Chris

Not what it appears to be

Revisado: 08-08-21

overall, I found this to be unbelievable. it's only 2 hours long and the first half goes over the life of the founder of aikido, and there are some pretty farfetched claims made. you'd have to straight out believe in magic in order to believe in some of the claims that are stated and you're just expected to believe out of hand.

afterwards you are presented with a bunch of sayings, kind of like the book of Psalms from the bible, except they tend to make no sense whatsoever. think more along the lines of Zen meditation. up is down, stand Strong by being flexible, that kind of stuff. except almost every single one of them contradicts another one stated elsewhere.

overall, I found the belief system rather illogical, and poorly defined. this is one of the few times where I honestly have wasted a credit by listening to this. lesson learned I guess

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bad audio

Revisado: 04-11-19

it's a Stephen King book so the story is exceptional. The problem I have is that the audio Cuts in and out constantly throughout the book. when it cuts out you will often skip about 5 Seconds of audio and this usually happens every two chapters or so. it is unfortunate that they have butchered this work. honestly speaking they should pull the title until the audio recording gets fixed. nothing against the performer, this problem land squarely on the technical staff.

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HORRIBLE narration!!

Revisado: 04-16-18

normally, I love Stephen King books. I also love audio books, so you think this would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately for the first time in my 10 years on Audible I have found probably the world's worst narrator. I couldn't even get through the book he was that bad. if you're thinking about this book I strongly suggest you try a sample first. it is a hair's breadth away from monotone narration. try sample, and yes that is exactly what it sounds like for the entire book. the slow boring scenes as well as the heart thumping exciting scenes get the same treatment.

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Exactly what you think it is

Revisado: 06-19-16

Fair warning: This book is only for gore fans.

Ok, warning aside the basic premise of this book is that the zombie apocolypse hits and you get to follow along with Timothy, a retired football player who has a side job as a clown, who gets infected.

Except in this apocalypse, he runs back-seat while the virus takes over his body. He is still consciously aware.

Except in this apocalypse, Timothy decides he's not just going to sit back, he's going to take an active role...and he just doesn't find what's going on disgusting...he finds it entertaining, fun and most of all, something he can really get into...

Final warning: I'm serious, it's only for the gore fans, and people who are NOT NOT NOT easily offended. This book will probably push every boundary you have when it comes to "That's so offensive" I liked it because, well, sometimes you've just had a REALLY bad day and want to see the world burn...and this book gives you that.

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Exactly what you think it is

Revisado: 06-19-16

Fair warning: This book is only for gore fans.

Ok, warning aside the basic premise of this book is that the zombie apocolypse hits and you get to follow along with Timothy, a retired football player who has a side job as a clown, who gets infected.

Except in this apocalypse, he runs back-seat while the virus takes over his body. He is still consciously aware.

Except in this apocalypse, Timothy decides he's not just going to sit back, he's going to take an active role...and he just doesn't find what's going on disgusting...he finds it entertaining, fun and most of all, something he can really get into...

Final warning: I'm serious, it's only for the gore fans, and people who are NOT NOT NOT easily offended. This book will probably push every boundary you have when it comes to "That's so offensive" I liked it because, well, sometimes you've just had a REALLY bad day and want to see the world burn...and this book gives you that.

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Just as good as the Shining

Revisado: 01-16-14

If you could sum up Doctor Sleep in three words, what would they be?

Ever wonder what happened to Dan, the kid from the Shining?
Ever wonder if the sins of the father are doomed to be repeated by the son?
Ever wonder what happens to malevolence after it's home is burned down?
Ever wonder just who exactly, ARE all those nondescript people that make up the 'background' of every day life?
Ever wonder why your youth seems so magical then fades as you grow up?

Stephen King knows.

What did you like best about this story?

The seamless transition from the Shining to Dr. Sleep couldn't have been pulled off any better. The author treats us with respect as if we already know the whole deal concerning the Overlook (Despite the decades in between books), while at the same time weaves in the subtle reminders that even the truest fans may forget, but are very important to the story.

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

The narrator has a gruff voice, which may seem annoying at first, but actually works well for the story. Being a Stephen King novel, a lot of evil is in the book so that ads flavor. I will admit that the voice may be a bit out of place for the gentler characters, but concerning how well he does the OTHER side of the coin he deserves his passing grade.

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

As with many good books I really enjoyed the ending. For SK works I put it up there with the ending to the Dark Tower or LOTR. You really get to know the characters and when the end comes you feel as if you're not merely closing a book but saying good bye to your friends. A hallmark of a true master storyteller.

Any additional comments?

If all you've ever done is see the movie...don't get this book. Get The Shining first. Trying to listen to this book WITHOUT first going through The Shining is kind of like picking up book 4 of the Harry Potter series without reading the first 3, or book 2 of LOTR without reading book 1. You CAN do it, but you'll spend so much time feeling "out of the loop" that it'll ruin the experience....that and The Shining is up there with the top 10 SK books of all time so what can it hurt anyway?

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A crecendo that hits the high notes

Revisado: 04-26-13

What made the experience of listening to The Return of the King the most enjoyable?

Finally we come to the end and you can tell that both the narrator and the listener have gone through a journey to come out the other side. Listening to this book is a vastly different experience from the first one.

What did you like best about this story?

The plot comes to it's pinnacle and the narrator's skill is finally comes into its own. The story kept me engaged and I couldn't wait to hear the end. A lot goes on after the quest comes to a close that fans of the moves are unaware.

Which character – as performed by Rob Inglis – was your favorite?

Of all the characters that were my favorite I would have to say Sam outshines them all. I get how Frodo is supposed to be the star, but without the heroism and brevity of Sam all would have come to naught. He is humble and unassuming yet takes no lip from others and if the need calls he is more than capable. Other characters are confident and, at times, brash about their abilities but Sam exemplifies the saying "Walk softly and carry a big stick". You'd never guess it from his personality but crossing him may be the most unwise thing one could do.

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

I really liked the book and how the author allowed the readers to say goodbye to each character in turn which is a real treat compared to the endings from other books I've read. You get to know each person and it seems that not only was the reader saying good bye but the author too, which is why it was handled the way it was and part of what made it great.

Any additional comments?

The narrator finally comes into his own with this book. The big problem that plagued the series (especially in the first book) were the songs / poems, as the narrator would often sing very quietly which, consequently, caused you to turn the volume up to hear what was being said...until the song ended and your ears were blown out your skull!

Those days are gone with this book and the songs / poems are a real treat. I didn't hear a peep of background noise (another problem in book 1 at a few instances) and the 3+ hours of bonus content at the end really helped to make a listener fell they not only got their money's worth but a real value to boot.

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Better than the first

Revisado: 04-26-13

Would you listen to The Two Towers again? Why?

Yes, I would listen to it again because the story is exactly what I look for in an epic fantasy adventure novel.

What did you like best about this story?

The plot and characters were well thought out and the book clipped along at the perfect pace.

Did Rob Inglis do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, you can tell the difference between the characters which made it a good listen.

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

I liked the book and have been waiting for LOTR to hit audible for years now!

Any additional comments?

The narrator does a lot better in this one vs the first. In the first one all the songs / poems were not performed all that well and since there are not that many in the second book that problem is mostly solved.

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Better than nothing

Revisado: 03-13-13

What did you like best about The Fellowship of the Ring? What did you like least?

I've been waiting for this title to come out for years. The story is excellent, but there are characteristics in the IMPLEMENTATION that leave things to be desired.

What did you like best about this story?

As expected those of us already familiar with the story won't be disappointed. It is quintessential high fantasy and sets the standard for all those coming after.

Would you be willing to try another one of Rob Inglis’s performances?

Probably not. The narration had, at some points, background noises bleeding through such as a door opening/closing etc. Also being what it is, there are a lot of songs / poetry in the work. I'm not going to criticize his singing voice (you try it) but I will say that when he does, he get's REALLY quiet which makes you turn up the volume to hear it. Then once he's done with the song / poem...he starts to read again...and your volume is cranked way up. This was probably the largest drawback I have found.

Did The Fellowship of the Ring inspire you to do anything?

Yeah, get the next book.

Any additional comments?

OK for what it is, could be better. As far as I know this is the only UNABRIDGED non dramatized version of the story that Audible offers. Hope they make a better one in the future.

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Almost hit the mark

Revisado: 02-13-13

Would you try another book from Stephen King and/or Christian Rummel?

Big Stephen King fan.

Would you recommend Guns to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes and No, It tends to reiterate many of the tired old arguments from both sides, bringing both sides towards the middle but not introducing anything new to the debate which is very useful for those of us not paying attention, but for those of us who do, not very stimulating.

What about Christian Rummel’s performance did you like?

The performance of the narrator was very passionate which kept your ear and made the listen very enjoyable.

Was Guns worth the listening time?

The short nature of it made it a good listen while I did some quick house chores.

Any additional comments?

The author does a good job of bringing the far right/left wings more towards the center, and surprisingly I agree with many of his statements. One thing I was disappointed to see was the failure to address one critical problem with gun laws and the 2nd amendment. The primary reason it was put in place was in reaction to the dismal prospects at the start of the revolutionary war. i.e. a public with inferior weaponry subject to rule by the government because they had no realistic prospects of taking on such a well armed government. How they pulled it off was a miracle really. The 2nd amendment is there to ensure the government fears the people, not the other way around.The authors proposal only makes rational sense if you are willing to forgo that position. If you are willing to subject yourself to a law enforcement that can out-gun you any day of the week. Not a problem when everything works right (which for the most part it does and has but there are notable exceptions) but the alternative, I believe, is the exact reason it was put in the constitution.

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