Virginia Waldron

Utter Perfection

Revisado: 12-21-24

The narrator was brilliant. He brought the story to a place that engrossed me.

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Wonderful characters

Revisado: 04-29-24

Very moving, authentic human experiences...brilliant reader... a new favourite book ...so honoured to have read this story..great insight into the human condition.

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A Sermon on Socialism

Revisado: 10-20-17

A tedious waste of time. The narrator did a fine job with material that was utterly tiresome.

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Very Entertaining Book

Revisado: 10-20-17

The story was really good and the narrator was brilliant. A great bit of escapism.

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Do Not Waste A Credit

Revisado: 04-13-17

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This was a contrived attempt to emulate Plum's work. A dismal and utter failure. The language was not authentic. Very weak.

Would you ever listen to anything by Sebastian Faulks again?

I would run through hot coals before reading this author again.

How could the performance have been better?

Read something from a decent writer.

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

None.

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Where Have You Been All My Life, Thomas Mann?

Revisado: 03-30-17

Would you listen to Buddenbrooks again? Why?

I have already listened to it twice as I didn't want it to end. It is just so incredibly well written. Subtle shifts which are significant in the development of the story. The last section is some of the most powerful and passionate writing I have ever read. Thomas Mann is orderly when needed and wildly insightful and inflamed when needed. It is a brilliant book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Buddenbrooks?

The final sections of the book will remain with me forever. I even awoke in the middle of the night thinking about that part. It is a book that made a big impression on my thinking about education and sensitive, young people. Utterly wonderful.

What about David Rintoul’s performance did you like?

He is a perfect narrator for this story. Excellent performance.

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

It is long but I just devoured it. Not in one sitting but over about a week. Yes I wanted to listen to it all the time as I felt part of it so much more than my own life, as I read it. I had no idea what a consummate writer Thomas Mann is until I stumbled upon this book. I actually feel privileged to have read it. It is such a rich text.

Any additional comments?

Read this book before you die.

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Utterly Hilarious

Revisado: 03-30-17

Where does The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book was such a surprise for me. It actually made me laugh aloud. I had to re-read it immediately as I just loved it so much.

What other book might you compare The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold to and why?

The Diary of a Nobody is mentioned in the book. It is not similar in style or period but both books are hilarious. I have not read anything like Gilbert Pinfold.

What about Michael Cochrane’s performance did you like?

The narrator was brilliant. Really nailed it. He added to the hilarity of the story.

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

I laughed until my stomach hurt once.

Any additional comments?

Loved, loved, loved it.

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Abrupt Ending....

Revisado: 03-30-17

What did you love best about Confessions of an English Opium-Eater?

Flawless narration of an interesting account. The ending seems faulty as though the whole story had not finished. Very odd.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater?

The narrative of his difficulties as a young man were very sad.

What does Roy Macready bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brought the book to life. A brilliant performance.

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

Very moving.

Any additional comments?

I think someone should check to see if the whole book has been downloaded. Awful ending as though it is incomplete.

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Short and Entertaining.

Revisado: 03-26-16

What made the experience of listening to Free: Sherlock Holmes- The First Great Detective the most enjoyable?

Interesting and light. For fans, anything about Sherlock Holmes is fun. This does not pretend to be an in-depth study. The lecturer has an engaging style and knows his stuff. A fun listen.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the way the lecturer cited particular stories to illustrate his points.

Which scene was your favorite?

It was good to hear about the broad development of detective stories. Sherlock Holmes started a genre that has evolved from the tantalizing and intriguing plots and characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle.

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

Yes this is short and light and perfect for a quick listen.

Any additional comments?

This has made me want to re-read the stories.

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An All Nighter.

Revisado: 01-05-16

What did you love best about The Killer Next Door?

The story is utterly gripping and I cared about the characters. There is literally not a wasted word in this book. I felt that I was living in this orbit. It literally kept me awake until after 6 am as I simply could not stop listening. All the characters have a fascinating background and a compelling reason to be living in this boarding house. Their diversity and unavoidable crossing of paths is intriguing.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Killer Next Door?

There is a gruesome description of a decaying rodent left on a staircase in order to kill an elderly tenant that was horrifyingly enthralling. The tension that builds as the story evolves beneath seeming normality is beyond eerie. I just wanted to discover more and more as I read.

Which scene was your favorite?

For some reason, I really liked what seems to be a bland and almost mundane scene. The escaped Iranian blogger meets a character who has been caught witnessing a gangland murder and fleeing with a huge amount of laundered cash.. This chance meeting is in the street on a warm day. He goes out of his way to walk her home carrying her bag. Under normal circumstances these two would never encounter each other. Both are seeking refuge and have powerful enemies. Their dialogue is simply wonderful and touching. I don't know why I liked this so much when there are other scenes that are infinitely more thrilling but for some reason, this showed what true humanity lies within all people. It was just beautiful but incidental.

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

This book made me laugh, cry and inwardly shriek with horror and disgust. It is truly one of the most unexpectedly gripping books I have read this year. I absolutely loved the setting, the suspense and the action. All the characters developed and were really interesting and you find out important things about each one rather than superficial descriptions. You are drawn into their world and live there with them. The heat was an overwhelmingly ghastly aspect to this book and added to the yuck factors which play such a role in what makes this book tick.

Any additional comments?

This is my first encounter with this author. I had no idea how much I would absolutely adore the book. It has been great to discover a new writer. It was amazing to find a book which was genuinely touching, authentic and tense underneath a veneer of mundane life. Everyone matters in this story. Loved it to bits. The narrator was brilliant and I was not even conscious that she was acting. She just became each character and I didn't mentally judge her acting because it was as though she wasn't playing each part but actually was each part.

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