Max and Kimmy

Glitzy, Glamorous and Shallow

Revisado: 07-01-19

This book was fine. I got through in a few days, mostly because it was an easy listen with not much going on. You can tune out a bit listening to it and not really miss anything. I was a bit disappointed that we spent nearly half the book going through excruciating detail about the single year of 1941, with was frivolous and shallow for the most part, and then spend a fraction of the time going through the war years, and then get right back to the shallow frivolousness of post war Vivian and New York City. I feel like those years would have had a greater impact on Vivian. Every time something hard happens to her, it barely takes up any of the narrative and before we are right back to the happy, shallow life that she leads. It felt as though she's not learning or being affected at all by these hard times. For example, the way in which she lost her virginity didn't seem to have an impact on her (which for 100% of the women I know, no matter how it went, it had SOME sort of impact.) The book doesn't portray real life in the least, and makes Vivian come off as being empty and superficial. And the way the narrative refers to Angela, in her writing comes off as patronizing and it began hitting a nerve every time she did it (which was often!)

I also think the book could have been about 3/4 of the length, cutting way down on the 1941 bit and maybe expanding more on the character's development. Just my two cents!

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Loved the first half, struggled with the second

Revisado: 05-10-19

The first 12 hours or so of this book were marvelous. I loved learning about trees and their meaning to us and the world around us, by following 7 (think...) storylines and their interaction with trees. One note was I wished this story could have taken place all over the world instead of just the United States, I feel like that would have been really empowering. One of my favorite parts was learning about a Banyan tree in Laos, however we were only there momentarily because an American pilot fell out of a plane.

If the book had ended around the middle mark - as seven short stories of people learning how amazing trees can be - it would have been one of my favorite reads in awhile. It did not. It kept going, and going, and going. The group of characters whose stories intertwined became less and less realistic, their decisions and relationships with each other became so entirely un-human that I couldn't really take any of them seriously. Eventually most of them started truly irritating me. I think this was in part due to the narrators voices for all the characters, while the distinction between each was good, I began associating my distaste for them every time she would speak in their tone.

The last 7 hours were brutal. Not only because I had started to truly despise half the characters, but I also started to hate myself and all of mankind. I think this was probably the point but the author kept repeating several lines so often that I began to roll my eyes. Yes, I get it, we are destroying the planet by cutting down trees. Yes, I get it, humans are ruining everything. Yes, I get it, humans are hopeless. The end didn't really leave me with much other than being relieved at its being over.

The one thing I will say is that we (humans) are remarkable creatures too and are capable of doing amazing things, and it's time we put that power and creativity to good use and save our home. I think mankind is capable of living in a sustainable world, we just need to pull our heads out of our butts and make it happen. I wish this book could have given us a little more of that instead of the nothing that 'we will destroy our ability to live on this planet, and then we will be gone and the planet will be better for it.'

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Decent story, hard to listen to.

Revisado: 12-03-18

I found the story to be interesting, fairly predictable and *somewhat* believable. The narration was tough to listen to. Maybe it would be better read than listened to. I found myself rolling my eyes constantly at the characters' overnight love stories, which the monotone performance didn't help with. The side characters are far more interesting and with way more depth than the main ones, particularly the main two women. The parts about Cuba's history were pretty interesting too.

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Beautifully written but sometimes hard to follow

Revisado: 10-18-18

I have listened to every Kate Morton book. It was a bit of a change to hear a new voice describing her characters and words, but soon fell in love with Joanne Froggatt's narration. Her well known voice (hello Anna from Downton) was obvious in some of the characters and completely gone with others. Overall she did a great job distinguishing between people and time periods.

There is a lot going on in this story. Around the 30-40% mark I was very confusing and felt like I had accidentally started another book completely. Just trust that it all comes together, as it normally does with Morton. The story is more about the house and it's occupant than anything else. I began to see each time period and set of characters as a collection of short stories about people who's lives were affected by the house and occupant.

The ending of this book does not tie all the story lines together in some grand spectacle as some of her other books have done. It's subtle and open ended. Part of me wishes it could keep going so I could find out more about what happened to different characters, but I suppose I will have to make it up for myself.

Overall I would say I enjoyed listening to the book, Morton's writing is like an old friend you can get lost with. The story is heartbreaking, wonderful and slow...best listened to over a cup of tea or glass of wine on a rainy day, or through a walk in the park. Enjoy!

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Fantastic Biography

Revisado: 11-05-16

It's a long one, but so worth every minute. I loved hearing about the man behind the money, his flaws and odd way of living his life. I'm not a financial minded person but the book was written in a way that I could follow and understand. Love the human aspect of every detail. Definitely recommend!

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I listened to the book in less than 24 hours

Revisado: 10-17-16

Would you consider the audio edition of Behind Closed Doors to be better than the print version?

I haven't read it, so I can't really say, but the audiobook was insanely good. I probably would have listened to it straight through without pausing once if I could.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending was so much more gratifying than I ever could have thought. When I finished it I almost went back to the start of the end just to head it all again.

What about Georgia Maguire’s performance did you like?

She disappeared behind the story, which I think was perfect for a book like this, since it wasn't written in the first person.

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

A psychological thriller behind the curtains of a perfect couple.

Any additional comments?

I love it when endings are satisfying, and this book delivered one of the most intensely gratifying endings I've read in awhile.

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Intriguing WW2 Novel on the Repercussions of War

Revisado: 10-17-16

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The author went into very precise detail about much of the happenings of the book, most of which were quite sad and I kept thinking that when it turns around it's going to feel so great. By the time we finally got to the 'happy' part, I noticed there was only 40 minutes or so left in the book, and it finished up SO fast. I would have loved more detail on the gratifying part of the book.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was in part how I expected, I just would have loved to get the same quality and detail in the writing as the author gave every other part of the book. It seemed rushed.

Which character – as performed by Alana Kerr Collins – was your favorite?

Little Julia was so sweet and pure, reading how much she was affected by what happened made me SO sad, because none of it was her fault and yet it seemed she suffered the most for it all.

Do you think Secrets of a Charmed Life needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, because it was wrapped up by the end of the book, no new information or story is really left to tell.

Any additional comments?

I've been reading a lot of books set during WW2, and this one didn't rise up to the detail and quality of the others. It was enjoyable, the characters were interesting (if at times, difficult) to follow, and the story was good, but there wasn't the depth and love for the characters that I've felt from other books about similar topics. I think the ending was rushed, and the narrator's going back and forth between an American and British accent wasn't exactly fitting for a book basically about two British girls. I did enjoy it, but I felt it could have been miles better with just a few adjustments!

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Reads Very Young

Revisado: 06-27-16

I wasn't 100% aware this was a young adult book, I was just looking for a novel taking place in America during the prohibition. While I enjoyed the mystery, it seemed really young to me and the ending wasn't everything I hoped it would lead up to, leaving me fairly disappointed. Since it appears to be a series, hopefully what I was waiting for will happen in later books.

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An Engaging Book on the American Revolution

Revisado: 10-31-15

Would you listen to The Glorious Cause again? Why?

I would love to start this audiobook over and catch all the little things I missed the first time around. I thought the story narrative intertwined with historical facts were an amazing way to tell the story of the war. I will definitely listen to it again at some point in my life.

What other book might you compare The Glorious Cause to and why?

I've also read 1776 and Rise to Rebellion. 1776 was very dry, and while it is probably the most factually written book about the American Revolution, it didn't keep my attention nearly as much as The Glorious Cause.

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

The emotion of the moments he read about hit me right in the heart. His cadence and voice brought the pain, exhaustion, sorrow and immense stress that all the men on both sides were feeling.

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

At the moments when something incredible would happen, or extreme emotion would come over one of the men in the book, I would most definitely get teary eyed along with them. The end of the book in particular, as it was very emotional for the men to all say goodbye to each other.

Any additional comments?

To anyone that would like to learn about the American Revolution (I was amazed at how little I knew) This is a perfect book to teach you. It's not a history book, but I have found I learn so much better through a little more story than straight dates and facts. It was a beautifully written and beautifully read story about the men of the war.

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