Booklover

Trashy novel

Revisado: 11-24-21

I wanted to take a break with a trashy novel, and that's what I got. I found the plot thin, the characters one dimensional, and the writing adequate, at best. Obviously, I'm in a very small minority, which is ok.

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Automaton voice; content not so digestible

Revisado: 07-06-21

I was somewhat hesitant to review this book because it's difficult to evaluate the content given the dreadful delivery. I've tried to listen to it twice, and had to push myself to keep going both times. The narrator sounds like a computer. Yes, Charles Constant has a nice voice, but he very rarely varies his inflection or pace. With regard to the content, I had hoped to build on the information I had earlier acquired from 10% Human, my introduction to the microbiome, and a book I can highly recommend. The author of 10% Human, Alanna Collen, an evolutionary biologist, conveys an excitement about the growing body of knowledge concerning the microbiome, as does the narrator. By contrast, I experienced Dr. Emeran Mayer's book as turgid. On the macro level, his emphasis on the interconnectedness of gut, microbiome, brain, emotions, chronic illness, soil quality, plants and the environment had a neat logic, but was not revelatory. On the micro level, his advice on diet (as well as the rather basic accompanying recipes), is well-worn if one has had any exposure to other sources of information about plant-based diets.

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esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

Excellent and Important

Revisado: 03-22-20

Jason DeParle's writing style is succinct and flows well, his research is in depth and solidly grounds the book, and his subject is important -- particularly in these times, when cruise ship workers (many from the Phillippines) and others in similarly-impacted service sectors are likely to be laid off. I recommend the book to anyone who wants to learn about those who seek a better life (economically) and whose stories are human and highly relatable.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Narrator detracts

Revisado: 02-09-20

I didn't finish the book, so I can't fairly rate the author. I've greatly enjoyed a couple of Robotham's other books in this series, however, and will keep going with the series. I didn't like this narrator, so I quit. By contrast, the narrators for books 1 and 9, although different, are excellent.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Tom Hanks highly overrated; story a languid drift

Revisado: 01-12-20

Audible has much better readers than Tom Hanks, so let's not get overly excited to have an actor narrating. The trouble with Hanks is that he can't vary his pitch, so there is little distinction in his delivery between male and female voices, young and old. He renders the protaganist well enough, but that's just one of the characters. The novel itself is a languid drift. Ann Patchett is highly adept at capturing situations. However, the situations depicted in this book are not very interesting. Added to which I found it very difficult to get engaged with the characters. And, finally, the story line, such as it is, is thin.

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esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

Gave up because of the Narrator

Revisado: 07-16-19

I can't review the book because I gave up due to the narrator. (I had to fill in stars for Overall and the Story in order to be able to post here). Not only is the choice of Cockney accents jarring, but the narrator's ability to do children's voices is extremely poor. For me, narrators are an important part of the Audible experience. This one gets in the way.

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Twists and Turns

Revisado: 07-08-19

The plot is clever, very clever in true Adam Mitzner style. Implausible, yes, But one can suspend belief and roll along. However, the characters are not full-blooded, again, in traditional Mitzner style. They are vehicles for the plot, rather than human beings of interest in themselves. There is little texturing or complexity in the characters or the writing. Indeed, Mitzner's writing can get syrupy. The same applies to the narrator, who I think is wrong for this book. Good for bedtime stories, but not for what is purportedly hard-edged crime fiction cum legal procedural.

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Highly Entertaining, Wonderfully Narrated

Revisado: 07-04-19

This book is fun, fun, fun. Fast-paced story-telling, zippy dialogue, colourful characters and a rollicking plot keep one entertained. And Jason Isaacs is simply marvellous.

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esto le resultó útil a 10 personas

A Pulitzer winner, you've got to be kidding

Revisado: 05-25-19

I was not entertained, enriched, engaged or enlightened in reading this book. I certainly don't understand why it won a Pulitzer. I experienced Less as a lightweight travelogue, lacking in the character development one expects of a novel. Arthur Less never becomes full-fleshed, multi-dimensional; he remains flat, a man of limited depth and complexity skittering across multiple countries, with casual lovers in each. He's running, perhaps from himself, but instead of a voyage of self-discovery the author gives us places painted in impressionistic strokes, brief dalliances. We learn that Less has had two lovers, one older, one younger, who touched his heart, but the lovers remain sketchy, narrative devices rather than men.

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Fabulous Series; Excellent Narrator

Revisado: 09-28-18

I started with this, the first in the series, and couldn't resist listening to all the subsequent books, one after the other. The writing and characterization is layered, so one can enjoy the books on many levels: the description of life in the Dordogne-- the countryside, the way of life, the joy of the region's food (Bruno is an outstanding cook), and the rich web of relationships; the politico-historical sub-themes; the portrayal of Bruno, an endearing man focused as much on building and protecting his community as on solving crimes; and, of course, the plot.
MacKenzie has a sonorous, easy-to-listen-to voice, with sufficient range, and an old world charm.
I can't wait for the next one!

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