J. L. Keating

Incomplete as audiobook

Revisado: 01-03-24

The description of the book says:

Short chapters of 300 words each—just listen to one chapter a day for 30 days!
A text designed specifically for students at high-beginner, low-intermediate level
A detailed language overview so you can review and quickly understand the difficult parts of the story
Short daily exercises to practice your new knowledge as you go
Bilingual word lists to quickly look up new vocabulary

Short chapters - yes.
A text designed for A2-B1 - not so sure, there is some pretty advanced vocabulary in here. But all I'm doing is listening.
Detailed language overview - not at all. There may be one in the printed or digital book, but the audio is just listening to each chapter.
Short daily exercises - nope, not in the audiobook
Bilingual word lists - nope, not in the audiobook.

This might be really fantastic if you have a physical or digital book to read while you listen. But it isn't sold as a package. Quite seriously, I'm not about to go hunt down a paperback or an eBook to accompany this. They really should be sold as a package. The audiobook I picked up on sale, so while it's a waste of money in terms of what it's trying to achieve, it's a waste of not a lot of money and I'm listening to some French. But - I have a Netflix subscription and can watch a French movie with French subtitles. I've got the Chatterbug app - I can watch videostreams on all kinds of topics. There are other ways to get in the listening, as this is quite fast anyway, I had to slow down the audio, and my French is above B1.

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Do you know what FUN means?

Revisado: 06-22-23

The production on this book is absolutely terrible. The narrator rushes through it as though the world is about to end and she can't leave until she's done. What happens is that we all leave before she's done. The concept of interesting and fun facts is great, but there is no enjoyment of the content and certainly no fun. Waste of a credit, and a lesson in listening to samples first.

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What a find! A real novella, slow and clear.

Revisado: 07-19-22

This is the first book of a series of three novellas. Unlike many audiobooks offering you French stories, this is a real story. Jacqueline, now divorced, is catching up with old friends at a party after many years. There, she meets an old flame, also divorced, as handsome as ever. He is now a successful businessman though, and invites her to join him on a three-day business trip to Paris. Will the city of Romance rekindle the passion they once felt? See, real story. Yet it introduces real and relevant vocabulary in a measured and clear way. The author has truly thought this out, and well done to her!

I've moved to France, and the problem with French audiobooks is they can be way too fast for non-French speakers. I usually listen on around 80% speed in the hope of catching every 2nd word or so. This book is written and read for non-French speakers, with simple sentence constructions. Also she reads slowly and clearly, so it's a great way to build confidence before venturing onto harder material. And, it's a real story, not those silly interactions that pass off as stories. It's a series of three novellas, which should be read in sequence. The audiobooks do not come with the supplementary English translation and quiz, but if you're training your ear, that should not be a problem.

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A real story, Claire et lente!

Revisado: 07-19-22

This is the second book of a series of three novellas. Unlike many audiobooks offering French short stories, this is a real story, not just visits to the post office or the dentist. This second book picks up six years after the previous one left off. She's reluctant to return to Paris after the romantic disappointment of the first trip, but also keen to immerse herself in the museums and corner restaurants. Will she find love this time around? See, real story, even though you're being introduced to real and relevant vocabulary.

I've moved to France, and the problem with French audiobooks is they can be way too fast for non-French speakers. I usually listen on around 80% speed in the hope of catching every 2nd word or so. This book is written and read for non-French speakers, with simple sentence constructions. Also she reads slowly and clearly, so it's a great way to build confidence before venturing onto harder material. And, it's a real story, not those silly interactions that pass off as stories. It's a series of three novellas, which should be read in sequence. The audiobooks do not come with the supplementary English translation and quiz, but if you're training your ear, that should not be a problem.

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Ideal! A real story you can understand!

Revisado: 07-19-22

This is the final book of a series of three novellas, and it does have a happy ending. Kind of. I'm certainly going to be getting more from this author.

I've moved to France, and the problem with French audiobooks is they can be way too fast for non-French speakers. I usually listen on around 80% speed in the hope of catching every 2nd word or so. This book is written and read for non-French speakers, with simple sentence constructions. Also she reads slowly and clearly, so it's a great way to build confidence before venturing onto harder material. And, it's a real story, not those silly interactions that pass off as stories. It's a series of three novellas, which should be read in sequence. The audiobooks do not come with the supplementary English translation and quiz, but if you're training your ear, that should not be a problem.

I see she has written some murder mysteries, which I will try next.

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Fantastic performance

Revisado: 06-24-20

This was an excellent list. Good narrator and the musicians were amazing. This was better than any English performance I have heard. If you need ideas for entertaining your kids during lockdown or the holidays, get them started on French with this.

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A Man called Ove, and a book review.

Revisado: 07-27-17

What a surprising book! I had read the blurb, which says nothing, and seen it well-rated, which piqued my curiousity. Then while I was on holiday, Audible had a sale which included this book, so I picked it up. At $4.95, how wrong could I go?
A Man called Ove, and a strong sense of right and wrong. He likes to do what is right. He doesn't talk much. But when something needs to be done, he does it, because it is the right thing to do.
A Man called Ove, and a wife. She was the light of his life and actually understood him. He also had a job, which he did very properly for 33 years. But his wife died, and six months later he lost his job. With nothing left to do all day but rattle around the house, he makes careful and meticulous preparations to join his wife.
However, the best laid plans of mice and men ... and even of a Man called Ove ... gang very aglee, it seems. And his own story unfolds as he becomes embroiled in more and more things that need to be done - and done right - before he can join his wife.
A Man called Ove, and tears. You will weep - sometimes from sadness, sometimes from joy.
A Man called Ove, and very good narration. This is a book for your listening list, from all points of view.

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Gamers! Read this now!

Revisado: 05-04-16

If you've never played a RPG or MMO, it's unlikely this book will mean much to you. If you have, you're going to be following the character development, levelling, quest system and the whole gaming interface with rapt attention. You may lose sleep as you stay awake to see what happens next. I loved the Death Knight, and being a Dark One in the Cities of Light. (Not that the light was all that good, be it said.) There is a non-gaming plot superimposed, but it's still like being in a real game as you listen. It was the constant reference to Russian that made me realise this is a translation - what a wonderful job! The translator needs kudos and to have their name listed in the book credits. Clearly also a game player.
The only problem with the book - and it's a big one - is that it ends on a cliffhanger. I need the next book, I need it now, and I have no credits till Saturday.

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As much fun as a good RPG!

Revisado: 06-22-15

This is a book for gamers. If you've ever played Dungeons and Dragons, it's a must-read. If you're more into video RPGs or MMOs, you'll probably also find it fun. It's certainly a good stand-in for those times when you're on the road or away or simply doing chores that keep you away from your own favourite game.
The story begins when the NPC players - a half-orc bartender, a city guard, a little rich girl and a crafty gnome find themselves in the position of having to take up an adventure where some real-life game players left off. The adventurers are a paladin, a mage, a rogue and a barbarian/berzerker. The NPC stand-ins find their true strengths after a false start, and prove to be much better adventurers than the real thing.
It is a great romp with a satisfying ending.

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A chick fantasy magical romantic romp!

Revisado: 03-18-13

Where does A Little Night Magic rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A Little Night Magic can't be compared to other audiobooks I've listened to, as I have a wide range of books for a wide range of moods. This is a light, entertaining book; when life is too stressful for a deep or cruel novel, it can lift your mood.

What other book might you compare A Little Night Magic to and why?

There is a trend for light-hearted vampire romances. A Little Night Magic is a bit like those: light-hearted, but without the vampires. Yes, there is evil to be defeated, and a sound storyline. But there is no doubt throughout that the girl will get her man in the end.The magic system is not entirely serious: one of the characters in the book has a talent for conjuring the most awesome cakes and pastries out of thin air.

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

Audiobooks bring a lot more detail to a book than reading it, as you can't flip forward through the boring or tedious bits. So they have to be well-written and engaging -- I abandon far more audiobooks than I ever did printed ones. That said, Amanda Ronconi reads it well; she has the tone and light-heartedness of the story just right. Some of the parts may seem a bit syrupy and "goody two-shoes" were you to read them; Amanda Ronconi makes them sound at least sincere.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This is not a moving book; it is entertaining. But you know there has to be a bad guy. And you know they have to defeat the bad guy... and get rid of the body. I did smile at their solution.

Any additional comments?

What I liked about this book is that the heroine does not do any of those intensely stupid things that make you want to run a mile. (I turned to it after reaching sticking points in two other books where you just know something incredibly bad is going to happen and you don't feel like facing it just yet.) Yes, our heroine does do stupid things that advance the plot, but you can always understand her reasons for doing so. And there are a lot of decisions she makes that you question the wisdom of. But overall it is a light and likeable story that will easily see you through the pile of ironing.

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