Verity

Was ist das??

Revisado: 08-17-15

Would you try another book from Anne Blankman and/or Heather Wilds?

No, after the mess this book turned out to be I don't think I would.

What could Anne Blankman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Have a less whiny protagonist. The other characters are pleasant enough, but Gretchen killed my buzz every time she opened her mouth (which was 90% of the time). She's not only stupid and suborn, but also arrogant and judgmental. I'm not sure if the other characters were indeed pleasant or were just pleasant in comparison to her.

What three words best describe Heather Wilds’s performance?

Interesting, soft, nice. Her performance was ok, but the story made it hard for me to appreciate it :( .

What character would you cut from Prisoner of Night and Fog?

Gretchen

Any additional comments?

Not for me, not sure if for anybody. After books like Rose under fire, Code name verity and The book Thief, it's very hard to appreciate this one. :(

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Strong story and characters

Revisado: 08-17-15

Would you listen to Tell Me a Secret again? Why?

I would listen to this again for Rand. She's a very enjoyable character. The story was really enthralling as well, but I think it treats teen pregnancy a little too lightly.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was pleasant enough. I'm sorry the characters didn't suffer a visible development. Except for Rand the rest of them remain pretty much the same. Would have loved to see her mother repent a little more.

Which character – as performed by Jenna Lamia – was your favorite?

Well... Rand, but I don't think it was because of the performance. :)

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

No, but I listened to it after a long list of bad books so maybe that's also a reason why I enjoyed it so much. It's not a gem, but deserves at least one read.

Any additional comments?

Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised ^^.

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Mounstrously bad

Revisado: 08-17-15

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

I'm not sure, people who like horror stories and don't mind a very predictable plot. The concept was interesting enough, but I so hated the characters.

What could Elizabeth Fama have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Have more enjoyable characters.
- Ezra: flat character that is the love interest (result of an insta-love).
- Hester: boring main character (she spins around in a circle and is just really undeveloped)
- Lynny: the most annoying kid in the world
- The pastor: the only useful character in the book (still didn't like him)
- Olaf's wife (forgot her name) - most hateful woman alive or dead...
- The sea witch: crazy fat hag
So, yeah, the story had potential, but the stereotypes totally killed the mood.

Would you be willing to try another one of Katherine Kellgren’s performances?

God no. I hate her performances. She keeps on screaming in my ear. She ruined the Ashes series for me and here it was even worse because I didn't even like the story.

What character would you cut from Monstrous Beauty?

All of them except Syrenka.

Any additional comments?

Again, I hate the way Katherine Kellgren performs. don't know who told her it would be a good idea to scream while narrating. Really, I'm listening to this on my headphones and her voice goes right to my brain and slowly kills it. If it wasn't for the narrator I might have enjoyed this more. Not sure, but probably...

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The potantial is there

Revisado: 08-01-15

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The main character. Ok, so she fell in love with the wrong brother, but why didn't she let go of the other one? The excuses formed for her were a little shabby. Also, her reaction when that naked picture started to go around was unrealistic. And the people's reaction also. Now, it's not a pleasure of mine to see anybody get bullied, but from experience and other people's experience with high-school when something like that happens you do start to get bullied.
The characters seemed flat at times and a little stereotypical. The writing was beautiful, but the story could have used a little more intensity. The concept was not bad, but not memorable either. I've finished this book a week ago and already I can only remember the main plot. Nothing really stood out :( .

Would you be willing to try another book from Annabel Pitcher? Why or why not?

Originally, after starting Ketchup Clouds and realizing the writing was not half bad I did put "My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece" in my wishlist. But then the story started to drag and I realized this author doesn't really have a lot to say, or she didn't say it in this book. If I ever receive one of her books as a gift I will read it, but I don't think I'll ever go and buy one for myself, maybe only if she publishes something that my friends will go crazy over. :)

What three words best describe Julie Maisey’s voice?

Cute and childish at times. Can't find a 3rd word, sorry ^^.

Do you think Ketchup Clouds needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, the ending was pretty much perfect, even if it was sad as well. It was a realistic ending and I don't really think I want to know what happened to them, they probably did move on at one point, or didn't. But either way, I don't care enough about the characters to read a sequel.

Any additional comments?

Despite my ranting here, this book does deserve a try. It can be pretty engaging at times and maybe some will find it more memorable than I did. Donno, but, good luck with your read if you do decide to start it :) .

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No passion and boring characters

Revisado: 07-24-15

What would have made Black Spring better?

Lots of things, for example if she would have stopped presenting us 2 dimensional characters.
My main problem is that this story is not inspired by Wuthering Heights, it is Wuthering Heights, just with a less interesting story, less complex characters and far less well written. The story offered me nothing new. We live in a world of wizards and witches but nothing in the writing gives you the impression of such a thing. There is no magic in this book, just a reason to get to a very expected plot twist.

Our characters had no motivation: what was the reason for Ezra's hate? Why did Lina refuse to run? Who did she love and why? Nothing was explained, but in the end you don't really care which is in a way fine, but also bad because a story should make you care.

Also, her daughter was so insignificant it enraged me to no end. Like I said, a shorter, worse version of Wuthering Heights.

What could Alison Croggon have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Maybe next time the author can write her own story and not a plot line from another book and just insert a few extra elements to make it look like a new story. It looked and sounded fake.

What three words best describe Kim Hicks’s voice?

Boring. I'm trying not to judge her here, the story was incredible boring as well so maybe it's not her fault.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

From an objective perspective the writing is above average, considering this is for the Young Adult gender. I've read some really bad YA so far with really stupid characters and average language, grammar mistakes and the sort. Not this case.

Any additional comments?

Maybe the author aimed too high. Blinded by her love for Wuthering Heights she thought she could write something to reach that masterpiece, but aimed for the younger ages. Unfortunately, I found the story boring and even infuriating at times because it copied so much from Wuthering Heights, but did it so wrong.

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It had potential

Revisado: 07-17-15

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The ending... to start with.
The first half of the book you think that Celest is a highly intelligent female willing to do anything to satisfy her obsession: teenage males. Her wishes are crazy, but very enthralling as well. She's an interesting character to say the least.
Second half of the book she becomes stupid and arrogant and other people like her even more for that. It was annoying and it didn't fit with the character created in the first half. Is like the author wanted us to hate her. And that's cheating.
I would have enjoyed the rational, pervert feminist much more than the beautiful sheltered pedophile. Also, the idea that beautiful people have it easy... don't really dig it. I've seen lots of beautiful people get bullied and ugly ones as well. It's about character. That is what brings you to the top of the chain. And by the end of the story our character completely looses that side and just plays the damsel in distress. And people actually believe her? We're talking about adults here, right? I can't accept that people can be that stupid.

Has Tampa turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not really. A good book will be a good book regardless of the genre. I was never really into this type of books, but I heard this one was better so I decided to give it a try. Not sure how soon I'll return to this genre though, based on my friend's recommendations I guess.

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

I did, in Night Road and Just One Day. She's into character and she's good at what she does. If I wouldn't have looked at the list with the books she read I would have never guessed the 3 books have the same reader. They are all 3 very different genres.

Was Tampa worth the listening time?

To be honest, I don't think so. Second half bored me to death.

Any additional comments?

It's a good book for an erotica lover, but not a moralist.

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