persuasive delivery, this is a book to which one surrenders, rather than just listens. Do you want to de-stress? Don't have a beer - have a cup of tea with Ken Cohen instead. You will find it very refreshing.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Informative and an enjoyable read

Revisado: 08-14-15

Provided some good strategies relating to Positive Psychology. With the author as narrator his passion and energy shone through and added to the total listening experience.
I also bought the Kindle version for easy reference in the future.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Predictable

Revisado: 08-14-15

Like some other readers I found the suspense to be somewhat lacking in this book. It was hard to stay with it until the end, but in the final chapters there was a slight twist that added some more interest.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Struggled to finish it

Revisado: 07-29-14

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not really. There were some interesting sections and some of the characters were likeable, but 30 hours was too long for a story that did not have much of a plot. I have an interest in NDEs but this book dealt with the topic in a very creative but somewhat bizarre manner.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something shorter.

What aspect of Dina Pearlman’s performance would you have changed?

I enjoyed the narration and thought she handled the different voices quite well and made the story more interesting. I don't think I would have kept going with the story if I had been reading a printed book.

Do you think Passage needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Please no. As the whole book seemed to be trying to prove that NDEs were some sort of brain reaction while at the same time also describing the perspective of people who had "passed over" but were still somehow conscious and aware, I can't imagine what sort of crazy follow up plot would allow both these contradictory scenarios to coexist.

Any additional comments?

Would be willing to try another of Connie Willis's books as lots of reviews suggest her other books are better than this one.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Riveting reading

Revisado: 04-02-14

Would you consider the audio edition of The Colony to be better than the print version?

Yes, considering that many reviews of the written version complained of confusion re sudden change of POV and typos. The narrator compensated for these print problems and made the story flow easily.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Colony?

None in particular - I just enjoyed it all. Lots of interesting subplots that tied together well in most cases, although not all characters were well developed.

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

Have not listened to him before but will seek him out again in future.

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

No, as in general I find it exhausting listening to audiobooks for hours at a time. However I really looked forward to my next listen and it made my long drive to work something to get excited about.

Any additional comments?

After years of reading non-fiction personal development books (relevant to my workplace) I have started to seek out good fiction stories for pure enjoyment. As such I may not be a seasoned critic of fiction however I know what I like and this book was a satisfying read. I will be seeking out more books by this author.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Bleak and disturbing

Revisado: 02-29-12

The subject matter is bleak and there is such a strong feeling of hopelessness that I found it hard to listen to the end and was relieved when it was over. Despite the positive aspect of the father's love for the child, it paints a scenario that is devoid of hope until the final few minutes. Do not read if you are suffereing from depression.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

A virtuoso performance!

Revisado: 07-04-06

Another amazing performance by Robert Whitfield. I feel that even people who don't like Dickens would enjoy this reading. The delivery of the narrative passages and the delineations of the various characters are impeccable. I found the audio quality very good, both on a CD walkman and a car CD player.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Stunning!

Revisado: 07-04-06

The Pilgrims'Progress is a true monument of English literature. With the power of its universal imagery and the bumpy but engaging style of Bunyan's prose it is one of the books that never loses its appeal for the sympathetic reader. Robert Whitfield does a stunning job, maintining a strong rhythmic narrative flow while displaying a masterful (and consistent) variety of accents for the various characters. He also conveys Bunyan's apparently fundamentalist Christian message in a way which highlights the universal nature of many of his themes. Audio quality is very good.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 8 personas