SallyK

Ended up liking the Unlikeable Protagonist

Revisado: 11-12-21

Unlikeable Protaganist: Brash, belittling, busybody, middle aged woman. I didn't like her. I didn't think I could like her. But she doggedly persists in finding her missing daughter in WWII London and in the pursuit of her daughter, grows and changes as she finds value and meaning in her seemingly purposeless life. Read with a sense of humor. Mrs. Braithewaite seems to be cut from the same cloth as Marjorie Benson (Miss Benson's Beetle).

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Plausible Political Intrigue

Revisado: 11-12-21

While I am a fan of mystery novels, political intrigue is not my usual sub-genre. However, I was intrigued by the collaboration of Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton so gave this one a try; turned out to be a great risk. Well written; plausible, if not likely, plot (makes me wonder what really goes on behind the international political scenes that the general public never hears about); well narrated by Joan Allen - in fact her tone and inflections almost convinced me Hillary herself was the narrator. The story line really pulled me in and I loved the tie in with Gamache from Penny's mystery series. Worth a listen; Worth a credit.

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Unlikely Adventurers

Revisado: 02-10-21

What a charming book! I loved the friendship that developed between 2 very different women as they pursued their unlikely adventure together. Proper, staid Marjorie Benson and spontaneous, hair-brained Enid Pretty search for the Golden Beetle of New Caledonia and along the way, find themselves.

Juliet Stevenson's narration was perfect! I can't tell if I like the book better for the story or for her performance. She changed not just the accents for each main character but also the pacing and inflections, springing Marjorie and Enid to life for me.

When I ordered this book, I felt like I was taking a chance, as my main genres are mystery, memoir and non-fiction. I was not disappointed. If you enjoy adventures, unique personalities and a little bit of mystery, you won't be disappointed either.

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Brilliant Storytelling; Brilliant Narration

Revisado: 08-15-20

I loved "The Year of Magical Thinking" when Didion's beautifully written book first came out in 2005. If you have not been through profound grief, you may wonder if Didion's Magical Thinking is believable as a response to grief. I assure you it is. Although I was widowed much younger than Didion, I found her reaction of Magical Thinking very aptly conjured the essence - if not exact experience - of my own journey through grief.

When Audible introduced this audio version of the book, I knew I had to listen to it immediately. I was not aware that Vanessa Redgrave had performed this on stage. At first I found Redgrave's voice to be a little difficult to listen to, sounding so fragile and weary. Then the brilliance of that narration hit me - her voice perfectly depicts the fragility, vulnerability and - yes, weariness of grief. Didion and Redgrave - a perfect pairing!

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Almost didn't get this one - so glad I did!

Revisado: 05-18-19

I usually avoid books on celebrity book club lists - this one recommended by Reese Witherspoon - because these books rarely live up to their hype. WOW! Where the Crawdads Sing turned out to be the exception to my rule. I loved everything about this book: the poetic description of the natural world brought the marsh alive for me; the slowly unfolding legend of the Marsh Girl matched the slow pace of life in this small town; the community's small minded prejudice a counterpoint to Kya's naïveté heightened the suspense surrounding the murder trial and outcome. Most of all, Cassandra Campbell's narration added yet another dimension to my enjoyment of this EXCEPTIONALLY good read!

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Overwrought

Revisado: 11-26-18

I try not to write negative reviews but here goes:

I do not understand the rave reviews Silent Child received as I was able to predict who did it almost right away, although I didn't know the exact details or the why until they were later revealed. The main character of Emma possessed an over-active imagination and wildly over-reacted to everything she imagined; yet, she continually dismissed all of her suspicions. She seemed to trust all of the people in her life, even as she suspected them! I kept hoping she would grow a backbone instead of constantly devolving into hysterics.

While the narrator was very talented at conveying the overwrought mother, I quickly tired of the constant hysterical delivery.

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Persistence + Integrity = the Right Stuff

Revisado: 11-12-18

An inspiring memoir by an astronaut who is living his dream! I'm not a science geek and don't follow what's happening in space travel so I wasn't sure I'd like the book when I began listening. However, Massimino's enthusiastic voice and compelling quest to finish his PhD and land his dream job with NASA captivated me right from the start. Persistence does pay off and character still means something! #Inspiring #Astronaut #TheRightStuff #Integrity #Persistence #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

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Catherine Ryan Hyde does it again!

Revisado: 08-06-18

Catherine Ryan Hyde is billed as a Young Adult author; however, if you're an adult like me, don't let that stop you from picking up this book. Allie and Bea is the 4th CRH book I've read - I guess I'm hooked! The premise of finding and creating an alternative family when the traditional family doesn't function well is similar to Don't Let Me Go, another great listen, although the story line and characters are very different.

Both narrators excellently portrayed their main character as well as the opposite one and several other minor characters. As I listened to Bea naively respond to a phone scammer, I almost couldn't continue, because narrator Janet Metzger was such a perfectly believable Bea. Lauren Enzo's multitude of voices - 15 year old Allie, Allie's mother, 70-something Bea, streetwise Hispanic girl, displaced Brooklynite social worker - really made the story come alive for me.

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Every event in this book is an Adventure!

Revisado: 05-14-17

What did you love best about No Barriers?

I would say that Erik Weihenmayer is inspiring, except that Erik writes in the book that he hates it when people say he is inspiring. Erik brings a sense of adventure and wonderment to everything he does!

What did you like best about this story?

Erik not only lives a life of adventure, he encourages others to do the same. And everything in his life is an adventure: guiding blind Nepali teens on a mountaineering expedition and American teens on a Grand Canyon raft adventure, urging disabled veterans (physical disabilities as well as PTSD) to live a No Barriers life, realizing he cannot save his alcoholic brother, the adoption of his son, deepening his relationship with a friend battling cancer, finally his kayak trip through Grand Canyon. Yet throughout all of his adventures, he realizes it's not just about the achievements he racks up - he continues to learn about himself and how he relates to others. Erik recognizes it is the special people he meets along the way as well as the moments he shares with them that are to be savored and even revered.

Have you listened to any of Holter Graham and Bob Woodruff ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No Barriers was my first Graham and Woodruff performance. The enthusiasm, excitement and wonder in the voice of Erik Weihenmayer made me feel I was really listening to Erik!

Any additional comments?

The content and the narrators combined to make this one of the best Audible books I've listened to!

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Unexpected Ending! Loved Weber's narration.

Revisado: 04-20-17

Which character – as performed by Steven Weber – was your favorite?

Steven Weber did a great job with all of the characters! His portrayals of Myron and Win, Big Cindy, Zorra, Fat Gandi in particular were excellent - also the 2 different fathers and mothers and their emotional states. For me, the hallmark of great narration is when I forget there is a narrator behind the voice. An excellent plot certainly helps too.

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

Not an extreme reaction but I did love that I could not predict the ending based on the set up and lines of inquiry. I'm not interested in predictable endings!

Any additional comments?

I have enjoyed Coben's stand alone books Hold Tight, Missing You and The Woods; this was my first Myron/Win. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I didn't like either Myron or Win well enough to go back and read all of the series in order (hope this doesn't sound sexist: as a female these characters just did not appeal to me). The Home was still an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to mystery/suspense lovers.

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