Jennifer MacGregor

A man’s man’s book

Revisado: 01-26-25

Climbing scenes were realistic; nice settings in Chamonix and Paris; if you like Hemingway you’ll love it. Good author but didn’t love the characters or story. Narrator was ABYSSMAL.

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Slow moving, long lists, geographical details, snoozer

Revisado: 12-13-24

I read this book because it was on the NYT best 100, but wow! You hardly get a peek at the plot until about chapter 30, and the real plot/history doesn’t unwind until about chapter 70. I think I should have read it rather than listening to it, because the narrator’s fast pace and the author’s style of giving the reader endless lists - of fauna, of items in a store, of streets in a town, etc - bogged me down. Some readers have said it’s as much a naturalist’s digest or an architect’s historical meandering as it is a novel about a man’s search for his origins, and I tend to agree. Nonetheless, if I could have easily gone back in my reading and seen the rich sentences a few times I might have become more immersed in the story. I also could have googled the many Czech, German and French words and phrases that never got translated.

This book seems like a great fit for many readers, but sadly, not for me.

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Great but not as great as Life After Life

Revisado: 12-11-24

Mini spoiler: In _Life After Life_, I loved the character of Teddy and I looked forward to reading/listening to this novel. However, with the unlikeable characters playing central roles in his life in this book, I just felt sad for him. Even his bright spots, like Nancy, were not so bright after all. And then to have the ending cancel it all out - well, I didn't love it. Atkinson shies away from the term "experimental fiction" because she believes that all fiction is experimental, nonetheless, the sad and abrupt detour at the end didn't work for me.

As always with the novels I've read by Atkinson, her writing is superb, so the story itself will carry you along....but....

The narrator was mostly great, but his women's voices usually came out raspy and uncaring, even Ursula's.

It's a good read, but my least favorite of Atkinson's so far.

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Great story; so-so narrator

Revisado: 09-02-24

A fun story about 6 magical children who may or may not pose a threat to the world as we know it - and their two caretakers - whose lives get upended by a month-long visit from an agent of the company who runs their "orphanage." The not-so-subtle directive from the company is for Linus Baker to find evidence that the orphanage needs to be shut down. What he actually discovers, though a predictable plot, will leave the reader laughing with delight (and also crying sympathetic tears).

The narrator almost ruined the story for me. I kept picturing him sitting in a children's library with children at his feet while he read aloud. Not that he overemphasized the voices of the characters; in fact, when the characters showed emotion those were the least believable bits. It's more that he seemed a bit condescending in his reading, if that's possible. He also read fast - no relishing of the story at all.

But the book itself was great!

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Numerous narrators made for a fun listen!

Revisado: 08-05-24

Loved the idea for the story, many of the characters, and the spiritual musings about life and death. I also liked the inclusion of Abraham Lincoln and his son as main characters. Orffman and Sedaris were amazing! A super creative book!

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Really wanted to like it....

Revisado: 01-03-24

I've been on an Annie Proulx kick the past few months, having listened to _That Old Ace in the Hole_ and _Shipping News_, both of which I loved. This one, however, I couldn't even finish. I got about 8 hours into it and said, "Nope." I really like the stories surrounding the first generation of characters, but by the second generation I could no longer muster interest in their lives; and the way Proulx (and Petkoff) depicted the indigenous people's way of speaking became offensive. Reminded me of the old Lone Ranger TV show - "Me Tonto. Go river. Catch many fish," with same flat affect, and even in their own language(s). Usually I love multigenerational epics, but this one didn't work for me.

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Excellent, but a tough read

Revisado: 01-18-22

I loved _The Overstory_ so was eager to tuck into this. The writing is excellent, the characters grab you right away, the plot is sustaining. But overall, it's really sad - not just for the lives of the main characters, but for the state of the planet and the nation. It is definitely worth reading, but be prepared to weep.

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Good Story but “Magical” Ending

Revisado: 06-04-21

I like Griffiths’ books so far, but this one, like the first, tends to wrap up the ending with plot line and events that come out of left field. I like the repeat characters and their subplots - very engaging. The narrator did not add to the story but detracted. Most of the men sounded churlish, sarcastic, histrionic….. if this had been my first Griffiths book I would have hated the characters, I fear.

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