Phil

Barely redeemed by the narrator

Revisado: 02-12-11

The narrator of this book has a lovely mild Irish accent and I could listen to her all day. She also did a fair job of Jewish, Arabic, American and English accents as well, so it's hard to know what she really sounds like especially as the main character (Maggie) is Irish. So she kept me listening. Good job she did, and good job also that this is abridged, because what you have here is thriller writing at it's absolute worst. No engagement, no emotion, no "I can't wait to hear what happens next". I just wanted it to end, or a nuclear war to start - it might have livened things up a bit. All the women are slim and beautiful. Emotionless laughable Mills and Boon sex happens, with bodice-ripping and electric shocks and everything.Most of the cast ends up dead, shot, tortured or wounded and sadly you don't even care. There is an attempt at puzzle-solving but this is no Dan Brown historical reconstruction. The coincidence that surrounds the main object of the story is quite stupid, and the attempts to stop the listener knowing what it means are puerile. A shallow understanding of middle east politics pervades the book and irritates continuously. I listened to this just after finishing John Grisham's "The Firm". The contrast couldn't have been starker. Guess which I prefer. One to miss.

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Simple fun or ridiculous? You decide.

Revisado: 10-21-09

Here we go again. Robert Langdon and a random woman go on a trail of secret symbols to uncover the meaning of life, the universe and everything, this time in Washington DC and via Freemasonry. My relief that Brown was leaving Christianity alone evaporated in the last hour of this preposterous revision of US history. As with his previous 2 books knowing where fact stops and fiction begins is horribly difficult, this time especially for a Brit. However, his numerous errors with science, Biblical quotes and simple facts (apparently you can go south from DC on a line of longitude 24,000 miles long...) are easy to spot and either forgiveable (as its fiction anyway), or complete spoilers, suggesting Brown hasn't researched as he should. There are a few moments of genuine tension, and a couple of surprising twists, but by the time you get there you'll be wanting to grab Langdon by the trousers (sorry, pants) and give him an all time great wedgie. You'll also be wishing all sorts of horrible ends for the annoying CIA woman. Written undoubtedly with Hollywood in mind, Brown has crafted a story that might make a fun movie - all that CGI in Washington DC! As a book though I found it ultimately disappointing with a hint of annoyance bordering on offence, as he has no grasp of Christian teaching. His mishandling of Biblical references to Jesus, especially in the gospel of John, is so glaringly and straightforwardly wrong that it undermines his entire thesis, and left me finishing this book with one word uppermost in my mind - ridiculous. Am I right? You decide!

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Dan Brown eat you heart out

Revisado: 10-11-06

I learned a lot of history from this book, and it's not difficult to confirm or refute the author's historical claims. I'm glad I was not born in the 12th century - she paints a vivid picture of day-to-day life in the early 1200's with clarity and occasionally disturbing detail. The story develops cleverly with the interplay between then and now done skillfully and in a way that keeps your interest. The characters are engaging, but sometimes a little too type-cast as goodies and baddies.

Beware - there are some stomach-churningly violent passages here, but not in a gratuitous way - I suspect they really did behave like that back then. (for example the destruction of Bezier is historically accurate as far as I can tell). The conclusion is satisfying, and ties together a carefully woven story quite neatly, although some of it you will have guessed as you listened.

To grasp all the intricacies of this book I listened to it twice and profited by doing so - it's fairly complex and keeping track of who's doing what in the middle third is not always easy - there are some early passages that are crucial to grasp but seem irrelevant on first listen.

Dan Brown should learn lessons from Kate Mosse. This story is everything the Da Vinci Code could have been - complex, engaging, intricate and clever, with easily discernible fact from fiction. Thoroughly enjoyable.

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

Lucid, thought-provoking and convincing

Revisado: 10-11-06

If you are a Christian interested in the relationship between science and your faith, this light-weight listen will focus your thoughts and provide some new light on old subjects. It is well-thought out, logical and sensible. it is written for the lay person, not scientists, and would be particularly helpful to someone not convinced of God's existence but seeking answers. However, if you are a convinced Creationist already, you should leave this one on it's virtual shelf.

The theology is straightforward and non-aggressive, and his approach is open-minded and probing. I found this book helpful and a stimulus to further thought and reading. The crystallisation of some beliefs I have pondered for years was refreshing and liberating. I'm glad people like Collins are willing and able to put their beliefs into print like this.

However, he should stick to science and leave the singing to the professionals...

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Thought-provoking stuff

Revisado: 10-11-06

This gentle, beautifully narrated and very well-written book will have you smiling, chuckling and weeping in equal measure. The simple innocence of the main characters and their blythe acceptance of their lot in life is deeply engaging. The continuously present undercurrent of something not quite being what it seems will keep you listening into the early hours. The author's views are not imposed and are fairly difficult to discern, leaving an ending that will keep you pondering the issues for some time.

The narration of this audiobook is about as good as it gets. Her pronunciation is excellent and her reading rate and flow is just right, allowing you to follow the story easily and with no need to rewind to hear things again.

You will not regret listening to this, and I guarantee it's subject matter will keep you thinking for quite a while. Highly recommended.

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Promises much, delivers little

Revisado: 07-19-06

Rome, the Pantheon, weird symbols and the Vitruvian Man all promised an involved story with some more "Da Vince Code-esque" nonsensical but thoroughly enjoyable conspiracies. Not so this time. This is a bog-standard detective story with a twist that leaves you saying "Oh - was that all?". I puffed my way through it in the gym expecting at any moment that it would liven up, but sadly it plodded through to a rather mediocre ending. Actually, I was kind of hoping something really really awful was going to happen to a few main characters because I really couldn't care less what happened to them.

On the positive side this is well-narrated with good character voices, the descriptions of Rome are engaging and if you've visited (what do you mean you haven't? EVERYONE must go to Rome at least once...) it will be quite vivid. The ending is neat if a little cheesy, and there are a few moments of genuine tension.

As per several of my other reviews I wish Audible would start a ratings system similar to movies. In the UK I would give this a "15" for obscene language and blasphemy, which is narrated with stomach-churning enthusiasm. Oh how I wish authors could leave this out! It spoils so many potentially good stories and is quite unnecessary. John Grisham is a good example of how to write brilliantly without foul and offensive language.

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

Weak Characters, Daft Plot

Revisado: 04-08-06

The initial promise of this book rapidly dissipated in a fog of weak characters and a silly plot which could have been a lot of fun. In the end I couldn't care less what happened to them all. The ending is so rushed you wonder if Crighton was as fed up with it as I was by the end.

A warning - there are more obscene expletives in this book than any other I have ever listened to. It is offensive, unnecessary and very unpleasant.

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Tedious and dull

Revisado: 04-08-06

Crighton can be good, but not this time. He has typically well-researched his material and some of the science in this is OK, but be prepared for long, long passages of narrative by the characters that leaves you wondering what's fact and what's not. There are a few spurts of action and tension, but one of them is breathtakingly silly. The overall plot has some merit but in places is easily predictable. There is also a passage of stomach-churning, disgusting violence that had me physically nauseous - this was totally unexpected. This is one reason I will never listen to a Crighton novel again. The other is the frequent and unnecessary blasphemy and profanity which is a feature of both Crighton novels I have listened to recently. There are better written, better plotted and less offensive books to listen to - save your money and give this a miss. (And no, I have no axe to grind regarding global warming and climate change!)

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Incomplete

Revisado: 11-06-05

I kept pressing on with this series expecting it to take off sometime or other but it doesn't. It is confusing and difficult to follow. There are minute details that are essential to remember for the later twists, so be attentive! Whilst it is a reasonable story reasonably narrated (although some paragraph pauses would help especially when changing scenes)there is no conclusion. The following book is not available on Audible.

These 4 audiobooks should have been one. I have not read a series that stops mid-plot so suddenly. I can only assume it's done deliberately to increase publisher profit and drive interested readers to buy more. Avoid this series to avoid disappointment. It's not worth it.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas