Emily

Fascinating and delightful

Revisado: 10-24-19

This is a wonderful book for bird-lovers as well as an informative and engaging title for history enthusiasts! The author is a captivating narrator and the writing is strong and passionate. I loved the way this book addresses myths about ravens as well as problematic ideas about animal entertainment. Overall this is a balanced work of raven-ology and personal narrative.

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Absorbing, well-crafted memoir

Revisado: 05-29-19

By turns humorous, heartbreaking, and wise, this forthright memoir brings to light the everyday battle between progress and intuition, intellectual reason and heartfelt commitment. In telling the story of raising his son August, Chris Gabbard addresses many issues pertinent to disabled people: the role of caregivers (or dependency workers), the cycle of over-attention and resignation of the medical community, and the social and philosophical pressure to "normalize" a disabled child. Gabbard relies on his training in 18th-century literature to anchor this narrative – a narrative that makes its discoveries in an engaging non-linear way. This is a beautiful story.

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Need More Ruth!

Revisado: 05-07-19

Save Me the Plums was my first experience of Ruth Reichl's writing, and even before I had finished listening, I added all her other books to my wishlist! This memoir is witty, emotional, insightful, and vivid – a powerful story for anyone who enjoys the collaborative community at work. Even if you have never read an issue of Gourmet, Reichl's story will touch you. She plots the triumphs and struggles of this workplace drama alongside thoughtful meditations on relationships, self-promotion, and community. It's a lovely book.

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Savory and compelling

Revisado: 05-07-19

As with all of Ruth Reichl's work, this book is about more than just food. In exploring why she chooses disguises and how she adjusts to the social and ethical demands of her new job as the New York Times restaurant critic, she invites readers to contemplate the psychology of food, personality, and interactions with others. This is an excellent book for anyone who enjoys food writing – but it also offers compelling insights for other audiences as well. The narration is sharp and witty, and the book is a thoughtful journey through common human experiences of joy, grief, parenting, relationships, and workplace dynamics.

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Fascinating and Magnetic!

Revisado: 04-23-18

This book is an outstanding exploration of the Bible's themes, cultures, and language. Each chapter weaves Biblical knowledge with cultural knowledge, grammatical understanding, and personal history to create a work that is utterly mesmerizing. I finished this book over the course of three days because I simply could not put it down!

The chapters each handle a particular element of Biblical storytelling — Song, Memory, Man, etc. The narrator's performance is moving and expressive, and I especially love the way she handled the Hebrew and Yiddish elements of the book. I have no experience with these languages, but her delivery was powerful and thoughtful.

This is a book that will haunt you and make you weep. It is also a book that will make you laugh out loud and clap for joy. It's an absolutely fascinating experience for anyone remotely interested in the Bible's message.

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A beautiful journey

Revisado: 03-31-18

There are not enough stars for this book! By turns practical and beautifully romantic, Have Dog, Will Travel is a nuanced and resonant tribute to Steve Kuusisto's first guide dog, Corky. This book not only touches the guide dog community but anyone who has ever found hope and love in a dog's wagging tail and welcoming eyes. Kuusisto interweaves facts and experiences, creating a work that raises awareness about disability and recommends love and acceptance for our fellow creatures.

This audiobook is quite enjoyable. The narration is solid and engaging.

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Another delight from David Crystal

Revisado: 10-23-17

For this unashamed grammar nerd, David Crystal's books are always a joy. Making Sense, in particular, was utterly delightful. Crystal narrates beautifully and this book delves not only into how children learn grammar but how teachers impart its power to students.

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Witty and delightful romp through Middle-earth

Revisado: 12-20-15

Where does The Wisdom of the Shire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is an excellent listen for Tolkien fans. Unlike the superficial and sometimes overly Christianized morality books that use Tolkien's work to preach at readers, Noble Smith's creation is witty, thoughtful, and down-to-earth.

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Simon Vance is, as always, a superb narrator! I've listened to many of his other works, my favorites being the Temeraire series and The Picture of Dorian Gray. This book is particularly delectable because of Vance's skills with accents and levity.

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

I loved it! It was a wonderful and lighthearted way to spend several hours.

Any additional comments?

Noble Smith approaches Tolkien's work with the ardor and respect of a real enthusiast. He doesn't use the work to justify his own agenda; instead, he takes a whimsical look at what Tolkien's work can teach those of us living on Modern Earth.

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A delight for all literary types!

Revisado: 11-04-15

What made the experience of listening to Between You and Me the most enjoyable?

Norris is a delightful narrator. Though she speaks more slowly than most, her inflections, timing, and attitude combine to create a fantastic listening experience!

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

I love Norris's commentary on the history of punctuation!

Any additional comments?

This book is a must-read for all writers, editors, and teachers of writing. Norris offers a down-to-earth approach to handling language that is fun and fascinating.

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A fascinating character study

Revisado: 04-05-15

Would you consider the audio edition of Senrid to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but the audio of Senrid is enjoyable. There are a few places where the narrator stutters or mispronounces words, but overall, he is expressive and fun.

What did you like best about this story?

For fans of Crown Duel and A Stranger to Command, Senrid is a fascinating character study that explains many of the mysteries and backstories of Sherwood Smith's excellent fantasy world. As some reviewers have said, the book does seem incoherent, so it's important tto remember that it is actually 4 novellas – not one novel. The final novel is the best: here is where Senrid comes into his own and we gain real insight into his thinking.

What does James Patrick Cronin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Cronin creates distinct and expressive voices for each character. I'm especially amazed at his portrayal of aged women in the story, and I love the voices he does for Senrid and CJ.

Any additional comments?

Every time I read a Sherwood Smith book, I want to go back and reread all the others I've read before. Her world is intricate and her characters are deeply human. Each book reveals new layers of meaning and offers riddles for the reader to figure out.

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