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Science? Poetry? Self indulgence?

Revisado: 02-01-25

Dreadful Aussie accent…do they really (mis)prounounce common words that differently from us in the northern hemisphere? What’s with the Chapter openings? Is it poetry, or just enigmatic or sloppy prose? How did this book get such high accolades?

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Dramatic and passionate defense of our irreplaceable oceans

Revisado: 10-09-24

As usual, Casey combines a reporter's keen and insightful research with her personal deep feelings for our oceans' mysteries and importance. It will profoundly change your way of relating to this most important watery partner in our lives on earth.

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Trigger alert

Revisado: 10-09-24

I am afraid this one triggered me as regards my own losses. Couldn't go past two chapters. Might entertain someone who has not yet lost a partner.

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Why authors shouldn't read their own work

Revisado: 10-09-24

Kara was there as Silicon Valley developed, and she is an excellent reporter. Unfortunately, her reading voice—a droning vocal fry—makes even the interesting bits somewhat boring. Name-dropping of now-negligible SV and media players doesn't help. She offers little useful critique or analysis of the effects of their extremely narcissistic actions that have led to today's chaotic and now potentially dangerous tech-bro universe, and suggests no new approaches to mitigating the tech uber-dominance we are all now facing. Another one I didn't care enough about to finish.

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Light and lovely

Revisado: 10-09-24

Crackling dialog characterizes this cut-above romance for thoughtful adults. Too bad that it kind of lost its way at the very end, as though the author suddenly had to be somewhere else and wrap it up.

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Tediously repetetive

Revisado: 10-09-24

A sci-fi-ish take on Roshomon becomes tediously repetitive as the self-absorbed suicidal heroine is lectured over and over, like a dumb child, about how little she understands life and herself. Didn't bother to finish. Dead cats make me sad anyway.

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A true story told with immediacy and drama

Revisado: 10-09-24

Junger describes his physical and psychological experience of a near-fatal health emergency with clarity, passion, and wonder. His narration is superb. Spoiler alert: He lives, fortunately,

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Satisfying and amusing

Revisado: 07-16-24

At at first, I didn’t think I would like the alternation of a male and a female voice, but I found I got used to it pretty quickly and it even added to the context.

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Not suited to audio?

Revisado: 03-23-23

Reviews and an author interview made this sound so intriguing. Alas, with its scattered nonlinear narrative I just can’t follow it in this format.

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Lacks the medical detail promised in the title

Revisado: 03-10-23

Only a small percentage of this book discusses the genetic condition that might explain why Henry was unable to sire sons specifically and his midlife physicial and psychological alteration from a benevolent, competent ruler and man of intellectual achievement to irrational, bloodthirsty monster. Both surmises have merit, even though hard evidence is frustratingly lacking in the absence of DNA evidence. Mention is made of only a couple of events potentially leading to the plausible suggestion that traumatic brain damage may have contributed to Henry’s altered mental state. These would benefit from greater clinical explanation combined with the dramatic details of their origination (and even surmise) lavished on other, historical aspects of the lives of the king and his queens and courtiers. The author’s foreword states her aim for improving this revised second edition, but, alas, the result still doesn’t justify the reader’s expectations that the book’s title promises.
Otherwise, the standard and well-known historical facts of Heney VIII’s reign seem accurately presented in an entertaining manner (with some judicious and intriguing authorial suppositions). Much attention is paid to and a few new (to me) perspectives presented on Katharina of Aragon’s part in this sordid monarchical mess. (The author’s sympathies lie clearly with Katharina.) Otherwise, the content doesn’t justify the title.

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