Paula Stein

Dog? What Dog?

Revisado: 11-11-16

What a self-absorbed author!!
Repetitive, too.
It appears that the second chance dog is merely a prop in Mr. Katz's second chance at a loving relationship. And this would be okay if this was the kind of memoir I had wanted, but it definitely was not!
In addition, hearing once or twice about the "artistic nature" of the woman to whom the author is attracted would be reasonable but the constant repetition is hard to endure.
I regret this book choice.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Romance with a Schmaltzy Twist

Revisado: 06-18-16

What did you like best about A Kiss from Mr. Fitzgerald? What did you like least?

The descriptions of New York, and society in general, of the 1920s was very interesting. I enjoyed that part of the novel. The slavering need for the main character to focus the entirety of her being on the acquisition of a husband seemed a little out of step with the advertised concept that this main character was a woman of independent thought, setting out as a pioneer into fields of endeavor previously denied to women.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The least interesting part of the story was the tired story line of girl meets boy...ah, no...girl meets really, really, rich boy and overcomes all odds to not only be the aforementioned female pioneer, but also a high society bride.Boring!

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A Serious Subject Handled in a Magnificent Way

Revisado: 04-12-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The struggle to become an independent, confident person is much harder for some than for others. For those who found, or find, the struggle sometimes more than they can cope with, here is a novel that offers support in a beautiful way. Not only is the subject handled with sensitivity and wisdom, the dialogue is witty, clever and humorous. The underlying mystery and the dark threat to Jenny, the main character, creates the discomfort and tension to be a most compelling element in the plot.Thomas, the Golden Horse that assists Jenny in her struggle to establish her personhood and then find her own voice, fits into the story in the most natural and believable way in spite of being a magical creature.

What about Lucy Price-Lewis’s performance did you like?

Lucy Price-Lewis's performance is spectacular...flawless...and totally engaging. Her aptitude with voices and her emphasis and inflection brought Jodi Taylor's words to life in the most vivid way.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend Jodi Taylor's novels to anyone looking for interesting plots peppered with clever and witty dialogue and with characters whose absence when the book is done leaves the reader with never wanting to say goodbye to them.

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Consistantly good

Revisado: 05-02-15

This series has given me many hours of pleasure. I am rationing myself as I slowly run out new titles. Going to be a sad day when they r finished. Until then...😉

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Fabulous. Hypnotic. Addictive!

Revisado: 08-20-14

Would you consider the audio edition of Blood Song to be better than the print version?

I cannot answer this as I have not read the print edition; however, the audio version is gripping and I had great difficulty stopping the story in order to get on with other important tasks in my life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blood Song?

Valin's sacrifice of his person happiness in order to protect and preserve Sherin's life and continue in his ultimate and crucial mission.

What about Steven Brand’s performance did you like?

I like Steven Brand's voice very much. He is a good reader, with one exception: sometimes it is difficult to assertain which character is speaking as he does not change voices at all.

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

Oh, YES!!! I chose to listen to it every moment I reasonably could, and when it was done, I immediately began listening to the Tower Lord.

Any additional comments?

I hope there are no serious time gaps between the availability of each novel in the series. PLEASE, don't let it become like Game of Thrones where I'm not sure if George Martin will ever finish the series.

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Brilliant!

Revisado: 05-29-14

Would you consider the audio edition of Words of Radiance to be better than the print version?

I have not read the book but the audio version is superb.

What does Michael Kramer and Kate Reading bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The variety in characterization brought to life! The humourous interactions between characters brought to life! The narrators do a wonderful job of giving depth and nuance to the narrative.

Any additional comments?

The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance are both complex novels in which the moral choices characters must make are fraught with difficulty and significent personal cost. The storytelling is gripping and the plot is never dull.

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Good Story for Teens or Young Adults

Revisado: 03-02-14

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I would not recommend this book.I found the characterization quite superficial. Josh is 28 years old, going on 15. His first sight of Kerri, the shelter worker, is google-eyed facination...not even a hint of depth in character building here. The dogs of the title are really just an excuse, a vehicle, to what is essentially a story about boy loses girl, boy finds new girl, boy overcomes obstacles to new relationship. My emphasis is on boy, not man.And this boy, the main character, is a bit of a jerk.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

A more mature 28 year old, making decisions more consistent with adulthood would have made a more interesting character. And his friends....do all young people of that age refer to each other as "dude"? Josh and his friends become caricatures, not characters.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Kirby Heyborne?

Perhaps, but not likely.

Could you see The Dogs of Christmas being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Certainly I could. It is superficial enough for TV.

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I Have Reached Frustration Saturation

Revisado: 09-05-12

Maybe it's me....I cannot get past the frustration of a plot wherein the characters know who the villan is, know how the villan functions, and choose not to do anything about it; but when bad things happen they are taken by surprise.
Arrghhhh!!
I listened to Assassin's Apprentice and it was fine, despite the menace threatening not only to end the life of the main character but also destroy the existance of the 6 duchies. The narrative is compelling and description is used very effectively. I was okay to bide my time while the characters presumably gathered the evidence needed to ensure the right villan was identified. But enough is enough!
Maybe it's me....but when someone is out to do murder and the characters have the capabilities to stop it and choose not to, I feel pretty frustrated - frustrated enough to turn it all off, put the book away, and say "The heck with this!"
The unfortunate thing is that the narrator does a wonderful job. The performance is almost enough to carry me to the end but the slow and frustrating plot line keeps interferring. Far from creating dynamic tension, the misunderstandings between characters, the protestations of nobility (which ring stupid as opposed to noble), and the seeming inability to put clues together to come up with treason and murder, create tension alright - the tension that speaks of having spent my credits on a less than engaging couple of books.

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A Very Enjoyable Mystery

Revisado: 08-20-12

Erin Hart's three mystery novels set mostly in Ireland have been compelling and enjoyable experiences. She has woven together murder mystery, a little romance, and a wonderful exposure to many of the nuances of Irish culture and history and mythology into the fabric of a very satisfying novel.
The narrator does an excellent job of providing clear distinctions between the characters and reads with good pacing, great expression, and what sounds to me like an authentic Irish accent for the Irish characters.
I would certainly highly recommend this novel and Hart's other two novels: Lake of Sorrows and Haunted Ground.

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Disappointing

Revisado: 07-05-12

I thoroughly enjoyed all of Lois McMaster Bujold's novels....until now. Apart from the terrible narration, the story was forced and stilted. Descriptive language was repetitive to the point of becoming an irritant. The plot line was so convoluted, it became an unrewarding challenge to try to follow.
This book is a waste of a credit or a waste of money....
I hope McMaster Bujold is able to regain her former excellence as her previous works were engaging and entertaining.

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