Peter

Fifty hours longer than necessary

Revisado: 10-21-23

If you're looking to spend 60+ hours listening to the same simplistic ideas repeatedly droning out of every character, this is your book. Ayn Rand sets up a multitude of strawmen so that her cardboard Mary sue characters can be seen to cut them down using the longest-winded soliloquies ever written.

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Excellent narration, involving narrative, OK story

Revisado: 09-14-23

The narration was excellent. I’m wary of authors narrating their own books but Zadie Smith has a real talent for it. She effortlessly switches accents and genders and a believable way. There are a handful of musical interludes that she sings which are surprisingly well-done. I’m confused by the few bad comments here about it. I couldn’t disagree more.

The writing is well-crafted and it is full of effortless descriptions of people, places and intimate interactions. Smith evokes a lush wold with her rich language. It feels like a classic novel.

The story is OK. We follow the lives of the main characters across decades, with portions told as flashback. It’s enjoyable to listen to, but there’s no story arc per se. I didn’t feel that the characters changed or grew so much as they experience each other and some notable people of the time. It certainly holds a mirror up to today’s MAGA cult and it provides a study on several types of love. I missed the characters when the book ended, so I’d still recommend this book. It’s a quality addition to my Audible library.

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Like a Student Essay

Revisado: 08-17-23

This is a high-level assessment of Appomattox as a general idea. It's an undergraduate response to the question: "What is the context and general significance of the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. Include a discussion of motives and the main commanders. Use double spaces. "

It's not a detailed description of the battle or the surrender.

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Large chunks of original book omitted

Revisado: 07-18-22

Ovoid this version or you'll miss out on too much of the book. For example, the Constitution 's victory over the Cyan and Levent is not included. That was kind of a big deal.

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More religion than sailing

Revisado: 07-18-18

Samuel Leech spent only a few years as a sailor and the rest living on land. The interesting portion is his short time serving on the Macedonian. Much of this part of the narrative has been quoted often in other histories of the War of 1812.

Leech spends pages of his book discussing religion and the perils of drink. Don't expect thirty years worth of sea stories.

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Obsession through the eyes of a stalker

Revisado: 12-27-16

This is an occasionally uncomfortable but always compelling one-sided look at the object of a sociopathic killer's obsessive love. What makes this story different from novels written using a similar point of view is Kepnes' ability to help us understand and, believe it or not, relate to the protagonist. You'll want this guy to succeed and you'll feel a little bad about that.

The story unfolds in a sequence that keeps you wondering. Details about Joe's past and information about his personality are revealed indirectly or in subtle ways. I found that this approach made me feel that I was discovering on my own rather than just being told.

The story is rich with plenty of interesting and atypical characters to hold the reader's interest. While the title and the cover art might lead you to believe that it's some slasher or murder story, it's more of a slow-burning, thriller.

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The Civil War from the Front Seat

Revisado: 05-08-16

This is an engaging narrative along the lines of Shelby Foote's Civil War, but from one it's major players. Grant is a good writer who gives you the benefit of his insight which includes the War with Mexico and his interpretation of the political context surrounding the Civil War and reconstruction. Grant also offers his opinion of leaders and their decisions on both sides of the conflict.

I've owned the printed version of this book for years and only sampled it at various parts. The audio version was like sitting with Grant on his porch as he recalls what he saw and felt during his life.

Grant's assessments are blunt, but not cruel. It was particularly interesting to get his perspective on the military strategy in the Mexican War since he offers the unique opinion of both a soldier who fought in many of its battles and of a successful Lt. General who led many more complex and consequential campaigns during the Civil War.

Grant doesn't spend a lot of time examining himself or getting too personal. For example, he doesn't address the questions raised during his life about his drinking and the narrative does not encompass his Presidency or much of his personal life. He also doesn't dwell too long on the extreme loss of life during the Overland Campaign.

If the Civil War interests you, and you haven't read this book, then you're missing a large chunk of information.

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This Never Gets Old

Revisado: 03-30-15

I purchased this to refresh my memory of the story so that I could talk about it with my son, who was reading it for school. So, I anticipated the need to push myself through it. Well, I was swept away. I kept looking for opportunities to listen. It's a well-constructed epic that will engage most readers and the narration is well-done.

One minor nit-pick with the story might be the near perfection of Edmond Dantes. The man is brilliant. There is nothing he cannot do and there doesn't seem to be a topic with which he's not familiar. He is engineering a sophisticated revenge plot against those who destroyed his life and yet nothing ever seems to confuse his plans. It's not a big deal and it doesn't ruin the story. It just made me laugh a bit and occasionally broke the spell of the narrative.

However, you should get this book. You obvious love to read and, if you're enjoying a story, you don't want it to end too soon. The Count of Monte Cristo won't let you down. I promise.

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It's Just Empty

Revisado: 03-30-15

I made it about a third of the way into the book and just ground to a halt. The book feels like it's been written by your average college student. There's a sophomoric feel to it. The characters are cardboard, the plot drags on, the situations are repetitive. While many have commented on the gruesome nature of the story, that didn't bother me. What got to me was the author's need to string along a series of gross-out scenes, like a literary haunted house. There's no rhythm to the narrative, just monotony. The story lacks space for the reader to get to know the characters. Perhaps this unfolds later in the book, but I found myself listening less and less until I'd actually forgotten that I had it on my iPhone.

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Interesting story idea, told uninterestingly.

Revisado: 07-27-14

I was intrigued by the concept of this book: a girl trying to figure out why she's missing six months of her life. But the weak and repetitive dialog (and internal monologs) wore me down. I struggled to finish this book and actually abandoned it for a few days.

The one-dimensional, male characters add little to the story. The villain appears suddenly at the end, apparently just so that he can partially explain himself. We're left to speculate on the roles and activities of his fellow plotters, following an unsatisfying end of the novel.

The narration by Emily Woo Zeller is well-done.

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