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lacklustre, dragging story

Revisado: 07-01-20

The story centres around a passenger aboard a ship, when the ship sinks, he and some sailors sets out in a life boat and ends up on a strange island inhabited by ferocious plant creatures and surrounded by beastly fish.

Sounds interesting? It's not. The writing is stale and the majority of the content of the book is about how the men MaCGyver together contraptions. This is written In such detail that it's almost painful to listen to. And when things actually do happen, you barely notice as it's so boringly and matter of fact written that it never feels like there's anything at stake. There is zero emotion, the characters aren't even developed enough to be caricatures and as a reault the listener never gets invested in anything that's happening.

The reading by Mark Turetsky is childish and repetitive, but in all fairness there isn't much to work with, so he's not entirely to blame. I still wonder why they so often insist on having Americans perform Hodgson's stories. The main character is meant to be an English aristocrat, but Turetsky makes him sound like a boy scout. His cheery reading became really tiresome after a while and he would probably be better suited to do a Hardy boys novel.

The beginning is rather good, I have to say though, that's the reason why I gave this book two stars instead of one. But in spite of that, I can't recommend this book, if you want a good maritime horror story, listen to "The ghost pirates" by Hodgson instead.

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Not to my taste, but well written (minor spoilers)

Revisado: 05-14-20

I will try to keep the first part of this review spoiler free, when I start going in to spoilers, I will write a warning.

This book really consists of two separate stories, a love affair and a murder history, they flow in to each other but the love story occupies the first half of the book, the murder the other.

The story is seen from the point of view of Frances, an upper class woman living with her mother in their old house, her father left them nothing but debts when he died and so they are forced to take in lodgers, a young married couple. Frances starts having an affair with the woman in the couple and they start making plans for how they can be together.

This is just a personal opinion of mine BUT: I find it very tiresome that almost every historical novel that centres a female character has to be about a woman who is upper class, or in the very least middle class. I really long for a good historical novel from the point of view of a working class girl or woman. And I would have found it even more intriguing to read about a working class homosexual woman, as I know Waters have done in the past with "tipping the velvet". However I did enjoy the descriptions about domestic life in the 1920's and I did find the romance sweet.

I will say that Waters is very masterful when it comes to her portrayal of men, especially in how she portrays ordinary men's everyday disrespect of women's boundaries. I have never before seen a writer who so skilfully manages to convey that terror that happens when you, as a woman, are faced with a man who does not behave in a way that is overstepping the line, but just toeing it enough to make you feel uneasy and unsafe but without being able to speak up as the man is not doing anything extraordinary. So for instance, when Frances is at a party and a man clings on to her and refuses to take her hints that she does not wish for his company, that's very well portrayed and feels incredibly true to life.

I will also say that Juliet Stevenson does a fantastic job with the narration, no complaints, she's just marvellous.

spoilers in the rest of the review!

I am no big fan of murder mystery novels or anything of that sort, and this story does not do anything extraordinary with the whole "murderers point of view"-thing. It plays out exactly as you would have expected and the whole thing just feels very anonymous. None of the charm or wit that had been there previously in the novel came through after the murder. It became very by the books and so maybe if you are in to murder stories this might still be up your alley, but for the rest of us, I would not bother really.

I also found that the characters all acted very odd and "out of character" after the murder had taken place. Of course they were shaken by the events, but, still there were a lot of odd things that just seemed out of place. No one acted like a real person, they all just became like people in an ordinary Noir thriller.

All in all, I will read or listen to more by Sarah Waters, as this book did intrigue me. And I am looking forward to it as well, but this book just didn't do it for me.

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Possibly my new favourite novel

Revisado: 04-09-20

Of human bondage is funny, moving, intelligent and witty while at the same time being unsentimental and sober.

When listening I really felt like the main character became my own personal friend. I wanted good things for him and I got so very frustrated with him when he insisted on constantly ruining things for himself.

I will give a small sensitivity warning, the book is somewhat classist, for example Mildred, the main protagonist's love interest is written as someone who is very vulgar and simple, which is a very common portrayal of working class women.It did not bother me that much, I just sort of imagined that some people simply are vulgar and left it at that. However, there are things further in to the book that are also described in very classist ways so if that bothers you, beware.

I listened with headphones throughout the book and so the narration was never that much of a problem to me, but some people have been complaining about the audio quality of this version, and so if you are going to listen to this on a sound system in a car for example, you might want to consider the other version that is available on audible. My advice would be to try the sample on each with the sound system that you will be listening to. But with this in mind I really loved Steven Crossley's narration, he read it really well and I loved the different voices he gave to the different characters and just how he said different phrases that the different characters used. Like his reading of Mildred's "I don't mind"-line is so perfect, you can literally hear her and see her in front of you.

And so a would I recommend this book? Absolutely, it is a masterpiece. I would also recommend this version, I have not listened to the other but the sample sounded sort of "flat" to me, but it all comes down to preference.

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Charming classic

Revisado: 03-17-20

A very charming story about two very different boys who form a close friendship that then leads in to a one sided romance

For the modern reader I have to give a sensitivity warning (with the fear of sounding like a total SJW) this book might come off as a little "queer bait-y" to the modern reader. To a modern person it would be quite obvious that one of the boys is gay and is in love with the other boy. Whether that was intentional or not is hard to say, but to me it does read like it is. This is never made explicit but there are a lot of passages that would be hard to interpret otherwise. This might be frustrating at times but one has to keep in mind that this book was written in the 1940's.

If this does not bother you it is a very charming story, loved the characters and Maxwell's language is beautiful. I have also rarely read a book about teenagers that so well captures the way they think and act. His portrait of the teenage mind is so perfect and captivating and to me as an adult it really takes me back. It does this completely without being either sentimental not judgemental. It treats teenagers with respect with the full knowledge that they are at times (if you will excuse my french) overly melodramatic dumb-asses fuelled by hormones and with very little common sense.

The narrator does a great job at really showing off the beauty of the language and his voices for the different characters are fitting.

I would recommend this book, just keep in mind that it is a little bit dated.

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well crafted story

Revisado: 02-18-20

I thoutoghly enjoyed this story and Morton's craftsmanship when it comes to writing. It's the story of a young servant girl, Grace, who we get to follow for ten years. From a young teenager at the age of fourteen to a young woman in her mid twenties and then we get to meet her as an elderly woman who is on her deathbed. The main story takes place in the 1910's and the 1920's and I loved hearing about that era from the perspective of a working class woman. Morton's portrayal of Grace is so loving and well-made and if she would have been the main focus I would have given the story a higher rating.

However sadly, the main focus is on the woman who Grace later becomes a ladies maid for, Hannah. Hannah is unfortunately exactly what you would have expected from a main character in a novel like this. She is your typical heroine for these types of novels, youthful, rich, beautiful, a woman with modern ideas and values. Where I had found it so thrilling and novel to read about a young working class woman with conservative opinions and ideas in a setting that is usually portrayed as very liberal and open it was so boring to be let down by having the author switch focus to the dull character of Hannah, a character we have all read books about before. Hannah really is your typical romance heroine that you find in all the historical romance novels, my investement in the book died a little when she became the focus. Sure Grace is still the protagonist but in long sections of the book she is not even present.

Caroline Lee did a good job as narrator, this is just me hit picking but since the book is set in England I would have preferred an English narrator, that is only down to taste, I know. And I understand that since Morton herself is Australian an Australian narrator might be a good fit. But in my opinion the narration could have been more immersive if it were done by an English actress.

So on the whole, I loved the beginning, in the first ten hours or so Morton sets up a really intriguing plot and the outcome does not disappoint, however I just wanted a clearer focus on Grace and a clearer focus on her perspective as I found it would be really interesting to read a working class perspective on the era. Because parts of the story became a very standard period romance novel I can not give it more than three, despite Morton's masterful way of using set up and pay off.

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could not listen because of the awful reading

Revisado: 02-17-20

in a very strange interpretation of what it means to do a "dramatic reading" the actor's and actresses involved in this production seemed to think that heavy breathing, swallowing loudly and filling your mouth with saliva until it nearly starts to drip counts as good acting. This was excruciating to listen to and even though I tried I could not make it past the first couple of minutes. even without headphones, it was a disgusting experience. And although some may say that I should not listen to a book about a vampire if I'm so easily disgusted, descriptions of gore seldom gross me out. But this acting did! Stay away from this if you don't like the thought of people who sound like they have wet worms in their mouths.

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fantastic supernatural maritime story

Revisado: 10-18-19

Just a really great horror story that takes place on a merchant vessel. The way Hodgson built up suspense in this story was terrific. The characters aren't very distinct or fleshed out but that's what you would expect from a story this short.

Luke Cardy does a good job with the narration (how he can say poop so many times without giggling like a child is in itself quite the feat) I just sort of wish they would have gone with a British narrator instead as his imitation of a cockney accent leaves a bit to be desired.

Overall definitely a forgotten classic that deserves your attention!

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

beautiful story, horrible narration

Revisado: 10-14-19

A beautiful novella written by nobel prize winner Andrè Gide about desire and overcoming desire in favour of living a good life. The magic of the story was however sadly broken by the terrible narration. Lori Blanchard has a pleasant enough voice but her performance is robotic at the best of times and simply baffling at the worst. She emphasises on the strangest places and half of the times she seems bored and disinterested and the other half it seems like she is literally reading the text for the first time. If you are interested in this book I would recommend buying a paper copy rather than listening to the audio book.

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engrossing story, but it drags a bit

Revisado: 08-19-19

the story starts when two friends come across an odd manuscript, the manuscript details some events that have taken place in a house that no longer exists. Most of the main story is from this supposedly found manuscript. It's a very fascinating novel and some parts were really exciting and intriguing. However I did only give it a three star rating because there is a part near the end that drags on for what seems to be an eternity. Very little of interest happens for over an hour, and even though I usually don't mind slow paced books, it's just way too much for such a short story as this. This section could almost have been cut in half and it might still seem too slow. It's a real shame because this story has so much else to offer.

The narration is excellent, even in the very slow part the narrator tries to make it seem as if something interesting is happening.

Looking forward to reading or listening to more stories by William Hope Hodgson and in spite of what I have said I would still recommend "the house on the border land" and I find it deserving of its status as a classic!

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fantastic

Revisado: 06-27-19

having recently listened to her excellent Book "The Bird of night" and loved it. I was a bit nervous that I would not enjoy this one as much, I'm happy to say that I was wrong. "Strange meeting" is a beautiful, carefully crafted and melancholy love story that will stick with the listener for a long time. Joe Jameson was a perfect choice as the narrator as captured the main characters boyishness and yet he still manages to convey their far too quick progress in to maturity as the war rolls on.

this book is well worth your time!

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