Diane Sklensky

A fun comment on the romance industry of the 1980s

Revisado: 01-07-23

Elizabeth Peters’ strong-minded librarian heroine takes advantage of an opportunity to escape a small-town Nebraska winter by attending a historical romance writers conference. Cynical commercial shenanigans lead to murder and Jacqueline takes a hand in solving it. Some of the issues of the 1980s remain in the 21st century, and many of the characters show snobbery about romance novels and their readers, but we can also,see that a lot of progress has been made in the world of romance publishing.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Deeply moving and inspirational

Revisado: 11-29-20

I feel presumptuous to try to put into words how touched - and convicted- I was by this set of essays. The message of reciprocity offers a guiding principle for us as we try to live better on the land, while the idea of the Wendigo shows our tendencies as a culture. With a gentle voice and a passionate heart, Robin Wall Kimmerer shares her love and concern for the natural world and for the wisdom of indigenous peoples.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fascinating!

Revisado: 12-05-12

I was deeply engrossed in this story and want to know what happens next for the protagonist(s). I didn't know what to expect, but then didn't want to stop!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Truly Enjoyed This Story

Revisado: 09-10-12

Where does David Copperfield rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A satisfying classic.

What did you like best about this story?

Insight into the differences between Victorian and modern attitudes. Sometimes I liked theirs better! Loyalty, honor and patience were so highly valued. And people who behaved badly mostly reaped the consequences.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

His voice suits the subject matter perfectly - measured and modulated, but capable of intensity, while it is possible to distinguish several versions of accent and tone to represent the various characters.

Any additional comments?

It is a long book, which can be a detriment for reading - it's hard to find the time. But it makes the audiobook great value: many hours of entertainment for a single credit!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Hilarious Ghost Story

Revisado: 07-30-12

Where does Maybe This Time rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved North Archer for his generosity and felt deeply sympathetic toward him for his "stuckness" in his own life and what it had cost him. But Alice is also terrific in the way she stubbornly resists Andie, only to eventually succumb.

What about Angela Dawe’s performance did you like?

Her characterization of the different personalities made each clearly distinguishable - and brought out the humor of their individual quirks, in an affectionate way.

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

I loved when North finally showed up and he and Andie began really working together to solve the problem.

Any additional comments?

The combination of a desire to write about Alice as an adult and the difficulties of developing a Gothic atmosphere in an age of ubiquitous cell phones caused Jennifer Crusie to set this in the early 1990s - which totally worked for me, as that was when I was a similar age to her protagonists.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

An Intriguing Classic with Rich Characters

Revisado: 07-30-12

Would you listen to The Canterbury Tales again? Why?

I'm sure that there were things that I missed - but, despite the lively, updated language and frequently entertaining characters, quite a lot of medieval attitudes came through and I probably will not listen again. I'm glad that I listened to it once, though, to know what it was about and get a feeling for the time. I was intrigued by the degree to which the seeds of the Renaissance were present in the extensive quotations from the classics - I had not realized that was already occurring at the time in England. But so many of the characters went ON and ON quoting the classics that I suspect that I will not feel the urge to return to it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Franklin, I think. So many of the characters were spiteful or otherwise ungenerous that his Tale was a pleasant relief (if I am remembering correctly).

Which scene was your favorite?

The Franklin's Tale.

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

Not an extreme reaction - some of it was quite funny, but I don't think I laughed aloud.

Any additional comments?

It was, I'm sure, far easier to listen to than to read and I do feel better informed for having heard such a classic work of literature. The excellent performances made many of the tales very engaging.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Thoroughly Charming

Revisado: 04-16-12

Would you listen to Enchanted Glass again? Why?

I enjoyed the voice, characters and story very much and would like to revisit them another time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Enchanted Glass?

Andrew visits Aidan's foster family and discovers that the story is more complicated than he had realized.

Which character – as performed by Steven Crossley – was your favorite?

While I liked most of the characters, Andrew - a person of magical talents, but not seeking after power, with, instead, a sense of responsibility and a passion for history, definitely engaged my sympathies the most.

Any additional comments?

This is a delightful story - suitable for children and adults.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas