One More Time

Wonderful read; can't wait for the film

Revisado: 09-22-24

I have read almost everything Matt Haig has written, including The Humans, Midnight Library, Reasons to Live, and The Life Impossible. But this, How to Stop Time, is my favorite of all. I was really drawn into the experience of life through the dark times. I read that Benedict Cumberbatch is making a film of this, though Covid and the Writer's Strike and other events have slowed down the process and it will now be a series for one of the streaming services. I'm looking forward to seeing it but will probably listen to the book again meantime. I did enjoy the earlier part of the book more than the later, with its intrigue and corrupt alliances. Have recommended it to friends; a nice gift, too.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Maybe a better read than a listen

Revisado: 09-10-24

Normally I love audio books, but noting that the narrator of the story is a selfish and entitled angry woman, just be aware that you will be spending a lot of hours listening to her complain. And complain. And worry, agonize, overthink, and so on. There is almost no action in the book, only the endless spiraling thoughts of the narrator. If you've ever meditated, you'll find yourself spending hours in the "monkey mind" of another person, one whose thoughts of others is rarely charitable. The reader was excellent in portraying all the characters, and she switched seamlessly between the standard American accent and British. I liked the story and the behind-the-scenes angle of the publishing business, but I would recommend reading a hard copy rather than listening to it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Did not hold my interest

Revisado: 02-10-24

The main character, Jess, is full of so much self doubt and hand wringing, I found the story boring. She questions her thoughts and decisions over and over. She so passively rides along with all Guy's plans, one couldn't blame him for being upset when she finally faced her true feelings. The phrase "If I'm honest" is spoken so often by all the characters that I'm surprised the editor did not offer alternatives. And some characters' responses to events made no real sense to me. Spoiler alert--here follows examples. Why was Luce so angry at Jess's Mom and not at her own Dad? Why was there no comfort in learning they were sisters? And wasn't there even a smidgen of satisfaction in learning who her real father was? I stuck with the book until the end just out of stubbornness, but it didn't get any better. So much tragedy and loss and zero humor, I would not recommend this book. The reader was good, even though she pronounces 'says' with a hard A, like 'pays.' A minor irritation, overall she was an excellent reader.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Wonderful story

Revisado: 06-11-23

I felt the story dragged a bit for the first part, so much description of Achilles appearance as a boy, and so much focus on his breathing, hair, posture, etc. Of course, this is when our protagonist was falling for him. Once the action picked up, and they were a couple, the story really took off and caught fire. Enjoyed it very much, one of the best narrators I’ve heard!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Good Title

Revisado: 11-17-21

If we could personify music, Paul Simon's music is the love of my life. As a young teen girl growing up in Nashville, I was hooked the first time I heard The Sound of Silence and yes, I can remember the moment. His music has accompanied me through good and bad times all my life, through love and divorce, celebrations and solitude. I took my two daughters when they were young to his Rhythm of the Saints concert years ago and it was thrilling. We all pretty much memorized lyrics to all his songs.

I was shocked to realize, as he explains toward the end of the book, that he doesn't really sing "love songs." How did I missed that? His lyrics and music speak broadly to the human experience, but in a deeply personal and gentle way.

So about this book----at first I was annoyed by the amount of time the narrators take to explain and analyze Paul Simon's music (where does it come from, what are his influences, etc.). It bothered me when Gladwell (or Headlam, not sure) repeated the lyrics Simon was singing (maybe not everyone knows every word of every song, okay, fair enough). But after a while, I just let that go and appreciated what I'd been given in the gift of this audio book. What a wonderful idea to make it in the first place (thank you Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam). And I would say that the last third of the book they do offer deep insights into individual songs and albums.

Still, I would love to have heard all five hours and six minutes just listening to Paul Simon sing, talk, tell his stories, but especially sing! From his own perspective, his history and his plans. I cannot wait for Seven Psalms. Thank you, Paul Simon.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 20 personas

Outdated and irritating

Revisado: 06-10-20

If you have ever been on a long road trip with two ten-year-olds bickering in the back seat, then you can imagine the narration of this book. Writers should not insist on reading their own works---they should really hire professionals. The main character is always irritated and complaining about how "unfair" life is, how she hates dogs, swimming, Peter Hatcher, and many other parts of her life. If you overhear your kids listening to this, don't be surprised if they get irritable and argumentative after a while. You might. too.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Irritating narration

Revisado: 06-09-20

I really wish authors would not read their own works. Judy Blume is such a good writer and her kids books are great though a little outdated. My kids loved them and now my grandkids. But the audible is another matter. The characters are constantly bickering, and Blume is too good at that part of the reading, it's like listening to kids fight for hours... ugh! She delivers those lines with anger and bitterness and it just goes on and on! We read and enjoy the books, but the way Blume reads them, the lines really sting!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Moves too fast to be relaxing

Revisado: 05-31-20

The speaker talks fast and moves the action along too quickly. One minute the listener is in bed trying to relax and the next minute one is flying through the air into outer space and then in a beautiful field, then there's a tree to leave your concerns, then a gate and a beach and then underwater and whew!!! It's exciting but certainly not relaxing, not for me nor my grandson. He likes it, and listening to it at other times is fun and even relaxing, so three stars, but it's not helping at bedtime.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Delightful laugh-out-loud

Revisado: 03-06-20

I loved this book so much! I had just seen his stand up routine called You’re Doing Fine and at first I thought there would be a lot of the same material. Not so! This is all new and hilarious. Loved it all.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Can Tom Hanks just read all Audible books?

Revisado: 10-27-19

As much as I love Ann Patchett's writing, my favorite thing about this book is Tom Hank's reading. He creates a tone that I know I would not have caught had I read this book in hard copy. Very compassionate and reasonable, where I would have seen more of the drama/sadness. Anyway, excellent book, highly recommend, and with over 3,000 ratings you don't really need my two cents, but here it is anyway.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña