Critic Barb

if you loved the movie . . .

Revisado: 06-09-24

If you loved the movie you MUST listen to or read the book. The movie was great. The book It is even better - so beautifully written and filled with so many inspiring and insights. The author’s interweaving of these American boys’ story with the rise and fall of Hitler’s Reich is more fully integrated into the written narrative. So is the epilogue following the boys after war broke out. It is especially timely as we honor the “greatest generation” and the 80th anniversary of D Day.

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Remarkably Original and Brilliantly Performed

Revisado: 04-11-24

This is an unforgettable, charming and moving narrative and the most spellbinding audiobook I’ve ever encountered. It tells a very human story of courage, loss and resilience. However the pivotal character is an octopus. I promise this is not a joke. Each of the three central protagonists is completely convincing. In addition to the octopus, they include a thirty-something kid going nowhere and a seventy year old widow who is facing a lonely retirement. They are brought together by random events that at first appear unrelated. The setting—a small town on Puget Sound—is also essential to the narrative. I am so glad I “read” this as an audiobook. The two performers together manage to voice at least a dozen unforgettable characters. The plot is both sad and comical, with lyrical descriptions of the sea and its creatures. When the story ended I wanted to listen to it all over again.

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One Chapter too Long

Revisado: 03-20-23

A fine addition to the series of Ricciardi mysteries but I wish I had skipped the final chapter in which the author intrudes on the narrative.

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You won’t believe it unless you’ve been there.

Revisado: 03-01-23

Listening to this after a year of personal loss is indescribable. She is her but I am her too. While Didion’s experience of her loved ones’ dying is unique, it is at the same time universal. She puts into words that which is impossible to describe. World without end, Amen.

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Even Better the Second Time

Revisado: 02-24-23

The first time I listened to this book I enjoyed it. The second time, I was able to truly understand and appreciate how the author weaves together the story of the amazing racehorse named Lexington, and the various people of different races and walks of life whose lives he touched.

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Basic Instincts

Revisado: 01-16-23

Set in Naples in the 1930s, this mystery novel explores how the basic instincts of love, passion, hunger, jealousy and fear drive human’s to commit criminal acts. It is complex, spellbinding and very Italian. I couldn’t put it down.

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Love and Death in Napoli

Revisado: 12-13-22

This superlative detective story is set in Naples, Italy during the time if Mussolini in the 1930s. The plot is intertwined with a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci at the lavish Teatro San Carlo. As an opera fan i loved every minute. Readers follow a Commissario of the Naples police, whose investigation ranges from the poorest slums to the richest palaces.

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Complex and Fascinating

Revisado: 12-08-22

The author weaves voices from many centuries and many religions in a mystery where the detective is an expert in ancient manuscripts. the characters feel and sound real. Edwina Wren’s narration is amazing.

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Powerful Story but Ultimately Not Believable

Revisado: 11-11-22

The writing is up to Jewel’s usual high standards and the many characters are depicted and performed skillfully. It was a page turner with a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat and the characters evolved convincingly as it progressed. Unfortunately, I found the ending quite contrived and unconvincing.

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The Power of Friendship

Revisado: 10-01-22

I clerked for and remain devoted to the first female justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. I knew and was inspired by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This wonderful book rings true in every detail and every word. Even more than a tribute to the greatness of these female icons, it is a tale of the positive power of women’s friendship, respect, loyalty and affection. Nina Totenberg documents and brings alive the story of a generation of female “firsts.” They overcame so many glass ceilings and reached a helping hand to countless young professional women who came behind. Heartwarming and affirmative, this book is a treasure. Every woman, or man, who has experienced true friendship will love it.

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