Grace

One character -- and no plot

Revisado: 11-15-12

I cannot imagine what book other reviewers read that kept them interested in The Panther. The main character, John Corey, is a wise-ass with little redeeming characteristics and virtually no endearing ones. His wife is hidden behind a veil (literally) for most of the book and other than metaphorically wringing her hands and saying "Oh John!" there was little for her to do. As far as the other operatives, um, who were they again?

There is a one-note plot and it plods along for page after page, chapter after chapter. No intrigue, no twists, no mysteries. The only reason I finished the book was because I really couldn't believe it was THAT BAD.

But it was. And at the risk of being accused of being politically correct, it was also sexist and racist. But hey, when all the references to the only woman in the book are about sex and every Arab is sneaky and blood-thirsty, what other words apply?

Scott Brick was, as he always is, entertaining and engaging. But even he couldn't save The Panther.

Save your money and your time. Get something else.

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A lovely, lyrical love story

Revisado: 08-27-12

This is a lovely book,lyrical when set in the La Dolce Vita Roma of the 1960s, but jarringly real when reflecting 21st century US. I enjoyed the first half more than the second half, and feel the plot in the second half was not as compelling. But I still enjoyed the book tremendously.

The narration was lovely.

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Back in time, when life was not at all simpler

Revisado: 07-23-12

Like "Rules of Civility", this book casts you back into a time period that current culture tends to view as simpler than our own. It is not. Human nature doesn't change, and this lovely book illustrates that through characters drawn so completely I feel as if I know them myself.

Rarely are audiobooks enhanced by the narrator's performance, but I think this is the case with "The Chaparone." Ms. McGovern not only tells the story, but she also gives glimpses into the character's that would not have been there with any other narrator.

Good book, good story, GREAT narration.

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Defending Jacob is layered and complex

Revisado: 06-12-12

This is not just your average court-room thriller. It examines family dynamics, personality, character, and ethics as well as keeping you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

Highly recommended.

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Made me laugh AND cry

Revisado: 05-04-12

This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read (or listened to). I can't even begin to describe this woman's life -- just read the book.
I have two quibbles. I am neither a prude nor the grammer police, but if Ms. Lawson would have cut the use of the f-bomb by half and the number of "totallys" by three-quarters, it would have been a five-star book. Basically, those f-in words just get to be like totally boring after a while, basically. :)

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I really wanted to like this!

Revisado: 05-04-12

I have been a fan of Carole King's since her (and my) teenage years. I really wanted to like this book. I really wanted to enjoy Carole reading her life story. But I couldn't.
The book itself needed some serious editing. It interrupted its own flow in places so much that I found myself actually disoriented at times. Paragraphs and pages were devoted to miscellaneous and trivial events, such as winning a court case over the privacy of a road or getting lost in Japan, but only one brief sentence to sending one's youngest son off to live with his father. I'm still confused about how she fell in love with her first husband. Did he just look like a picture she fell in love with that she kept in her wallet of some random model guy or did he have other, endearing qualities? We don't know. There is no depth.
And the narration is just plain awful. I'm sorry. I continue to love Carole's music and if I ever get the chance to see her perform again I will run, not walk, to get tickets. But please don't ask her to read a book again.
I feel like a traitor. I really wanted to enjoy this book. But I didn't.

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Disappointing

Revisado: 09-22-11

Because I've enjoyed other books by Ms. Andrews, I anticipating enjoying this as well. It was a waste of time. The characters had no depth; in fact I could hardly tell them apart. The story was predictable. The narrator did her best to fake a Southern accent but failed miserably. Most of the book was taken up by every character repeating the major plot points periodically. I couldn't believe anything about this book including the fact that I actually listened to it all the way through. I'm sorry to be so negative, but this is my honest opinion.

Let's hope it is an aberation and Ms. Andrews' next is up to her usual standard.

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More

Revisado: 05-20-07

The writing is top notch as is the narration, but I was a little unsettled by the descriptions of the author's lovers and love life. These parts of the book seemed to go nowhere and they disrupted (to me) the flow of the book.
But it was a good "listen".

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Not the WORST book I ever read...but close

Revisado: 04-22-05

I am sure I have read worse books in my life but I really can't think of any. I'm giving it one star because the man can string together a sentence without making glaring grammatical errors. But the plot was unlikely, the hero(ine)s not particularly compelling, the politics over the top and the ending disappointing.
If you must give it a listen, try the abridged version. Then, if you dislike it as much as I did, you won't have wasted 18 hours of your life.

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Agreed --- the reader ruins the book!

Revisado: 02-02-05

I agree with another reviewer --- the reader of this book is AWFUL. I have no idea whether the book itself is good or not because so many passages were ruined by the reader's tone --- it was mono or it was pitched, but it was never appropriate.
I will be sure to never purchase a title read by Ms Crouse ever again.

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