Susan

Relaxing smooth read

Revisado: 07-30-24

Delightful. I usually read more adventurous or suspenseful stories… which is why the respite of this gentle intriguing story was so sweet. It’s a humorous, smart, and thoughtful tale, well written and paced. I’m looking forward to the next installment!

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Gentle & Thoughtful

Revisado: 12-08-23

I loved this story about regular people living their best lives, flaws, eccentricities, and all. I found it hope-building, a way of being to aspire toward. Being of-an-age, and wondering with no little aghast shock about that weird reality, aging is a puzzle. This book provides an interesting look at two characters to navigate the same existential questions, choices, and puzzle. Loved the tone, hope, and thought-provoking easy tale. Highly recommend.

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Plodding and Hurry Up All at Once

Revisado: 02-05-22

This read reminds me of a school child hurrying through homework: surfacey, incongruent, oddly incomplete. It ambles along. Pleasant but not compelling. The plot is choppy with things introjected oddly and without context. Disappointing. I wonder if the TV is the new passion for the author and the book is just a duty.

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Ugh - Nonsense and boring

Revisado: 12-02-17

What would have made Against the Day better?

It would better if the discrepant storylines were better joined. This jumps around and is hard to follow. A single plot with spin-offs would work, or a single central character...

What do you think your next listen will be?

Anything but this. This suggested clever historical intrigue. Its not clever, its not historically credible, its just, blah and silly.

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

The story over-bore his narration. He's good. The story - 5 minute snippets that change fanciful direction - isn't a story, really. 2 hours into it, SOMETHING should be emerging as a worthwhile thread.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Against the Day?

Most of it. Stick to one clear thread.

Any additional comments?

So sorry to learn this has been in my library too long to return it.

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SAME book as The Merrybegot!

Revisado: 07-24-14

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Don't accidentally buy this mediocre book twice!! I bought both The Merrybegot and The Minister's Daughter because, after reading the description, I thought one was the sequel to the other. Turns out, they are the same book. The narrator is different, but identical books. Really annoying to pay twice for a book that was mediocre at best. It makes me wonder how closely Audible vets the books it buys and/or whether the author/'s agent was deliberately boosting sales by a name change. Feel cheated.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Make it different from the SAME book (word for word, same author), by a different title.

What didn’t you like about Heather O'Neill’s performance?

Shrill! Her efforts to sound like a giggling or squealing pre adolescent girl were ear splitting and ughly. This is the first time I've ever encountered a narrator that I truly did not enjoy. It was painful.

Did The Minister's Daughter inspire you to do anything?

Yes.... to write this review.

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Same book as Minister's Daughters

Revisado: 07-24-14

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I bought both The Merrybegot and The Minister's Daughter because, after reading the description, I thought one was the sequel to the other. Turns out, they are the same book. The narrator is different, but identical books. Really annoying to pay twice for a book that was mediocre at best.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Shrieking bits, supposedly to sound like an early-adolescent girl giggling or squeling, was assaultively loud and high picted.

Was The Merrybegot worth the listening time?

NO

Any additional comments?

See Above.

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A Slice of Humble Pie

Revisado: 05-01-08

Only 5 minutes into this book I was convinced that Ed. V is the most arrogant author I've ever encountered. I continued with this book only because I was curious whether his comments could get any worse. The good news is they do not. The bad news is they also don't get any better, or more humble.

Frankly, I'm surprised this man has summitted anything - his ego is so big it must be difficult to drag along.

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Mixed Review

Revisado: 01-12-06

Brooke Shields' honesty and unwavering self-examination is remarkable. The struggle she describes is as courageous as her willingness to share her experiences with the people she has come into contact with and with her readers. Her tale will resonant with the countless women who have experienced postpartum depression, as well as those who struggle to become pregnant... for many it will become a favorite and a comfort.

It was not, however, anywhere near the quality work I'd expected. Ms. Shields' narrative fell into repeated very-very-very long descriptions of her dark feelings: when they first occurred they were described at length; when they resurfaced, they were again described and compared with the first description; later, to elaborate on her memory of those feelings at a different point of her life, she fully described them again; and, finally, she described them again when she wanted to remind the listener why her emerging insight was important. I thoroughly believe feelings need to be validated and understand why Ms. Shields felt the need to turn her feelings over and over in the process of examining them, but, frankly, the text (and her voice as narrator) got whiney.

Bottomline: My review is mixed. Ms. Shields has made very significant personal progress and this courageous book will encourage countless others to fight back again postpartum depression and other demons. But, although this book is a powerfully poignant journal - it is not a brilliant memoir nor even a well written commentary.

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Challenging - Confronting - Enlivening

Revisado: 10-12-04

This book sets on its ear the Sunday school wisdom of my childhood and dared me to think critically about Christ, God, faith, and salvation. Threatening for the faint of heart and faith, but rich in history, ancient literature and legend, anthropology, theology, and philosophy, this title propelled my worldview broader. My appreciation for the authors of the New Testament; Christ, the son of man, but Son of God; and God's integrity and texture was enriched and enlivened. My understanding and awareness of what I believe and why will never be the same. Note: This is not a devotional book, nor conservatively Christian treatment of the materal, but rather a respectful, sober, and scholarly examination of an ancient text and its content's place in history and culture. Nonetheless, this book is for seekers, the parched, and those truly searching for perspective.

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