OYENTE

B.J.

  • 212
  • opiniones
  • 6,014
  • votos útiles
  • 623
  • calificaciones

Help Wanted: Editor

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-26-21

The basic premise of this book was very, very good. The narration was good. (The self-absorbed actress character got on my nerves, but that wasn't the narrator. That was the actual character.) What wasn't good? The length & repetitiveness.

I have listened to many very long books that kept my interest. I actually love long books. But this one was much, MUCH longer than it needed to be. It is in serious need of editing. I thought I had six minutes left and it was, shockingly, six hours. Let's leave it here: if you need a book to last until your next credits show up, this one might do the trick. For the most part, it will hold your interest. And you'll still have hours to go before it's over.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Thanks, Don Winslow! You were absolutely correct.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 05-26-20

I saw a note on Twitter by Don Winslow about this title and thought I'd give it a try based on his recommendation. He said "One of the best books I've read in years." and he was right. Engaging plot. For the last half, I couldn't wait to get back to it to find out what would happen next. Sometimes books feel rushed near the end ... like the deadline is looming and the last few pages are pushed out the door. It's not the case here. The storyline wraps up nicely without those lingering, unanswered questions. It's tidy. And though it's not at all like real life, it's the kind of ending I needed right now.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 13 personas

Wow! What a wonderful surprise!

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-17-18

I LOVE this book. Here's why:

1. The writing is original and authentic. The dialogue is real. The characters are real.
2. If creativity is a part of your being, this book describes the highs and lows, exhilaration and desperation of creating something/anything. I've just never read anything where the author got it so right.
3. The narration is perfect. Spot on.

This is a stunning debut. There's something really special about it. I was reminded me of another terrific debut from a dozen years ago -- Marisha Pessl's "Special Topics in Calamity Physics."

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 14 personas

Can I rate this as two different books?

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-06-18

This book goes through some kind of transformation near the halfway point. I was SO bored and nearly gave up after about 4 hours. I couldn't keep the characters straight and didn't care what happened to them. Then something happened. The book got good. I mean really good. The characters became real. The plot line unfolded. The two-star rating I was planning got bumped up significantly.

The Dry is a good name. It not only describes the scene, but also describes this book perfectly. If you're looking for non-stop entertainment, this is not your book. If you want to let a book unfold without keeping you up at night with rapt attention, this is it. It's good -- not great. And boy, is it ever dry.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 28 personas

Whoa. Hold everything.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-28-18

I typically don't dive into psychological thrillers because I just can't stand the suspense and the often accompanying gratuitous violence. This one grabbed me from the start and wouldn't let go. I was thinking about it whenever I wasn't listening. The narration was so spot-on it became the book. It's beautifully creepy in the same vein as "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters.

No spoilers -- but here's what I can tell you: I don't know. It deserves a second listen and maybe then I'll have an answer. If your book club reads fiction, this might be a great one for a discussion. You'll have loads of theories from which to draw a conclusion ... maybe.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Unexpectedly good.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-26-18

I think I expected a not-so-deep listen about the south a half-century ago. I wasn't exactly expecting new ground would be covered, but some of my favorite reviewers gave it a 5-star so I gave it a shot.

This is a case where characters you've come to love can demonstrate an issue much more effectively than if you describe an idea from on high. It seems like any time you can see the impact on a human, it all makes more sense. (I think back to movies like "Schindler's List" and "Sophie's choice" that did this brilliantly.) I'm sure it's why certain news stories take a different turn when you see the human suffering on a personal level.

Though I knew about the program that comes to light in this book, I'd never thought about it in these terms. I never imagined how it felt to a trained professional with a conscience -- and to be powerless in the face of something you know to be so wrong.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 16 personas

Kristin Hannah creates worlds with words.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-18-18

I literally couldn't stop listening to this one. Yes, some of the subject matter is brutal -- but it's the life some people live. Without books, I truly wouldn't know what those lives are like.

I thought I knew where she was going with the storyline. I was wrong. When I gave up trying to predict and just inhabited the world she created, I was truly captivated. I'm not sure I've ever really experienced the sights and smells of Alaska with this kind of clarity. It's a love song to wilderness and survival. And it's an incredibly insightful look at all the permutations of "family."

Brava! Perfect combination of author and narrator. One of the best of the year.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 63 personas

Extremely well-crafted. Kudos to the author.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-10-18

I missed this book in its heyday when it was winning awards. But that's okay. I experienced it now and the timing was perfect. As I grieve the loss of a close friend, it was a perfect time to look back and wonder.

I really don't think I'd call this sci-fi or even time travel. (Book categories I normally shun.) It's just about examining choices and how things play out. The vehicle that's used to do that is interesting and very clever. It totally kept my interest. I never accurately guessed the next twist -- and I love that. Clever work.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 12 personas

I wanted to like this book.

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-08-18

Starting in, I hoped the author would take on the death penalty in all it its complexity. It's not an easy topic in any way -- not to read about and not to write about. Hugely polarizing. But I always think that if just know more and think more about some of these kinds of issues, we'll start to understand them more as a society. Because we're talking about a woman on death row, I thought maybe this would be it. It wasn't.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Truly wonderful. And then some.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 01-17-18

This is one of the most superbly crafted books I've encountered in quite some time. I loved Boyne's work in "The Absolutist" and raved about it to anyone who would listen. I was desperate to discuss that book with someone, anyone, and feel the same about "The Heart's Invisible Furies."

Boyne creates the kind of characters who come and live with you while you're in the book. For the most part, they are all beautifully complex characters – and even when there are obvious personality flaws, this author finds balance and humanity. When they're evil, they are evil. Justice prevails. Stephen Hogan adds to the entire experience with a spot-on narration.

I feel like I made a friend. Cyril Avery has a place in my heart.

Se ha producido un error. Vuelve a intentarlo dentro de unos minutos.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 32 personas

adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup