Maggie May

Breaking the Glass Ceiling in the CIA

Revisado: 03-11-24

Whoever wrote the glorified secretary review clearly didn't finish the book.

Ms. Mendez did start out shifting papers and taking dictation, but she went on to travel the world, protect the vulnerable, practice and teach mad photography skills, and become a master (and chief) of disguise. She also paved the way for the generations of women who came and will come after her.

There's a lot that she really couldn't reveal about her time in the CIA, but she did share quite a bit. It seems as if it was an exciting, but also isolated way to live. Even with a partner in the same business.

No spoilers from me. I recommend this read and/or listen.

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Spencer Quinn is always so much fun!

Revisado: 11-01-23

I found the beginning a little slow and worrisome. That's probably because I'm in the same age range as Mrs Plansky.
But in the end, it was just a delightful ride. Highly recommend.

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Not the best message ever...

Revisado: 08-09-21

I enjoyed the Noctourne Falls and Miss Frost series so I was glad to see this new one. In both the first book and this one, the male love interest fails, becomes suspicious and belligerent at the first sign of trouble. Real emotional betrayal. Even though things get all rosy again, my trust in both Deacon and Constantine is lost. I can't like them ever again.

Not a good formula or message for women in this day and age.

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Great Escape for Dog People

Revisado: 01-09-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Stray Magic is a lot of fun. It features an average mom, still recovering from a friendly divorce, a really nice teenager, a cool best friend, a dog, and a vertically challenged fairy godfather.

Vincent, The FGF has arrived more than a decade late to grant a wish to Cara, but just in time to help her with post-divorce romance. A magical glitch ties all perspective suitors to rescue dogs - and, naturally, high jinks ensue. Well, unnaturally, really.

Aisling Gray narrates the story with great humor. I think she could have been a bit smoother, but overall, a nice job.

Recommend for lovers of light fantasy.

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Meant for UK listeners

Revisado: 11-19-19

It's possible that David Mitchell isn't expecting to have all that many fans in the US. This book is cobbled together from think pieces he does for a British publication - so there are many references that just shoot over my stupid American head.
My husband and I listened to parts of it together and did laugh at the stuff we did understand. We love Mr. Mitchell's humor and see him quite a bit on various British quiz shows and Upstart Crow. (not a fan of Peep Show, but my husband surely is) It was disappointing to me that not enough of it was 'gettable' though it's certainly not the fault of the author. As I said, I'm not really his target audience.

If you are up to date on all things UK, this could be for you. even if you are American.

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Ruthven is pronounced Rivven

Revisado: 10-09-19

Call me a stickler, but I don't know why I, an American, know this and this presumably British narrator does not. And she says it at least 50 times in the first chapter so I don't even know if I can finish the book because it's bothering me just that much.

Otherwise I found the narrator's voice delightul and I think the premise is interesting, although I personally don't understand why people go so far out of their way to save the lives of beings that have already had an extra few hundred years of living.
That's probably just me and the mood I'm in because of the whole Ruthven thing.

I am finding it suitably dark for the subject and interesting, though a little slow.

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It's EEEEE deee. For Heaven's Sake!

Revisado: 08-05-19

As in Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé. Like Sonny and Cher, but from the 50s and 60s (and 70s).

The Agent to the Paws books are fun. All of Copperman's books are fun. Not too heavy, not too silly.

The narrator, Brittany Pressley does a really nice job. Her voice is clear and flexible and she connects with the words she's saying.
But she doesn't do her homework. Nor does her proofer do homework. This is very disappointing since it's exactly the same mistake that was made by a previous narrator in the first book of the series. The author is paying homage so why not honor that?

Come on, it's part of the job.

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So important. So dull.

Revisado: 07-13-19

I have been trying to slog through this book off and on for a couple of weeks. Usually dummies books are filled with fun things and interesting side facts. I don't know if I have to blame the director or the materials or the narrator herself, or a combination of all three. Honestly it just drones and drones and drones. Get the book, the information is important. But seriously it is humorless and boring.

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I like a little more clever with my silly

Revisado: 05-16-19

...and this thing was seriously silly. I feel as if I'm damning the book with faint praise. Maybe if I'd been in a different mood, or in company, or even a little tipsy, I'd have enjoyed it more. It was fun, but, to me, not worth an entire credit. It's a great cast and they are all very facile. It just wasn't for me.
If you still love SNL (these days, we only tune in for the cold open), then dive in.

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Teenage Heroine Dystopian World & Very Slow Reveal

Revisado: 04-24-19

Gunnie Rose takes us back (sort of) to the Charlaine Harris of the Shakespeare series. A woman who is not physically alone, but is quite solitary in her own mind. There feels to be a bit of Stephen King's Gunslinger in here as well.

This is an indeterminate world. And it's a dark one. Is it in the recent past? (as in just post WWII) or in near future? Or the now? Harris doesn't really say. She does say that the world changed after President Roosevelt (I'm thinking it was FDR, but did she mean Teddy? I might have to check back for that) was assassinated and the USA now longer stands as we know (or knew) it.
We are dropped in with no information at the very top and only get nibbles here and there about how the world has come to be so changed and, I think, there will more explanation to come. It did require some trust and patience to get to the first backstory nugget.

There is a ton of gunplay and killing. There's rape, though it's not graphic. There's dirt and spotty electricity and not a lot of food and water at times. There is a Czar in California (I KNOW!) who is of a magical sect. He has hemophilia and some of his devoted followers are in search of a purported relative who is needed for the occasional blood donation. He or she will be rewarded with a pretty good life and, since life nearly everywhere else seems pretty crappy, this doesn't seem a terrible deal. Unless you happen to like your independence.

Anyway, the pair come upon Gunnie Rose and hire her to protect them as they quest for the rumored young relative. They are beset with murderous enemies from the git go. For me, some of this went on a bit too long and/or repetitively in the mid-section of the story. However, we do get some original characters and a new universe for a really very good new Harris heroine.
So YAY!

Eva Kaminsky does a fine job with all the different characters and she keeps the plot moving along well. I liked her work on this very much.

I'm looking forward to more in this universe.

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