Jim

Important new audiobook, fantastic narrator

Revisado: 09-06-19

When I read the book of Friends for Life my son was being bullied in school - he was 12 at the time. It helped me understand what he was going through, as well as making me laugh and smile and fall for the characters. Andrew Norris has a light, humorous touch which is particularly powerful when writing about such a serious subject as teen depression and bullying. When I received a request to listen to an advance review copy of the audiobook I asked my son if he's like to listen to it and he said he would. He LOVED it. He's called a few of his friends telling them they have to get this audiobook.
"I loved the narrator" he said. "She completely 'got' all the characters and the story is fantastic. It's about friendship and what that can do to help you even when you're feeling so low you've been thinking of ending it all." I had huge problems with 13 Reasons Why which I felt sensationalized teen suicide without offering hope. This book touches on some of the same themes - but shows all of us, teens, parents and friends alike that there IS hope. There ARE things we can do. Like talking about what's going on with others who may surprise us and turn out to feel the same way. It's an important audiobook. I'd give it more than five stars if I could. And I loved the interview with the narrator Alison Larkin and the actual teenagers at the end. This is not just a totally entertaining audiobook - that's funny and charming too - it's an important audiobook. Especially if you or anyone you know has been depressed.

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Wonderful. My two favorite Austen novels in one.

Revisado: 06-09-18

I bought this delightful recording because I love love love Alison Larkin's Austen narrations and even though I have the Complete Novels read by Alison Larkin on CD, I was going on a two day hike and I wanted to listen on my i-phone - and also I wanted to listen to the Songs from Regency England which comes at the end of this double bill. It was just wonderful. Sung by Alison Larkin with sound effects that gave me a real sense of being in a Regency living room being serenaded by one of the Bennet sisters! Bravo.

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Table of Contents/Navigation Guide!

Revisado: 02-23-18

To get an 81 hour recording of an audiobook of this quality for under $30.00 is unprecedented. Alison Larkin is an A list narrator at the top of her game and she is perfect for Jane Austen. Here's the info I got re the navigation when I called the producers which answered all my questions.

Audible has broken this audiobook into multiple parts to make the download faster. This automatic process sometimes divides the novels in a less than intuitive way. Therefore, we have provided the following guide to help aid you in navigating the contents of the audiobook.

Table of Contents/Navigation Guide

Part 1:
Sense and Sensibility Chapters 1-38

Part 2:
Sense and Sensibility Chapters 39-50
Pride and Prejudice Chapters 1-27

Part 3:
Pride and Prejudice Chapters 28-61
Mansfield Park Chapters 1-5

Part 4:
Mansfield Park Chapters 6-45

Part 5:
Mansfield Park Chapters 46-48
Emma Chapters 1-35

Part 6:
Emma Chapters 36-55
Northanger Abbey Chapters 1-18

Part 7:
Northanger Abbey Chapters 19-31
Persuasion Chapters 1-24

If you are looking for the start of particular book, find the ‘Part’ it is in and look for a file that is between 7-10 seconds long. That will be the intro title for the book.

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Wonderful, exciting new mystery!

Revisado: 02-08-17

What did you love best about Devil's Trill?

I am a huge fan of classical music and to find a mystery set in the world I love was a great delight! This is a wholly original audiobook that will appeal to lovers of taut mysteries and great audiobook narration and classical music. The plot is great, the narration, by one of my favorite's, Jim Frangione is fantastic. It's a wonderful story and it includes music played by the author! it hasn't been done before - I was thrilled to listen to an early review copy of this and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jacobus for sure. He's cantankerous, smart, blind and loathes bullshit of any kind.

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

He brings it alive - but it's not just the narration that does this, the violin playing is breathtaking and adds to the story - does not detract from it at all - and comes in at just the right places.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

For fans of mystery novels, the classical music world and top quality audiobooks this one's a must listen.

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Fantastic selection of fairy tales

Revisado: 01-28-17

Where does Fairy Tales of the Fiercer Sex rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the very best. I always love audiobooks narrated by Alison Larkin and I am a huge fan of the classics, so this is a match made in heaven.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fairy Tales of the Fiercer Sex?

The end of Mr Fox was a real shock. That story is not one I had heard before and I loved the bravery of the bride-to-be and her solution to the problem was not one a feeble girl like Rapunzel would have made!

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

Alison Larkin is an A List narrator who always delivers. She is also a writer and selected these perfectly. I loved her narration of Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, The English American which she also wrote and her narration of the wartime novel Somewhere in France.

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

The girl heroines no one has heard about

Any additional comments?

It's an audiobook that appeals to all. We listened to this on a family car trip - my wife, my two daughters - 13 and 9. We all LOVED Alison Larkin's narration and thought the original story of The SNow Queen (on which the move Frozen was based) was even better than the movie and we loved listening to the original story of Beauty and the Beast, but mostly we so enjoyed hearing stories of strong women and girls that we had not heard before! These are stories that have been around for hundreds of years but in Larkin's hands they really come alive today.

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Completely engaging, poignant, funny, uplifting

Revisado: 11-05-16

What made the experience of listening to The English American the most enjoyable?

Alison Larkin is my favorite narrator - bar none, so I loved that fact . I think the most enjoyable aspect was learning that my favorite narrator was adopted and raised in England but found her birth parents in the US and not only is she my favorite narrator, but also one of my favorite writers now too.

What did you like best about this story?

I love Pippa Dunn, the heroine. She's completely appealing and you root for her from the get go. Also noting is what it seems - you think the story is going one way and then it surprises you each time.

What about Alison Larkin’s performance did you like?

Everything. You feel like she's talking to you.

If you could rename The English American, what would you call it?

The All-American Brit?

Any additional comments?

It's fantastic. Love it, love it, love it.

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OUTSTANDING narration brings Alice to new life

Revisado: 10-28-16

What made the experience of listening to Alice in Wonderland & Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll the most enjoyable?

The originality of the voices. The clarity of the narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Alice in Wonderland & Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll?

The Caucus race is so funny, I hadn't realized - also the outrageous scene at the end when the Queen is threatening to cut everyone's heads off.

Have you listened to any of Alison Larkin and Derek Perkins ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to Alison Larkin's narration of Emma and Peter Pan and loved them both. This one is up there with her best. She is one of my all time favorite narrators and I am thrilled to see her narrating the classics. She is SO SO GOOD. Derek Perkins I had not heard before but i just loved the way he narrates Jabberwocky!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end of Alice in Wonderland.

Any additional comments?

A high quality production. The best Alice I have heard.

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I love Alison Larkin's narration, the book is okay

Revisado: 10-27-16

Would you consider the audio edition of Pushing Up Daisies to be better than the print version?

Probably.

If you’ve listened to books by M. C. Beaton before, how does this one compare?

I think it's one of the best because Alison Larkin has a gift for differentiating clearly between the voices.

Which character – as performed by Alison Larkin – was your favorite?

I liked Charles! I think he's hilarious.

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

Not necessarily. I listened to and from work in the car.

Any additional comments?

I prefer Alison Larkin's narration to the others because it's so authentic and its always clear who is speaking. I just love her narrations, so I listen to her a lot.

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A WONDERFUL holiday recording of two great classic

Revisado: 10-27-16

Would you listen to A Christmas Carol and The Night Before Christmas again? Why?

Oh yes! It was delightful - such a treat - to hear my two favorite Christmas stories in the same recording! And read so beautifully with very interesting commentary in between.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Christmas Carol and The Night Before Christmas?

The moment when Scrooge wakes up and realizes it is not too late!

What does Derek Perkins and Alison Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

These are two A list narrators - the very best - at the top of their game. Both Mr Perkins and Mis Larkin have a gift for bringing out the author's voice through their own. They do it again here - with two of the greatest texts ever written. I was so happy to hear Derek Perkins reading this - he is SO GOOD. I loved Alison Larkin's narrations of Jane Austen and Lewis Carroll 's novels, which was how I found this. The combination of these two voices makes for a really top notch recording.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

It was so interesting listening to the short commentary by Alison Larkin in between the tales, linking the two stories in a very interesting way. I won't spoil it - but it's really fascinating!

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The best version yet!

Revisado: 05-30-16

Where does Through the Looking-Glass and Phantasmagoria, a Poem by Lewis Carroll (Annotated) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very high.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Through the Looking-Glass and Phantasmagoria, a Poem by Lewis Carroll (Annotated)?

When Alice encounters Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Which character – as performed by Alison Larkin – was your favorite?

The Red Queen is nothing short of hilarious - I also love the way she portrays Alice - she feels very real to me.

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

The Real Thing

Any additional comments?

Listening to Alison Larkin read Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass is a privilege. A great classic. A great narrator. The perfect way to introduce your kids to Lewis Carroll. I also loved the ghost story at the end - which I did not know before.

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