Andrew
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Apothecary
- First Contact, Standalone
- De: Peter Cawdron
- Narrado por: Nick Cracknell
- Duración: 13 h y 42 m
- Versión completa
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Historia
In 1558, during the reign of Bloody Queen Mary, Earth is visited by extraterrestrials who initiate first contact. Their mission is to gather samples of life on Earth and observe but not interact with humanity. After witnessing a brutal execution, their patience is tested beyond breaking point... First Contact is a series of standalone novels that explore humanity's first interaction with extraterrestrial life.
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Thank you!
- De Per Koch-Schmidt en 11-11-23
- Apothecary
- First Contact, Standalone
- De: Peter Cawdron
- Narrado por: Nick Cracknell
Story starts strong then fizzles out
Revisado: 01-05-25
I really enjoyed the beginning and middle of this book. It was engaging and fun, and I really cared about the characters.
The last third, when the main character returns to modern-day London, isn't terrible either. The scenario it paints is believable, and I was genuinely dismayed and couldn't stop reading as the story went on, all leading to a finale where the character has a world audience and delivers his message to humanity...
...which turns out to be a tedious pablum, neither original nor memorable. Something about how the fact that we don't understand how toilets work (except, most of us do?) and don't understand how cell phones work (well, I do anyway...) means that we aren't morally equipped for intergalactic travel because... well, just because.
It's not particularly unbelievable that a random person who has undergone an extraordinary experience might not be capable of explaining it under pressure in an interesting way... but it is pretty unbelievable that a hundred thousand people would apparently listen to such boring nonsense with rapt attention.
The historicity is pretty poor. The reign of Bloody Mary was... bloody, but even so, the idea that a fanatical bishop would pick out a random youth from the crowd and attempt to execute him by burning... based on a vague facial expression seen from a distance... without provoking a riot... it's a heck of a stretch.
The author also glossed over the immense language and cultural differences that an early-modern Londoner would experience if suddenly arriving in the modern world; I understand that this was necessary to allow the story to happen at all, but it grates pretty badly at times.
I kind of wish this story had stayed out of the modern era. The 16th century story was by far the best part, and many loose ends were left behind.
Having said all of this, I'm still giving this book four stars, because it really is worth reading. It's intriguing and compelling... right up until the story finally grinds to a whimpering halt a few pages too early.
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Fimbulwinter
- Daniel Black, Book 1
- De: E. William Brown
- Narrado por: Guy Williams
- Duración: 8 h y 38 m
- Versión completa
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Summoned to a world in the midst of apocalypse, Daniel Black would have his hands full just staying alive. Add in refugees, desperate soldiers, scheming nobles and a pair of thoroughly wicked witches, and life is going to be very busy indeed. Good thing he has magic of his own to even the scales. But will even that be enough?
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GIVE ME BOOKS 4, 5, 6, ..... GIVE ME MORE!!!!!!!!
- De Amazon Customer en 03-06-16
- Fimbulwinter
- Daniel Black, Book 1
- De: E. William Brown
- Narrado por: Guy Williams
Awful. Just awful.
Revisado: 03-08-24
If you're mentally a thirteen-year-old boy who thinks looking up the word "vagina" in the dictionary is both amusing and arousing, then congratulations; you are the target audience for this book! But even then you will likely find it one-dimensional and predicable, and be unable to suspend your disbelief as the main character goes from lying in a hospital bed to being propositioned by a floating goddess and then transported to another planet and acquiring magical powers, in the space of a few paragraphs, all without any evident surprise or self-reflection.
And then there is some fighting, and then there is some mechanical and joyless sex writing. And then there is some more fighting, and some more bad sex writing, and this pattern continues for the rest of the book without any kind of real story happening along the way, and then - thankfully - it all just stops.
Save yourself a credit. This book will make you stupider.
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The Sanctuary
- De: Andrew Hunter Murray
- Narrado por: Andrew Hunter Murray
- Duración: 10 h y 2 m
- Versión completa
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In a disintegrating and increasingly lawless land, a young man is travelling north. Ben is a young painter from the crowded, turbulent city. For six months, his fiancée Cara has been living on the remote island of Sanctuary Rock, the property of millionaire philanthropist Sir John Pemberley. Now she has decided to break off their engagement and stay there for good. Ben resolves to travel to the island to win Cara back. But the journey there is a harsh and challenging one and when he does arrive, a terrible shock awaits him.
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Accessible, compelling, ambiguous
- De Andrew en 01-17-24
- The Sanctuary
- De: Andrew Hunter Murray
- Narrado por: Andrew Hunter Murray
Accessible, compelling, ambiguous
Revisado: 01-17-24
I really enjoyed this story, and the author is a skilled narrator. I was quickly drawn into the world of the book and found the characters interesting and compelling. My only caveat is that the ending does not tie the threads of the story together, and for me anyway, I still wasn't quite sure exactly what the plan was that the protagonists had subverted.
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Gallowgate
- De: Mary Edward
- Narrado por: Lianne Walker
- Duración: 9 h y 16 m
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Scotland, 1849. The O'Donnell girls are driven from their Wicklow home by starvation and an Anglo-Irish landlord. After losing their father, the three sail to Glasgow with thousands of others in search of a new start.
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Enjoyable glimpse into Glasgow history
- De Andrew en 03-07-23
- Gallowgate
- De: Mary Edward
- Narrado por: Lianne Walker
Enjoyable glimpse into Glasgow history
Revisado: 03-07-23
I was drawn to this book because I am descended from Irish immigrants who settled in Glasgow in the mid-nineteenth century, as the characters in this story did, along with thousands of others. I feel left with a strong impression of the time and place, of the poverty and kindness, prejudice and hope.
There are some elements of the plot that jarred a little. Méabh is a rather one-dimensional character, full of virtue, but without much depth. Her distrust for the O'Reillys and her anger at their attempt to secure a decent position for Kate seems out of proportion, and seems to be maintained despite her continuing reliance on their generosity and goodness throughout the story. Her relationship with Danny, while depicted as deeply loving and comfortable, is oddly chaste and dispassionate, and it slightly strains credulity that without even a real kiss, still less the definite prospect of a wedding date, Danny is so utterly and patiently devoted to her.
Male authors frequently receive deserved criticism for their attempts to write convincing female characters, failing to understand the real needs and desires that motivate women, but the converse is also true, as demonstrated here. Danny is handsome, fiercely loyal to Méabh, devoted, utterly self-sacrificing... but makes no demands whatsoever, expresses no needs, is functionally asexual, and happily submits to her wishes from beginning to end. I was disappointed that the story ended without a wedding between them, or at least a passionate kiss. Danny has earned one.
Overall the story was exciting and involving, and I was genuinely dismayed at the bad news when it came, so convinced was I that I was about to hear a happy ending. But that came later, in an exciting and fulfilling denouement that left me warm, happy, and completly satisfied. Unlike poor Danny.
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Fevre Dream
- De: George R.R. Martin
- Narrado por: Ron Donachie
- Duración: 13 h y 32 m
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When struggling riverboat captain Abner Marsh receives an offer of partnership from a wealthy aristocrat, he suspects something’s amiss. But when he meets the hauntingly pale, steely-eyed Joshua York, he is certain. For York doesn’t care that the icy winter of 1857 has wiped out all but one of Marsh’s dilapidated fleet. Nor does he care that he won’t earn back his investment in a decade. York has his own reasons for wanting to traverse the powerful Mississippi. And they are to be none of Marsh’s concern - no matter how bizarre, arbitrary, or capricious his actions may prove.
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Vampires, the Mississippi, and George R. R. Martin
- De Carol en 10-21-12
- Fevre Dream
- De: George R.R. Martin
- Narrado por: Ron Donachie
Much, much better than I expected
Revisado: 02-09-23
I wasn't expecting a vampire novel, set in the 19th century south, by the Game of Thrones guy, to make any sense. But this was one of my favourite listens of the last year. The story was fun, the characters intriguing. The world was believable and attractive.
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The Priest
- De: Bill Schubart
- Narrado por: Mark Nash
- Duración: 5 h y 3 m
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The Priest follows a working class altar boy's decision to become a priest, exploring the struggle many boys have becoming men, especially around sexuality. Pierre finds safety within the vocational confines and celibacy of his Catholic faith, only then to be astonished as he experiences life vicariously in the shadow of the confessional. Ultimately, he must confront his own emerging sexuality in the real world and reconcile the inevitable collision between the security of doctrine and the risks of being human - all of which takes him to a surprising place.
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Touching, very real, but still gripping
- De Andrew en 03-21-22
- The Priest
- De: Bill Schubart
- Narrado por: Mark Nash
Touching, very real, but still gripping
Revisado: 03-21-22
As a practicing - if sometimes troubled - Catholic, this story hit home for me. It deals with a lot of hard truths, but it never loses a basic respect for the pain and beauty of the faith. Rather uplifting, all in all.
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Project Hail Mary
- De: Andy Weir
- Narrado por: Ray Porter
- Duración: 16 h y 10 m
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Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
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Bazinga
- De Davidgonzalezsr en 05-04-21
- Project Hail Mary
- De: Andy Weir
- Narrado por: Ray Porter
A solid meal for a hard sci-fi fan
Revisado: 05-17-21
No space opera, no technological hand-waving, no confusing of sci-fi and fantasy, just a good approachable story with solid science behind it.
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Just Ignore Him
- A BBC Two Between the Covers book club pick
- De: Alan Davies
- Narrado por: Alan Davies
- Duración: 8 h y 43 m
- Versión completa
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Through even the joyous and innocent memories, the pain of Davies' lifelong grief and profound betrayal is unfiltered, searing and beautifully articulated. Just Ignore Him is not only an autobiography, it is a testament to a survivor's resilience and courage.
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This is my five-star this year
- De Kristofer Jarl en 11-18-20
- Just Ignore Him
- A BBC Two Between the Covers book club pick
- De: Alan Davies
- Narrado por: Alan Davies
Disappointingly self-indulgent
Revisado: 01-26-21
I have just returned this book (a very rare step for me) after listening to Davies' ten-minute meditation on the nature and symbolism of his mother's (utterly unremarkable) fingers.
More aggressive editing needed I think.
Additionally the performance is very quiet, and Davies is prone to long gaps in speaking, which as a practical matter results in my app cutting off the first few syllables of each sentence.
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The Catholic Church: A History
- De: William R. Cook, The Great Courses
- Narrado por: William R. Cook
- Duración: 19 h y 13 m
- Grabación Original
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How did the Catholic Church become one of the most influential institutions in the world-a force capable of moving armies, inspiring saints, and shaping the lives of a billion members? Explore these and other questions as you follow the development of this important institution in 36 informative, fascinating lectures. With Professor Cook by your side, you'll step into the world of the early church, witness the spread of Christendom, and learn about the origins of fundamental church institutions.
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Great presentation of a selective history
- De Amazon Customer en 01-18-19
- The Catholic Church: A History
- De: William R. Cook, The Great Courses
- Narrado por: William R. Cook
Enjoyable and comprehensive
Revisado: 05-25-20
This is the real history of the Catholic Church, warts and all. Well researched and well presented.
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Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary
- Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah
- De: Brant James Pitre
- Narrado por: Mark Deakins
- Duración: 5 h y 41 m
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In Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Dr. Pitre takes listeners step-by-step from the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation to reveal how deeply biblical Catholic beliefs about Mary really are. Dr. Pitre uses the Old Testament and ancient Judaism to unlock how the Bible itself teaches that Mary is in fact the new Eve, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and the new Ark of the Covenant.
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Now I Want To Know More...
- De Kennon Elliott Wallis en 03-19-19
- Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary
- Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah
- De: Brant James Pitre
- Narrado por: Mark Deakins
Not what I was hoping for
Revisado: 05-25-20
I wanted to gain an understanding how the veneration of Mary began in the early centuries of Christianity, more from the perspective of history than from faith. From the title I thought this book might tell me something about how the Jews who became the first Christians might have viewed Mary. It didn't do that.
Instead this is an exploration of symmetries between Mary's life and certain Old Testament events and people. The author doesn't make any clear case that those symmetries would have been apparent to early Christians, or would have informed their understanding. Instead we're treated to a list of numerology-like inferences that seems intended to confirm us in our Marian faith. I suppose that if you are that rarest of beasts - a Mary-venerating Catholic who also believes in sola scriptura - then it might work. It didn't work for me.
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