OYENTE

Ellen

  • 65
  • opiniones
  • 116
  • votos útiles
  • 69
  • calificaciones

Perfection

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

Revisado: 12-05-23

There are audiobooks and then there is this audiobook. I felt like I was having coffee with an old friend. Absolute perfection.

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Epic

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

Revisado: 10-26-23

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵–𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦.”

What a powerful story!

I love Kristin Hannah's books, and especially appreciate the way she writes about the resilience of the human spirit. 'The Nightingale' has been in my Audible library since 2016 (!) I am definitely late to the party but I’m so glad I’m here. I don't normally gravitate toward World War II historical fiction but despite the painful subject matter, this is an incredibly compelling, readable and poignant story.

It is hard to comprehend that such hatred and prejudice flourished during the Nazi occupation of France. This is the background for the story of two French sisters, Isabelle and Viann. Seemingly opposite in every way, they both do what they feel they must to survive during the brutal wartime occupation.

Passionate and impetuous Isabelle is driven to join the Resistance while Viann, a married teacher with a young daughter, is struggling to survive the day to day hunger, food shortages and casual brutality of the Germans. Yet both are heroes and their stories were absolutely heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

Isabelle was based on the real-life Andrée de Jongh, a woman who was part of the Belgian Resistance and who saved downed pilots by leading them over the Pyranees mountains to freedom, as Isabelle did. Such incredible bravery!

This is a must-read book. The themes and events feel very timely and current so that the world does not allow such virulent hatred to spread once again.

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So Clever!

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

Revisado: 06-19-23

"𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧." ⁣

What a knockout first line! The premise of MY MURDER is unique: a young wife and mother named Lou has been brought back to life (along with other victims of a serial killer) by a so-called government agency called the Replication Commission. The possibilities of this plot are endless: who decides who will be brought back to life? And who is worthy of such a gift? ⁣

We soon learn that Lou is actually a clone of her former self, and that she cannot remember the last, violent day of her life. This ingenious novel is a mix of crime and speculative fiction with many unpredictable twists and turns. The author gives agency to the murdered women and raises important issues such the causal misogyny so ever present in on our own culture. ⁣

As Lou begins to investigate the many inconsistencies in her own murder case, she learns that everything is not as it seems. There are lots of red herrings in this novel and the mystery deepens even more when Lou finally confronts the man imprisoned for her murder. From the title, to the snarky humor, to the wild conclusion, I enjoyed every minute of this book! ⁣

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UNFORGETTABLE

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

Revisado: 01-30-22

This thought-provoking and terrifying book deserves to be on everyone's must-read list. The author manages to weave in sarcasm and black humor into this almost unthinkable story. "Almost" because so many current events are leading to this book being actually realistic. The narrator lent an air of reality to this book and was perfect.
“I’m a bad mother, but I’m learning to be good.”
“I’m a narcissist and a danger to my child.”

This is what the mothers who are sent to an experimental program are forced to chant over and over again during their year of incarceration. Most of them have been sentenced for very minor incidences, but the level of Government control over childrearing, parental rights and the private lives of parents (mostly mothers) is ironclad. They have surrendered all rights to privacy and independent thought and behavior.

Frida is an overtired, overworked mother of baby Harriet who makes an unwise decision one day and leaves the baby unattended while she runs an errand. A neighbor reports the crying child to child protective services and they sweep in and remove Harriet to her father's home after Harriet's arrest. Frida's ex-husband Gust left Frida for a younger, white woman with whom he was having an affair. Frida, Chinese-American, is treated like a vicious, immoral criminal right from the start. The social worker sets her up for failed supervised visits, which are disastrous, and the family court judge orders Frida to attend the school for mothers if she wants a chance to ever be reunited with Harriet.

What follows is a year of emotional and psychological torture by the "counselors", supervisors and school. Non-white mothers are set up to fail. Rare telephone calls with their children are routinely suspended so that months pass without the women even being able to speak to their children. The mothers also later see that fathers, who attend a separate program, are treated completely different. Their phone rights are never taken away as punishment.

There is so much systemic racism built into the bizarre "rehabilitation" instruction that Frida soon begins to lose hope. Gust's girlfriend Susannah, with whom Harriet is living, puts Harriet on a low carb diet with causes the baby to lose weight but she is not reported to the authorities. Of course because she is white.

The author perfectly captures the impossible standards by which good mothers are measure in our modern society, and also the danger of allowing the government control over our privacy and our personal choices. Most of this book is nightmarish, particularly the purpose introduction of robotic "dolls" with which each mother is expected to bond as if they were a human child. Because them others were forced to sign nondisclosure agreements, they cannot discuss any of the sadiscit measures being employed by the program. The dolls are built to measure certain "metrics" of the mothers, such as levels of emotion and attachment which the government will then use to determine whether or not they are "good" mothers.

Normal human emotion is not allowed and Frida's whole world is turned upside down. Is any of this really necessary in order to keep children safe? This book raises very tough questions and leaves them up to the reader to decide. One of the important issues is how men and women are still judged so differently in our society, with women being held to a much higher standard.

Jessamine Chan has written a knockout of a debut novel. At times reminiscent of 'The Handmaid's Tale' and 'Never Let Me Go', this book will stay with me for a long time and should be required reading for anyone over the age of 16. 'The School for Good Mothers' is unforgettable!

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Outstanding

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

Revisado: 12-25-21

Dark, gritty and fast-paced, with incredible writing. The narration by Adam Lazarre-White is next level. I didn’t think I’d ever love a crime thriller as much as I loved this book. Don’t miss it.

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Note to Self: Listen to This Book!

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

Revisado: 12-08-21

"Words are momentary. Intent is momentous."

I love Matthew McConaughey, so when my non-bookish sister-in-law recommended this audiobook, I immediately used my Audible credit and downloaded it. And now I have been telling everyone I know to listen to this audiobook, too!

I always loved McConaughey's interviews, and his movies are all among my favorites. His versatility as an actor was hard-faught: once typecast as the hero in romantic comedies, he decided to pivot away from those roles and the results were life-changing. It was fascinating to me to hear the story behind this career shift. This book is filled with not only his life story, but his philosophy on life, relationships, work and family.

McConaughey doesn't hold back when recounting his often tough childhood in Texas and his parents' turbulent (and violent) marriages (yes, plural - they re-married each other several times). His memories of his childhood are both funny and poignant. I especially loved his account of the year he spent as a Roary exchange student in Australia while in high school. But while some people would let the obstacles that McConaughey faced hold them back or stop them from reaching their full potential, he uses his special brand of optimism to turn all these experiences into something positive. Greenlight.

This is a very candid memoir and the actor doesn't seem to hold anything back. As a movie fan, I especially loved his accounts of auditioning for certain movie roles and recounting behind-the-scenes tales. McConaughey has a very endearing mix of down-home philosophy with very introspective observations on life and it all makes for a very winning combination. He always tries to give his very best to whatever endeavor he undertakes, and this book is but one example.

I always listen to audiobooks at 1.3 times the speed (I know, horrifying) but I had to listen to this one at the normal speed. It is an incredibly unique memoir that deserves your full attention. Highly recommend! I think this quote perfectly sums up McConaughey's outlook on life:

"It’s better to jump than fall. And here I am. Greenlight."

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Whimsical and Imaginative

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

Revisado: 12-01-21

Let me start off by saying that lots of readers note that this is a spin-off of the Caraval series. While those books are very high on my TBR list, I've never read any of them, and I still THOROUGHLY enjoyed this whimsical, imaginative fantasy!

Let me also say that I am not a huge fantasy reader. In fact, I can probably count on one hand the number of fantasy books I've read and with that said, Once Upon a Broken Heart was a surprise to me. I loved the characters and the fascinating world that Stephanie Garber created. The narrator Rebecca Soler is a favorite of mine, and she was the perfect voice for the protagonist Evangeline Fox.

Luc is the love of Evangeline's life and he suddenly leaves her to marry her stepsister Marisol. Evangeline, desperate to get Luc back, enters into a deal with Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. I immediately connected with Jacks, and would love to read more about him or hear from his point of view! If there could ever be a bad boy in a fantasy, Jacks would certainly be it. I do love an anti-hero! Evangeline doesn't fully comprehend the deal she makes even though as a reader, I knew it probably would not turn out well for her.

Lots of adventures ensue on Evangeline's path to a happy ending. She is a strong, feisty heroine and I could not wait to see what the author had in store for her next. There are lots of interesting characters, and none of them are really who they appear to be.

I understand that Jacks is a character from the Caraval series and just for him, I would read those books. He's smart, funny, mysterious and possibly wicked? But in all fairness, Evangeline knew he was one of the Fates and that making a deal with him was filled with danger. I really wanted to see if he and Evangeline would end up together since they had amazing chemistry together. There is a but of a cliffhanger but I can't wait to see what the author has planned for Jacks and Little Fox.

This book has an almost fairy-tale like quality to it that I loved. It can absolutely be read as a standalone and if you are an audiobook lover, then I highly recommend listening to this as narrated by Rebecca Soler.

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STUNNING

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

Revisado: 10-06-21

"They never let you be famous and happy."

Five stars for the absolutely spellbinding and gorgeous audiobook narration!! I never thought I’d be interested in this book but it completely captivated me.

I have to thank BookTok's influence over my daughter and her friends who kept recommending this book to me. And the book is just gorgeous! I cannot recommend the narrator Frazer Douglas highly enough. His voice is perfect for this beautiful and tragic story.

Don't let the intimidating subject matter keep you away from this book. It has everything: forbidden love, overbearing parents, courage and heartbreak. This is a powerful, exciting audiobook. The writing is sublime and the bond between Patroclus and Achilles is beautiful. The author puts her own twist on history and in this version, the two are bonded together, loyal to each other no matter what the fates had in store for them.

"I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world."

This is an unforgettable book and I recommend it highly!

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Captivating and Unique

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

Revisado: 04-16-21

"The world is not kinds to us…There are few places for a woman to leave an indelible mark.”

Completely captivating! This book has a very unique plot as well as wonderful character development and intrigue. I really enjoyed the audiobook and the different narrators. A big plus for me was the accompanying PDF containing a map of London as well as recipes!

Two of the three points of view are set in the past and one is in the present. Each heroine is unique, and each of them are very strong characters. The historical aspect of the story is fascinating and the details about London are exquisite! There is a touch of fantasy but it is must more of a historical fiction story.

Nella, Eliza and Caroline are all smart, unusual characters, and their lives and stories are woven together seamlessly. I highly recommend the audiobook and am astounding that this is the author's debut novel!

“How had I only just learned that happiness and fulfillment were entirely distinct things?”

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Eye-Opening Tale

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

Revisado: 02-22-21

Stephanie Land's story is an eye-opening and stark tale of poverty in modern-day America. The book begins with the author's child learning to walk in a shelter and the book recounts the almost impossible cycle of low-paying jobs, unaffordable housing and food insecurity experience by Land and her daughter Mia.

Land ends up cleaning houses which was the only available option to her with a young child and zero financial or emotional support from any family. The various jobs aren't given names but instead referred to as "The Plant House" or "The Porn House". The work is back-breaking and low-paying but Land never stops hoping and striving toward a better life. One of the most painful scenes in the book occurs when the author's mother and stepfather arrive from Europe to help her move from a shelter into housing. They go out to eat lunch and her mother expects her to pay for her share even though she literally has $10.oo in her bank account. The fear that many people experience over basic needs like housing, food and health is recounted in vivid, yet simple prose.

I was absolutely shocked and very saddened at some of reviews which expressed outrage over Land's status as a single mother and her "complaints" about the sometimes-demeaning work she performed. Land supported herself and her daughter with a dizzying array of state and federal help, but it often fell short, and she would be penalized in many ways for working too many hours. The time spent waiting for assistance at government offices was (and is) completely ridiculous. Often when Land was in the grocery store she would be ridiculed for paying with food stamps. These scenes were heartbreaking.

This book makes clear that it is extremely difficult to break the cycle of poverty, especially as a single parent. Land was always just one mishap away from complete and total poverty, made clear with the incident with her old car. The author did an outstanding job at narrating her own story and I feel this book is a must-read observation on the life of the working poor in America. I would have liked to have learned a little bit more background of how Land arrived at the age of 28, unexpectedly pregnant and with no career to speak of. Other than that, I applaud this book. What an amazing achievement!

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