Robert P

Too Much, Too Little

Revisado: 01-23-20

I have always liked Mr. Maberry's novels, most of them anyway. In Dead of Night I became tired of it about two-thirds through the book- something that has never happened previously with this author. The story merely kept repeating itself. There became to little of the story line as it went on. It felt as though I was listening to the trailer, with a few exceptions, over and over again. The many action zombie killing descriptions were in themselves moderately repetitive. How many ways can you shoot a zombie in the head and does it really make any difference if you use a 12 gauge shotgun, a auto fire military weapon or a Glock handgun? I felt there was a bit more gore than was necessary. In my opinion this was not one of Jonathan Maberry's best endeavors. Maybe I'll revisit Joe Ledger.

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Wonderful History

Revisado: 10-11-17

I gave the story only four stars because the overall mystery of the plot and its outcome was a tad less mysterious than I would have liked. That is not to say that the story wasn't wonderful in its descriptions of the era. I found my insertion into the lives, social norms and activity of the late nineteenth century London fascinating. I would add additional praise but for not wanting to reveal any of this wonderful novel.

The performance by Mr. Ferguson is superb. It is clear and concise with character voices spot on and easily distinguished from one another.

I have already purchased the second book in this series and look forward to it greatly. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I have.

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Best O'Reilly Yet

Revisado: 09-27-17

I truly enjoyed this Book. It was better than I thought it would be. The historical data and trivia kept me interested. I have read several historical novels and actual history books about our war for independence and while most of those books gave much more detail of the war strategies and events, they didn't have the easy flavor of Killing England. The book is certainly not an intellectual endeavor to read (or listen to) it's how I would have liked my American Lit 101 to have been presented. Instead of the typically dry reading required to learn history, this book, this style, made me want to learn more. I think it will for most people as well. I'm hoping for a Killing England II.

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A Five Star Athlete Wrote A Two Star Book

Revisado: 09-07-16

Is there anything you would change about this book?

There are several things I would change.The speed of the read was so slow as to be designed for children. I sped it up with the Audible app but that was not really rewarding because the well done inflected character accents became difficult and hard to appreciate. I thought the narration to be very good except for the speed.

The pace of the story was very maddening. Every new twist and turn was exasperatingly prefaced with a new character development or geographic description or history lesson. It should first relate to the listener what the gen is and then go into the other effects. It occurred so regularly I could see it coming and skipped forward and then back again. It was interesting to me that even the characters had trouble with this.

The storyline itself reminded me of Robert Lewis Stevenson's Treasure Island. A book I have rightly or wrongly considered written for children by that master author. The story could have been from the old Classic Comics book series of my youth, Mr. Abdul-Jabbar himself prefaces the reading by saying how complex the plot will be and how the listener must give concentration (sic) to the book. Nay, I say.

Anna Waterhouse's touches were fairly apparent and welcome but they did not alter the grammar school storyline.

I find the overlooked aspects laughable. Where did the stores of ammunition to keep three Gatling guns firing for a long period of time with what must have been sorely overheated (and melted) barrels? For example. But that's just me and probably not a problem for others. My point is that there are quite a few irregularities throughout. I thought I was done with this facet but one more. Keeping a dead man alive (yes, I mean that) for whatever amount of time it took to row a heavily overloaded open craft with only four oars in heavy seas from one distant island to another by rubbing his hands strikes of absurdity.

Oh, one more thing. The numerous references to classic novels, pieces of opera and classical opus', obscure Bible passages and quotes from perhaps famous but murky personages had to be included to impress the listener (they didn't). They had the effect of making the characters seem less real.

Would you ever listen to anything by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse again?

No, never. Perhaps just her.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were several scenes that kept my interest but taken outside of the storyline. The several fist and knife fighting sequences were fairly well done. The gun attack and subsequent destruction were almost absorbing in all fairness to the authors (AW I think).

Do you think Mycroft Holmes needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Mycroft is an underdeveloped personage in literature and can be developed and made interesting. But please, not another by KAJ.

Any additional comments?

I rarely if ever write reviews and if you read this one you may think I should not. I listened to this book because I read or hear everything I can find about Sherlock Holmes and his family and associates. Usually I am quite pleased - this was not one of those times.

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Write- Don't Talk

Revisado: 06-25-15

What disappointed you about The Wright Brothers?

The narration was, in a word, ghastly. Mr. McCullough is a brilliant author. Some of his books are better than others. But he should not, never ever, read his own works or any works for that matter.

Would you be willing to try another book from David McCullough? Why or why not?

I have read many of his books and enjoyed them all right up to this one. Yes, I will read and/or listen to his new books as long as he does not narrate them.

What didn’t you like about David McCullough’s performance?

I had the perception, from the very beginning, that I was listening to an old man with soggy jowls and lips who was rather tired of reading his own book. The beginning and end were better than the middle where he almost completely ran out of vitamins.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Wright Brothers?

I felt the book had a lot of filler mostly in the European parts and the interminable descriptions of the brothers packing their household goods or the various airplanes and their associated components.

Any additional comments?

I would have liked more detail about the competition for the first to fly.

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Entertaining and fun. It would make a good basis for a comic book.

Revisado: 06-11-15

I liked the simple story line even within the mysteries as they evolved. Sometimes the dialog was irritatingly slow.

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Can We Get to the Point...Please?

Revisado: 01-05-14

What did you love best about The God of the Hive?

I love Sherlock Holmes stories. Even the ones not written by Mr. Doyle. But one of the reasons, maybe the number one reason, is that the tales get to the point and stay on point. God of the Hive is a great dialog, travelogue and guide book but the descriptions invoking those things deviates from the gist of the story enough so as to cause anxiety leading to aggravation about what happens next. At least it did to me. If the book were condensed to a screenplay, I'd love it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Actually Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, being the central character and with the most development, was truly the favorite with the Green Man a close second.

Have you listened to any of Jenny Sterlin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not. I think the narrator did a wonderful job however and I will look for her in the future

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

All in all it was an OK listen but I am not inclined to listen to other books in this series. I don't recall any emotional moments during my listening experience.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook reminds me of what is said about the profession of piloting a passenger aircraft. "Hours and hours of boredom followed by several minutes of sheer terror."

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