OYENTE

Michelle McCabe

  • 29
  • opiniones
  • 15
  • votos útiles
  • 208
  • calificaciones

Good read, even if it falters toward the end.

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-29-25

This is a well-written and enlightening book that offers an insider’s perspective on the complex world of sea parks. The author’s detailed account not only held my attention but also taught me a great deal about the joys and challenges faced by both trainers and killer whales in captivity.

For the majority of the book, he builds a compelling case about the ethical and practical concerns within marine parks. He presents his experiences and observations with clarity and objectivity, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. This approach was both powerful and persuasive, especially as he detailed the emotional and physical toll captivity takes on both humans and animals.

However, the final chapters of the book marked a disappointing shift in tone for me. Departing from the informative and measured narrative, he leans into listing celebrity endorsements, cancelled performances, the success of the documentary reception, and anonymous colleague quotes to reinforce his point. This portion felt less like thoughtful reflection and more like an attempt to validate his argument through external approval, which ultimately distracted from the strength of the earlier chapters. The inclusion of unnamed conversations also raised ethical concerns and weakened the integrity of his otherwise strong voice.

What makes this turn especially complicated is the author’s own deep connection to the park he now critiques. He clearly gained both professional growth and personal meaning from his time there, and he acknowledges the deep grief he felt when leaving. While his concerns are valid and his call for change is urgent, his tone in the final chapters risks sounding resentful, undercutting the balanced perspective he maintained for most of the book.

One can’t help but wonder: rather than criticize from the outside, could he and like-minded professionals take their knowledge and passion and create a better model, an actual properly built and run marine park, one that truly puts animal welfare first? Such an effort would likely make a more lasting and meaningful impact.

Overall, Beneath the Surface is a powerful and important read, even if it falters toward the end. It opens a vital conversation about marine captivity and deserves attention, particularly for the valuable insights it offers into a world hidden from most of us.

UPDATE: Since reading this book and writing my review, I’ve discovered The Whale Sanctuary Project. It’s clear I underestimated the dedication of the author and others who share this mission. They’ve moved beyond advocacy to action - working to create a sanctuary where whales can truly thrive. They have my full respect and support.

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Not what I expected

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-27-25

The Unexpected Spy offers an interesting glimpse into the internal experiences of two agencies typically shrouded in secrecy. Tracy Walder does a commendable job explaining situations clearly and telling her story in a way that flows well. A few witty moments throughout added a welcome touch of humor.

While it is understood that certain content must be redacted for security reasons, I found the inclusion of visibly redacted sections or paragraphs unnecessary, as the narrative was strong enough without them.

One aspect that detracted from the overall reading experience was the persistent emphasis on the author’s tolerance and openness toward different races, beliefs, and sexual orientations — contrasted with a steady undercurrent of grievance regarding misogyny. At times, this created a sense of imbalance: frequent praise for women and marginalized groups was juxtaposed against harsh depictions of white males who did not meet the author’s personal expectations, despite her concurrent insistence that the CIA functioned as a true meritocracy.

As someone who has worked in a predominantly male-dominated field for over two decades, I recognize that some prejudice exists. However, the sheer volume and frequency of negative encounters Walder recounts seem exaggerated. It’s possible that viewing the world through a particular lens can lead to interpreting many experiences as discriminatory.

Given the classified nature of her work, it is understandable that many operational details remain vague. Still, at times it felt like much was said without truly revealing anything substantial about her actual contributions.

Overall, The Unexpected Spy is a somewhat interesting memoir — occasionally too politically correct, and at points immature and naive — but nonetheless, it is a well-told story.

The narrator was very good.

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Continues to not disappoint

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-25-25

Every book in this series thus far has been great. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

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Good

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 01-11-25

I had to work to understand some of the concepts. I enjoyed the book and the story. It was fun keeping track of things. I appreciated the clean language as well.

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Good story

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 01-11-25

What I enjoyed about the book was that it was not only a good story but I appreciated the clean language as well.

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Loved this!

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 11-25-24

The language is beautiful, the performance is stellar, the humor is sharp and dry. It’s one of the best books I’ve listened to.

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Good story, mild language

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 11-14-24

Not only is this a good story, the language is very mild (something you don’t often find these days) and the narrator was great.

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Internet Dating Book?

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
1 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 11-08-24

After reading 108 Days, I was really interested in learning how the author coped at home and, as per the synopsis, “lost everything and found it all”.

The beginning of the book tracked with this expectation but soon morphed into the internet dating book she mentions she wanted to write.

There’s too much talk about how horny she is and there’s chapter after chapter on her endless pursuit of sex. I thought I’d stick it out for a few chapters to see if the narrative moved on from this topic but I finally decided I’ve had enough.

I understand the loss of emotional connection and it makes sense that she would try new things after losing so much after a long struggle. But she should have kept the internet dating woes for another book in my view. It completely detracts from the story she’s trying to tell.

It’s a shame, I won’t know how the story ends.

As with the first book, the AI voice is unpleasant.

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AI Voice isn’t great.

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
2 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 11-07-24

The story is interesting but AI voices still have a long way to go. It would have been a lot more pleasant if read by someone that conveyed emotion in all the right places.

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Clean Language

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-15-24

A book with no foul language is a rare find these days. Good story. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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