BarbieA1

WARNING: Don't read if depressed (or have a life)

Revisado: 07-10-16

Any additional comments?

I'm angry that I wasted time on this book. I loved Tana French's In the Woods. Faithful Place was so-so...But I gambled that this might be better, based on the reviews.

I agree with so many reviewers: French's editor was AWOL. This book should have been half the length. It started off pretty good. At least I was interested in the mystery. But the story went downhill, quickly.

I had no empathy for the characters. The protagonist was stiff and boring... Character motivations didn't ring true.

This is where my warning comes into play: The setting, the madness, the circumstances, the economic climate, the crime... disturbing and depressing (not to mention the frustration of slogging through a bad book). Do not read this book if you're not in a happy place in your life.

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Stop reading at the end of Part 2.

Revisado: 07-30-12

What would have made Gone Girl better?

I don't think Nick's persona was adequately fleshed out. He didn't make sense.

The ending? Like a dull, reverberating thud.

Would you be willing to try another book from Gillian Flynn? Why or why not?

Possibly. Flynn is a talented writer and writes with an observant wit. However I'm not a big fan of dark disturbing stories - unless they resolve in a way that makes the journey worthwhile.

Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Julia Whelan's narration is outstanding, as it was in Nora Robert's Witness. In fact I searched for more books she had narrated. Heyborne did a great job, too.

You didn???t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The plot line kept me entertained and absorbed until the final quarter of the book, at which time I was longing for it to end.

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Wow

Revisado: 05-01-12

What made the experience of listening to The Blackhouse the most enjoyable?

The combination of the narrator, interesting fleshed-out characters, and the unique setting made this book a cut above the rest.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Interesting mystery, intriguing setting; and the motivations of the characters

What about Peter Forbes???s performance did you like?

Okay well I love Irish accents. But Forbes did a great job of telling the story without distracting from it. That makes a narrator stand out.

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

It was melancholy throughout, but not too much so. The ending was quite satisfying.

Any additional comments?

Wish I could have given it 5 stars. But I save 5 stars for the tip-top cream of the crop -- such as The Help.

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Narrate to me if you can

Revisado: 08-13-11

I managed to listen to the entire book. Barely. However after listening to this book, and to others narrated by Anna Fields, I've decided not to download any more books narrated by her.

Her male character voices are simply dreadful. Her male voices sound like a child imitating a man: chin down, muffled, swallowing the words. They are even hard to understand because of this. Additionally, her southern accents are the worse I've ever heard, after listening to many, many female narrators.

Ms Fields, you need to modify your timbre only slightly, or make other simple speech modifications for a male character. The reader is intelligent enough to make the distinction.

The story? Oh yes... Very cute. It's the sole reason I persevered.

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Written by precocious geeky 13-year old videogamer

Revisado: 02-28-09

Wow, I'm sorry, but this was painful to endure to the end. Written with all the depth and maturity of a precocious, sun-starved, puffy-thighed 13-year-old techno-nurd.

The narrator was also abysmally gee-whizzy though I will say he fit perfectly with the tone of the book.

How could this book _possibly_ have rated 4 stars up to this point?!

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Boring and remote

Revisado: 01-30-09

Ugh. I find forensic science fascinating, but preferably balanced with enough plot and character development to balance it with light and humanity.

Scarpetta is white bread served on a sterling silver platter. I mean, who cares? She is not an appealing or sympathetic character.

This story droned on and ON with psychoanalysis of, and conversations between, the flat characters of Scarpetta, Benton, Berger and the only slightly more interesting Lucy. Marino is the only appealing character in this story. Heck, in this series.

Finally, Kate Reading's narration has a brittle, patrician air to it, lending to the overall emotional inaccessibility of this book.

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esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Simply the best

Revisado: 04-19-08

Craig Johnson is now my favorite author. This is the second of his books I've read and it even exceeds his first, Cold Dish. Johnson is an immensely talented writer. Aside from the good mysteries, he has created unforgettable characters and sense of place. He combines a fantastic wit with just enough warmth to make you care about the characters and the story. I'm not a writer, so I can't do it justice...

Finally, George Guidall does a _superb_ job of narrating this story. By God I think he was born for such a time as this. Don't think I've read a more perfect author and narrator combination (and i have read many, MANY audio books.)

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Boring and tedious

Revisado: 12-01-07

I simply can't finish this book. It's dark and disturbing. But that's not the reason I can't finish it... It's because I'm about 1/3 of the way through and frankly I could care less about the protagonist. I'm sure as the story proceeds one might grow to care or at least become interested in Jude.

However I can't stick it out that long. The author/narrator reads like a reduced-speed automaton (which has been programmed to sound ominous) and the female characters all sound mentally challenged.

The narration, along with the boring protagonist, don't provide the motivation I need to muddle through this dark story.

The author is otherwise a talented writer. I wish his success with his next effort.

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esto le resultó útil a 22 personas

Fantastic

Revisado: 08-04-07

This might be the only book I've given 5 stars -- and i've been an Audible member for something like four years and have listened to many, many books. This one is un-put-down-able.

The story is riveting and the author is a great talent. Mr. Evans, please keep writing! Can't wait for your next work.

Mark Deakins: Hands-down the best narrator I've had the pleasure of hearing. We need more of you! In fact I'll go seek out anything else you have narrated when I finish this review.

The ending felt slightly rushed and wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped for but left me thinking long afterward. So I guess that's a good thing.

READ THIS BOOK.

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esto le resultó útil a 28 personas

Wooden and boring

Revisado: 07-28-07

Honestly I can't believe the good reviews of this book.

First, I strongly dislike this narrator. He sounds like he was chosen for having a deep radio voice -- not for talent as a narrator. I found his delivery to be wooden and stilted.

More importantly, the story was just boring and written at a fifth grade level. I had to force myself to finish it... Maybe I'm spoiled, because before this one I listened to In the Woods. Fantastic book, and supremely well-written.

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