Susan L. Houser

Puzzled

Revisado: 04-22-25

I am not sure what to say about this book. I had wanted to love it. I recently finished "Beartooth", another book set in Montana that I had enjoyed very much. I had hoped "Dream State" would be as satisfying. But the first half reads like a story proposal for a Hallmark Movie Channel special. The second descends into some eco-nihilistic dystopia. Neither works well. Perhaps it was just too much for one novel. But the last chapter changed my opinion, at least a bit. I'm not sure if one can call it a surprise ending but that chapter turned the plot completely around. This may not be everyone's idea of a good read/listen. I'm not sure if it is mine! But I am glad I gave it a try, if only for the unexpected ending.

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A Must Read!

Revisado: 04-14-25

I enjoyed "Everything is Tuberculosis" tremendously. It is a fascinating mix of science, history, and what I guess is the socioeconomics of disease. With all this, though, John Green never lets us forget that human beings are at the center of this story. It is humans who contract, suffer from, study, sometimes cure, and all too often die of TB. They are not ignored. The book also shows the vital importance of a well functioning public health system. Are you out there, RFK,Jr.? Read or listen to this title NOW!

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Disappointing

Revisado: 03-28-25

I'm not sure what to make of "The Garden". Gothic horror? Post-apocalypse sci-fi? Delusions? The plot is so thin that it is hard to tell. The story does not solve its own mystery and the plot is stalled for 7 of the 8 listening hours. Only in the last hour are some hints found about what has happened and is happening. This is another book that might have been twice as good had it been half as long. On the other hand, the narration is excellent but it could not save the story.

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A Great Story!

Revisado: 03-14-25

If you liked "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver, you will enjoy "Beartooth". I think I would call "Beartooth" the "Demon Copperhead" of the northern Rockies. It is a well written, well plotted story with characters both believable and relatable. Callan WInk does a wonderful job of describing the beauty of the Montana mountains without romanticizing them. Yes, the area is beautiful. But it is also harsh and dangerous while life there can be difficult and draining in many ways. Do give this book a listen. You will come away very much taken with the main characters.
Many years ago, I visited the Beartooth area of Montana. After all this time, I can still recall the beautiful mountain meadows and lakes. People were few and far between. But "Beartooth" has given me insight into and appreciation for both the land and the people who call it home.

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The Book I've Been Looking For

Revisado: 03-09-25

This is the book that I have been looking for! I was glad to find a work that dealt with paleobotany and stressed the importance of plants for the history of life. I enjoyed the author's re-creations of life in past eras. And I found the use of appendices helpful and enlightening. I am very much a science nerd but I can recommend "When the Earth Was Green" for anyone interested in the natural world.

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Way too long

Revisado: 02-24-25

Listening for 8 hours to a story in which a woman goes mad for no discernable reason is not suspenseful. It is tedious. This novel might have been twice as good if it had been half as long. I gave the "Story" two stars because the first half of the book showed promise. The promise evaporated in the second.

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A Pleasant Surprise

Revisado: 02-19-25

I am not a fan of Anne Tyler, But I decided to give her another chance with this short novel. I am very glad I did! Good writing, a well structured plot, interesting characters, and lots of humor fill this book. I laughed alot! There is even a sweet cat for the feline fanciers of Audible. I recommend "Three Days in June" for Tyler fans and Tyler non-fans alike!

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Informative & Entertaining

Revisado: 02-07-25

I enjoyed "The Milky Way" very much. I found it well written, well performed and very informative. I am an astronomy buff so just about anything on the topic is interesting to me. I found the chapter on the Andromeda Galaxy and on possible ways the universe might end to be particularly enlightening and easy to understand. I even liked the device of presenting the book as an autobiography of the our galaxy. Some might find it a bit silly but I thought it was entertaining. And anything that can get people interested in science is a good thing. Do listen to "The Milky Way". I think you will find it an informative and fun experience.

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A Bit of a Dud

Revisado: 01-27-25

Night of Camp David is a spookily prescient political thriller. It does express now unfashionable attitudes common to the early sixties. This might bother some listeners. But the ending is a great big thud of disappointment. Just terrible! It is as if the author did not know how to end the book so just shut it down.

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Unsure what to think

Revisado: 01-22-25

I am a bit unsure how to rate "Beautiful Ugly". It is fairly well written and very well peformed. The first chapter is one of the scariest openings I have read in a long time. But then come endless overwrought, breathless paragraphs and chapters. And there are far too many convenient coincidences. But the ending was a total surprise to me. I found that very satisfying and it made up for much of what I did not like. This is my first Feeney title. I think I will be listening to more.

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