Scott

Important and thought provoking

Revisado: 06-07-19

I would encourage everyone to listen to this. It is an important topic that deserves our focus.

Apart from the tragedy of what is happening to these individuals, it made me realise the role that the casual observer plays. We promote sports (male sports in particular) with images of big body impacts. While that might appear entertaining and appeal to the primal core of our psyche, it clearly comes at a cost that is too high. But we, as fans, can lend our voice to change the rules to protect the most valuable assets in sports: the players.

More importantly, though, this book highlighted the disgusting prevalence of domestic violence and the devastating impact on the (mostly female) victims. It speaks to how, regardless of how “evolved” we are, that we still have significant work to do in order to create a safe and respectful society.

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The best ever Douglas Adams book

Revisado: 10-01-16

I know that Hitch Hikers gets all of the attention when it comes to Douglas Adams, but the Dirk Gently books are a cut above, in my opinion. They aren't just funny, but have some deep philosophical strains that run through them as well.

The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul is the perfect mix of humour and mystery, and also has the benefit of making you think.

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Enjoyable mystery with a hint of alternate history

Revisado: 07-23-16

If you could sum up Farthing in three words, what would they be?

Solid, thoughtful, enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Farthing?

On the surface, this is a murder mystery. But the alternate history setting provides an opportunity to explore how fragile humans are, and how willing to give in to prejudice.

Which scene was your favorite?

No particular scene stood out. The story was consistent throughout with neither high nor low points.

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

No. It took a couple of weeks.

Any additional comments?

This is an enjoyable novel. I like the premise (what is the long term impact of small changes in our decisions). The story is theoretically about solving a murder. However, it's true purpose seems to be shining a light on people's relationships to power, privilege and fear.I felt the novel could have pushed harder. Everyone felt so civilized and polite in a world that is clearly rife with prejudice and persecution. The character of David seemed out of place (at least, I felt that this character could have been less 'stiff upper lip', given the passions he held and activities that he was clearly involved in).If nothing else, this novel is a good stepping on point for the very start of conversations about tolerance, diversity and equality. It will, by no means, give you a clear moral compass of this aspect of human nature, but it might just nudge you to begin a personal exploration in that direction.

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Very good introduction to logical thinking

Revisado: 07-13-16

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

Yes. It is a short read, but packs a powerful punch. It is filled with very useful information and tools. The example used is very instructive.

What about Kevin Pierce’s performance did you like?

Well paced and fit the tone of the book well.

Any additional comments?

Waiting for the next volume by this author.

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Nice re-telling with a needful twist

Revisado: 07-12-16

What did you like best about The Sleeper and the Spindle? What did you like least?

Gaiman has a wonderful way with words. He writes with great lyricism and paints very vivid pictures.

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

Gaiman has always built a wonderful tension in his stories that is missing from this work. It is pleasant and easy to read, but it isn't as strong as his previous pieces.

What three words best describe the narrators’s performance?

This was a very well performed audiobook.

Could you see The Sleeper and the Spindle being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Gaiman is a master and has written (in my opinion) some of the greatest works in English literature. This piece is an enjoyable diversion, but I would recommend getting hold of American Gods, The Graveyard Book or The Ocean at the End of the Lane ... all are very well worth the effort.

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Enjoyable story ... well worth the time

Revisado: 07-08-16

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

This is enjoyable book. It is quality genre fiction and well worth the effort. I will definitely read more by this author ... she is in my watchlist.

To be fair, though, the story lacks 'the punch' of my absolute favorite audiobooks.

What other book might you compare Updraft to and why?

Dragons of Dorcastle (Jack Campbell). Both have a similar feel, similar stories and similar settings. Both feature youngsters who are highly skilled in their craft, on the verge of becoming masters in their fields. They are caught up in events on intriguingly different worlds facing similar types of challenges against a hidden corruption within the existing, trusted elements of society.

Which character – as performed by Khristine Hvam – was your favorite?

Kirit was the only character that was truly developed. She didn't so much 'grow' and flip between positions within the book, but the performance was enjoyable and the character memorable.

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Great time travel/alternate history novel

Revisado: 12-15-15

Would you consider the audio edition of 11-22-63 to be better than the print version?

Probably not in this instance. The writing is beautiful, lyrical and engaging. The narration doesn't come in at the same level.

What other book might you compare 11-22-63 to and why?

It has similar qualities to 'The Time Machine' by HG Wells and 'The Anubis Gates' by Tim Powers. In both stories, a man uses time travel to influence/change the flow of history.

What about Craig Wasson’s performance did you like?

The narration was okay. I got frustrated at the 'Russian' accents (that sounded more like Arnold Schwarzenegger), and how JFK spoke (which, seriously, sounded a lot like Richard Nixon's head in Futurama).

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

When you have the power to change the world, the challenge is to 'keep it real'.

Any additional comments?

This is a very good time travel / alternative history novel. It largely avoids the traps that most other novels in this field fall into by working through the paradoxes in a more believable way. There is a piece at the end that felt out of place (when the main character comes back through 'the rabbit hole'), but I (think I) understand what King was trying to achieve, and believe it still works within the context of the whole novel.This is a very good novel and should be on any sci fi 'to read' list.

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Piffle, waffle, rubbish

Revisado: 10-07-15

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

1) By getting to the point. I gave up 2 hours in (40%) and we still didn't seem to be in danger of getting to the actual program. 2) Focussing on facts rather than repeatedly sensationalist statements (the book has diet in the title, so why do you keep going on about "we all know diets don't work"? You published a book and you are charging money for it, so why are you constantly spouting that "I'm not doing this for the money"?). 3) Stop bashing people with alternate views (I get that they are in competition, but why the endless berating of other authors - especially (and this is my favourite) when you attack their credibility as trained experts with PH.D.s by stating that you "don't trust people like that").

What could Stephen Reed have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Stuck to the point rather than going off on endless and largely irrelevant tangents. And the big point: you're selling a book about a diet program, why not actually tell us what the program is without the piffle and waffle.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Had strange pronunciation on a number of words and was largely monotone.

What character would you cut from The Lean Fast Diet?

NA

Any additional comments?

The author may have a valuable program, but instead of telling us, he has followed the standard sensationalist pathway that most other health gurus have chosen to take. Spout a miracle cure, rubbish the competition, tell us why we are all smart to do it, and how nothing else will really work and then, if your lucky, and handful of pages that actually tell you what the program is.

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Promising start to an interesting fantasy series

Revisado: 02-20-15

If you could sum up The Dragons of Dorcastle in three words, what would they be?

Well told story

Who was your favorite character and why?

Master Mechanic Mari

Did MacLeod Andrews do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Fairly well. His tone fit Mage Alain better than the other characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really. It was just a good story well, generally well told.

Any additional comments?

It feels more like a YA book, but suits an adult readership. The plot devices are simplistic, but Jack Campbell writes them very well. Good character development, and a nice embedded mystery to keep me interested in future instalments.

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Really bad audio quality

Revisado: 01-09-15

Any additional comments?

I couldn't get into this book. The audio was full of static and echoes. To be honest, it sounded like someone had a 1980s style cassette recorder on the kitchen table, recording a LP that was being played two rooms away.

Really poor quality and I am not sure how this passed quality control.

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