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NICE STORY & GREAT PERFORMANCE.

Revisado: 04-18-25

Suffice it to say that I found Louisa Darling searching audiobooks narrated by Mary Jane Wells.
I enjoyed the previous book in the series and this one even more.

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Enjoy the production.

Revisado: 02-18-25

I usually prefer narration to dramatization.
This dramatization was one of the few I enjoy. And although the story was OK the production was very good.
On top it was a freebie. So, what it's there not to like?

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Thank you Audible!

Revisado: 06-28-24

Most enjoyable blend of audiobook and dramatization. Great performance, and the story was good, and let's not forget the surround sound... GREAT.
To top it all: A freebie!

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The Sopranos meet Beauty and the Beast

Revisado: 04-10-18

What did you like about this audiobook?

I always fall for retellings in one way or another of Beauty and the Beast. Add to that a bit of mob and it was likable. Also the male protagonist is not so perfect and it made him more realistic, which is good.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

Not really.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

The female parts. He is good in the male parts, but he could not do a female voice to save his life. I found it awkward and frustrating.

Do you have any additional comments?

For me an audiobook is as much the story as it is the narration. Sometimes a good narrator can sort of save a not so good story. Not the other way around though.

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A STORY AS A HARD DARK BRILLIANT PAINTING

Revisado: 02-10-15

As many fellow listeners I fall in love with The Dog's Stars, so when I found The Painter by the same author I bought it.
At first it was a bit to hard and dark for me. Too much from a masculine mind...not easy to connect. But I just couldn't let it go. As time went by, I started to "see" the feelings, strong and powerful. I quoted see, because I believe the magic of this book is how Mr. Heller telling of the story of a trouble hearted painter, "paints" in beautiful, strong sometimes bright, sometimes gloomy colors the emotions, feelings, sensations,and situations. What I mean is you can see the words as if they were a painting. In The Dog's Stars I loved the poetry of the prose.
In The Painter I loved the beauty of the prose shifted into visual art.
When I review, I do not summarized the story, I assumed you have already read it, I much rather share what I loved or not of a book. So, in this one although it has violence, death, and demons is so, so powerfully human, there is so much love and loss and sadness as much as peace, beauty and happiness...All so very graphic and artistic that it touch me deeply.
The narration is impecable. Mr Mark Deakins delivers the story in clear powerful tones. Conveys rage, frustration, despair and all the necessary emotion to the words.
So, the only thing left is to thank profusely the author, the narrator and AUDIBLE !

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A BOOKLOVER'S BOOK

Revisado: 12-21-14

Fantastic! One of the best books I've read, Passionate, inspirational and down to earth.
Did not agree with the author about some books, but I did in his view of things, mostly.
He and I are more or less the same generation so many events and names were familiar avenues in my memory,(of course I'm a latin american and he is british.) What I want to say is that I can understand what he's talking about (sort of, I'm not trying to sound pretentious, believe me!)
It is a great book about great books, As A. M. says: Many we have read and many not, and our opinions are different, but that is OK.
Love the analysis of the books although as I said did not agree with some. Wanted to hear his opinion of others I've read that were in his list and he did not comment. I wonder if no opinion is an opinion... Anyway, had some effects on me. Firstly, It kind of killed my pleasure in mere entertainment (I sort of resent that) on the other hand it awoke my interest (long, long ago asleep) for some classics. L. Tolstoy WAR AND PEACE and ANNA KARENINA are my next challenges. I've read them as a teenager and of course don't remember anything but that they were looooong and tedious but I'm looking already for a copy. There are some that I just won't, like MOBY DICK , so you get the gist.
But these comments are absolutely superficial really, What strike me most is how A. M: with raw honesty describes the effects of some of the books in his life, and more importantly to me how it spoke to me in a common, maybe even share language, mind to mind and heart to heart (sorry, sounds corny, I know,but it really did!)
I leave you with the encouragement to read this book.
Being this an Audiobook review, it is crucial the narration, so let me tell you that it is indeed VERY, VERY GOOD

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A SURPRISE

Revisado: 10-04-14

The book is a dystopia. In some mediate future, there is a civil war between pro-life and pro-choice supporters. No one wins and to end the war THE BILL OF LIFE is issued. So in this imaginary futuristic society, citizens cannot commit abortion but when a kid is 13 years old up to his/her 18 years can be UNWOUND. Which is sent to a harvesting facility where every part is use for transplant. OK here ends my summary, but this is the base for the endless debate on life: Capital punishment, abortion, organ trafficking, and the soul. Is there one? When do we acquire a soul? If my organs are in someone else is a part of my soul there too? Maybe to some of you this questions have obvious answers, however don't be quick to judge, somehow the author amidst a seemingly "one more YA novel" artfully introduces the issues and I could not but felt tossed around in a storm of emotions and "practiced " rationalizations even though I have a big banner for free will and tons of doubts about everything that can not be seen under a microscope. So give it a try and then share your thoughts.
The narrator is just right for the book, I liked very much I would have liked female and male narrators more or even multiple voices.

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The importance of a narrator.

Revisado: 09-07-14

The story is good if you like time traveling fantasy and romance. I enjoy this kind of stories. This one is good in the way that presents both sides of a coin. Meaning that you can experience our century through the wondrous eyes of someone from the past and then see Elizabethan Era through our modern eyes with the ambivalence that the portray of those times give us from the 21st. Century. The part I did not like of the story is the weeping maiden...The stereotype of the "DOORMAT WOMAN". Despite that, the story is enjoyable. WHAT IS AWFUL is the NARRATION!
Let me explain myself. As an audiobook fan I respect and appreciate narrators. But I found out that there is the RIGHT & WRONG narrator for each story. So, Mr. S. West does read nicely the descriptive parts of the story, and even the male voices are ok, BUT really, when he does the female voices it isn't pretty to say the least. I kept rolling my eyes and feeling kind of embarrassed, since the part sounded...I don't know, silly, stupid. I believe there are male narrator that can do female voices much better, and/or female narrators that can do male voices not badly. OR...what I like best: BOTH, FEMALE AND MALE NARRATOR.
Alas, a good story down because of a wrong choice of narrator.

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ONE OF THE BEST LISTENS EVER...

Revisado: 05-11-14

Many listeners before me have review this book in detail, So, just let me express my delight in a story so true to human nature in all its aspects. A story that is engaging, gripping, heartbreaking, and uplifting at the same time. A story where the characters are very real.
Maybe not the best but certainly one of the most enjoyable things for an audiobook lover is a good narration. And believe me the narration is GREAT.
As they say "DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND LISTEN TO THIS BOOK"

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Disappointed...

Revisado: 02-13-14

The book has a good start, And the narrator has a clear, brisk voice that kind of pulls you on.
So, you have the typical high school crowd, the cute-most coveted boy (with the plus of an english accent) with his entourage of beautiful but empty-headed and-of course- mean girls and here comes our heroine who is-of course again- not that kind of beautiful,but sooo very special. And thus the clichés begin and the adventure begins...Except that if you want to follow this adventure you must forget all kind of logic and common sense. I'm very aware that if you embark on a YA fantasy, normalcy doesn't apply, which it is as it should be. In this case though let's just say that contradiction is the key word...Alas the idea is not bad,but is so full of clichés and not real behavior like THE DIALOGS: OMG! I really don't want to be mean, but it is a mixture of Yoda and Shakespearian speech, which in itself is not disagreeable if sparingly used considering our speakers are 21th Century teens. But use it too frequently and you will start sighing and shaking your head.
So, although I finished the book, I won't buy the sequel and in good conscience I can't recommend it.

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