Beverly A. Sykes

Terrific

Revisado: 05-22-22

If at all possible, I highly recommend getting this as an audio book. After his mother's brief, but serious illness at age 91, Anderson Cooper realized that though the two were close, he knew essentially nothing of his mother's family. He was a member of the Vanderbilt family, one of the richest in the country, yet there was no relationship between his mother and her relatives and she never spoke of them. She had recently learned how to send text messages and over the next year, she and Anderson texted back and forth for a year, about her life and their feelings about the world. The audio book is wonderful because each reads his/her own texts and it is much more colorful than just reading texts. I sat in a chair all day and finished it in one day.

Both were strongly affected by death. Gloria lost her father at age 9 and Anderson lost his father at age 10. They both lost Anderson's brother Carter, who committed suicide at age 23. The story of Gloria's childhood was completely unbelievable, with a mother who didn't like her and rarely even saw her, much less interacted with her. An ugly custody battle between Gloria's mother and her aunt, when Gloria was 10 was the defining moment in her life and throughout the book much of her memories deal with the hatred between her mother and her aunt.

The book is a beautiful, loving celebration of the bond between mother and son. Their texts end shortly before Gloria's 92nd birthday and she mentions that she hopes some day Anderson will become a parent himself. Sadly, she did not live long enough to know that he actually did become a parent. His first child was born a year after his mother died, at age 95.

I do agree that I missed more personal information on Anderson, but this was his story of his mother.

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Such a Disappointment

Revisado: 03-03-16

What disappointed you about Brooklyn?

Narration was fine, but the story was like a scientist looking at a bunch of monkeys and recording their action. You never really got to know anybody, to follow through on potentially interesting points, everything was just very "nice" and "calm" and Eilis was a wimp who was afraid of everything.

What could Colm Tóibín have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Actually follow through on plot points. When a lesbian makes a pass, don't just ignore it by being afraid of what people will say. When she returns home, have her mother be at least somewhat interested. This was the most emotion-less book I've ever heard.

Which character – as performed by Kirsten Potter – was your favorite?

as someone with Irish ancestors, I liked all of the Irish characters. Love me some brogues.

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

Not really. I kept waiting for something to "happen" throughout the entire story. It had an emotional range from not A to Z, but A to B.

Any additional comments?

Very disappointed in this book, and comments i have read from others indicate that I am not alone.

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Bring back Jonathan Marosz

Revisado: 10-25-15

If you could sum up Promise Me in three words, what would they be?

Could be better

How did the narrator detract from the book?

While I love Myron Bolitar, I might have stopped reading tis book because the narration was so bad. It proves what I've always said--an author who is not a trained actor (like Rob Lowe or Alan Cumming) should never read his own work. After 7 books read by Jonathan Marosz it was difficult to get into the characters, Coben slurs, rushes, and stutters over some words. If I had not already had 7 books of Marosz, it might not have been so glaring, but glaring it was in this book. A great, great disappointment.

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Davina Porter can read the telephone book for me!

Revisado: 04-17-13

Would you consider the audio edition of A Breath of Snow and Ashes to be better than the print version?

After listening to the previous books, I can't see ever READING a Gabaldon again. Davina Porter's narration is so wonderful. I actually put off listening to two of the series because they were not yet available in unabridged version in this country and to read an abridged version I would have had to have a different narrator. I bought BOTH the day I found they were finally available in unabridged version, with Porter narrating.

Who was your favorite character and why?

How can you separate Claire and Jamie? I love their relationship, love how it has grown and matured over the years, love how they are so clearly distinct characters in the narration.

Which character – as performed by Davina Porter – was your favorite?

So hard to choose just one. I love how Porter is able to create such recognizable characters, whether male or female, Scottish or British, adult or child. I do love her child accents, but my favorite characters are always Claire and Jamie.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I like to savor these books and only listen to them when driving in the car, thus each take several months to finish, but there are points where I have to bring the recorder into the house and just listen to an engrossing part.

Any additional comments?

I was so sad at this book coming to and end--and no new Gabaldons on the immediate horizon--that I went and bought Outlander, the first book of the series, which I read in book form about 20 years ago. I had to have my Davina Porter fix!

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Davina Porter can read the telephone book for me!

Revisado: 04-17-13

Would you consider the audio edition of A Breath of Snow and Ashes to be better than the print version?

After listening to the previous books, I can't see ever READING a Gabaldon again. Davina Porter's narration is so wonderful. I actually put off listening to two of the series because they were not yet available in unabridged version in this country and to read an abridged version I would have had to have a different narrator. I bought BOTH the day I found they were finally available in unabridged version, with Porter narrating.

Who was your favorite character and why?

How can you separate Claire and Jamie? I love their relationship, love how it has grown and matured over the years, love how they are so clearly distinct characters in the narration.

Which character – as performed by Davina Porter – was your favorite?

So hard to choose just one. I love how Porter is able to create such recognizable characters, whether male or female, Scottish or British, adult or child. I do love her child accents, but my favorite characters are always Claire and Jamie.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I like to savor these books and only listen to them when driving in the car, thus each take several months to finish, but there are points where I have to bring the recorder into the house and just listen to an engrossing part.

Any additional comments?

I was so sad at this book coming to and end--and no new Gabaldons on the immediate horizon--that I went and bought Outlander, the first book of the series, which I read in book form about 20 years ago. I had to have my Davina Porter fix!

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Omit the sound effects!

Revisado: 11-18-12

Where does Hell's Corner rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top. I love Baldacci's books

Who was your favorite character and why?

Oliver Stone. Always. Why? Why not?

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I'm not a huge fan of Ron McLarty. Don't think his narration flows as well as others I've listened to, but I listen to him because I like Baldacci's books. I initially hated having a second voice doing the women's lines, but eventually got used to it.

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

It just held my attention

Any additional comments?

Please, please, PLEASE stop adding sound effects to audio books. It's stupid and distracting.

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