Sean

Well-written but fast and loose on science

Revisado: 08-25-24

Enjoyable and compact but makes sweeping statements about its subject that stretch scientific findings to support its narrative.

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Voice acting a cut above

Revisado: 05-27-24

This is a new standard for narration. Ruth and Wilson was acting rather than reading. Brilliant.

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Too ‘Hollywood’ but a professional output

Revisado: 04-29-24

I don’t recall 1984 being so clumsy and didactic. Maybe it was the book being performed in this way. I would be harsh to critique the story too heavily as it is a seminal work and equally to critique the actors who put on a good show. The theatrics made for a sentimental and boisterous listen instead of the cutting, dark and incisive critique of communism I remember. Maybe some books are made for reading or narration by a single actor. For those more inclined to entertainment than a meditation on a text, it was a strong and professional output and will suit most.

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The ending let me down

Revisado: 08-20-20

I was fascinated with this novel, and even more fascinated to find out the author isn’t Jewish as he captured Jewish masculinity and the Zionist ideal in such a powerful way. I could’ve easily given the book a 5 for its story but it’s protagonist/antagonist had a transformational moment as well as a paternal love that meant the ending didn’t make sense to me.

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Hilarious!

Revisado: 05-16-20

I haven’t read Voltaire before, shameful, but I will do so more. This was quite brilliant and kept me laughing - what wonderful satire. The reader was well chosen, it’s the same fellow that read Ender’s Game I think which makes perfect sense as the direction those books take remind me a lot of Micromegas - although I haven’t found any sources that speak to an influence Voltaire may have had. I can’t give the narrator 5 stars as I didn’t listen to it before bed and would’ve preferred a regular pace because I love the story. Not sure if this is the best pick for sleep, it’s too funny and engaging.

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esto le resultó útil a 24 personas

Childish rather than intentionally naive

Revisado: 02-14-19

One can write simple stories with simple plot lines that are charming and entrancing, much like a painting in a naive style. This book may have been trying to achieve the above but it comes across as childish. It’s dumbed down or just dumb, with narration that sounds more like a child’s story book than something that offers any philosophical value. It’s also boring rather than being contemplative and monotonous when it should have been measured.

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‘The affected teenage sociopaths’ might be more apt

Revisado: 02-14-19

This book may have appealed to me when I was younger and assumed being perpetually disinterested with the world was somehow an admirable trait. It makes magic seem painfully dry, almost as dry as the interpersonal relationships of the characters themselves. The narrator has chosen to or was instructed to replicate the same monotonous, disinterested tone of the characters making it doubly painful. If you always wished Harry Potter was set in the world of Cruel Intentions, this book is for you.

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Lyrical and almost meditative in parts...

Revisado: 10-02-18

I felt I was listening to spoken word poetry combined with Yiddish story telling. This is a moving and energetic work that ebbs and flows through space and time, confronting the tragedies of the Jewish people in Europe in a unique way.

A novel can’t be all good, so I do need to level some criticism. Foer’s Ukrainian alter ego, Sasha, appeared to have severe developmental issues which also extended to the entire Ukrainian populace. This is not a political correctness concern, it just seems unlikely an entire country would suffer from the same mental dysfunction. That being said, I’ve never been to Ukraine (I say that with tongue firmly in cheek).

The narrators were strong and dedicated to their performances. The reason I only gave them 3 stars is two fold, both relating to accents. The narrator handling the contemporary narrative tasked with American and Ukrainians accents, did not effectively manage the latter. The narrator tasked with the historical narrative in the shtetl, sounded more like a Midwest preacher at times than a venerable Rabbi. I’m not sure if this was intentional but the Slouchers and Uprighters sounded more like Quakers and Shakers.

Get it if you like poetic narratives around tragedy, identity, love and the universe.

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Poignant, complex and touch - very 'Finkleresque'.

Revisado: 09-22-18

This book captures the complexities of being Jewish and human, both for Jews and non-Jews alike. The Jew, as a character in human history has been both reviled (Shylock, Judas, modern-day Israel) and loved (Jesus, David, Einstein). This book cleverly explores the complex relationship that society and culture has with Jews and Jews with the rest of the world. The book's title is a play on 'the Jewish question' or 'Jewish problem', which was an ongoing vile debate in 19th and 20th century Europe, around the status of Jews, their rights and political status.

The fact that this was even a subject for debate and in some cases still is, shows a level of madness within the human mind I feel. This deeply destructive and hateful part of us has lead to genocides and discrimination against Jews and others; this is what the book tries to come to grips with. The protagonist, a non-Jew, who struggles with what it means to be Jewish, both in his admiration for them as well as jealousy of them, drives him to a type of hysteria that he struggles to explicate himself from. It's a funny, witty book that is both charming and challenging at times. The only issue I had was the narrator's Czech accent, that needed some work.

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American in the worst way...

Revisado: 09-16-18

This book is very American but not in a Hemingway or Fitzgerald way. It’s reads as if written by an ex-frat boy-cum-asshole. It’s repetitive and rambling with no sources to speak of (although I didn’t listen past an hour). I don’t what qualifies this fellow to give advice or what he bases his thinking on? It’s like listening to a guy in a bar tell you how to make something of yourself by swearing at you ala ‘man the fuck up’. I understand the premise; the more concerned you are about the result, the less likely you are to succeed...it’s sort of Buddhist with lots of expletives dotted around the book. The narrator is good but I rated him down for the hideous imaginary panda voice - strange device and hugely annoying. If you don’t like good writing and prefer to read tweets, you will likely enjoy this book.

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