Gary E. Callahan

Crais should write not read

Revisado: 04-11-25

This is my least favorite Crais novel due at least, in part, to the author’s narration. Of particular note is his poor attempts at ethnic accents. Otherwise it seemed very flat.
I also thought the characters lacked personality. Especially I missed Elvis Cole and his humor as the main character.
The intricacies of the story did not make it more interesting. I often turn to Robert Crais when I am looking for a fast paced story I don’t want to put down. This was not that book.
I’m not done with Crais yet and look forward to my next listen.

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Where have you taken Lawrence Block

Revisado: 02-16-24

Lawrence Block has become one of my favorite writers, but Random Walk is a journey I wish he had not invited me to take. There is no mystery to the plot. What a surprise when a serial murderer meets a wandering group and is psychically healed. NOT! If you like quasi-new age psychobabble with a political spin, this is the book for you.
I missed Block’s sense of humor most of all. I felt like I died and went to Portland.
I have forgiven myself for writing this review.

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Awful narration of a mediocre novel

Revisado: 08-01-23

Even the annoying reading couldn’t keep me awake. International intrigue not very intriguing. My second and last effort into Cara Black.

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This book helped me remember

Revisado: 10-01-22

I was born in New York in the 40’s the descendant of Irish, Scottish and German immigrants most of whom came to New York following the Civil War. I wanted to listen to this book to learn about the early history of the area, and that was well done. But it was Rutherfurd’s accounts of events, places and personalities that span my own life that made this book so special. After college and graduate school I moved to Michigan and later to Tennessee. This book helped me remember why after 53 years I still consider myself a New Yorker.

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I will listen to this over and over

Revisado: 02-04-22

I cried. I laughed. When it was over, I wanted more. I have loved the music and lyrics of Paul Simon since I was young but not with the insight of Malcolm Gladwell and Bruse Headlam nor the introspection of Simon. What a joy. We are roughly contemporaries, he a Jewish young man from Queens and I, an Episcopalian from the Bronx. So different and yet when he reflected on singing doo wop in a playground bathroom and street corners, I was transported back 70 years to a good time. For years I have hoped that someone would pen a theology of Simon's lyrics. Beyond me, but his reflections are of a universal struggle for meaning in the midst of the ordinary and that is a gift.

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Not for the casual reader

Revisado: 07-03-21

This volume will become a significant resource for experts studying the early history and archeology of Europe and the British Isles. For the casual somewhat educated reader however it fails to give a clear sense of who the Celts were. Professor Cunliffe mentions in an almost random way every tribe (except the Dothraki 😉), enclave and leader ever to be discovered in a dig or ancient text. Unless one already knew these references those names added little to an overall understanding of the history of the ancient Celts. With so many different populations mentioned it becomes unclear what made the Celts the Celts. With the exception of certain artistic elements of warfare and burial there is no pattern. Other groups had warlike customs, hierarchy and trade in slaves. Of particular concern for this reader was his lack of reference to DNA research. Do the Celts represent one people, a particular people, or are they simply similar tribal societies. Also of concern is his failure to go in detail of his understanding of the Celtic language, its source and development. His suggestion that the language may have spread eastward brings into question its relationship with Proto Indo-European sources.

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Edgar?

Revisado: 05-04-21

I bought this because it had won an Edgar Award. How is a mystery. I listened as long as I could trying to detect a story. Finally I escaped.

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Was the narrator a cajun

Revisado: 01-24-21

The narrator's Cajun accent was strained while speaking for the main characters. More distracting was this accent inconsistently bleeding into narrator's part. Also not one of Patterson's best plots.

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Historical?

Revisado: 12-10-20

If this was not supposed to be an “historical” novel it would rate a 5. Well read.

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