J. Harry

Couldn't stop listening!

Revisado: 11-10-20

"In the Woods" is another Tana French book I felt compelled to finish listening to as soon as possible - I wanted to know the answer to "who done it." Written in 2007, it's actually French's debut novel and the first in her Murder Squad series. One reviewer suggested reading this and her second book, "The Likeness," last as this one is not traditionally satisfying, and apparently, "The Likeness" won't make sense without reading this one first. But I am not sorry I waited. The main character, Rob Ryan, is a Dublin detective. He and his partner, Cassie Maddox, are unwittingly put on a case that may or may not be linked to the disappearance of Rob's childhood best friends decades ago. Rob thinks he can handle it, but his choice is questionable and has consequences he couldn't have predicted. There's lots of tension in this book, from what really happened in the current case, what happened in the decades-old unsolved case, Rob's relationship with his partner, Cassie, what happened in Cassie's past to make her the way she is, and more. French provides intricate plots and lots of details. She has a great way of foreshadowing what's going to happen next, making you think she's going to give you the answers, but she doesn't always do so. I agree the ending is not traditionally satisfying. Maybe French will wrap it up in a future book. In the meantime, I'm happily moving on to "The Likeness." The Murder Squad addiction continues.

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Insights gained!

Revisado: 11-10-20

I read news articles and listen to podcasts, so was not familiar with CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward, but am happy to make her acquaintance with this book. The only child of an American mother and English father, she acknowledges her privileged, if somewhat lonely, childhood that included expensive schools in New York and London and exotic-sounding travel all over. (She was even Uma Thurman's stand-in on one of the Kill Bill movies when they were filming in China.) It was 9/11 that piqued her interest in conflict journalism and family connections that got her foot in the door with a CNN internship in Moscow. This led to a Fox News post, first as an overnight desk assistant where she helped coordinate reporting in Afghanistan before going there herself as a field producer. She managed to get herself a position based in Beirut where she produced coverage of the Israeli-Lebanese war and the trial and execution of Saddam Hussein. She became a correspondent with ABC News based in Moscow during its conflict with Georgia, then transferred to Beijing, then switched to CBS News where she spent a lot of time covering the Syrian uprising while also getting some spots on 60 Minutes. Her descriptions of what happened in Syria are the most heartbreaking. She then took her current job with CNN. Ward manages to convey how much she loves conflict reporting - how it's something she feels she was meant to do - while also getting across the difficulties of all the logistical aspects that have to be worked out, the tedium, how hard it is being away from loved ones and then trying to fit back in with them after very trying, depression-inducing assignments. Her behind the scenes memoir gave me more insights into a number of conflicts as well as what life is like working in this aspect of the news industry. Thank goodness for people like her willing to do this kind of reporting! It is tough.

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Always comforting to visit Three Pines

Revisado: 12-31-18

Yes, there’s always a terrible act that needs to be solved, but the path to solving it is likewise always full of interesting characters making sometimes surprising decisions and figuring out their own life lessons along the way. I know I can count on solid writing, a non-formulaic storyline, and recurring characters I have gotten to know and like in Louise Penny’s books. If you haven’t read other books in this series, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning - and enjoy the journey!

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Interesting idea, but writing and performance rather sophomoric

Revisado: 12-26-18

I was really looking forward to a story about lives in Cuba and this one seemed promising, but I found the writing to be a bit sophomoric. It was a bit too sickly sweet for me and used too many words, hitting us readers over the head with things we could have gotten when we read them the first time. The author would benefit from more subtlety and restraint. Likewise, I felt the narrator was trying too hard to get lots of inflection in her voice. I didn’t even realize there were two narrators until I read it at the end. They sound very similar.

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Well-written and fascinating

Revisado: 08-06-18

I heard an interview with Tara Westover about this book and her childhood. Given that interview and also a friend's recommendation, I listened to "Educated." I recommend it! "Growing up in rural Idaho, Tara Westover had no birth certificate, never saw a doctor and didn't go to school. Her parents were religious fundamentalists who stockpiled food, mistrusted the government and believed in strict gender roles for their seven children." Amazingly, she survived many childhood "accidents" (in quotes, because really, it was neglect and abuse), managed to get into BYU at 17, and ended up with a Ph.D. and a much larger view of the world. It is a really amazing story and very well-written, though all the injuries she and family members sustained were hard to hear, especially after the first three or four. What frustrating parents - especially her father.

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Once again, Neil Gaiman does not disappoint

Revisado: 06-13-17

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An African folk tale brought to the present, a little magic, a few bad guys, self discovery on the part of many - Anansi Boys is well-written and entertaining. Lenny Henry does a wonderful job reading the audio version - he has a terrific voice for this story.

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Wise and Insightful beyond their years

Revisado: 06-13-17

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I just finished the audio version of "When We Collided" by Emery Lord. I'm sure it would be classified a young adult novel, but no matter to me. Very well written story of a vivacious teenage girl named Vivi (yes, I did that on purpose) who is spending the summer with her mom in a small, California coastal town. Doesn't take long to figure out she is trying to manage bi-polar disorder without meds. She quickly enters the life of a teenage boy named Jonah whose father has died and mother can't cope - he's left with his older siblings to share the responsibilities of younger siblings. Vivi is a positive force in so many ways and all goes mostly well for quite a while. She and Jonah are wise and insightful beyond their years (of course - it's a novel). It's a very well thought out story with great characters and storylines. Ultimately, it's uplifting. The audio actors, Elizabeth Evans and Raviv Ullman, were a pleasure to listen to.

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Thoroughly enjoyable

Revisado: 05-06-17

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a female scientist sent to the Brazilian jungle to investigate the death of her office mate and friend and the progress of a miracle drug who in the process figures out a lot about herself. Supporting characters include a 72 year old female scientist in charge of the jungle drug research, a deaf boy, Brazilian tribes cut off from modern civilization, and the dead scientist and his family back home. Ann Patchett is a master at putting sentences together and tying together the pieces of her story so that you come full circle with her characters. Pleasant narration as well. I highly recommend.

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Interesting story; writing needs more work.

Revisado: 04-30-17

The storyline was interesting, but I found the writing to be contrived and overwrought and the performance a bit over dramatic - probably due to the writing.

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one wretched event after another.

Revisado: 06-23-16

A friend recommended this author so I had high hopes. After the first few heartbreaking events I kept thinking something positive has got to happen; this has to get better. But it doesn't. The story gets more interesting once Mercedes and Frances are born and their characters are more fully drawn than most every other character, but it is not enough. Not sure why I slogged through this whole thing, but I did. Kathleen 's diary near the end was the most interesting part. I am relieved to be finished with it.

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