J. Bergman

Surprisingly tedious

Revisado: 04-06-25

I usually love Ann Patchett’s books, but i couldn’t get through this. The writing was tedious—descriptions of personalities and relationships rather than showing them in dynamics. Repetitive and boring. The narration was dreadful: one rhythm, one tone, no expression.

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Sloppy and absurd

Revisado: 07-24-23

I was hoping for a great summer listen but this wasn’t it. The language is lazy, the plot is inane and gets more implausible with each chapter, and the „reveal“ is just ridiculous.

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Possibly the worst book I’ve ever read/heard

Revisado: 08-15-22

I was initially attracted to the slow, repetitive quality of both the book and the performance: it seemed a useful pre-sleep wind-down. But the plot is so inane, the characters so odious, the repetition so tiresome, that I simply couldn’t stand it and stopped listening halfway through. Drivel.

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Incoherent and bizarre, not in a good way

Revisado: 06-21-22

The plot strands in this book are tangled and ridiculous, the motives and relationships of the characters are nonsensical, and the writing is labored and repetitive. I think the author wanted to create a sense of mystery culminating in a surprise reveal; instead they just piled up unpleasant characters in improbable situations acting in unbelievable ways.

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Honest, deep, serious, and amusing

Revisado: 09-15-21

I thought I loved Peter Sagal from Wait, Wait, but I live him a lot more now. Running unites his stories and reflections on relationships in this book, and I’m inspired as a runner myself, but so much more is going on. So much kindness and thoughtfulness…

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Effective and usually enjoyable

Revisado: 12-30-18

I'm finding this series very helpful in learning German. The young woman native speaker is especially terrific--both her pronunciation and explanations are clear. The American boy is a bit tiresome--he overacts and that sometimes annoys me--but on the whole the dynamic between native teacher and learner is helpful.

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Thorough, gripping, and fair

Revisado: 03-30-18

Russian Roulette is so well written and detailed that it could be a novel—but it’s all true. Brilliant reporting, careful analysis, and plenty of criticism of the Obama Administration and the Clinton campaign. It was astounding to read the paper over the days I listened to this and see the revelations about Facebook and Cambridge Analytica hit the headlines—these guys got there first, and connected the dots. This is the story of how the US was attacked by a hostile foreign power and a real Manchurian candidate was put into the presidency. Breathtaking, terrifying, necessary. Read it and weep.

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Enthralling, strange, demanding

Revisado: 12-12-17

This isn't an easy book, or a lighthearted one. The tragic event that is one node in the web of familial despair is shrouded in the unreliable memories of the characters. Guilt, grief, the devastation of false "recovered memories," heroin, and the shattered personalities of the damaged cast aren't pretty, but handled by an intelligent writer like Chaon they are incredibly compelling. There is a mystery, and if you pay attention you will come to understand what happened, but you won't be spoonfed. Terrific and disturbing.

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Exciting, intelligent, moving

Revisado: 11-16-17

I thought Grisham was an airport novelist, but I was astounded by how great this book is. The plot is smart and gripping, the characters are vivid, and a thoughtful, tough critique of the death penalty is compelling and appropriate to the story. The performance is superb.

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Gorgeous and gripping

Revisado: 02-05-16

What made the experience of listening to Rebecca the most enjoyable?

Rebecca is beautifully written and Anna Massey's reading enhanced it further. The book is brooding and elegant, with a masterfully slow pace that only intensifies the suspense. I was haunted by it and returned to it whenever I could find a minute. What a masterpiece.

Any additional comments?

Thanks to Stephen King for recommending it, in Bag of Bones. Now I'm dreaming of Manderley too.

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