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Good book, wrong narrator

Revisado: 08-16-18

I'm not sure if it helped or hurt that I was also listening to Origins of the Earth Great Courses series which also focused heavily on elements and the earth's molecular makeup. But since I was, I expected this. ook to be more interesting - and while the content was, I found the narrator's tone of voice to be almost so soothing as to make the book sleepy.
Have someone like Wil Wheaton read it and I'm sure I'd give it 5 stars around. He's great reading science and with wit & sarcasm.

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Interesting but slow to develop (just like Earth)

Revisado: 08-09-18

I felt the first 15 chapters were unnecessary and overly long until it got to "the good stuff" (eg life on earth) and I realized how necessary those early units really were to put it all into context! This course is dense and lengthy and not for the faint of heart, but is incredibly educational and interesting if you like learning about atoms and molecules as much as Penguins of the Future.

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Gross and glorious as always

Revisado: 07-17-18

I absolutely love Mary Roach and her writing! This is the first book of hers I've read as an audiobook and I wonder if any footnotes were left out as a result. It was funny and educational and witty and pretty disgusting in a few key chapters (basically anything below the small intestine!), enough that I wished I weren't listening right after eating dinner... But I loved every minute of it!
It might not be my favorite Mary Roach book ever (Stiff), but it's still a great read and expertly narrated.

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Great book, hampered by mediocre editing

Revisado: 06-21-18

I must agree with the other reviewers on this. It's not just one narrator voicing multiple parts, it's some parts being narrated by multiple voices too. It doesn't make the book less enjoyable, but it does make the Audiobook performance less enjoyable - or at the very least, it breaks you out of the moment each time. If the entire book had been narrated by Simon Vance alone, I'd probably give it the full 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I must admit I really enjoy the Sci-Fi TV miniseries of this & Children of Dune too.

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One of my favorite books...but not audiobooks

Revisado: 05-16-18

Some things are never as good as the first time. This book was/is one of my favorite novels, bringing me to tears and challenging my whole worldview somehow. (I'm sure it had everything to do with where I was at with my life when I read it. *sigh* Youth!)
That said, I've re-read the book several times and now re-read as an audiobook and it always pales in comparison to the first time. Furthermore, hearing someone else narrate Owen's voice kind of kills the power of the written prose. (And the power of Imagination to hear it yourself!) I still love the book but I would highly recommend this novel be read in book form to experience its full majesty.

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Better than the movie (contains spoilers)

Revisado: 04-30-18

In all the ways The Revenge of the Sith (movie) fails, this book aims to repair the pieces. Ever think Anakin's transition from Jedi to Sith is too jarring and makes no sense? This book has his inner monologue and makes [a little more] sense of that nonsense. Ever wonder why nobody ever suspected Palpatine? This book shows they did. Ever think the confrontation between Sidious and Windu & co should have been better? Oh my goodness, it is so much better here.
This book makes me want to rewatch the movie with all this added detail, but then the movie continues to disappoint so I come back to the book. Highly recommended for any Star Wars fan, and especially those who long for improved Prequel Trilogy stories.

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Better than expected

Revisado: 02-22-18

This story is less about the pieces or controversies they covered than it is about the behind the scenes of the show over 16 years. The narrators do a stellar job of conveying the different voices and personalities, though of course I would have preferred actual video clips and interviews.

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One of the better SW novelizations

Revisado: 02-03-18

I prefer the novelization of a movie that adds new insight and this one fits the bill! Both Jynn and Casian feel more complex as individuals, whether for the best or not, and knowing what each character was thinking in their final scenes was tremendous and heartbreaking. Poor K2!! 😭

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Illuminating

Revisado: 12-13-17

It's almost bizarre to read this book, which reads as a snapshot of 2006 history. It's suddenly quite clear where the 2016/Trump era of xenophobia comes from; we only let the 8 years of Obama presidency brainwash us into forgetting. I enjoyed the balance of historic and current events' analysis and will be recommending this book near & far.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Movie

Revisado: 11-29-17

This was hardly more than an exact narration of the movie. For some reason I was expecting more, and while there were 2 additional scenes and maybe a handful of added lines of dialogue, that's about it.
Maybe if I hadn't watched the movie a down times already I would appreciate this more!

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