caroline donahue

Friendly, no-nonsense advice for women, especially those over 45

Revisado: 02-01-25

Loved Trinny’s reading and much of her advice was spot-on. The audiobook format was less helpful for chapters on makeup ingredients and supplements, as the volume of information washed right past me. For some, this might work better as a physical reference. Her delivery is very encouraging, and for most of the book, I was boosted by her like an older friend giving me a great pep talk.

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Lovely book, audio not produced properly

Revisado: 12-08-24

This book was inspiring and enjoyable, but the audio engineers did a very lazy job, despite the author reading the book beautifully. Dozens of times, in multiple chapters, sentences were repeated, presumably as multiple takes for the recording. I thought I must have been mistaken at first but it kept happening, once even with the author speaking to the audio engineer directly. Her book deserves a better production than that. I hope they see this and fix it

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Beautiful and Moving

Revisado: 09-25-24

I could not stop listening to this. The story was engaging, the characters fascinating and the narration felt just right —
the characters’ voices were all distinct, without anything feeling overdone. I’m tempted to listen all over again. This is definitely a top listen of the year.

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Dry wit and great advice

Revisado: 02-13-24

I have never before laughed out loud listening to a writing craft book. Klinkenborg‘s deadpan voice is perfect for this book of practical advice. I particularly loved the final chapter where he broke down individual sentences and suggested alternatives. Awkward sentences didn’t know what hit them and immediately jumped to attention with Klinkenborg‘s quick fixes. I expect this will be a regular relisten. Excellent, but tough advice to follow for any writer. It‘s worth the effort to apply these rules; better writing awaits!

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Best audio adaptation I‘ve heard yet

Revisado: 02-05-23

This felt like a chat with Brené over tea or coffee. I loved her acknowledgment of the format and, as someone prone to spacing out when listening, her calling attention to and repeating lines or definitions I certainly would have read over several times in print. I didn’t understand the comments criticizing the political examples- it only came up once or twice, or as a general idea of political divisiveness later in the book.

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Lots and lots of mushrooms

Revisado: 08-04-15

I was riveted at first by this book, but by halfway through, the stories seemed to blend together. The reader was good and engaging, but the minutiae of the species of mushrooms had me drifting away from the book at points. The people were the most interesting and I can honestly say I will never take wild mushrooms for granted again when I see them in the farmer's market or in restaurants.

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Love at first listen!

Revisado: 02-27-14

Would you consider the audio edition of Her Royal Spyness to be better than the print version?

After listening to Katherine Kellgren's expert narration, I cannot imagine reading the print edition of any of these books. The voices and the characters were so wonderfully brought to life it would feel like a disappointment to read this series rather than listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Belinda- her accent and approach to life is priceless. Having listened further in the series, I can say she keeps getting better and better.

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favorite?

I'd have to say Belinda as well- her vocalization is fantastic. Many of Belinda's comments made me laugh out loud.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

39th from the throne, your life is still on the line.

Or- No pantsuits for amateurs.

Any additional comments?

A total delight. I have been savoring these, and only listening to Her Royal Spyness books once I have worked my way through the others in my queue. These are a wonderful treat and a great reward.

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Life is a little too still in Still Life

Revisado: 02-27-14

What did you like best about Still Life? What did you like least?

I thought the sense of the place and the community was pleasant, but the overall story was quite bland. The situation was quite intense, but the way it was told was quite distant and I didn't feel engaged.

Would you ever listen to anything by Louise Penny again?

Probably not. It was a perfectly pleasant book, but nothing grabbed me about it and I find that it hasn't lingered with me in the month or so since I finished it. I can't remember exactly what happened, which isn't a good sign for me with a suspense book.

What three words best describe Ralph Cosham’s voice?

Formal, low, and slightly odd

Could you see Still Life being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I don't think so. It didn't have enough to it to warrant a full film or TV show. It felt a bit like a short story that got stretched out and then was a bit thin where it was filled in.

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Jane Austen Comes Alive in Audio

Revisado: 02-27-14

What did you love best about Persuasion?

This was the only Jane Austen book I hadn't read yet, and I loved listening to it. . I was concerned that I would get less out of an audio version of the book, but this experience made me wonder if I should listen to the others she wrote as well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Persuasion?

The point when Anne and Wentworth are finally able to speak freely about their feelings for each other is beautifully done. This is quite a bit more thorough than her other books are when the hero and heroine work out their differences, so it was very satisfying.

What does Michael Page bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It was quite enjoyable and Michael Page did a fantastic job creating distinct and recognizable voices for each character that added to my sense of them as people. I also felt his fluency with the somewhat archaic language of Austen's time was easy to understand and made it feel very fresh and contemporary. Someone who doesn't like classics might even enjoy this book given his abilities.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Better late than never, Patience is a Virtue, or Don't Succumb to Persuasion.

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So engaging that I don't mind my commute.

Revisado: 11-20-12

Would you listen to The Rook again? Why?

Absolutely. I love the narration, which is a bit stylized, but in just the right way for the story. The plot is complex and I very much like the characters, so I can see getting even more out of it the second time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Rook?

The character has amnesia and is gradually learning about her world through letters from her former self. It was incredibly effective to move through her world with thorough explanation from the former-self character, so I felt I was carried right along with the story. It was a brilliant way to include exposition without it feeling heavy-handed.

Which scene was your favorite?

I haven't yet finished, so will have to report back later on this.

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

It is very witty and has made me laugh a number of times so far.

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