Lisa

Unlikeable Characters

Revisado: 07-23-24

Kristin Hannah has a knack for creating unlikeable characters. In this particular case, all three of the heroines are hard to relate to. The more of the story you listen to, the less you like them. As a result, despite listening to more than half the book, I did not finish it.

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This story is dated and the narration is awful

Revisado: 07-23-24

The title review says it all. The story has not withstood the test of time. And the narrator is overly hammy.

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Domestic Abuse Is Not Entertainment

Revisado: 01-18-24

The book vacillates between Hazel having agency and Hazel seeing herself as a victim. Mostly she’s in two abusive relationships. This is not thoughtful or entertaining or a chance to learn something new.

I do not recommend this book.

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Good Themes, A Bit Long

Revisado: 07-08-15

Loved the themes in this book. They rang true and matched up with some of my own thoughts.

The scenes of Cliff Baxter's brutality were too frequent and too long.

Not my favorite DeMille book and still worth listening to.

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

Strong Women, Interesting Story, Compelling Listen

Revisado: 11-30-14

Would you listen to Prodigal Summer again? Why?

I would listen to Prodigal Summer again because of the character development, plot, and interactions between all the characters. Even when you think there aren't ties, there are.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Prodigal Summer?

A memorable moment is when Lusa decides to adopt her sister-in-law's children. She has moved from feeling like a complete outsider to someone who is an integral member of the family. The transformation is subtle and catches her off gaurd.

Have you listened to any of Barbara Kingsolver’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to The Poisonwood Bible and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Prodigal Summer compares favorably to both those books. The Poisonwood Bible is my favorite so far. I listened to it two times, back to back. I enjoyed it even more the second time!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

August Osage County - Only with ultimately happy, understanding families who learn to work through their issues.

Any additional comments?

Barbara Kingsolver clearly enjoys what she is writing about and it comes through in the plot. Her books are a very interesting way to learn about people, places and things. While the context may be fictional, there is a lot going on to learn.

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Great Discussion of Food and All Its Complexity

Revisado: 11-30-14

Would you consider the audio edition of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle to be better than the print version?

I have only listened to the audio edition, so I cannot make a comparison to the print edition. I did enjoy hearing the authors reading what they wrote. It makes the story that much more compelling.

What did you like best about this story?

It provided new information as well as the emotional aspect of why people choose to eat local. It also contained the only discussion about eating meat that I've ever encountered that matches my own philosophy. People are meant to eat meat - however, factory farmed, antibiotic filled meat is wrong. It's not ethical to treat the animals that way and it puts unhealthy elements into the food we consume.

Which scene was your favorite?

The turkey mating and birth scenes were my favorite. First, I didn't realize how all that worked. Second, it was funny and poignant to hear about the range of emotions the author experienced while waiting for the eggs to hatch.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Farming, Food, and Fun

Any additional comments?

This book has challenged me to try and eat more locally. While I don't have the space or patience for growing a large garden, I can shop at farmers markets. We can can make sauces, dehydrate food, and so forth. I also really enjoy cooking. It will be nice to know where the food came from. It's also a great way to support local families and businesses.

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Interesting Story, Poorly Written

Revisado: 03-11-14

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

People who might enjoy this book are those who want to experience P.L. Traverse early writing. It was terrible though, and the biography author shares far too much of it!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Listened to Disney Wars by James B Stewart. It was excellent!

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

Terry Donnelly's narration was very good. If I had been reading the book, I wouldn't have lasted as long.

What character would you cut from Mary Poppins, She Wrote?

P.L. Traverse early writing!

Any additional comments?

Skip this book! There are far too many good ones to spend time on this one!

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Good Story - Very Long

Revisado: 11-11-13

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to a friend.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting part of the story was the history of the Cathedral as well as the dynamics between political groups and specific people.The main characters were interesting and wanting to know what happens to them keeps the listener going.There are a lot of characters. Generally I have no trouble keeping track of the characters and what their roles are. There were several times I mixed up whether a person was one of the terrorists or one of the policemen.This book is also very long when it doesn't need to be. There were a few times I zoned out and it did not detract from my ability to follow the story. That tells me it could have been written with a little less detail without losing anything.The end has enough twists that it is worth sticking with the story through to the end.

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

Scott Brick adds excellent accents to the reading. He also has a great ability to bring the characters to life. You almost feel like you know them as living people rather than just words on a page.

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

This was not a book I wanted to listen to all in one sitting. After awhile, my thoughts would wander. However, I always wanted to come back to it and find out what happened.My favorite characters were Maureen, Flynn, and Burke.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Awful!

Revisado: 09-25-13

What would have made Homicidal better?

Homicidal appears to be a story and then turns into a recitation of news articles. While some of the history contained in the articles was interesting, it was rather macabre. I like a good murder mystery. However a recitation of news articles quickly becomes very depressing.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Either a Lee Child book or a Preston & Child book.

How could the performance have been better?

The performance was fine.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

This book was disappointing and disturbing.

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Excellent - As Always

Revisado: 09-25-13

What made the experience of listening to Gone Tomorrow the most enjoyable?

Gone Tomorrow is a great Jack Reacher story. He's actually mellowed out a bit (if that's possible) but still retains a strong sense of justice.

Dick Hill is Jack Reacher - or at least his voice. He does an excellent job reading the book and I've come to identify his gravely voice with Jack. "That's for damn sure!"

Who was your favorite character and why?

Reacher is my favorite character. He's smart, savvy, tenacious, and all the things I'd like to be. Only he carries a weapon (or weapons) and I don't. That's probably best, for all concerned!

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

Dick has come to embody Reacher's personality. His ability to convey different moods and settings through his voice is excellent.

Mr. Hill does sound a little like Dan Ackroyd pretending to be Julia Childs when he voices some of the female characters. But after the initial giggle at hearing this tone, it blends right in with the rest. And this is a very minor quibble!

Any additional comments?

Can't wait to listen to the next Reacher novel!

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