Mark

A matter of relativitty

Revisado: 02-14-17

If you could sum up The Wars of the Roosevelts in three words, what would they be?

The "unknown" Roosevelts

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

No...too much detail and food for thought

Any additional comments?

William Mann tears down the image of both Teddy Roosevelt and, to a lesser extent, Franklin. A theme running through the book is Teddy's treatment of his brother Elliot and Elliot's illegitimate son. That Elliot's son married a woman named Mann and adopted her surname made me wonder if William Mann were in some way related to her or her son. William Mann dwells a lot on Eleanor Roosevelt's sexuality, almost obsessively, I would hva thought that in the second decade of the 21st century we were beyond that.

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What happened to the editor?

Revisado: 02-14-17

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not sure: I don't know that I learned much from it.

What could William Hazelgrove have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The author seemed to be fact-challenged. At one point he contends Wilson took a presidential action in 1912 -- before he was inaugurated. That said his "research" seems to consist of quoting other books about Wilson -- at least he acknowledged the contribution.

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

She's OK reading in Edith Wilson's "voice" but too much of a monotone.

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Overhyped debut novel

Revisado: 01-03-16

What would have made City on Fire better?

The author demonstrates he is a first time writer tilting to hyperbole which buries the storyline. This is really a simple story made complex by flights of literary fancy.

What could Garth Risk Hallberg have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He should have chosen a better editor.

Which scene was your favorite?

n.a.

What character would you cut from City on Fire?

too many to list

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important book poorly narrated

Revisado: 05-02-15

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

It is important to understand the excesses which follow attacks. I was reminded that the 9/11 attack on the U.S. led to passage of the Patriot Act, not one of the finest moments in U.S. history just as the internment, of Japanese is a blot on our history.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Infamy?

The entire story is fascinating. Reeves personalized this lingering national embarrassment, taking it from the abstract and making and making it real.

What didn’t you like about James Yaegashi’s performance?

By telling the story through the those who were imprisoned, Reeves puts the reader in their shoes. It is hard to imagine the level of hatred for the Japanese, but then again, the antI -Muslim sentiment in this country since 9/11 was unimaginable until it happened.

Do you think Infamy needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

The narrator demonstrated no emotion in a book full of emotional highs and lows. Scott Brick, who narrated the similarly constructed "Dead Wake" would have been a much better choice

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Impossible Narration

Revisado: 08-28-13

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A better narrator

What did you like best about this story?

Consistent suspense

How could the performance have been better?

With a different narrator

Any additional comments?

The narrator sounded like a cross between Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, making him very difficult to understand and difficult to follow the story.His accent -- when none was necessary -- was distracting.
This is the first Silva book I've listened to. I'd get others -- but not if they're narrated by George Guidall. I'll also avoid other books read by him.

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Convoluted and implausible but mildly entertaining

Revisado: 08-24-13

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Short answer: a lot.This was the first book I've read by this author. I was drawn by the classification as a legal thriller; it was neither. The story line was intriguing but interrupted by a less than believable "romance." Yes, sometimes we experience love at first sight but in The Associate we didn't get that feeling.The narrator was good at accents though sometimes his attempts at Eastern European dialects were hard to distinguish from his attempts at Spanish. He seemed to not even try male and female voices so that at times it was hard to determine who was speaking.There wasn't much suspense and I was able to discern the perpetrator relatively early. Nonetheless, I soldiered on with the listen, in part because I needed a diversion during sessions at the gym and The Associate didn't require much deep thought.

What could Phillip Margolin have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Margolin could have made the characters more plausible, perhaps with some deeper insights into their personalities to help us understand why the two lead characters fell for each other so hard and so quickly.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He should work harder to differentiate male and female characters for starters and remember what accents he's supposed to be using.

Did The Associate inspire you to do anything?

I'll think long and hard before listening to another Phillip Margolin book or Scott Brick narration.

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Unmatched, timeless classic

Revisado: 12-22-12

Would you consider the audio edition of All the King's Men to be better than the print version?

The audio edition brought this semi-history to life and made the political lessons real. We continue to be fooled and sucked in by politicians who crave power and are corrupted by it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jack Burden who was reluctantly reduced by Willie Stark.

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

Giving life and emotion to Robert Penn Warren's excellent character development

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

When Stark send Burden to find "something" on the judge knowing he will.

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Obsessed With Sex

Revisado: 12-19-12

What would have made Killing Kennedy better?

O'Reilly never seemed to tie together the hints he dropped through the book of various conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of John Kennedy. He hints at why Fidel Castor, the CIA, the Mafia and even Lyndon Johnson might have wanted JFK dead but merely assumes the reader already knows all were suspected (to varying degrees).
The only thread he picks up consistently is JFK's active sex life and he seems obsessed with it. It felt as if he couldn't go three minutes (of listening time) without referencing Kennedy's libido. He left me with the impression he was envious.
O'Reilly broke no new ground in telling this story -- except to insert himself into it claiming that he was the "young reporter" who showed up at the door of one of Lee Harvey Oswald's patrons just as the patron shot himself.
O'Reilly is an accomplished TV host with a news-like, staccato delivery, reminiscent of Walter Winchell's radio. He didn't use those talents or any talents he has/had as a reporter.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

No spoiler: Kennedy was killed in Dallas. The question of whether Oswald acted alone or who might have been behind him is never addressed.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Bill O'Reilly?

Anyone

What character would you cut from Killing Kennedy?

Bill O'Reilly

Any additional comments?

I had hoped this book would be either a detailed examination of the assassination or a journalistic investigation. Instead it was what reporters describe as a "clip job," a story put together by reading newspaper clippings.

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Fascinating "what-if" history

Revisado: 10-29-12

What did you love best about The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln?

Brilliant historical insight. I appreciated how Carter wove the resl impreachment of Andrew Johnson into his non fiction

What other book might you compare The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln to and why?

Phillip Roth's Plot Against America.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

Powerful, gripping

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

Suspense leading to the verdict which never came

Any additional comments?

None

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Not up to Chabon standards

Revisado: 10-29-12

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Story was not strong and at times confusing

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Nostalgia and battle between modern and traditional, between old and young

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Didn't breathe properly

Was Telegraph Avenue worth the listening time?

Not really

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