IceDancingKaren

At long last!

Revisado: 06-01-19

If you are looking for a rousing good time, with a terrific mystery, a great detective character and his sweet little baby elephant sidekick, then this book is for you! I stumbled across this author by accident and am SO glad I did. Mr. Khan is a wonderfully gifted writer, who engages the reader from the first paragraph of his books. There is no foul language, but the real appeal of the books for me is that they take place in modern day Mumbai. There are a number of books in the Baby Ganesh Agency series, but I found that you can read them on a stand-alone basis. I am completely, utterly and gleefully addicted to this series. I don't think it fits the cozy mystery genre, but the books do not contain foul language, terrible violence or gore. The storyline is captivating and held my attention during every listening period. And Mr. Sharma, the narrator, was magnificent. I could listen to his voice and beautiful Indian accent forever. I have recommended this book (and the second book which is the one I read first) to total strangers. I'm going to read every book in the series and can't wait for others. Thank you, Mr. Khan, for sharing your view of India with those of us who are interested in the country and for your amazing writing!

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go!

Revisado: 09-22-17

One of the best 20 books of the genre that I have read. The plot is absolutely riveting with unexpected twists and turns. The writing is excellent and the mystery is superb. I've recommended this title to anyone who will listen to me. It is part courtroom drama, part police procedural and full of psychological fodder. I loved it!

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Health care as literature

Revisado: 03-05-17

I will begin this review by noting that this book is a work of nonfiction that reads like exceptional literature. It is not surprising to learn that Ms. Brown has a PhD in literature in addition to an RN degree.

I loved - no, more than loved - this book. It is an amazing account of one nurse's (the author) 12 hour shift on a hospital oncology unit. The book is beautiful in her compassion, candid in the nature of nursing, breathtaking in intensity, and not - contrary to what one might expect - filled with medical gore. I was so wrapped up in these 12 hours and how the author presents them, that the treatment aspect was interesting, informative and sometimes very sad.

This is a magnificent read. If one is at all interested in health care, its successes, challenges, failures and sheer unadulterated milk-of-human-kindness present as nurses "push the rock of healthcare up the hill," this is a must read work of staggering beauty, hope, determination, coping strategies and so much more.

The Shift is on my top 10 list of books that transcend description. One simply has to make the journey with Ms. Brown while she shows readers that there are remarkable professionals in hospitals who live for the good they do for their patients.

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Loved this book!

Revisado: 07-14-16

I have always been a fan of books that take place in Amish communities. Some of them, however, are just a bit too "tame" for my taste. Not so with Kingdom Come. Ms. Jensen has created a great protagonist, has painted a picture of the Amish community that is fascinating and, I believe, pretty darn accurate, although I'm certainly no expert. Through these elements, she weaves an exceptional mystery with characters who are believable, interesting and have real depth.

The story had me from the first few pages. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading about the Amish and likes an engaging mystery. There is some raw language, but it's appropriate for the characters using it.

The narrator was an excellent choice for the book. She was very effective at performing female and male characters.

Great read!

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Simply Magnificent!

Revisado: 10-18-15

Sometimes a historical fiction novel so dazzles a reader that a brief review does not do it justice. Such is the case with The Signature of All Things, but here goes . . .

This book captivating me for myriad reasons: the writing is beautiful - more like poetry than prose; the story is profound, complex, elaborate and spellbinding, in a quiet, sneaks-up-on-you way and the characters are beyond memorable - they wend their way into one's heart and mind. I don't recall a book that I've read in the past 10 years that made me cry for sadness for its characters.

The research that surely went into writing this book is hard to comprehend. It is detailed in its descriptions of those things botanical included in it (and these are numerous), yet never tedious or boring.

I apologize to Ms. Gilbert, whose book, Eat, Pray, Love I read and enjoyed. However, it never occurred to me that she was a writer of such magnitude to produce this remarkable piece of fiction.

The narration by Juliet Stevenson is perfect! She is beyond gifted in her ability to breathe life into Gilbert's characters.

This is a book of beauty, that unfolds slowly and elegantly, then keeps the reader in its clutches in a completely enchanting way. It is not a read for everyone, to be sure, but was a great treasure for me.

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Could Not Be Better

Revisado: 08-05-15

If you are seeking a read that is part Dickens, part Bronte, part Austen and yet totally original, then Amy Snow is THE novel for you. I don't recall historical fiction that so captivated me (and I have read a good deal of it). The writing is absolutely superb, the narration perfect for the author's brilliant words and the story kept me hungering for more and more. When I finished it, I immediately started to listen again - something I rarely do. But this is a very unique, cherished book in so many ways. Ms. Rees is to be congratulated on writing a novel that is now on my "Top Ten" list - of all times!

You have to be a fan of historical fiction to fully appreciate Amy Snow, but if you are, you will be thrilled if you listen to it. It will stay with you for a long time. It's a gem!

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Nothing less than riveting!

Revisado: 07-22-15

If you are looking for a book that will hold you in its spell until the very last word, The Resurrection Maker is it. It's an exceptional read (but not like great literature) that completely surprised me - in a good way). I've read two other Glenn Cooper novels, but this one is a stand-out. It's part Dan Brown mystery (apologies for the comparison as the writing is far superior to Mr. Brown's), part Dark Matter material, part string theory, part travelogue . . . I could go on and on. You have to be 'in the mood' for this type of action story, but if you are, it's well worth the time to listen. As for one reviewer's criticism of the ending, I rather agree. I wanted more closure, but it left me wondering, "What if?" and isn't that part of the magic of storytelling?

The masterful John Lee NEVER disappoints as a performer. I could listen to his voice for a lifetime. His ability to create so many accents and bring myriad characters to life is beyond brilliant.

I'm not sure into what genre this book falls, but whichever it is, that matters less than the sheer enjoyment and edge-of-your-seat emotions that is evokes. Well worth the time and credit spent for it.

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What a ride!

Revisado: 07-15-15

Loved every minute of this book. I fear I'm getting hooked on Le Veque novels. Great plot, characters, action and - of course romance. A TERRIFIC read for the pure enjoyment of a fun, fast-paced medieval love story. My second Le Veque (and not my genre at all) and I know there are more of her books in store for me. That said, I just downloaded a Glenn Cooper book (The Resurrection Maker) which shows my rather varied taste in books!

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Hoopla doesn't help

Revisado: 06-28-15

I'm convinced I am the only person who has read or listened to this book and didn't just love it. Given that belief, I hold myself solely responsible for not being able to connect with the style, characters, plot and general premise. I kept asking myself, " What am I missing?" Try as I might, I could not discern what was what, who was whom and what was happening. Bad writing? No, probably a classic case of 'reader error.'

This book was an Audible editor's pick, so smarter people than I think it is a terrific novel. I found it difficult to get into and even more challenging to finish. The 'skipping around' was distracting to me (and I am a great fan of time travel in books, so it is not that I need events to be linear).

I am genuinely interested in why I didn't embrace 'Beautiful Ruins.' I am on a quest to figure this out. My suggestion: read many reviews of this book before purchasing it. Despite its popularity, it is not going to be everyone's cuppa. Let the prospective reader beware.

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An Abundance of Patience

Revisado: 06-01-15

The concept for this novel is brilliant. The writing is magnificent. The story is engaging, but . . . readers need to settle in and be prepared for details, details, details. If you like Dickens, you might enjoy The Fifth Heart. It is rich in atmosphere and characters but it is a bit of a slog to get through. If you are prepared for that, it is an intriguing novel, worth the commitment to it. Just know what you are getting in to first.

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esto le resultó útil a 38 personas