Dorene Kavanagh

Mixed bag

Revisado: 07-30-14

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I sincerely appreciated the author's frankness, opening up in a very real way with her writing. I feel as though I have met her, spent time with her, and gotten to know her. There's a genuineness with a little grandiosity about sky viewings. I learned about what drove her to her tiny house life.

I think the narrator sounds like a truly kind person, but I don't like her voice. I wish I did. She works at her craft. She sounds like she really invests in her stories and narrations, but there's too much energy for me. It actually takes away from the reading for me.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Her description helped me see that I'm not going to be comfortable with less than 400 sq ft living space. That was invaluable, and now I can drop my tiny plans and think small, just not tiny. The least interesting part was how the author goes on and on and on about the sky gazing, but then I might do so if I had a skylight over my bed.

What three words best describe Heather Henderson’s performance?

professional, energetic, excessive

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 33 personas

Good science, embarrassed for the narrator

Revisado: 09-23-12

What made the experience of listening to On the Origin of Species the most enjoyable?

It is thrilling to consider Darwin's conclusions about life, without the benefit of knowing about DNA, epigenetics, gene linkage, Mendelian genetics, and so on. He was right about so many things.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The pigeons! Just kidding.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He mispronounced so many words that I am embarrassed for him. There are word substitutions that make the somewhat challenging Victorian prose impossible. That someone can get paid for such unprofessional is a disappointment.

Any additional comments?

Surely there is a better reading of this book out there? Wouldn't it be cool if the most famous biologists would do a recording? One chapter by E. O. Wilson, another by that really nice Darwin scholar/Englishman at Harvard, obviously Dawkins, James Watson...

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

Abridged and altered

Revisado: 05-29-12

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No

Would you listen to another book narrated by the narrators?

I would love to, but the play gets modified by the performers.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

The performance cuts out significant portions of the play. There are also several places where an actor changes a line or word order. It really takes away from the play. Also, Don John speaks too, too softly to even be heard. What's the point?

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

The narrator ruined this one for me

Revisado: 05-28-12

Would you try another book from David McCullough and/or Nelson Runger?

McCullough wrote an excellent narrative, combining letters and journal entries with the sequential events of the Adams' lives. Runger's voice was too folksy, and his depiction of Abigail turned an intelligent and interesting woman into a simplistic, sing-song whiney frump. It wasn't to my taste.

What was one of the most memorable moments of John Adams?

His love of literature, the philosophers and Shakespeare and his commitment to financial solvency.

How could the performance have been better?

When I hear a narrator read for different voices, I should be able to hear the character or person and forget the narrator. Simon Vance seems to excell at this. Runger, not so much.

Was John Adams worth the listening time?

Yes

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fantastic story, unprofessional recording

Revisado: 03-13-10

I am enjoying the story despite the distracting throat clearing and congestion problems that were recorded and not edited out. I wish I had purchased the reading by Alfred Molina instead.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Abridged...too much

Revisado: 02-03-10

Most of the characters were portrayed the way I imagine; I particularly loved the playfulness of the witches (vs. a decrepit croniness). I didn't like the voice for Macbeth. Most disappointing to me is that, gosh, maybe 20%, or more, of the play is cut out. Too much. It's already a short(ish) play.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

Eh...

Revisado: 12-30-09

My favorite characters in this play are the witches - and the decision of the actors or directors to speak very, very slowly was probably intended to impart an ominous feel, but it felt more "hooked-on-phonics". The very, very slow speech very nearly ruined the play.
The role of Banquo was fulfilled very well by the actor. The other characters were adequate. In a few places the actors change the lines a bit (a few words only), which was disappointing. Overall, the reading is OK, not great.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Never so distracted from life

Revisado: 04-19-09

I have never been so unable to pull myself away from my iPod as with this novel. The characters are so real and charming and beautiful even the awful ones. It's every bit as good as all the other reviewers and critics say it is. I so wish that I had heeded the good publicity sooner.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas