Joyce

Deep and Philosophical

Revisado: 03-02-21

Incredible storytelling. Funny, thoughtful, poignant and smart. Weirdly, I feel like I know Matthew now.

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That Voice. . .

Revisado: 02-09-17

Hot, hot, hot. And Mister Narrator? Hellllooooo. . .an easy listen, enjoyable, and did I mention the narrator's voice?

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Surprisingly Sympathetic To . . .

Revisado: 01-20-17

The pro/antagonist. It's written well. It's logical, why those bodies need to be hidden. I mean, really, he's doing society a favor, right? It's his mind that I loved so. The way he thinks, how much he wants. . . love.

I listened to this title first, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Enough to say - hey - there's another book? Wahoo! Dowloaded and listening.

If you are looking for an escape from typical point-of-view narrative, then Joe is the hero for you. Caroline Kepnes has nailed it.

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What's a Ridiculed Debutante to do in 1887?.

Revisado: 05-25-15

The Train Station Bride by Holly Bush is what I consider an escape-read, or what others term a beach-read. It's a fast-paced story that makes it hard to stop listening. As such, the 5+ hours go by rather quick. Whether or not the audio edition compares to the print edition is subjective to whatever voices you hear in your head when you read this charming story. I have not read the print edition, so my honest review is based on my enjoyment of the audio version as read by the talented Meghan Kelly.

Mild Spoiler Alerts below:

Here's a question: If you knew you marrying someone at a train station, someone you'd only know through written correspondence, would you completely trust that the giant man before you is your intended, just because he had a preacher with him? I mean, what are chances there are TWO train station brides, and that you have just been married to the wrong rancher? What could be worse than that? Knowing that you are debutante who has never been good enough for anyone in her life, ever. She's unattractive and fat, dumb and useless. At least that's what she's heard all her life.

It's also the reason she took the deal to move to the mid-west, She had to get away from her horrible Boston family.

Julia and Jake's love story takes off at lightning speed. Jake thinks Julia is the living end, she thinks he is a tall hunk of happily ever after. In like - a chapter. That moves a little too quickly for me to believe that it will have endurance, but it does.

Darker secrets come, truths and lies and revealed, but most of all, Julia realizes that she is nothing like her unbearable family and has the heart of a wonderful mother and pioneer woman.

The story is formulaic but enjoyable. All this is what I got from the author's words.

Meghan Kelly's narrative was superb.

Sometimes, You can read a book and think 'meh'. You might even toss it aside as it doesn't keep your interest for very long. Meghan Kelly's performance is what made this story for me.

To be able to keep all the characters unique enough is a talent all on its own -but the nuance to which she gave voice to Julia Crawford was the best part. Julia starts out as mousy and almost mono-syllabic or robotic - awkward and clumsy in her speech. As Julia grows stronger in who she is and what she wants, her voice is stronger, until she becomes, in voice, the heroine of her own story.

I will be watching for more Meghan Kelly narrations in the future. It may be why I decide to use a credit on a book.

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May Your Eyes Always See True Beauty

Revisado: 03-08-15

What did you love best about Unfortunate Importance of Beauty?

The Unfortunate Importance of Beauty blew my mind. The title is catchy, and you know what the story will be about just from those five words. But there is so much more, and absolutely nothing you are expecting.

What did you like best about this story?

The things I liked best about The Unfortunate Importance of beauty was that, by the time the narrator read "The End", I was cheering and couldn't wait to write this review. The characters are creative people who are all deeply and sometimes permanently flawed. However, their gifts are great. their hearts greater. The friendship between them is more of a family than 10,000 relatives could provide. The varied mysteries, the magical abilities, the weird supernatural elements that just made sense - - - did I just write that? I adored this story. Though I did find the narration a little clumsy at the beginning of the story, by the end of the story, I completely got it.

Which character – as performed by Christina Delaine – was your favorite?

Choosing a favorite character is difficult. They were all so richly written that it would be like sitting with all of my weird friends looking at me and said "which one of us is your bestie?" Barb was hard to understand as a person, at first. But very early in the story, I thought "Okay, I think I get it." But then there's Lily, the complete opposite of Barb in every way. And Penelope, and Jack, and Peter. . . and and. Nope. Can't do it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Where my world stopped and nothing else mattered in my life but "The Unfortunate Importance of Beauty" was when Lily mastered the art of beautification through music. I wish I could say more without giving anything away, but let me just say I forgot all about Barb's problems and was 100% about Lily. Practically to the end of the story - Lily.

Any additional comments?

If you're reading this review, spend the credit. It's a great story. Sometimes completely weird, quirky and incredible - it's still a great story.

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The Hills; Fictionalized, Again.

Revisado: 06-16-13

What did you like best about Sweet Little Lies? What did you like least?

Hey, I will admit I was really into The Hills. I loved watching the formulated drama, and I really liked Lauren Conrad. It all sucked me in. LC as an author - sure, she's got the research down, but the entire series is too simplified. I expected more.

If you’ve listened to books by Lauren Conrad before, how does this one compare?

I enjoy the stories as "Beach Reads". They are simple, formulaic and somewhat predictable. But so was The Hills. LC's writing is okay - but it's not going to lead to a prolific career in novel writing for her. Eventually, the story will get old.

What three words best describe Jenna Lamia’s performance?

Static, un-emotional, listenable.

Was Sweet Little Lies worth the listening time?

Meh.

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Hot, hot, HOT!

Revisado: 04-14-13

Would you listen to Bared to You again? Why?

I would listen to this again. The narrator, Jill Redfield is EXCELLENT. She will be the first narrator that I will look for titles based on her narration. The story is easy to follow with enough drama and WTH moments to make it difficult to stop listening.

What other book might you compare Bared to You to and why?

There is the ubiquitous comparison to 50 Shades of Grey, but the characters are messed up in different ways. Different hangups, different neurosis. It's a darker story in a way, but the writing is hotter.

Which character – as performed by Jill Redfield – was your favorite?

Jill is a fantastic narrator. Ava is wonderfully portrayed. Three dimensional, emotional - Jill, you ROCK. Her talents allow her to paint a full cast of characters in her narration. Very well-done.

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

Can sexual chemistry make you a prisoner in a truly ****** up relationship?

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Absolutely Fascinating

Revisado: 09-24-12

Even if you've never been a Barbara Walters fan, you have to appreciate her career.

I found this entire memoir to be captivating, interesting, enlightening and hard to 'put down'. The history alone of what Walters has accomplished is incredible.

If you ARE a fan, you must purchase this and give it a listen. Great narration and wonderful storytelling.

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IN YOUR FACE Narration

Revisado: 09-24-12

Though I did enjoy the sordid and crazy tales that some assistants were willing to share, I found myself wishing for more. The stories are told well enough that it's night on impossible to figure out whom the stories might apply to. They are also surprising enough that you may feel slightly disgusted, but hey - it's Hollywood.

I found Nemcoff's narration a little in your face. If it's possible, I'd say he YELLED the entire time - but I am sure it's down to the listener's interpretation. The only part I found slightly annoying was the lack of pause between stories.

Nary a second between one story to the next, if your ears blink, you will miss the end of one story and wonder how you ended up with a literary agent's sordid tale when you started with the skeleton of a promising young director.

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Freed Indeed

Revisado: 09-11-12

Fifty Shades Done.

I really enjoyed the story line and felt satisfied when our Christian 'found the light'. It was a fitting ending to a steamy series and I found myself almost hesitant to say goodbye to the much-hyped characters.

E.L. James probably smoked a long cigarette when she was done inking these tomes. I would say it's erotica tamed. A little naughty, but the whip is firmly in Ana's hand. She's been in charge the entire time. . .

Overall the performance was a little lack-luster and mono toned for me. . . .not as deep as the written word suggests. I was used Ms. Battoe as I'd listened to the first two Fifty books already, but must say that it's not the voice of Ana for me.

If you've ready the first two E.L. James books, you owe it to yourself to finish what you started. Don't read this first. You won't get it at all.

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