Lissa

Third Grade Writing

Revisado: 02-11-24

I don't understand the positive reviews of this book. I got as far as Chapter 10. Tons of repetition, extended speculating, in her mind, of "what might happen", Her sudden emotional pivots. When I got to the main device of the plot, I quit.

Narration is ok. Was hoping to learn/experience something about Zanzibar. Didn't happen.

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Cutesy and not much happening

Revisado: 09-25-22

I started this series because the incredible David Thorpe reads books 2 & 3. The reader for this (Paul Ansdell) was ok, but ir was as if the author was enamored of the flowery language of the past rather than creating events for her characters. I quit halfway and returned the book. I hope to have better luck; am still going to try volumes 2 & 3.

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What a story!

Revisado: 03-30-21

Ok, the reader isn't very good, although she isn't the worst I've heard. Just imagine she's your aged aunt telling you a terrific story, then you'll be patient with her odd pauses. This book is amazing. It's a shame that so many people aren't interested in history because it can be stranger and more interesting than any novel.

She says in the introduction that no one under 50 knows who the Mitford sisters are. It does seem like another world, where people didn't believe in educating girls, thought that the solution to money problems was trying to mine gold in Canada and being in a weird state between wealth and poverty where you lived in a grand house and could travel across Europe, yet had to wear homemade clothes and raise chickens and sell eggs to get by.

These six girls begged their parents to send them to school and the parents refused (although they had tutors for reading, French and music). Only by misbehaving were they able to go, as it got them out of their parents' hair. Well, you know how that turned out.

Sidenote: many of the events covered in this book can be seen on British Pathe newsreels on YouTube. Oswald Mosely speeches and the riots they created (his posture is so odd... proof that it was another world), David looking old and broken, even Unity being carried from boat to ambulance on her return to England.

Anyway, read the book! It is the definition of "unputdownable"!

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Interesting, intense, too long

Revisado: 06-22-18

Pro: good characters, good milieu, good writing. Spectacular performance by David Thorpe, who can do it all from moms to monkeys.

Cons: too long, a bit convoluted.

This is not a book that you can just have on in the background. You have to listen to appreciate it. Unless you just want David Thorpe to keep you company, which is totally valid. I liked it enough to move on to book three.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Extremely mixed feelings

Revisado: 04-27-18

Would you recommend The Last Best Friend to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes and no. This was one of those novels where "nothing happens". The mystery takes about one hour of the total. I almost quit and returned the novel several times, yet I didn't.

What does David Thorpe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He was the reason I bought this book (besides that I like to read dead, forgotten authors). He can literally do anything! Even some of the characters that are dated, ethnic stereotypes get his full treatment. Can he get an Oscar?

Any additional comments?

Perhaps this is a book you should get when you want "something different", unpredictable and outside your usual reading. Or skip it. Either way. It does not belong on the list of 100 best mysteries. Save that for Reginald Hill or Margaret Allingham.

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Just a fabulous book

Revisado: 03-19-18

Any additional comments?

I've listened to all the Shetland books and read several of Cleeves' early works. Although the Shetland TV shows are probably the best TV made in the last 5 years, the Vera (book) series is turning out to be the best reads. Also the reader for this one is so good. She doesn't does that sweet, smiley uplift of the voice when something sentimental or cutesy is said.

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esto le resultó útil a 11 personas

Miserable people doing miserable things

Revisado: 03-25-17

Any additional comments?

The New York Times, in 1932, calls Inheritance "a powerful story excellently told". To me, it was 14 hours of miserable people doing miserable things. The end was positive and uplifting, and it felt like a dutiful plot device, almost like a different author.

I was lucky enough to read "Broome Stages" by Clemence Dane, which, sadly has not been recorded or even remembered. (She was involved in writing the screenplay to "Bill of Divorcement" and won an Oscar in 1945.) Broome Stages is also a sweeping saga of many generations of one family, but it has ups as well as downs, good people as well as bad, and writing that makes every page a treasure.

I would suggest skipping "Inheritance". I'm certainly not going to read any of the sequels.

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Allingham's always good, but this one's confusing

Revisado: 12-23-14

Would you consider the audio edition of The China Governess to be better than the print version?

Have not read the print version.

Would you recommend The China Governess to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, I enjoyed this book, although I found it the most confusing of all the Campion books. I am reading them all in order, and will grieve when they are done.

Which character – as performed by David Thorpe – was your favorite?

I liked Julia so much, as I find young people with firm, strong personalities and self-knowledge to be refreshing.

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

Might have been less confusing if I had. Yes.

Any additional comments?

Although "legend" has it that Allingham wrote these novels as an imitation of Dorothy Sayers, she was immensely talented. Campion is a fantastic character and the sense of atmosphere, especially over the decades, is thorough. Allingham IS as good as Sayers, and that is saying a huge amount in my book!

David Thorpe, as always, is non-traditional and excellent.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Very good, not great

Revisado: 12-11-14

Would you consider the audio edition of Hide My Eyes to be better than the print version?

Have not read the print edition.

What did you like best about this story?

Her characterizations are always excellent. People are vivid, well-rounded, unusual and individualistic.

Have you listened to any of David Thorpe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

David Thorpe is fantastic. Although most people say that Frances Matthews reads Allingham better (and he is great), David Thorpe pushes the envelope and makes each character so individualistic. He has great enthusiasm and attention to detail in his reading. People don't like the high whine he puts into Campion's voice, but that is how Allingham describes Campion's voice in Black Dudley.

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

I wouldn't make a film of it as, although it was good, it was kind of a pale shadow of Tiger In The Smoke.

Any additional comments?

Allingham can do no wrong.

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Too great!

Revisado: 08-27-14

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

The crime is that a novel can be this good! I ignored my work, family and chores last night and laid on the couch for three hours listening to it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Tiger in the Smoke?

The discussion between Geoff and the "band". It started with the power on one side and swung around gracefully. Her characterizations were fabulous.

Which character – as performed by David Thorpe – was your favorite?

Probably Dahl. I think David Thorpe is fabulous. Frances Matthews is, too, in a different way. Thorpe is colorful and lively. People criticize how he voices Campion, but, in fact, that's how the author describes his voice in Black Dudley.

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

Just amazement, as well as enjoyment. Wikipedia says that she started writing these books to parody Lord Peter Wimsey. If that's the only reason, how can they be so sublimely good?

Any additional comments?

The Campion series are hot and lukewarm for me. This one was red hot.

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