Chandon

An emotional roller coaster ....

Revisado: 02-01-13

What would have made Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? better?

I was really excited when WBHWYCBN was selected for the Book Club because I truly loved the title. They say you do judge a book by its cover so me I was onto the book before even started it. The book title really resonates with me. The while reading I find out how hard it was, how complex it was!
To pin down what this book was even exactly about is difficult in itself. So it’s a book about Jeanette Winterson’s adopted mother, and then her eventual search to find her biological one. Sure. But it’s also about a million other things. I was even unable to ask basics questions about : Which themes struck me the most? Mrs. Winterson and her exorcism and book burning? English Literature A-Z and the power it gave Jeanette? The “lost loss” of adoption? Or the countless meditations on love, love, love — giving it, receiving it, deserving it?
Then I decided to relax and take this story as her journey to understanding herself, where she came from, with Mrs. Winterson as the main antagonist. To me, the most hopeful thing about the book is how with time Jeanette came to understand Mrs. Winterson (and her father), and, by extension, herself.
Jeanette Winterson's style threw me a couple of times. This book is written in a style I don't particularly like. Sometimes I liked but then the next page could just throw me again. I do understand the complicated mess that is the relationship with Mrs. Winterson.
All that I remember about this book is that messy relationship and self-discovery. Jeanette’s style made it hard for me to remember the story; I was lost most of the time. The book didn't hook me, it took me nearly 2 weeks to finish it and normally, when I like a book it takes about 2 days for I finish it.... It all comes down to style, this is a style I don't like and can't describe whatsoever, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who like this.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

did not like the reader ... it was hard to focus and folow

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Great book!

Revisado: 02-01-13

Where does Rabbit, Run rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Rabbit, Run by John Updike
Twenty-two-year-old Rabbit Angstrom is a salesman in a local department store, father of a preschool-age son, and husband to an alcoholic wife who was his second-best high school sweetheart. The squalor and tragedy of their lives reminds us that salvation is a personal undertaking.
“Rabbit” was once the star athlete of his high school, a great basketball player prized by his team and his coach, Marty Tothero. Now he is twenty-six, stuck in an unhappy marriage and an unfulfilling job selling kitchen gadgets. He joins the game for a bit, and then continues on his way.
To top it all at home, his newly pregnant wife, Janice, pisses him so much that when she asks him to go out, Rabbit immediately saw an opportunity to leave and drove far away from home and leaves his life behind. He deeply needs to escape. He makes it as far south as West Virginia before he finally turns around and heads home. Back in Mt. Judge, he joins Marty Tothero - now just as "washed-up" and as much of a "has-been" as Rabbit, having been fired years ago from his job at the high school due to a "scandal" - and hits the town with his former coach. He meets Ruth Leonard on a double date with Marty, and winds up spending the night with her in her apartment. He grows very affectionate of her, and, though Ruth's opinion of Rabbit fluctuates, the two live together for a solid two months.
It has been a great pleasure reading Upidike’s book. Characters are realistic and the book topic is about things that happen in real life. We are all attempt to run, we’re driven to run for all sorts of reasons – because we don’t like our life, we’re stuck in a marriage that we hate, children are thought to deal with, we hate our job etc. Running is great but the matter of fact is it does not last forever

Who was your favorite character and why?

I hate them all

Would you listen to another book narrated by Arthur Morey?

Yes, he makes the characters alive

Who was the most memorable character of Rabbit, Run and why?

When Janice gave birth

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How I end up listening to this garbage?

Revisado: 01-02-13

What disappointed you about Fifty Shades of Grey?

I really hate to write bad reviews and truly respect those who work up the nerve to write something and expose themselves out there to be read and judged. Having heard so much about this book I decided to give it a shot but it goes without saying that I was extremely disappointed. How I end up listening to this garbage? I wish I had taken the time out to read reviews on different sites before downloading it to my kindle. The story is not sexy at all I absolutely hated Grey and Ana I was hoping for his helicopter to crash and put an end to this ridiculous redundant mess. I have learned never to go by the five star reviews again. The book is mostly about sex and a naïve, clumsy, innocent girl Anna who orgasms at everything/or anytime his billionaire boyfriend moves/emails her/touches her. Then if you remove the parts where Anna blushes and orgasms the book will be down to 25 pages. This is the most appalling, immature book I have ever read. The bad news is I’ve bought the whole trilogy I did not know that this book will turn out to be so dumb. I will have to read the whole trilogy now. If some of you are thinking about reading it please don’t! I wonder how someone (the author) who is right in her mind could write a book where she repeats over and over the same word. I wish I hadn’t bought this garbage.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was mad, let down and hated the book! As far as I am concerned this book does not deserve to be called book at all! This is fifty shades of sh*t!

Any additional comments?

No

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This book is about EVERYTHINGS – Faith, Religion,

Revisado: 12-12-12

What made the experience of listening to Life of Pi the most enjoyable?

This book is about EVERYTHINGS – Faith, Religion, Freedom, Tolerance, Will Power, Boldness, Humor, and so much more …..!
Reading this book has been a great experience, I was hook right from the first pages! The book is funny and yet sad. I felt like I was the one being with the tiger in the boat. Martel has delivered one of the best fantasy book ever! "Life of Pi" packs so much into a little book. It starts off as a whimsical story of Indian teenager and his confusion about life, religion, and animals (his father is a zookeeper). It is reminiscent of John Irving's "Son of a Circus", and it bit like Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" but more fun. The story then takes a much more adventurous turn when the boy and his family embark on a sea voyage to Canada. No spoilers here, but what a fascinating story. While a book for all ages I think "Life of Pi" will become a classic for the "I am too old for Harry Potter, really!" teenaged set.
Bottom line: simply wonderful. Fully deserving of the Booker prize.

What about Jeff Woodman’s performance did you like?

He did a great job!

Who was the most memorable character of Life of Pi and why?

Piscine Patel

Any additional comments?

A must to be read!

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a roller coaster ride .....

Revisado: 11-28-12

Would you consider the audio edition of The Lovely Bones to be better than the print version?

When we first meet Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven and tells us about her short life story on earth. How life was for her before being abruptly murdered. She looks down to us from this peaceful place called “Heaven” and carries readers through a journey that will end her life on earth. Susie Salmon was raped and murdered by her neighborhood, Mr. Harvey who is a sexual predator /killer serial.
The event is viewed and told from a dead girl’s perspective, which makes this book unique and unusual.
The crime description is not unbearable. Susie bears a smart outlook on what has happened to her on earth. Readers are carried through the event at the same as Susie as she does the following days, months and years. Besides, Susie tells the story with a great sense of humor so we are not crying as we are experiencing how though is for her family to deal with her death.
This story is not just about the grief of those left behind, but also about Susie’s coming to terms with her loss of life. Navigating through this book has been a roller-coaster ride. I truly recommend it for those of you who are looking for a funny, gloomy and great book to read.

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A GREAT PORTRAIT OF NYC IN 1970s

Revisado: 08-30-12

Would you listen to Let the Great World Spin again? Why?

This a great book, the one you will always keep in book shelves forever! You will be profoundly moved, and when reaches the end you might want to read it again because it is such delight.

McCann, fictionalizes a real historical event—the famous tightrope-walking stunt of a French aerialist who precariously balances himself as he walks between the two Twin Towers—and uses that event as the narrative ground around which he creates a host of characters you will soon become attach to.
The tightrope event moves in and out of most the characters’ lives that have often no connection with the person performing the tightrope. But this event is the one which links most of the characters in the book.
The follows the lives of a group people before and after the Philippe Petit performed his spectacle on a tightrope between the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. Although, McCann does not feature Philippe Petit as the central characters, the lives of all of the main characters intertwine with his walking between the twin’s towers. The book looks at people from all walks of life in NYC in the 1970s--from Bronx hookers to a Park Avenue matron. As the lives of each of these people come together you wonder who will survive this vicious city, where people and souls seem to be eaten alive.

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A master piece

Revisado: 08-21-12

Would you consider the audio edition of Midnight's Children to be better than the print version?

Yes
Midnight’s Children – A Book Review
It is really challenging for me to review and sum up this massive, multi-layered, multi-dimensional book. I would like to say also that this is the most complex book that I have read in the few past years. Was it a great book? The answer is “YES”! Would I read another book from the same author? “YES”.
The plot revolves around Saleem Sinai’s birth and life. Saleem, the narrator and protagonist of the novel, is born on the stroke of midnight at the exact moment when India achieved Independence. This accident of birth gives him (and other children born during that magical midnight hour), unique, special gifts. Saleem’s gift is his “nose” that allowed him at first to go into people’s heads and know what they are thinking. He is also able to telepathically communicate with the other midnight children forming a kind of “ham” radio link of sorts with the rest of the children. Now after an eventful life, he is breaking into pieces, literally falling apart, and he wants to narrate his story to his lover before he dies. His identity, however, is switched at birth. As a result, he is raised by a prosperous family in Bombay, while his counterpart and future rival, Shiva, is raised in poverty.
The book is about Saleem, but it is also about India because for some magical, inexplicable reasons, Saleem and India destiny are intertwined with each other. The book opens up with Saleem’s grand parents in Kashimir, and then his parents and finally Saleenm and other midnight’s children.
I won’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but keep in mind that there are layers upon layers of fantasy/historical dates and moments etc.
Reading this book was like watching both a fantasy movie combined with an historical movie. I really loved it. It was hard to start off the book and get into that but after the first 200 pages I started to enjoy it and therefore was unable to put it down. There are so many characters walking in and out of the story. The book is overly detailed you might get lost, but no worries about each small detail just keep going and at the end you’ll see everything will fall into place and be clear in your mind. This is definitely a book I highly recommend for those of you who likes both fantasy/historic.

What does Lyndam Gregory bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Everything!!!!!!He makes it the characters sound real

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Saleem's parent find out that Saleem is not theit biological son. I felt so sorry for the mother.

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A good read .....

Revisado: 08-13-12

What did you love best about Locked On?

This is my very first time reading Tom Clancy book; for this reason I cannot say I am a fan of Mr. Clancy’s books. I took this one because of all the good reviews I read and thought well; maybe I should give it a try!Locked on is basically standard terrorism thriller with a very complex plot. Let me first warn you if you have never read Tom Clancy’s book, please don’t start with this one as most the characters are introduced without background and from what I understood most of them come from Clancy previous books. The book has several plots and subplots, there’s a plot by a rogue Pakistani general to destroy the Pakistani civilian government so he can take control; there's a plot to destroy Moscow with a nuclear weapon; and there's a plot by a weakened Democratic president named Kealty to undermine Jack Sr.'s campaign in the last weeks before the election because of these many plots, the book began a little slowly. It was a bit hard to understand the connection between different characters at the beginning. There's even a romance plotline that portrays Jack Ryan Jr. showing some interest towards a smart, beautiful CIA operative named Melanie. Each plotline contains several pages where various actions, scene are described. All characters are scattered on different mission in different parts of the world. One or two characters are based in Pakistan, some in Russia, some in Germany, some in France. There is so much going on at the same time. For you to enjoy it will really depend on how you come to it: if you are a committed Clancy/Ryan’s fan, you'll probably be keen on reading it but slightly wary given the recent books. If you are new to Clancy, and thinking of starting (and I encourage you to do), this is not the place to start, read them in publications order. If you are interested in a modern techno-thriller, this is OK but there are better in the genre.I have been told that this book is a typical Clancy, multi-layered, densely plotted style. In overall Locked On is well written and structured book. I do recommend it for Clancy’s fans and to those who like complex and action driven books.

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A guide life book – Everyone should be required to

Revisado: 06-12-12

What did you love best about How to Win Friends & Influence People?

Four things I found absolutely superb about this book:

One – This is a classic timeless book, published first in the 30’ but still so relevant in today’s life. The author has proved that no matter in which context or era people live, they still need the same things: power, love, money etc. and they still have the same problems: making others to like them. Some of the examples have been taken from the bible which just shows how similar we are. This book can help just anybody to interact just better with others and “win friends”. This is a must-read for each living soul.

Two - All the basics principles in the book are known by all by only few people have the courage and intelligence to put them into practice. I was a bit puzzle to find out that most I not only knew most the principles but I was also aligned with them. The book gives a refresh memory to apply these principles. After reading the book, I have decide to take a step further and put them into action – well I have noticed few changes around me.

Three – The book is divided into section which makes it easy to read. It’s a pretty well written book with a lot of examples including good people from the history, bible etc. The examples from real life make it very vivid and help the message to go across well.

Four – I have just enjoyed read it. It might seem a bit corny to read a book like that. All the principles mentioned are simple and obvious but most of the times there are ignored.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

This is a must-read for each living soul.

Which character – as performed by Andrew MacMillan – was your favorite?

MacMillan's voice was great - nothing to complain about it

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Oustanding!!!!

Revisado: 06-05-12

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

Praise for Grisham, The Litigators is absolutely superb. Few writes have the power to tell a story as Grisham. The book is so well written, it will keep you awake. The characters are enjoyable; you literally fall in love with them, I truly like them all Rachelle, David, Oscar and Wally. My only regret is that since this book is a stand-alone I won’t meet them again.
Our hero is David Zinc, thirty years something with a great background and wonderful career prospective ahead. Through David Zinc, we will discover a law firm, Finley & Figg, an ambulance-chasing law firm in Chicago – precisely “a boutique firm “as both partners refer to themselves. The “boutique “ has two partners, Wally Figg a junior partner who dreams of big cases even though no one in the firm has the skills to handle such cases, Oscar Finley, the senior partner who has non ambition about the firm and would like to divorce his wife and take his retirement ,Rochelle a bitter secretary and AC the dog. The two partners are not good lawyers, their law ethic is dubious, the prices are always higher and law cases are often made complicated to increase their fees even though they fail to win even the basic law case.
David our burn out hero ends up there, partnering with both associates. The story is based upon a lawsuit against a giant pharmaceutical company. David has to learn fast as He will understands he has joined a law firm where the lawyers lack solid knowledge of law.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All main characters were lovely, I get attache to all of them, Wally, Rochelle, Oscar and of course David

What about Dennis Boutsikaris’s performance did you like?

This is my first time listenning to Dennis - He did a great job! I could not put my iPad down - I was captivated by his voice.

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

Yes, it will listen to it soon - I already miss the characters

Any additional comments?

A big priase to the author

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