Welby

A fun listen with overt references to other tales

Revisado: 04-29-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I feel like the subtitle (Or Moby-Dick on the Moon) gives potential readers a pretty good idea of what's coming: Sci-Fi, first person narration, a chase after a deadly ... thing. The story is divided into Cantos, like the Divine Comedy, and follows the narrator from earth to a moonbase, to the wilder, more dangerous dark side of the moon. It's a fun tale, and the author provides thoughtful discussion questions along the way.

I'm not ready to call this high art, but I do think it's a worthwhile listen.

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hints and threads and weavings

Revisado: 01-16-20

Morgenstern has done something artful here. She's taken a meta look upon story telling, time, fate, and symbolism, and woven it into a compelling, if disorienting story. Her prose works well - lyrical and rich without becoming a distraction. The recording quality is high, the volume of the different narrators is very close to even, and though there were a few moments where I think a narrator should've emphasized a different word here or there, they all did a lovely job capturing the spirit of the story.

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I wanted more detail.

Revisado: 10-10-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Overall I enjoyed this novel, but I would've liked more detail and a bit more characterization. The story introduces Kaylyn and Cole, sisters who work for a nebulously described company that investigates paranormal kerfuffles. It feels like Cole is moved off stage pretty quickly so that Kaylyn can develop a relationship with their new boss, who has been sent to potentially fire them for not living up to their potential, which also feels thinly established in the story. I suspect that a lot more details on the characters, the company, the work they've done, etc. will be forthcoming in the series, but part of the job of a first book in the series is to set up enough information about the main characters that you get invested in them. This book is right on the line for me regarding character investment. I might grab the next in the series, but might not.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Very like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but...

Revisado: 08-14-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Well, this was not for me. I love Hitchhiker's Guide, from the original radio series, to the books, to television, to film. Each version is different, and I like all of them on their own merits. And this book was very clearly going for a Hitchhiker's vibe, and the story almost worked for me, but the humor went more crass than I enjoy. (For the record, I didn't actually learn the title until after I was offered a review copy of the audiobook.) To be clear, my threshold for that sort of thing is towards the priggish side. Gags about boobs just make me find a story juvenile, but if you're a fan of Hitchhiker's Guide and don't have similar sensibilities, I'd genuinely recommend you give this a shot.

As alluded to above, I was given a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this review.

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If Spenser for Hire & Miss Marple had a love-child

Revisado: 07-30-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I'm writing this review after having finished listening to book one and have gotten midway or more through book two. I'd spend a credit to get just the one book, but I've got three! The tale is personable and warm with a steady plot and engaging characters, and thoughtfully literate. There were few off notes for me in book one, but the moments that felt off were probably more about my biases than Rathbun's writing. In book two they haven't crept in again, and I'm enjoying the mystery more.

The audiobook narrator seems very well cast. The audio quality is solid, but I might recommend listening at 1.25 speed.

If you're looking for a fun summer read/listen, you could do a lot worse than this set.

I was given this free review-copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Huh.

Revisado: 07-18-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I was puzzled by this book.

The narrative voice was odd, reminiscent in moments of the awkwardness you can find in the trope of someone trying to fit in as a human. "Yes, fellow human, I too enjoy flavorful food!" (Not a quote from the book.) And by the time I finished listening I wasn't sure if those odd quirks were on purpose or not. A couple of actual examples from part one is the narrative describing the character grabbing his "expensive camera" and uploading photos to a "social network." It wasn't wrong, just somehow *outside*.

Having said that, I found the actual stories to be kind of charming. The main characters all possessed a slightly nervous disposition, were good-natured, and were in some fashion down on their luck, so it emphasized a pattern in the storytelling with a common riddle until the final part, where some of that riddle is unraveled, which sets up a probable sequel/series in the making.

The narration was well recorded, and seemed to fit the mildly formal tone of the prose.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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A thoughtful guide to home and life

Revisado: 06-01-19

Hygge at Home and Living is a fitting guide for the concept, presented with warmth and a sense of efficiency. I think the entire concept of Hygge starts to feel like an affirmation of things you already know, but perhaps haven't put together fully. Hygge takes sensible notions about making one's home and surroundings ergonomically efficient while never losing sight of comfort and a sense of welcome. There were aspects of Hygge that caught me by surprise, like the effort to find a new home for things when possible.

The narration was well recorded and always intelligible, though I found a few words oddly pronounced ("ascertain" comes to mind), but never too distracting.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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More compelling than Myers & Briggs

Revisado: 05-07-19

Wilkinson's 'Enneagram Made Easy' is aptly titled. My wife and kids have invested in the concept of the Enneagram, so I was in need of a primer to catch up on the conversation. Wilksinson offers good information in a format that's concise but doesn't feel rushed, and even offers a test to help you find out where you fit on the Enneagram. (Recommendation: don't try to do the test while driving, which is my normal listening mode.)

Tom Sarisky's narration is solid - well recorded, good intonations, and never distracting from the material.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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I enjoyed it a latte.

Revisado: 04-27-19

Have you ever read (or listened) to a book and thought that you'd really like the author(s) as a person (people)? That's what happened for me with this book. I'm definitely on the nerd end of the spectrum, but enjoying this book doesn't require any significant nerd knowledge. The setting of a coffee shop combined with a comic book store never dives too deeply into the comics part, but it also never gets anything wrong that would make someone in my demographic cringe. It's a nice cozy mystery in a modern setting with enjoyable characters. The narration was good, though not fabulous - it never distracted from the story, which is sometimes better than a brilliant performance. I look forward to Book 2.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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compelling action with solid underpinnings

Revisado: 02-12-19

Lost Solace was an action packed romp through a hostile environment with multiple enemies with hidden motivations. I liked the book quite a bit, but have a few quibbles with the pacing of revelations. I feel like I would've felt more involved with the characters if the motivations hadn't seemed so opaque until near the end of the book. Having said that, the action was excellent, and there *were* motivations that made sense. Marisha Tapera's performance was excellent and engaging.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the Author with no obligations attached, but I reviewed it 'cause that's the neighborly thing to do. Also, I enjoyed it.

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