Jennifer

Great history but writing felt shallow

Revisado: 09-07-24

It’s a great story but the characters felt overly idealized and writing a bit thin. I stuck with it because of the OED history and enjoyed being in the scriptorium.

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Heart breaking narrator

Revisado: 09-18-15

If you could sum up The Nature of the Beast in three words, what would they be?

Page turner, maybe overwrought

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes

How could the performance have been better?

This narrator does not, from my perspective, understand Three Pines or the people who live there, We need someone who loves the place, the people, not someone who understands Shakespearian overstatement

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

In the sense it was a page turner.

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Harold Fry-unlikely pilgrim but moving protagonist

Revisado: 05-27-13

Would you listen to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry again? Why?

This is a book I would listen to again. Harold's quiet reflection and kindness drew me in. Like when in the presence of someone who speaks quietly, I found myself leaning in t to catch the meaning. I enjoyed the way Harold's walk stripped him to his bare essentials.

What other book might you compare The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to and why?

There is a type of British novel that I really like. Ages ago I read several Barbara Pym novels and this one reminded me of those. Stories about real people who find life overwhelming and yet manage to "get on." I like the quiet way these stories unfold allowing me to enjoy them at my own pace and they give me time to reflect on my own life along the way.

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

Jim Broadbent's reading was absolutely perfect for this story. He was kind to each of the characters and got inside each one.

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

The book made me reflect on what's important in life. What happens when we try to ignore pain and how powerful acceptance is. I found the book very hopeful.

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Steve Jobs - inspirational and a cautionary tale

Revisado: 10-24-12

What did you love best about Steve Jobs?

His ability to see that reality is highly malleable and his belief that he could dent the universe. I deeply appreciated his capacity to see the future and pay attention to detail. A rare creature. And I loved that he successfully pushed people to succeed doing the impossible.

What other book might you compare Steve Jobs to and why?

He reminded me of the title "In the Garden of Good and Evil". Steve's personality seemed really I integrated and he was cruel and brilliant. Difficult.

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

I've never heard Dylan narrate before but he was fantastic. He really captured the spirit of Steve Jobs - his drive and his whine!

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

This book was highly compelling and very dense. It took me several weeks to finish.

Any additional comments?

I'm an Apple enthusiast so it was great to get a deep understand of their journey and my appreciation for their products were deepened by reading this book.

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Running its course?

Revisado: 10-23-12

What would have made Delusion In Death better?

Delusions in Death needed a better story. This one felt "pieced" together. We never experienced the thrill of the hunt or any real concern that people we cared about were in danger.

The scenes involving the public subjected to hallucinogens seemed unbelievable, which is nothing new to this series, but we were given no help to suspend believe.

I've enjoyed the characters in this series a lot and they need better plots to work with.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'm going to listen to nonfiction. I'm curious about Walter Isaacsons biography.

What three words best describe Susan Ericksen’s performance?

Susan's narration make these stories come to life. Distinctive, convincinng, riveting!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Major disappointment.

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Story Straddles Between Fascinating and Tedious

Revisado: 09-15-12

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

I might recommend this book to a friend, but only with some warning/caveats. The narration is outstanding and really helped me get through the more tedious aspects of this story. The writing is clever and the author clearly likes words and likes to poke fun at popular culture. The almost always perfect use of "literally" was initially funny, but then wore on me. And that is how the story went for me. At first I was completely engrossed but as I got to know the characters better, the less I cared. I was reminded of the movie "War of the Roses" at times, but it went on WAY too long.

What did you like best about this story?

The irony of the characters' self-satisfication and the forensic details.

What does Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I don't think I would have finished the book if I were reading it. I think I might have skimmed and then jumped to the end. The narrators did a great job of inhabiting the characters and made me stick with it.

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

No.

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Classic Fantasy

Revisado: 12-26-11

This story pulled out every fantasy I had as a young woman whenever I'd broken up with somebody. Meeting the perfect, imperfect guy -- becoming famous and knowing my ex would be forced to see me (looking fabulous) on magazine covers! The story is saved from just being trite however, by good characters and heroine's (Christina) best friends. The book is a lot of fun and it falls into that delightful category of "mind candy", which we all need sometimes. The narrator, Beth Richmond, really takes this book to a higher level. Her character voices are exquisite and she brings the scenes to life. I recommend as a fun read....

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A Very Fun Listen

Revisado: 11-29-11

This book was recommended to me and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Katherine Kellgren does an amazing job narrating this story about a young girl who carries off a "great deception" as a salty sailor boy in his Majesty's Royal Navy. The story is classic and a lot of fun. The heroine, Jackie, is a wonderful character that I imagine young women would enjoy following.

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