Sheila

This is a novel, but it is poetry.

Revisado: 01-03-23

I hope everyone listens to this book. It is a beautifully written journey through the viewpoint of two black men in America. It will challenge you, entertain you, and teach you.

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Quirky tale of a legacy of an eccentric.

Revisado: 06-19-19

This somewhat rambling tale is populated by an entertaining collection of eccentric people, who seem to be thrown into each other's lives by a candlepin bowling alley! Expect it to be a little confusing. Towards the last quarter of the book, it becomes quite humorous and lively, which I wish it had been from the start. Don't expect to like the characters either! What I liked about the book was the imaginative storytelling and details such as the eight sided house, the molasses flood (a real event) the odd doll carved out of bowling pins and other details that I don't want to give away.

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Compassionate Compelling, beautifully written.

Revisado: 06-19-19

Myla Goldberg's writing and storytelling is so engrossing. She takes us on a journey through the life of Lillian Preston, a fictional photographer through a series of vignettes from the people who knew her, primarily her daughter Samantha. The stories told are intimate, introspective and compassionate. The story starts in the 1950s. Lillian's independent thinking (and later, Sam's) are not defined by the decade they live in, but how the opportunities and attitudes of the times shape what they can and can't do.

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Beautifully written historical fiction.

Revisado: 11-22-17

There are three sides to every story in this book. There are no right or wrong answers. As you read, more is revealed and this makes the book richer. What I loved the most was the way she puts the words together. This is now in my favorite top ten books.
Historical fiction requires research. The author, as far as I am aware did the research. There are a couple of slip ups with modern idioms in the text and the dialog.
Anna is a pioneer and we forget how hard it was for women to pursue unconventional careers. How could we not thank Jennifer Egan for including this in the story without it seeming caustic and preachy?
There is something constantly heartbreaking about this novel, until the end. It may seem dark and tragic at times, but the sun does come out for Anna.
You will learn about New York in the 30s and 40s through they eyes of ship builders, families, gangsters, bagmen, children and mothers. It is not a Woody Allen New York, it is not a nostalgic view. It is revealed as the characters move through it on their ways to somewhere else.
The best narration was Heather Lind. Her voice is perfect for this book. She does the writing and the story justice. The male narrators were also good, but their voices were so similar that at times I was not sure if it was Eddie or Dexter's story.

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Skid through history in a souped up Ford.

Revisado: 11-22-17

What did you like about this audiobook?

I liked the characters. Eli was easy to care about. His journey through time was full of wait, what? moments. There is a hint of dystopian faceless, anonymous men in suits who are taking over America and enough danger and action to stay with the story. There is a goal to their journey and they are on a deadline and the future of America is at stake. It is a fun, but not frivolous book with numerous quirky likable characters as well as creepy villains!

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

I always enjoy time travel, vintage cars, small towns in Maine. Now I really want to visit the old west.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

As we skid between history, we see how the characters interact with the language, technology and dangers of each stop. Technology in the future is kept cryptic and is not going to creep backwards. Language of the past is also cryptic, but humorous. There are a couple of time travel scenes followers of the genre will appreciate, such as being in the same place as yourself, references to Back to the Future, and out of sequence encounters between characters.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

I found the voice he chose for Harry to be too hard edged and remote. I loved the character but I had to change the voice in my head to make her likable. She is cautious, but not as annoyed as she sounds in this audiobook.

Do you have any additional comments?

I enjoyed the way the technology of the time (history) they are caught in helps or hinders their journey. It really makes me realize where ever you are is not where but when. They travel through time and all over the US, which is not the usual narrative in time travel. In time travel you stay in the same place but move through time. Peter Clines manages to do both. I also appreciate that this book is not a romance story between the two characters. They are friends and partners. This really lets us focus on the fun. Peter Clines also tosses in the right mix of details and description in every scene to make it easy to visualize without making it tedious.

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Sci-fi, mystery and history retold in the present

Revisado: 09-30-16

What was one of the most memorable moments of Underground Airlines?

When the main character, Victor reveals his backstory. You see the impossible situation he is in.

Which character – as performed by William DeMeritt – was your favorite?

Victor- a chameleon. A man of many faces, voices and names. The narrator gives depth and believability to the story with his mastery of accents. He does not just read the words, he uses his voice to bring them to life.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

In a country divided by slavery, do you know who you can trust.

Any additional comments?

I am a fan of dystopian fiction and historical fiction. From the beginning, I was hooked on this story and cared about the characters. I would recommend it to people looking for a well paced, interesting mystery.

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A deeply moving story read with honesty

Revisado: 07-26-14

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

Yes. Chris Bohjalian's writing is beautiful. The story is moving and harrowing. It is told in the first person as a long journal entry and is read as such. I listened it it in two sessions.

What other book might you compare Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands to and why?

Catcher in the Rye, although the story line is much more serious and tragic. A vulnerable, desperate teenager is an unusual main character and I wanted only the best resolution for her.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Emily realizes that she will not see her friend again. (There is another scene, but I don't want to spoil the story.)

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

For most of the book, I had a lump in my throat.

Any additional comments?

The disaster in the book is part of the story in as much as it defines Emily's circumstances regarding her parents and the danger of her returning to the place she grew up and the people she knows. It is not a book about nuclear power, it is a story of a troubled teenager and how her life is turned upside down bu the disaster.

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Prepare to suspend your disbelief.

Revisado: 01-24-14

What did you like best about Strong Motion? What did you like least?

I liked the unraveling of the background story with the various members of the family (past and present).

Who was your favorite character and why?

Louis. I really did not enter the thinking of the others. Franzen's writing has a satirical quality that never really lets you sympathize completely with his characters.

Would you be willing to try another one of Scott Aiello’s performances?

I think his performance was the weakest part of the experience of listening to this book. The sister, who is graduating with a Harvard MBA is made to sound like an insecure, dumb teenager. He mispronounces many of the place names, which is unfortunate. Peabody is pronounced "PEA-buddy" not pea-BODY. Somehow he gets "Nahant" right. The first half of the book is read with a snarky, sardonic tone and he calms down later in the book..

Could you see Strong Motion being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

.Not really. I think it would end up feeling like a remake of "A Civil Action"

Any additional comments?

I enjoy JF's books. I expect them to be long and complex. I thought the whole anti-abortion side story did not add anything to this story. I'm not sure what it had to do with the plot. I did learn about earthquakes and seismology, which I did not expect. The best part of the book was the father talking about his political beliefs. I wish the father had been a much more visible and vocal contributor to the plot. He had some really great insights.

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A worthwhile autobio, don't expect the TV series.

Revisado: 07-27-13

Would you consider the audio edition of Orange Is the New Black to be better than the print version?

I don't have an opinion on this. I have not read the print version.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Orange Is the New Black?

When the fellow inmate was talking to Piper about God and how that made her think differently about herself and why she was in prison.

What does Cassandra Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She did really well with the accents and intonations. Probably the only authentic Boston accent ever recorded in an audiobook. It was a very challenging book for accents (Russian, Hispanic, Black etc.)

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The process of her trial! It was ten years from the time she was involved in the criminal activity and when she finally went to prison. It was also interesting how the inmates did not talk to each other about why they were in prison with each other.

Any additional comments?

I watched a couple of episodes of the Netflix show and saw the book. This is completely different from the show, but in a good way. The author is articulate, insightful and compassionate. She has an amazing circle of friends, family members and of course, Larry. She comes to terms with how her involvement in the criminal group was not a victimless crime, even though she was not directly involved in the drug transactions. The show makes it seem like rich white girl gets sent to prison with a bunch of tough, abrasive non-rich, mostly non-white inmates, but the story in the book is not about that; it is more inward looking and compassionate. It is the story one would want to tell about one's self and one's loved ones, well written and detailed.

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A beautiful, unforgetable work of art.

Revisado: 02-21-13

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

Absolutely. Barbara Kingsolver's book is an eyeopener. A wonderful story with detail, observation and insight. A cast of characters thrown together because of a beautiful, yet foreboding aberration of nature. As you move through the story with Dellarobia, you see her understanding of her life and the world shift.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the way the story is written; the way the sentences are put together is like poetry. The observations and descriptions are startling. She goes from capturing the day to day life of a mother with young children to describing the work of a field biologist seamlessly.

What about Barbara Kingsolver’s performance did you like?

At first, I felt frustrated by the pace of the reading, but after a while, I enjoyed the way she read each sentence in a way that lets you really appreciate the her style of writing. I also like how her accent gives the book a sense of place; not only does the dialog sound Southern, but the descriptions do as well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

A couple of them: When she is in the dollar store with her husband trying to find something they can afford for their kids and with Hester in the car near the end of the book. Also, when she realizes the idea that the butterflies are more than a collection of individuals, they are an entire species, dependent on each other. They can't be saved one at a time.

No spoilers.

Any additional comments?

It is hard to move on to another book after this one. I felt the same way about Poisonwood Bible. Even after listening to this, I am planning to buy the book so I can reread it and keep it.

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