Lauren Cutrera

Irreverent, funny, and serious with A+ narration

Revisado: 03-06-24

I absolutely loved this book and the narration. It alternates between being serious, sad, funny, and downright irreverent to the point where I found myself laughing out loud off and on. I believe it takes a special kind of listener to appreciate the story and narration, and I'm not saying that because I'm narcissistic. It's just true. In my opinion, this novel is either going to connect with the reader or not. In other words, either you "get" this story, the characters, and its outcome or you don't. I found that it was an excellent study in the lives of the off-beat students and teachers and thought that the narrator brought out the best in each, allowing me to visualize things exactly as I was meant to when I listened.

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A misleading summary leads to disappoitment

Revisado: 07-25-20

I was expecting a book that had some science in it because of the author's background and other works of his I've read. However, this book seemed to be more of a chemistry lesson than a memoir. The summary hinted at the latter, but I was disappointed by how heavy the book was on the science and how light it was on personal details. I got bogged down in the chemistry and longed for more personal history. I also knew that the narrator was American and not English as Sacks was, and Id thought it wouldn't make a difference. It did, even though the narrator's performance was fine in and of itself. . I found myself beginning to jump chapters about halfway through and couldn't finish the book. Disappointing, considering I've read several books by this author that have been either autobiographical or scientific in nature and thoroughly enjoyed them.

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A hysterical equal opportunity offender

Revisado: 04-12-20

Larry Correa's latest Tom Stranger tale is hilarious, an equal opportunity offending romp through multiple universes. I laughed out loud several times, thrilled that I'd chosen to brighten my day with A Murder of Manatees. Living in southwest Florida, I wonder if Wendell is actually in residence in the Manatee River near my home. Hm....

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esto le resultó útil a 12 personas

Kudos to the author and the actor!

Revisado: 09-30-18

Let me begin by saying that the narration is brilliant. However, at the beginning of this production, I could not stand the protagonist. She totally turned me off. However, I stuck with the book and was sucked into this compelling, tragic, and all-too-common tale of a happy family life gone wrong. By the end of the production, I couldn't stop thinking about the main character and her circumstances. Throughout it all, I did like the fact that we listeners got such an honest portrayal of this character, whether we liked her from the start or not. Kudos to the writer and the actor!

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An Intricate Tale Continues with Epic Performances

Revisado: 03-29-18

Would you consider the audio edition of Shadowfever to be better than the print version?

I'm visually impaired and, therefore, have never read the print version of this novel.

What did you like best about this story?

The book gave readers the most deeply personal look to date at Mac and Barrons and their separate lives and personalities in the midst of the continuing Fever saga, an intricate tale of the supernatural and the mysteries surrounding worldwide events in this urban fantasy series.

What about Natalie Ross and Phil Gigante ’s performance did you like?

Natalie Ross and Phil Gigante ARE Mac and Barrons for me. Not only do they evoke a real sense of all of the characters in the novel, they make me believe that they ARE those characters. They infuse each character with emotion, not merely nailing the accents and pronunciations. Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! For me, Phil Gigante's performance of Barrons is the best of his career. I couldn't get enough.

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

Yes. I loved the way Mac and Barrons finally came together and worked out an understanding between one another. Not everything was explained or resolved, and the reader is left knowing that more will come. But I felt as if the series could have ended here and would have been satisfied if it had. I wanted to reread the sections including Mac and Barrons over and over after I'd finished the novel!

Any additional comments?

I can't stress enough how powerful PhilGigante's performance is in this novel. For those readers looking for something affecting and evocative, make certain to listen to his performances in this series!

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Good Intro to the Series But....

Revisado: 03-25-18

Would you consider the audio edition of Darkfever to be better than the print version?

I've never read the print version, but I have listened to another audio version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jericho Barrons because of his commanding presence and the mystery surrounding him and his origins, agenda, and life.

What about Joyce Bean’s performance did you like?

I thoroughly enjoyed Joyce Bean's characterization of MacKayla Lane, the main character.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Searching for light in the Dark Zone of Dublin.

Any additional comments?

The one thing I did not care for - and it's a big one - is that I did not like the narrator's characterization of Jericho Barrons. I felt it was TOTALLY wrong. Perhaps it's because I've listened to other Fever books that had voice actors who made Barrons in this version sound as I envisioned - powerful, sexy, and enigmatic. It was difficult for me to listen to Barrons, knowing how totally engaging he is in some of the other editions.

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My favorite (so far) in The Riyria Chronicles!

Revisado: 12-19-17

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I enjoyed Books 1 & 2 in this series, but I found that there was a lull in each as I read. I had to push myself through a couple of slow periods in those books. That was NOT the case in this book! I loved that Hadrian and Royce were present from page 1 onward and found the story and characters to be both entertaining and engaging. The narration was excellent, as usual!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Death of Dulgath?

The scene in which Royce facilitates the rescue of one of the main characters, something which goes against his nature.

What about Tim Gerard Reynolds and Michael J. Sullivan ’s performance did you like?

The narrator's characterizations are perfect for Hadrian and Royce and for the other characters in the novel.

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

I loved it!

Any additional comments?

I found the story intriguing and the characters both driven and humorous.

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An inspiring, touching, yet often humorous listen!

Revisado: 12-13-17

What made the experience of listening to The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year the most enjoyable?

Tales written and performed by Audible narrators. Some narrators are my favorites, while I had never heard others. The personal stories were alternately uplifting, heartbreaking, and hysterical. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have listened to it more than once.

What other book might you compare The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year to and why?

Hm. I can't really think of a similar book,but it gave me the feeling I got reading St. Nick by Alan Russell. That novel had characters who were very "human" and had good and bad traits as well as happy and sad moments. In the end, it made me feel good and reminded me of what the holiday season is all about.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were so many fantastic stories. The multi-cultural holiday celebration made me laugh, and I loved listening to Scott Brick's story about his collection of holiday recordings. One that brought tears to my eyes was the tale by Edoardo Ballerini. Et cetera.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

I'd love a similar work with more amazing Audible narrators.

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So disappointing after last year's holiday magic!

Revisado: 12-13-17

What disappointed you about Gather ‘Round the Sound?

After last year's The Most Wonderful Tales of the Year, I was eagerly anticipating this year's holiday offering from Audible. Alas, this haphazard production was a let-down. The part about Santa and the kids was interesting, and I enjoyed the story based on n Indian tale and the Aussie Night Before Christmas. But the Dickens story seemed out of place, and the improv piece at the end was truly awful. Perhaps next year we'll be treated to a more well-written, cohesive, well-performed collection!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Alan Furst's Mission to Paris

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I found it uneven. However, I found the entire thing to be disjointed.

What character would you cut from Gather ‘Round the Sound?

Improv section at the end

Any additional comments?

Last year's Audible holiday work was excellent. Great stories, great narration, and great flow. I'd love to see something like that again next year!

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