eran 26

Avoid if you like Maugham

Revisado: 05-31-22

I'm a great Maugham fan, and have been enjoying him immensely, through a list of Best Maugham books I've found somewhere on the Web.
But this one was terrible.
Apparently Maugham tried to earn some easy money, or just wanted to try himself in the espionage genre.
Well, it didn't work.
In his preface he criticizes Chechov's writing, and in this novel he himself brings out all that's bad about Chechov's short stories.
Because this is not really a novel, but a collection of short stories about this agent, Ashendon, loosely connected, and having no real point, and none of what's so grand about this writer - deep reflections on Life.
Not to mention some racist remarks strewn here and there.

Mr Oxford's performance is perfect.
Not the book.

Hope the rest of the list of top Maugham books picks itself up...

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Great Performance

Revisado: 04-25-22

I am quite a veteran in Audible, but seldom have encountered such a good performance this by Kate Reading. This was not a reading but a real performance by a great actress.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Read this three times

Revisado: 03-28-20

I recommend listening to this performance three times:
The first - to enjoy.
The second - to understand.
The third - to admire Joelle's workmanship...
Performed brilliantly by four gifted actors, real fun but has also some deep sayings about life.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

A radiating performance

Revisado: 12-17-19

Perfectly played, immensely moving, a biography about the inventor of Radium, which is just an excuse for some very deep insights into the meaning of life.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Can't Accept That

Revisado: 12-14-19

Spoiler alert
I can't accept a plot story, well written as it would, (and it is very well written), where murder is accepted and life just goes on. "Crime Pays" here is an understatement. I am sure that is the whole point here, perhaps some kind of literary experiment, but I don't think stories like this should go around. It should be banned.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Superb Vamp Story

Revisado: 10-31-19

Great story (can give a chill to an unaccustomed soul) superb acting by all, though David Tennant's appearance near the end definitely boosts everything up several degrees.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Dilemma

Revisado: 11-28-17

I really don't know which is better here, the book itself, or the way it read by Jeremy Parker. Hardy hardly needs my recommendations and if not perfect (waiting to listen to his later works) this book is moving, and a good learning about human nature and spirit.
But Parker's reading is really formidable! The so many characters playing in this book are so well characterised that even before we are told who's speaking, one can recognise without any doubt who the speaker is. Parker is so absorbed in acting his characters - that he seems in a trance.
There were some passages of southern England slang which were really hard for me to decipher.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Some things don't change

Revisado: 06-14-17

Tried it many years ago and couldn't finish it. This time I did, but it's mostly unintelligible for me. Flow of consciousness, I know... But it's sometimes just unbearable.
Performance was superb, of both narrators, but Norton's French and Hebrew are absolutely terrible. Could have consulted someone who knew.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A grand work

Revisado: 05-16-17

A great work by Dostoevsky. At times I felt it was slightly presumptuous. But still - a very impressive achievement for that grand mind. I liked the earlier Crime and Punishment better.
Constantine Gregory's performance is impeccable as usual. No words are enough for praise of his narration. There were however some technical quirks along the way, and I was surprised. But nothing to hinder understanding of plot.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Excellent book, brilliant narration!

Revisado: 11-08-16

Hate to part with characters now I've finished the trilogy...not least because of Hollie Jackson's mastery in narration.
The books are really good, even if not perfect - an enjoyable reading!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña