L. Roach

Gripping story from the first page!

Revisado: 08-07-24

I am a lifelong mystery reader writing my first review! I was at the edge of my seat and completely absorbed from the first page. Her characters, both heroes and villains, are complex, unpredictable and yet believable. And of course Simon Vance does his usual superb performance! I really hope we’ll get more of Nikki’s adventures - including Valerio and even Tito. And we have to learn more about her mother’s back story. I can’t wait for Heiders next mystery. I am a fan!!

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This book reignited the wonder I felt as a child more than half a century ago as I looked up at the stars!!

Revisado: 01-27-24

I never write reviews, and particularly not for non-fiction, but I recommend this to any reader who likes any genre. It has all the drama of great fiction, the excitement of an adventure story, the thrill of a detective mystery and expands your imagination like science fiction. It captures your attention from the first page and makes highly complex theories of the origins of our universe relevant and comprehensible to everyone. The book is extremely well organized, referenced and written, and Ms Dunkley's reading of it in her melodic British accent makes the concepts easy to understand. She must be a terrific teacher!!

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Read this book - Do Not Listen to it

Revisado: 08-11-22

I am an almost exclusively listener to books - more than 100 a year. A Life in Light is a beautiful memoir (I think) and one with a powerful, important and inspiring message. I have ordered a hard copy because I want to read it, and I could not continue to listen to the narration. It seemed that the narrator had not read the book ahead of time - placing emphasis on the wrong words or parts of a sentence, mispronouncing words and generally turning well written, complex sentences into trivial, adolescent drivel. The book is well worth reading so do not ruin it by listening to it.

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Awesome interview of awesome writer

Revisado: 05-24-22

So glad to have come across this interview after The publication of Jennifer Egan’s Manhattan Beach. I learned so much about writing and the novel. Egan packs a lot of information delivered clearly and quickly in every sentence!! Wow!!

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Deeply Moving Story of a Woman’s Final Memories

Revisado: 12-01-20

Susan Minot shows her remarkable gift of lyrical, spare writing in this small book depicting the last days of a woman’s life. The story moves back and forth in time from Ann Lord’s death bed to the weekend when she meets the man she will remember as the love of her life. When she first meets Harris Arden, she “felt as if she’d been struck on the forehead with a brick.” The way Minot leads the reader from that fateful weekend when Ann gains and loses Harris Arden, and also one of her best friends, through her marriages and the birth of her children is smooth and effortless. The writing offers an almost uncomfortably intimate look into the memories of a dying women. At times it is hard to read, but always respectful, deeply poignant and full of compassion and understanding. Like all her writing, I will be thinking about this story far into the future.

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Some things should remain a Mystery!

Revisado: 11-30-20

I loved this story of the ancient voices of those buried at Newgrange, and the archaeologist who has spent a lifetime studying it. While I was glad that the ancients were able to share this great mystery of the shortest day without losing its beneficent, life-giving power, I finished the story worried about what the world would do to this most ancient and sacred place when it learned of the mystery of the shortest day.

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Stories that stay with you

Revisado: 11-30-20

This the first book of short stories that I’ve read in many years, and I highly recommend it. Susan Minot writes very well, using spare, beautiful language, quickly and vividly sketched settings, and dialogue that sounds real. The women seem to be dominated by men, living protected, privileged, traditional lives, but drifting, unsure of who they are, often imprisoned by grief and painful memories, or coping with the fallout from divorce, death or addiction. Minot’s characters seem to drift through life, “encased” or trapped or self absorbed, until they are jolted into clarity by an event; or they are haunted by memories - strong memories of events that happen in the context of other disruptions - divorce, death, dislocation - which contributes to their power and helps explain how vulnerable, confused or disconnected the characters seem to be. While the performers did a great job with the stories, I also downloaded the kindle version, and found that a couple of the stories, namely “Why I don’t write,” and “Listen” are better read than listened to. I know I will come back to reread these stories, both to discover more layers of meaning and to simply experience the beauty of Minot’s writing.

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A Small Gem

Revisado: 08-15-20

This is a story of a discovery that prompts two brothers and their sister to take risks, reach out and challenge themselves from the secure place of love that is their family. Beautifully written and read, it’s a reassuring tonic for difficult times.

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Any lover of animals will love this!

Revisado: 07-20-20

The reader is great, the science is credible and compelling and the conclusion that animals have feelings like humans is obvious to anyone who has ever spent any time around animals! Great read.

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Fascinating and Entertaining History Lesson

Revisado: 05-20-20

Scott McCormick put together a highly informative and balanced picture of three famous rivalries. Wish all history came packaged like this!!

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