Pokey

OFF WITH HER HEAD (PLEASE?)

Revisado: 02-26-24

Who knows how much the real Margaret Beaufort resembled this ridiculous, deeply stupid legend in her own mind? The little ACTUAL history I've read says that Beaufort was greatly admired in her time, but the people who greatly admired her were probably also huge fans of raping their terrified child brides and burning "witches" alive. Not the best character references. Margaret having been one of those child brides, I thought this book would humanize the straight-up villain "Lady Margaret" becomes later in this series - maybe even make her a sort of flawed feminist hero. Who can't sympathize with a neglected, misunderstood bookworm full of big dreams? Especially when she's forced to become one of those child brides? Sure, at moments you think, "Well, of course she is what she is... look how she's been raised and what she endures." But every time you're almost on her side, she starts yapping again, and OH GOD, WHERE IS JAMIE LANNISTER WHEN YOU NEED HIM TO PUSH A KID OUT A WINDOW???

Bottom line, I don't have a hard time staying interested in the story (so far), but if you need to like the protagonist even remotely, then you're in for a long, cringe-heavy slog through chapters. It doesn't feel great disliking a 9-year-old girl this much, but even God would send Margaret's calls to voicemail.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Religion, Not History

Revisado: 12-13-21

I gave 3 stars because it may be that the book is fine for what it IS and I just didn't read enough reviews before buying (had to stop after St. Benedict and return it). I love world history written for casual reads/listens, or for young readers - it just chills me out. Even though I'm agnostic, I recognize the religion has played a huge part in history and that faith and scholarship aren't always in conflict, so blurb phrases like "told through the prism of faith" didn't put me off. But this isn't merely history told in a way that's compatible with faith.... it's a straight up Sunday School reader. When people started walking on water, I tapped out.

I'm not here to criticize or debate anyone's beliefs. If you think a history book should state that Benedict made his soull so beautiful for God that God enabled him to work many miracles, you might enjoy this. It wasn't what I signed up for.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

More Enhanced Than I Needed, Thanks Anyway

Revisado: 04-20-12

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Cut back on the ambient sound (seagulls, rain, etc.) and background voices by about 50 percent. Actually, cut out the background voices completely. This being the New King James version, it's already paraphrased enough - don't need the echo of actors' voices repeating the ideas for me just under the main narration.

Any additional comments?

I was so excited to find this recording: some of my very favorite actors (Angela Bassett, Denzel Washington) involved! Since my interest is literary and cultural, not spiritual, the choice of narrator and text were key, and I thought I'd hit the jackpot.

That said, I made an impulse purchase without listening to the sample, so it's my fault that the experience disappointed: went looking for apples in the orange store. I didn't realize how much more of a "performance" (vs. a reading) this would be. Listening to either Angela Bassett or Denzel Washington (or any of the other performers) simply READ - as if they were sitting next to me, with a Bible in their hands - would have been a delight, but that is not what you hear... so if it's what you're LOOKING for, be warned!

I also wish I'd looked more carefully into the difference between KJV and NKJV, because I would chosen a KJV recording the first time. There is definite value - spiritually - to telling these stories in a way that makes the characters more relatable and drives home the point that even with thousands of years of history between us, we are all human beings with our same human desires, fears, flaws and gifts. Abraham was still just a man, Queen Esther just a woman. When you're coming at it as a work of literature, though... you really want all the thees, thines, thy's and -eths.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Beware of Sound Quality Issues

Revisado: 04-20-12

What would have made Instant Genius, The Cheat Sheets of Culture better?

The audio quality was surprisingly bad, even though I downloaded it with the same settings as my other recordings. It had nothing to do with the narrator; just hard to hear, overall.

Would you be willing to try another one of Ken Boynton’s performances?

Yes.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Interesting, informative and perfectly "digestible" in short sittings - enjoyable way to spend 45 minutes or so. I just wish I'd been able to hear better!

Any additional comments?

Could probably do without the little "dramatized" dialogues at the beginning ("why you need to read this" section where people argue historical facts). Just a waste of time, blurry sound quality and very artificially scripted - an eye-roll moment.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña