Sharon

The author showed great empathy for her characters

Revisado: 03-11-25

It was very long winded with little but internal dialogue. At times I was bored by this.

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Our complex souls get us into trouble.

Revisado: 05-18-24

Great story and well told. The author knows how to capture the readers interest and build tension. And as an Israeli I could well appreciate the story which felt somehow too near to the bone. The plot is well constructed and filled with twists and surprises. Is it a mystery ? Is it a who done it? Or is it a mirror to the human soul and what it feels like to be Jewish and Israeli in these complex times? I was very emotionally involved in the book.

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Heartwarming and beautifully read

Revisado: 10-14-23

I enjoyed every minute of the story and Dominic Hoffman does a brilliant job of bringing it to life. The author has a wonderful insight to the old Jewish immigrants and how Yiddish permeated their speech and at the same time he ‘does’ Negro perfectly. He packs a lot of meaning and wisdom into his story

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Beautifully written and told; so sad

Revisado: 01-16-23

I loved this story but it disturbed me immensely. The utter poverty, the dreadful helplessness of the people, the devastating corruption and callousness, will remain with me forever. As will the beauty, and kindness a compassion and humor of those for whom life is relentlessly cruel. It was read very beautifully too.

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Wonderful!

Revisado: 11-10-21

Amor Towles is a wonderful storyteller. The Lincoln Highway is a ‘road’ story but what makes it special is the beautiful, lyrical prose and the insightful and colorful characters. The author keeps the story moving through twists and turns in the narrative as the characters live out their fate
like characters in a Greek myth. The book is beautifully and sensitively read and I’m sorry I have come to the end.

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A harrowing read

Revisado: 02-01-20

If You Tell is the most harrowing story and was very painful to read. It tells the story of a psychopathic woman and how she abused her children and others who were unfortunate enough to come into her orbit. It is terrifying to know that the story is true and that Shelly Kovac is due to be released from prison within the next few years.
The story was at once fascinating and often revolting, and I was tempted to skip chapters because I could not listen to more graphic details of the abuse and torture Shelly imposed on her victims. I read on, only because I needed to know that in the end, she would be brought to justice and that her daughters would survive their nightmare childhoods. What is especially ravaging about this story is the spell that Shelly managed to cast over her husband and friends, the loyalty she was able to command from them to do her bidding even unto murder. I did not enjoy reading this book but found it interesting.

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Somewhat forgettable

Revisado: 09-27-17

An easy fast read, entertaining but lacking in substance. Not much more than an adolescent mystery story.

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In the Desert a Flower Grows

Revisado: 02-22-15

Where does Tandia rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed Tandia very much and it ranks highly among the stories I've listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

Apart from getting involved in the characters of the story, I was interested in the depiction of the social context (South Africa) of the story, including the draconian laws that governed and impacted every aspect of life for all the people of the country, the White oppressors as well as the many colored communities.

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

Humphrey Bower read the book very well, and his characterization was excellent.

Any additional comments?

My only 'caveat is that the book does not tie up all the pieces and leaves one hoping for a sequel which will take up the story through the fall of apartheid and the cataclysmic changes of its aftermath. How does Tandia's story end? What happens when the Blacks realize their freedom to participate fully in the management of their country? This is an exciting story that would have been well told by author Bryce Courtney - and I wish that he'd done so.

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A Good Overview of the Medieval World

Revisado: 02-22-15

Would you consider the audio edition of The Medieval World to be better than the print version?

Have not read the printed version - nor would I. I imagine this could be a very dry subject unless told in an entertaining way, which Professor Dorsey does well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Medieval World?

I enjoyed the discussion about Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and all the chapters about the daily life of people in the medieval world.

Any additional comments?

FiIrstly, I enjoyed and learned from the book. However, I was disappointed to find that the history and contribution of the Jews during this period was almost entirely overlooked except with reference to the frequent violent pogroms against them. While the medieval period was in some senses a dark period of history, for the Jews it was a Golden Age, particularly in Spain before the Inquisition. In the discussion of the development of medicine, no mention was even made of the contributions of Maimonides and in the discussion of the development of the silk trade, nothing was said about the Italian Jews, who certainly contributed to this advancement. Nor was there mention of the Jewish role played in trade. Finally, while the Jews were not part of the Feudal system in Europe, they most certainly lived in these countries, enjoying a unique social mobility and they provided significant services to the community, notably to the Nobility. In short, their valuable contribution to this history, is completely overlooked and I can't understand why.On a different point entirely, it would be helpful a) if the chapter headings were given in the list of chapters provided and also if important names were written because it was usually not possible to discern exactly the name of the historical figures alluded to. In itself and notwithstanding, it is a helpful and informative text, well read.

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Excellent Lectures, Thoroughly Enjoyed!

Revisado: 02-14-15

What made the experience of listening to How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3rd Edition the most enjoyable?

Professor Greenberg's lectures cover an incredible scope and make the history of Western music comprehensible. I learned an enormous amount and understood concepts e.g. 'key' and 'circle of 5ths' that I'd never completely understood before. Prof. Greenberg brought the composers to life and introduced me to many I barely knew and I enjoyed the many anecdotes he shared about the personal lives of the great composers.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Professor Greenberg - for his erudition, his passion and his playfulness. I so enjoyed his lectures that I have now purchased another series.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Well, yes - it certainly kept my interest and I looked forward to my daily listening.

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