Jennifer

Excellent Storytelling

Revisado: 08-09-10

Just finished the book Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn. It was the story of how Post-Apocalyptic world environments could come about. It was awesome. The main character, Evie Walker is a Comic Book Writer who writes about a crack GI-Joe team that takes care of issues around the world in a high strung post 9/11 (and more) world, usually based on current events. However, we meet her as she is driving up to her childhood home because her father is dying. Except her father is the last in very long line of ancestors that have been tasked with taking care of some special items. Throughout the course of the story we meet some of those ancestors through flashbacks and other characters who had integral roles in how these items have found their way into the family's hands. Greek Myth is featured heavily, but even if you only know the basics, the story narrative explains everything pretty well.

I really liked it. It wasn't a typical Contemporary Fantasy, but also was not an Urban Fantasy (with Romance). Homosexual characters, Greek Myth, Fall of Troy, Mysterious Basement, World at the cusp of change, and a strong female trying to find her way again after being confronted with a changing role (Dying father AND Place in World)...This book has it all and then some in spades. There have been only a few books that I could not stop listening to, this was one of them. Yes, even had that stereotypical 10-15 extra minutes in the parking lot/driveway waiting for a "good" place to stop. I think having two narrators really helps books like this with a very specific female character point of view and everything else.

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

Completely worth the Download!

Revisado: 03-26-10

Just finished this book on the way to work.
The two narrators were spot on in the characterizations. Sadly, this is book one of a series, but the world building is so rich and we are not given much explicit exposition so we are left to piece things out as the characters do, so looking forward to the second book.
The main characters are flawed and young, but very three dimensional.
Enjoy!

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Enjoyed!

Revisado: 11-12-09

I tend toward SF&F rather than historical novels of any sort. I must say this one was very interesting. I too stopped reading about half-way through due to slowness (and some repetition) but keep with it!
It is a fascinating examination of the early colonial period from a very different viewpoint than what we Americans grew up with. I hope more of the scholarship this book is based on (if not the actual book) makes its way into our schools.
The author makes a fairly convincing case for his premise that the colony of New Amsterdam gave America more of its character than we suspected.

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FIXED!

Revisado: 06-14-09

Only book in the series I never read all the way through on paper. Can't wait to finish the Audiobook!

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Beautiful Collection

Revisado: 09-18-06

I was amazed at the variety and significance of this collection. Yes, if you stop at the first story then, no you may not like it but some of the best gems are later on...A couple of these stories were even able to help me readjust my paranoia about turning 30. :) The last one in particular is a terriffic small mystery that keeps you guessing. I enjoy stories that focus on quirky and flawed characters, this is an excellent example of such a collection. No, many of them dont "go" anywhere, or you feel as though it stops just at the best part, however, it definetly allows you to use your own imagination to fill in the blanks or finish the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, it was a terrific comanion piece to read just after Kafka on the Shore.

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Brilliant.

Revisado: 12-15-05

I finished listening just a few hours ago and I enjoyed every moment spent with these characters. I cried for Petra and her life, I was amazed at how the characters were drawn so real and with faults and understandings and everything. I truly hope that we get at least one more book...perhaps one that focuses on Bean's amazing children? And what happened to Randi and her son "Achille's child"? Where did she go? I am dying to know. It's all tied up...but...not quite. :) Excellently done.

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The Perfect Ireland

Revisado: 04-17-05

As a fan of Jim Henson's Storyteller series, I found this book amazingly easy to slip into. "The best place by the fire was always reserved for The Storyteller." This was Irish history at its best - nearly every major episode - I thought I knew Irish history, but now I know much more and from the southern Irish point of view. The family story is truly what holds it all together, Ronan and the Storyteller characters are some of the best written I've read in a long time. Also, listening to the stories is the best way I can think of to expirience this book, I felt like I was there at the many firesides with Ronan listening to the Storyteller himself. I can think of no better way to learn Irish history. Enjoy!

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who cares about the narration?

Revisado: 11-02-04

I started reading the book before I downloaded the listen. Her voice, while not Elizabeth Sastre's, worked just fine for me. The ending was beautiful! I cried buckets while smiling quite widely! Few books can make me cry and smile at the same time, this one succeeded in spades. Well done Jasper Fforde! Thank you. Enjoy the book, y'all!

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