Rose

For once, I say read the book.

Revisado: 05-14-08

I have listened to hundreds of audio books, fiction and non, and I think they are a godsend. I find that some books are actually better listened to than read (like the recording of Puddinhead Wilson by Richard Henzel). I believe we need more of an aural/oral storytelling culture so I I am grateful for audible. But when it comes to "The Eyre Affair," i believe what makes the book fun and interesting is the authors ability to play with the printed word. I began this book on a trip home, when my sister loaned me her copy. It is a very literary book, full of interesting wordplay. I stopped reading it after the first couple chapters, in order to get an audio recording of Jane Eyre (i couldn't remember it, and it was making reading difficult as the plot entirely hinges on an understanding Jane Eyre). By the time i got back to "The Eyre Affair" i decided to buy an audio copy rather than a paperback. But it just wasn't at all as engaging! And i honestly think it's because of all the textual wordplay of the author, which vanishes in the audio recording. For all my love of audiobooks, this is the one time I recommend buying the paperback. But do get Jane Eyre on audio, and then reading this book in print. It's a lot of fun.

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esto le resultó útil a 18 personas

Excellent Audiobook

Revisado: 03-07-08

I too came to this book wondering "What's all the hype?!" I know at least 8 people reading this book and loving it, male and female from age 17-60. I figured, what would it hurt to listen to it!

I agree with others who have said this might be one of my best audio books (and I have listened to over 200 on this site alone, including Chomsky, McCullough, Joyce, Feynman and other absolutely great books). Read by the author, it's like an unabridged (and extended) episode of This American Life. It's a funny, honest story about a 180 turn in someone's existence - someone blessed with the resources both to make such a shift, and to share it with us. This is not an intellectual book, nor is it an intellectual exploration. It is a totally intimate journey to get to know one's self.

I now know why so many people connect with this book. I have had very different life experiences than a number of my friends and family, and the author. And yet her tale covers so many of our most difficult and challenging internal struggles in a way I never recognized. Her book speaks to all our deepest issues of love and control, the fundamental issues of most all human conflict.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly, to anyone who can listen to someone's story - a story relevant to us all - without judging her experience. After all, the core of her voyage is learning to let go and not judge herself!

What a great book.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

great reader, great tale

Revisado: 10-28-07

I just loved this recording. I wish i could find more of Twains works with this narrator. He does an outstanding job. I would recommend this book to anyone; and in this case, with such an excellent reader, i would rather listen to it than read it off a page--he adds so much.

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esto le resultó útil a 13 personas

can't stand the reader!

Revisado: 10-22-07

Her VOice RIses aND FAlls witH ALMOst EVery WOrd. like a bad poet or an actor trying to sound intelligent on Selected Shorts.

SO hard to hear the story for the story! Her inflection totally washes over the prose - more interested in how she sounds than telling the story. Unfortunate!

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Excellent!!

Revisado: 06-12-06

This book is worth listening to-- I have multiple times, in fact. It's perhaps not a knee-slapper, unless you studied American History, (which I did, and this book is to American History what Life of Brian is to 1st Century Rome--actually quite accurate and really smart and funny). "America the Book (The Audiobook)" is consistently on point, and well written. And it's great to hear it read by Jon Stewart. Definitely a good buy.

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Buy them One at a Time

Revisado: 06-07-06

I give this book 4 stars because the explanations of events are very interesting and comprehensive, well written and well read. It is perhaps worthy of 5 stars in that respect. I took off a star because I purchased the whole unabridged book and I could barely stomach the EXTENT of overwhelming personal and private detail the book offers.

I was really grateful to listen to the first 5 or 6 hours, describing how the players got involved, what "Mark to Market" is, and how Enron executives began the spiral that led to their eventual and inevitable downfall. But after a while I couldn't take all the personal battles, politics, alchohol and awful marital and social details. I just couldn't IMAGINE sitting through it for another 25 hours of audio.

SO I rented "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room." They do a great job of telling the rest of the story (California, Arthur Andersen, Employee fraud). However the movie glosses over exactly what the first part of this book elucidates, and that is crucial to getting a perspective on the players and their tricks. If I had it to do over again, I would buy Part 1 and listen to it FOR SURE, and then, if you are into the extent of detail this offers, buy Part 2.

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esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

Great to Finally Hear!

Revisado: 05-02-06

I never had the chance to see the Heidi Chronicles in the theater, and I have heard about it for so many years, so i was grateful on the chance to figure out what the fuss was about. It was such a treat to listen to --funny, well acted, very vividly written, works well in audio format. In fact, I loved imagining the sets myself. It's no wonder Wendy Wasserstein had the reputation she did. I really enjoyed listening to it.

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas