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Humphrey Bower Narration Is Fantastic

Revisado: 09-21-19

This is an epic story which I enjoyed. The story itself is good, not great, but Humphrey Bower's narration brought the book to life. This is one of the very best narrations I have ever heard on Audible. I'll definitely be looking for more books narrated by him.

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Masterful

Revisado: 09-06-19

This is a masterful piece of writing. It's really quite stunning. On the other hand, it is slow-going, dense, and complex. The unreliable narrator (the literary device, not Lyndam Gregory) and magical realism had my head spinning. At times, I could barely figure out what the heck was going on. If you like Gabriel García Márquez's writing style you will probably like this book. There is no doubt Salman Rushdie is a genius and I'm glad I stuck with it.

The Audible version is one of the best I've listened too. It saved me from utter confusion and despair when I couldn't quite figure out what was going on while reading the physical book. Lyndam Gregory as a narrator was fantastic.

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Unexpected treat

Revisado: 07-15-19

I did not expect to enjoy this so much. it's a modern-day epistolary told entirely through phone calls and voicemail messages. It's got a mildly spooky plot twist. The character narration was great - some of the best I have experienced from Audible. Get it!

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Just Okay

Revisado: 12-07-18

This is just okay. Little nuggets of wisdom. Nothing you haven't already heard before. Some are very cliche - for instance: just do it. I'm not saying the advice isn't good. Most of it is, but there's nothing profound.

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Profoundly moving no matter your politics

Revisado: 11-02-18

I've never been a Biden fan so it's not like I'm predisposed to love this book. There are several takeaways. Good people live among us. Good people still care. Good people will save us. Joe Biden is one of those good people. I hope our highly partisan divisions will not keep my conservative friends from reading this book. There are decent people on all sides and we need to listen to each other. Of course, Joe talks about politics, but not in a partisan way - but that's not really what the book is about. It's about a good man who has faced more than his fair share of tragedy, who continues to find meaning in serving his fellow human beings and remains optimistic about the future.

I'm so glad Joe narrated this book instead of leaving that to someone else. Hearing him relive this difficult time of life was profoundly moving.

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Brutally Honest Tale Of The US Healthcare System

Revisado: 10-07-18

As described from the publisher, this is an indictment of the American healthcare system (particularly in Texas) and the tale of a medical doctor coming of age. The book begins with a bit of the author's childhood and from there, we learn about her job as a patient advocate in an abortion clinic after her last year of college. Pearson weaves the story of her medical school experiences and her time caring for poor and uninsured patients at St. Vincent's Clinic in Galveston with some personal stories about her friends and family. The thread of healthcare in American runs throughout.

The healthcare inequalities she describes are gutwrenching and maddening. Unfortunately, the very people who really need to read this book will probably never pick it up or will quit in the second chapter (which is about Rachel's time working in an abortion clinic). If you are that person, I urge you to skip that chapter if you just can't handle it and continue with the rest of the book. (Although, if you read that chapter you might gain some much-needed insight.)

The book is brutally honest. Most people, especially people who have employer-based health insurance, have no idea how badly broken our system is for the uninsured or under-insured. Many are under the mistaken impression that poor people can just go to the ER and get medical care, or that there are charities to fill in the gaps. Neither is true. People die. Every single day. People die from illnesses that have a low mortality rate. People die from lack of inexpensive medications which could easily control their disease. They die from easily treatable disease because they can't get diagnostic tests. They die because, in our country - a supposedly "Christian nation" - we put less value on the lives of the unemployed, working poor, undocumented immigrants, children, and people of color. People die when they shouldn't simply because they don't have access to healthcare and this book makes that abundantly clear.

Pearson's writing style is honest and straightforward which perfectly fits the subject matter. The awful inequalities are balanced by lovely stories of compassion and hope. It's nice to read about some of the truly heroic healthcare professionals. I listened to the Audible version adeptly narrated by Rebecca Gibel.

4.5 stars. I think every American should read it.

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Fantastic!

Revisado: 09-21-18

Dogs, gardening, good writing, and a narrator with a beautiful British accent. What's not to love? One of the best Audible books I've listened to this year. Of course, there are sad parts when he recounts the loss of his dogs through the years but overall, the book is not sad. It is funny, informative, and inspiring. I will definitely listen to this one again!

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Terrible Narrator

Revisado: 08-31-18

I hate to give bad reviews but maybe I can spare someone else wasting money or credits on this book. This is the worst Audible book I've encountered (and I've listened to dozens). Though the four stories contained in this book are not terrible, they are definitely the weakest of all Oscar Wilde's writings (in my opinion). The narration is awful. When acting as narrator, Rob Goll is barely tolerable. I can't quite put my figure on it - something akin to a weird, sing-song cadence. But his character voices - of women and children, in particular - are really, really bad. I cringed. It's like nails on a chalkboard. There are at least two other versions of A House of Pomegranates. If you're going to purchase this title, I'd suggest you pick one of those.

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Hopeful

Revisado: 08-09-18

This is the most hopeful book I've read in a long time. It is not overtly partisan. I don't think liberals or conservatives would find anything objectionable. Fred Sanders as narrator was okay, but listening to Jon Meacham read the intro and conclusion made me wish Meacham had narrated the whole book. I liked it so much I also bought the print version and my book club will be reading it in the coming months.

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Brilliant Performance By Ruby Dee

Revisado: 07-03-18

Ruby Dee brings Zora Neale Hurston's characters to life! A brilliant performance. This book is a masterpiece. The characters. The dialog. The writing. THE WRITING. Wow. The story she tells is as good as the way she tells the story - right up there with Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. I hate to gush but I can't help it. This is one of THE great American novels.

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