Lisl Barry

Inspiring and enlightning _ just what I needed

Revisado: 05-08-25

Having had self limiting beliefs held over from teenage years (I now realise!) has been limiting my growth in my creative career, although all other factors (like good work ethic and increased skill have been there for several years). Procrastination and lack of confidence. This book prised open the door to the future (and new immediate me) and has been wonderful! Liberating. Thank you Dr Benjamin Hardy. It even gave me some insight on my own when reflecting on family interactions. All in all great. The narration was good and Sean Pratt has an encouraging voice and calm pitch to listen to.

Can I say here that I was so excited about what I learnt from this book and nearing the completion of it I wanted to listen to more audiobooks by Dr Hardy. Those available on Audible are narrated by the doctor (and author) and listening to the samples I just know I won't engage in these narrated books as I have with these. The tone and pitch is just not the same! With all due respect - an honest insight (while we are being open to honest self reflection here) - some authors should not narrate their own books. Such a pity - you lost an enthusiastic listener.

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Excellent

Revisado: 03-10-25

I am not from the USA. What a fascinating listen and gave detailed context to a history that I had only a little understanding of (I knew of key 'players' but not in any depth nor how they fitted in with one another). What an incredible woman in racially challenging and charged times. Often the struggles towards equality left me reeling with regards to the indignities and fear people of colour have had to endure, and continue to endure (I grew up in Apartheid South Africa and I am more well read on our history of the struggle towards democracy aside from what I lived at the time, which was of course one sided). As a white person I truly apologise for our history of this dogged belief system that caused so much heartache and unjust violence (in the name of superiority and greed). I highly recommend this audiobook. The narrator did an excellent performance too - her strong voice and pitch was a perfect match to the content.

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A comment on the narrator

Revisado: 05-28-24

I am very particular about narrators. They can make or ruin an audiobook. Jim Norton is fantastic, I loved his pace, accent and voice changes (for both genders) but, sorry to say, NOT his singing. Awful. I am halfway through chapter 11 (there are 25 chapters in all) where there is much singing and I cannot continue any further. I am relieved to see there is another narrated Ulysses version on offer on Audible so I am going to jump ship.

(I gave 4 stars to the story because I am obviously not finished the story yet and am trying to grasp it all. Personally, I am finding the rapid flow of characters and thoughts fairly difficult to follow, but I am enjoying the style of writing, the beautiful use of language and the bite size narrative on life at that time in Ireland.)

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Pure genius as always

Revisado: 02-20-24

As an avid and long-standing fan of Terry Pratchett, his fantastical Discworld and all his superb characters in it, I am possibly very, very biased. What a brilliant satirist. What a brilliant sense of humour. So many laugh out loud moments.

A much-needed, humorous life-line while making your way through all the crazy happenings in the 'real' world.

If you are here as a new-comer to Mr Pratchett's brilliance it's worth starting at the beginning with book 1 (The Colour of Magic). Although not a pre-requisite - you can dive in at any point really, as they read as individual novels - but there is wonderful character development that evolves from novel to novel (some are children's books, so you can skip those until you've run out of the adult ones!!). His novels just get better and better and richer in depth as they go on. Like treasure in a treasure chest. Which they are.

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I confess. I did enjoy it.

Revisado: 02-20-24

I confess. I did enjoy it.

One quarter into the novel I had my serious doubts.
I was willing to go with the narrator's style (it is only 10 hours after all) but I had my reservations, plus the style of writing and plot is so off my usual choice of novel (as my 22-strong list of audiobooks reviews will attest to) that I decided to put it to the jury of reviewers.

Be warned - there is a spoiler out there. (Shame on you.)

After considering some of the good and some of the very negative which were pretty persuasive, I stopped listening.

If I was a cat, I would be dead.
I was so curious to know how the story evolved that I re-uploaded it within an hour.

My final verdict is: all the complaints regarding this audiobook ring true and it is a little thin on the ground as far as brilliantly written literature goes but it held my attention and I really did enjoy the novel. And. I have uploaded the next book, checking to make sure it was read by the same reader.

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Overdose

Revisado: 11-14-22

Perhaps I have overdosed on Anthony Trollope's novels, this being the sixth audiobook straight listen. There is no doubt that he is a supreme storyteller and Timothy West a brilliant narrator.

I won't repeat what others have said in their reviews, instead I will make two ponderings : firstly, I wonder how many times Mr West was made to repeat the word 'necklace'. (haha, I googled it to see if anyone had made a count) ... and even though the diamond necklace was central to the plot - what a nauseating bore in the repitition!! Secondly, I wonder if anyone else picked up that Mr Trollope missed what could have been a wonderful twist in his final chapter/s. I kept hoping for it, especially to spice up an otherwise predictable end. I was so convinced but merely unsure which character he had selected for the ultimate deceit. And in my humble opinion, it could have either been Lord George, or indeed Lady Eustace herself. What a missed opportunity in a largely dreary tale.

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'Love...does not often run...yoke with prudence.'

Revisado: 11-05-22

The politics of the time period was a fascinating intrigue.
The characters were as varied as they were entertaining.
The love story, as seen through a young man who wears his heart on his sleeve, most endearing and in some ways like a comedy of errors but which seem to highlight Trollope's amazing understanding of the difficulties set before his heroines, and accords them much sensitivity and empathy in his portrayal of them. He creates for each a strong character, with intelligence and wit, and each with a stout heart. My own heart aches for the rigidity these women had to bear when their marriages became/become as like a choke chain. I feel my next statement will not give anything away so I will say it - while I had admiration for each of Phineas' venerated 'lovers', Mary Flood-Jones always had my vote. Perhaps it was that soft Irish accent! :-) Thank you again to the excellent Mr West for bringing it all to life.

A most enjoyable story.

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What to say?

Revisado: 11-01-22

I have left reviews for the preceding Anthony Trollope novels that I have addictively listened to, so I haven't much more to wax lyrical on this brilliant writer's subject and characters: intelligent, witty, kindly critical (if there can be such a thing) of the flaws of his characters and of society at that time (and so much of the criticism continues to be relevant for "the way we live now". Truly. Not much has changed) and politically insightful writing. Haha, no one seems to find my reviews helpful, if votes are anything to go by, but I have an audible-listener's crush on Timothy West so that is why I am here writing a review yet again. This time to say: if you haven't yet listened to any of these books yet, you shall be richer for the experience and NOW is as good a time as ever! ;-)

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Hooked

Revisado: 10-06-22

I have being listening to Anthony Trollope's audiobooks like an addict: totally hooked. Without a doubt Timothy West is an excellent narrator match for these novels and a large part of the reason in my enjoyment of these series of novels. Trollope's plots are most often unpredictable (which I love), his character development rich and the fly on the wall view on society at this time - with all its prejudices and challenges - is insightful, as it is entertaining. What a master weaver of tales.

I found Alice Vavasor's self sabotage and self deprecation to be intensely annoying, especially as she was otherwise portrayed as a strong, independent-minded character. I found myself getting quite agitated by her choices and huffing loudly and muttering to myself "stupid woman" often but not once was I tempted to stop listening - therein lies Trollope and West's mastery. I realised of course, that Alice is extremely anxious by the role marriage plays in her society and it's affect on the woman. Once married she would no longer have an independent voice or ability to make decisions of her own, stupid or otherwise, and so she is driven to make any decision as long as it is her own to make no matter how detrimental it would be to herself and her future. If not interpreted in this way, Alice's choices are indeed questionable and sadly, Trollope seemed to be endorsing that woman are inclined to make bad decisions and therefore should have a man to think and act on their behalf. A pity. His other novels have a balance of this type of female character balanced by clear thinking, sharp acting ones (much like Jane Austen). Not my favourite Trollope novel so far. But still enjoyable!

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Just delightful!

Revisado: 08-22-22

It is the third book of Anthony Trollope's that I have now listened to now (consecutively). What a wonderful combination of Dickens, Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, with the same wonderful use of language - full of wit, character development and social (critical) commentary. The twists and turns are sometimes predictable, sometimes not, but presented with much humour. It is intriguing how far we have come as a society, and yet in many societies (even Western ones) women still do not always have a voice or freedom of choice or access to open minded education which of course is key to opening minds. Timothy West is the perfect narrator for these novels too. He is excellent. Thanks to Audible for the gift [of making these free to listen to]!

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