Terrapin Thunder

Fascinating subject, but comes up short

Revisado: 08-05-21

This is just Ok

The subject is fascinating, so this series of lectures should have been better than it was. And while I do believe this series is still worth listening to, there were some issues that we very hard to ignore:

To begin with, a word of warning: although the Audible release date is 2013, these lectures were actually recorded about 1995-96 (Yeltsin was still in power when this series ends) so the discussion of post-communist Russia is hopelessly out-of-date. An update is badly needed.

The discussions of the Lenin and Stalin periods were pretty good, if basic, but there was a sharp decline after that. For some inexplicable reason, the lecturer virtually ignores the Brezhnev era. Incredibly, that entire period, almost two decades, is glossed over in a small portion of just one lecture. Very disappointing, given all that occurred in those years.

Although Professor Hamburg is clearly knowledgeable, he is also very opinionated and his personal views color too much of the material he delivers. Indeed, the final lecture, which is billed as a discussion about post-communist Russia, is essentially an anti-Yeltsin rant. There is undoubtedly plenty to criticize about Yeltsin, but this was supposed to be an academic lecture series, not an editorial.

Having said all that, the subject matter alone makes this worth the time.

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The best fantasy I have read in a decade!

Revisado: 05-14-20

I'll keep it simple: this is, without a doubt, the best fantasy I have read or listened to in ten years or more. There is nothing to criticize, and everything to praise. Totally original story. Fascinating, multi-dimensional characters. Great plot, with a large handful of equally wonderful sub-plots and side-stories. Really well-developed setting and back-story. Exciting. Unique. Perfect storytelling...all delivered with an excellent performance by the narrator.

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Light history, but very enjoyable

Revisado: 09-15-18

This is English History 101; light on detail and analysis, but nevertheless a very good listen. Treat this as a broad survey of a very long, packed period of history.

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History that reads like a thriller

Revisado: 08-06-18

An outstanding lecture series. Paxton is a great speaker in her own right, but the subject matter is so gripping it was very hard to take a break and stop listening. The events of this period in England (roughly a 1000 years) were astonishing. So much, in fact, that if a fictional writer had penned out this story it would have have been frankly hard to believe...and, yet, it all happened. A clear five star rating.

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Not my favorite Dark Tower novel

Revisado: 06-07-18

This novel is essential to the Dark Tower story, and therefore needs to be heard, but it is nevertheless the weakest installment of an otherwise great series.

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Wrong narrator for a good book

Revisado: 12-14-16

This a good book...maybe not King's best, but still quite good. However, I wish I had read it instead of getting the audiobook. Raver was a poor choice for a narrator. At times her performance was irritating and, in truth, I almost gave us on this book more than once. Her normal speaking voice was fine, but her character voicing was really poor. Certain characters, in fact, were awful. It was very distracting and instead of getting lost in the story I frequently found myself focusing on her delivery. Her performance really weakened an otherwise good book.

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Best Expanse novel yet

Revisado: 12-08-16

My favorite of the Expanse novels to date. Excellent, multi-level story. Fantastic character development, all of the major characters took a big step forward. Flawless book, and a great springboard for the next one.

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Well worth the read

Revisado: 11-02-16

What did you love best about A Tapping at My Door?

Didn't know much about this writer beforehand, but I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more. Great story, numerous creative plot elements, solid writer. Admittedly, there are a few rather stock elements for this genre (a cop with a troubled past, etc) but, overall, this story really works. Really well read, too...I hope this writer-narrator combination stays together.

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Doesn't fulfill early promise

Revisado: 11-02-16

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. Started well...the underlying premise of the story was pretty intriguing. But as the story developed, it played out like every other thriller out there right now. After some early promise, nothing new...

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Fast-moving, entertaining story

Revisado: 08-28-16

What made the experience of listening to Six Degrees of Assassination: An Audible Drama the most enjoyable?

This is a very fast-paced play, packed with intrigue and action. The story is good, although some of a plot elements and characters were a bit stock in nature. That's my only criticism, however, and easily overlooked because the story as a whole is very good. The cast is excellent and the play was very well performed. This play also features sound effects and backing music, both of which were also well done. This is a really good production, well worth the time.

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