MaryN

Where's the Beast?

Revisado: 06-13-19

I have listened to several Robin McKinley books after first reading Beauty years ago. Loved it! And still do. I still like Ms McKinley's writing, characters, ideas---mostly. But this one didn't satisfy. Not sure why we had to change the plot, cause of why the Beast is different, bring in soooooo many witches/sorcerers/magic. It was a lovely story, though I too missed the Beast after his transformation back in the original. But in this one, I missed the Beast completely. He hardly shows up (though you get a sense of who he is, I really wanted him to FEATURE somewhere in the book. It is all about Beauty and, honestly, I just didn't really feel the relationship....a start of one, yes, but not why she "fell in love" with him. Just lots of holes in this one. And I was left disappointed overall. I doubt I will listen to this title again. Tried to avoid spoilers.

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Disappointed

Revisado: 03-26-19

Several other titles out recently in the same ilk... space travel, preteen main characters wind up solo or in pairs to save the day. I have enjoyed the others I listened to but not this one. it wasn't bad exactly but was so trite, predictable, cliched, and the narrator made it all worse. The 12 year old hero sounded 5 or 6, several of the "pirates" sounded like characters from 1940's B grade gangster movies, etc. Really disappointed.

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Why didn't they stay with the same narrator?

Revisado: 01-23-19

I really enjoyed the first book--and the narrator was a definite part of that. Each character was distinct, thought out, and a real "character". But this one, which really starts up, like the next paragraph, from the first book, is very different and most of it is the new narrator. Cannot tell several characters apart, the boys have little in the way of personality, all characters are rather lifeless, except Chas. Also, her reading is not fluid often, her inflections sometimes confusing, etc, etc. I really am not enjoying this one much. If I had listened to this narrator with the first book, I would never have gone on to the second. I find myself continuing with this one based on the interest I built up with the first. I am not even sure I will finish it. Very disappointed.

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Wrong narrator

Revisado: 05-17-18

What can I say? Susan O'Malley is no Barbara Rosenblat when it comes to creating these characters. I got the wrong version and within moments I missed the richness of the characters, the evocativeness of her voice as it just adds so much more to these wonderful books. Susan just makes everything flat and bland. Will go buy the Rosenblat version. Hope I didn'tmake this mistake on other volumes in the series and will have to check right away.

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Not the Martian

Revisado: 02-19-18

Moderately disappointing. I find myself pulled right out of a lunar colony, well established, whenever the lead character references Buster Keaton or Emily Post, or when the narrator pronounces didn't as didnunt (admittedly a pet peeve). But, too often, one of these or one of the ridiculous situations (no spoilers) just made me lose any involvement inn the story. Didn't hate it but won't listen again.

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Disappointing.

Revisado: 02-01-18

Improbable, impossible, ridiculous, imaginative, fantastic (as in over the top, not wonderful). Alternated between bit bored and "Are you kidding me?" Goes on way too long, is so not Sherlock Holmes, even as young man. Would have done well with a good editor and cutting it down by at least a third, it is that excessive. Great story idea(s) and the author did, almost, show the development in Sherlock, but LOTS of crazy, over the top, not just unlikely but impossible incidents (yeah, right, a man hooked up to a mechanized pulley system moves faster than a 13. year old boy!) and reactions, in every single character almost. Just disappointing.

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so rich and full of life, now my favorite

Revisado: 08-07-16

I have always loved Jane Eyre but never expected to hear it performed better than it resonated in my head while reading it. Some have been close, but this was so well done that it added dimensions to the story I know and love. The narrator brought Jane the child and Jane the adult come to life. Amazingly, she also made some scenes wonderful and natural that always seemed contrived to me. This will become my number one favorite listen and the only way I will enjoy Jane from now on.

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Really enjoyable and informative

Revisado: 03-17-16

Really enjoyed this audiobook. Performance was outstanding. Learned a lot about the history presented and it really kept my attention.

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Adds quite a bit to the movie!

Revisado: 02-26-16

What made the experience of listening to Star Wars: The Force Awakens the most enjoyable?

The insights and performance really made this outstanding in my opinion. I found this answering all my questions and giving new depth to scenes in the movie that I found lacking.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

Rae flying the Millennium Falcon

What about Marc Thompson’s performance did you like?

He gave insight and personality to the characters. He didn't always stay perfectly in character but it moves so fast it didn't matter.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, because I wanted it to go on and on.

Any additional comments?

The sound effects were often so loud, they drowned out the performer's voice and dialog. That was occasionally very irritating. Only rarely did it go on long enough (usually in fight scenes) that it caused a decrease in the experience, and for that I had to rate down to 4 stars. This is a technical issue and on some systems may not be so bad but for me, listening on my phone, it was annoying during those fight scenes when I couldn't here what the character was doing or thinking, just clanging light sabers.

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I GAVE UP--QUICKLY!

Revisado: 01-17-16

Would you try another book from Ben Bova and/or Stefan Rudnicki?

NO! I have read and listened to and enjoyed several to varying degrees. This was a waste of time and money.

What was most disappointing about Ben Bova’s story?

way too many plot holes and missteps--for example, no one on Earth thought about sexual needs of the astronauts in the 5 years they would be on the new planet working? Duh! And little brother has major hang ups that they got sent because they were expendable? Again, duh! And several harp on what the scientists back home were thinking about them and the mission and ignoring the fact that the astronauts were in stasis for 80 years and the scientists they were talking about were likely all dead anyway. Again, duh? All this is top of the issues in long distance space travel concerns. And this was only half way through the first chapter and only addresses about 1/4 of the "WHAT!?!?!?" moments I had.I gave up at that point and deleted the whole thing. Bova can be a bit frustrating with some of this type of thing but I have never had so many, so fast and couldn't take any more.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not that I stayed around for.

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