mariaan

Good read, very well read

Revisado: 05-16-13

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-crafted novel - can't believe it was the author's debut work. The narrator was perfect too. It is more of an emotional than an adventurous journey, and Blair Brown tells it very well and with obvious understanding of the intent behind the author's words. Chick lit? No, definitely not, even though the main characters are women.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Excellence all round

Revisado: 11-15-12

If you prefer your books action-driven, fast-paced, more linear, chronological, this is probably not for you, although the war action is there in all its devastating detail. The story alternates between events in Iraq in 2004-2005 and alienation and repercussions back home in the US afterwards. The narrator did a very good job of portraying the internal voice of the young soldier. The story, as it is pieced together, is heart-breaking. What takes this book way beyond the usual war novel is the exquisite writing. One of my favourite books this year.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Wonderful

Revisado: 11-14-12

I read this story many years ago, so the events depicted were not new to me. The narrator brings great gentleness and beauty to the writing, though. I loved it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Shabby ending

Revisado: 11-14-12

Would you consider the audio edition of An Echo in the Bone to be better than the print version?

Yes

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would've ended it properly. It seems the author ran out of time, perhaps because of deadline pressure. Most disappointing.

Which character – as performed by Davina Porter – was your favorite?

All of the men are perfectly done. The women less so, and Claire sounds like an airhead sometimes. But the narrator is very good nonetheless.

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

I really was disappointed about the sudden ending. Especially since this is not a series with the next instalment coming up soon. If one is going to wait so long for the next book in the series, at least leave the main threads neatly tied up. I do believe the author ran out of time - we know she has no qualms spending pages and pages on details. But in the last part of this book, she brushes over most issues as if they have no real significance. Pity.

Any additional comments?

The author is brilliant at devising twists and turns and connecting the dots. The book is well narrated, as are the others. But the book directly before this one in the series is unavailable, which means there are important gaps to contend with anyway, and then the abrupt ending.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Shabby ending

Revisado: 11-14-12

Would you consider the audio edition of An Echo in the Bone to be better than the print version?

Yes

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would've ended it properly. It seems the author ran out of time, perhaps because of deadline pressure. Most disappointing.

Which character – as performed by Davina Porter – was your favorite?

All of the men are perfectly done. The women less so, and Claire sounds like an airhead sometimes. But the narrator is very good nonetheless.

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

I really was disappointed about the sudden ending. Especially since this is not a series with the next instalment coming up soon. If one is going to wait so long for the next book in the series, at least leave the main threads neatly tied up. I do believe the author ran out of time - we know she has no qualms spending pages and pages on details. But in the last part of this book, she brushes over most issues as if they have no real significance. Pity.

Any additional comments?

The author is brilliant at devising twists and turns and connecting the dots. The book is well narrated, as are the others. But the book directly before this one in the series is unavailable, which means there are important gaps to contend with anyway, and then the abrupt ending.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Shadow Country is excellent

Revisado: 07-26-12

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

Depends on the friend's reading tastes... If you are more interested in whodunnit, then this drawn out account is probably not for you. If you appreciate truly excellent writing alongside many unravelings of exactly the same events, then yes, I very highly recommend this book. And if you are likely to appreciate a most remarkable reading/rendition in terms of accents and eccentricities and atmosphere, then yes, I highly recommend this book to you.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shadow Country?

When the older brother writes about the day of the double murders to his younger sibling. Almost every single description of Watson is memorable. All those downtrodden women are memorable. The overall impression of the islands is amazing too. Of course, the racism is gut wrenching and most revealing of place and time.

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

I am not American, so I should probably not attest to accents, but to my ear they were authentic, real - that's what I think people in the deep South sound like. His reading was astonishing, not an easy task considering the quirkiness of characters. Perfect all in all. He definitely draws one in and keeps one present in ways the printed book cannot achieve.

Who was the most memorable character of Shadow Country and why?

EJ Watson, by far, but it is the other characters that make him compelling. I suppose I wanted him to come out of it okay, not a murderous swine. Those were hard times, the place was harsh, clearly, and all the men seemed ... hard? So within those parameters, and even though I knew Watson had done some terrible things, I didn't want him to be merely evil. I also think his sense of humour was too intelligent for his neighbours to grasp. :-)

Any additional comments?

I love Peter Matthiessen's work. And I would love to see more of his books on Audible. "In the spirit of Crazy Horse" was just as astonishing in terms of vast research and intelligent writing and gripping story-telling.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona