OYENTE

Amazon Customer

  • 25
  • opiniones
  • 9
  • votos útiles
  • 97
  • calificaciones

Authors Note Is a Must Read

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 12-08-24

First, the good. The segments of the book that encapsulated the historial fiction were generally very interesting. I could have done without the “Harlequin romance” aspects - the overly erotic sections of the novel that cheapened it in comparison to the historial research and story. But still, I enjoyed the historical fiction. I recommend reading the Authors Note first. Although at the end, it is the best part of the book.

Then, the not so good. The parallel modern day story was contrite and contrived and very hard to believe. The initial premise, woman’s work submitted under a gender neutral name, worked. But it quickly became implausible. And the modern day heroine waiting to be rescued by a hunky man? Seriously? If you made the hunky male savior who she initially hated a burley pirate and slapped Fabio on the cover, this is a Harlequin romance. It really cheapened the historical narrative. And instead of letting the story evolve through the characters, the constant digression into lengthy lectures about gender issues, implicit bias, and the like, as a literary device, I struggle with. Lecturing an audience is one of the least effective ways to persuade or educate. Better to let the audience into the minds and hearts of the characters. To Kill a Mockingbird. Uncle Sam’s Cabin. There is so much great literature that lets the reader feel for, and with, the characters. Ethos. Pathos. Logos. There is a time and place for each. This is a novel, and pathos - the emotional connection - would have been more effective here than the many mini-dissertation.

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Beautifully & Sensitively Written… But Some Aspects Fell Short of Its Full Potential

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-02-24

This is a beautifully written and ambitious book. It treats difficult topics with sensitivity and respect. It intertwines storylines and draws rich parallels with it two narrators, bees buzzing in the background. And the unfolding storyline that moves simultaneously forward and backward is brilliant and engrossing. Two failings, however, were grating and left me wishing that the book had gone through a more vigorous editorial process. First, the criminal trial. With so much research done to make sure other aspects of the book were authentic, the treatment of the criminal trial was shockingly poor. The supposedly brilliant uncle serving as defense counsel was literally committing malpractice on every page. The courtroom scenes were absurd. I appreciate this is not a Grisham novel. But surely an editor could have provided some guidance to ensure that the plot line was at least plausible. Second, chapters were interjected to educate the reader. They were jarring, as they interrupt the storyline, narration, and character development to provide, essentially, “classroom lectures” mid-story. It would have been much more effective if, instead of preaching to the reader, the authors had woven this material into the storyline and let the main characters speak for themselves. Thus, as a literally work, the book fell short of the brilliance of novels like To Kill a Mockingbird. But despite its flaws, it is a beautiful and sensitive treatment of topics that are both difficult to understand and difficult to discuss.

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So Much Potential - But Distant & Lacking Connection

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-04-24

Great concept for a story. I was looking forward to listening to this story, and it has huge potential. But oddly, the narrator is distant and remote. We don’t really get to know the characters. Even Frankie, who is our heroine, is given a distant, clinical and superficial treatment. I stuck it through to the end. Not a bad story. But it could have been so much more.

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Meh. Uninteresting. Unoriginal.

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
2 out of 5 stars
Historia
1 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-22-23

Completely uninteresting. Characters are two dimensional. Plot is transparent and not at all engaging. Even as a free member benefit I recommend a pass.

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Surprisingly Good

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-19-23

I picked this up as light reading. My initial sense of it was pulp fiction, vapid plot, flat characters. However, there was enough to keep turning the virtual pages. And I’m glad I did. The book gained depth and momentum as it moved along and turned out to be a surprisingly good read. Not a timeless book to buy in hard copy for your bookcase shelf. But very enjoyable pulp fiction. Definitely recommend for poolside reading, light reading if you find yourself under the weather during flu season, or just looking for some light distraction. :)

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Enjoyable Enough Pulp Fiction

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-09-23

An engaging enough read, if you ignore the implausibility of many plot points. Nothing really special or memorable.

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Nails on Chalkboard.

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
1 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 09-01-23

The concept is engaging and provocative. In fact, I would suggest reading this with The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. However, the narration, for me, grates like nails on a chalkboard. I could not tolerate it enough to make it through the first chapter of poems. I am going to put this down and, instead, purchase it in hard copy. Not all of you, of course, may experience the narration as viscerally as I did. I just found the fake German accent and affectations to be intensely jarring rather than engaging as I am sure they were intended.

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Light Pulp Fiction

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-31-23

A light, enjoyable summer read. Well done, overall, thought the story feels a bit over-woven. Too many threads. Too much implausibility. But a good read despite its flaws.

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Wow. Just Wow. Brilliant. Clever. Tight.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-26-23

The challenge w a thriller/mystery, of course, is maintaining suspense. Every authors knows not to give away the ending too early. Most resort to a “Batman Ending” with the villain confessing/the protagonist uncovering the game in a rush in the last chapter. This author does neither. With the brilliant device of the podcast and multiple first person narratives, she keeps the story spinning right up to the end - and even then you are left wondering about what, really, is the truth. Whose truth? This is a genre I usually enjoy as pulp fiction, fun summer reading. But Jewell’s novel stands head and shoulders above the rest.

This may earn a place on my bookshelf in hard copy. I am only wavering on this as the performance for this book was equally brilliant. Audible fully embraced the device of the podcast, truly bringing this story to life. This may be an exception to the rule, a book best digested here in its digital version.



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Brilliant. Beautiful. Timeless.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-19-23

This is an absolutely beautiful, and yes, magical story that has earned a place in hard copy on my bookshelf. Highly recommended.

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