Justin D.

Adversity in the Face of Sobriety

Revisado: 02-09-18

Excellent Scudder novel. Subtle as always. It has a low emphasis on plot and a higher emphasis on small moments. I think this is one of those series that for me will be a 5 star series with very few 5 star books. The quality is consistent and they seem intentionally minimalist so when the moments happen they feel larger than they are. I think I might have been harsher on the earlier books because I didn't get this right away. I think if I ever reread them the first few would fair better in my mind. Great dialogue in this one. Block is also a bit more giving with the ending in this one. Sometime he hangs you out to dry. Starting with Eight Million Ways to Die the series has really found it's legs.

As far as the narrator portion of the review...

Dan Butler was serviceable. Not the voice I'd peg for Scudder. Maybe a bit too nasally. I had to adjust at first but I got use to his delivery. Don't let it scare you off. Not a bad narration, not a great one either.

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Great narrator, weak King Novel

Revisado: 02-07-18

The jive talking in this book is unbearable. It's the return of King's magical negro trope in it's very worst form. I'm not sure why Uncle Steve chose to write a techno-thriller when he seems to have a loose grasp of technology.

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The production for this audio drama is incredible

Revisado: 09-23-17

If you could sum up Alien: Out of the Shadows in three words, what would they be?

Production, atmosphere, and suspense.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Pleasantly surprised that it stuck with me a couple days after I finished.

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

The whole cast is incredible here. Whoever hired the voice actress that sounds exactly like Sigourney Weaver needs a bonus.

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

I don't want to get involved into spoiler territory.

Any additional comments?

It can't be overstated how awesome the production is here. It really brings the story to life. Everything from the chunky sounding key pads to the spot on voice acting from the large cast.

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Early King with an excellent reading by Spacek

Revisado: 02-13-16

What did you love best about Carrie?

This is an early work by King. It's a little rough around the edges. You'll find a lot of half-baked ideas that king would later put to greater use in better novels. You have gossiping small town, bully that gets his, and your doomed romance. That's not to say this is a bad King Novel, just that it's his early work and it shows. King even describes this novel as "raw".

What was one of the most memorable moments of Carrie?

Carrie crawling to a lodge to kill the prime bully covered in blood, disfigured, and barely alive.

What about Sissy Spacek’s performance did you like?

I'm not going to lie, the performance had to grow on me. I needed about thirty minutes to adjust to her voice, but it was worth the adjustment period. Spacek brings an odd, unsettling trait to her reading that fits the story perfectly. If the preview turns you off the reading, consider giving it a chance anyway.

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

I think the world has seen enough Carrie remakes.

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Two steps forward one step back

Revisado: 02-13-16

Would you listen to Time to Murder and Create again? Why?

I think I would. If I ever give the series a listen again. This was a lot better than book two in the series and about on par with book one. The only issue is that the story can feel a little loose in this one. At worst it can feel meandering. It does a lot to establish Scudder as a character, but I found myself caring less and less about the plot.

Would you be willing to try another book from Lawrence Block? Why or why not?

Yes, I plan on going through the entire Scudder series.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

Sklar has a great voice for this kind of novel. He doesn't go straight to cliche like a lot of narrators.

Any additional comments?

I'd like to point out that I've finished the fourth book before I wrote this review and it's a big step up. If you're wondering when the series hits it's stride then book four is your answer.

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Scudder's alcoholism is becoming an issue

Revisado: 02-13-16

If you could sum up A Stab in the Dark in three words, what would they be?

Scudder is unraveling.

Would you listen to another book narrated by William Roberts?

While not an awful narrator, I actually preferred the previous narrator in the series. This one had a taste for the cliche when picking his voices. Even Scudder's inner voice had a little New York cab driver in it.

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

This one made me feel the depressive pull of falling in the bottle. It did a very good job of capturing the state of denial alcoholics find themselves in. Scudder keeps finding new ways to explain his drunken actions.

Any additional comments?

If you want to know when the writing takes a notch up, this would be it. Scudder has become a fully complex character. You may even grow to dislike him at points during this one. That is not a bad thing. A truly heroic character needs flaws front, center, and hidden.

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Incredible thriller marred by a poor narration

Revisado: 02-13-16

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book itself is fantastic. Every genre has it's greats and this is one of those legendary thrillers that deserves it's praise. The story hits just the right beats to keep things moving at a steady increasing pace and the science it told with just the right pinch of believably. Would I change anything? No, I don't think so.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator detracted in all the wrong ways. His accents for the various characters were cliche at best and just plain incorrect at worst. It's even worse that sometimes the accent would carry to other characters before the narrator caught himself and switched. It honestly makes me wonder if every thing was done in one take and they figured they can fix things in post.

I checked other work by the narrator by listening to the preview on other books. I think I will avoid this particular narrator going forward. I've also read other similar complaints about the narrator on other reviews for different books.

Was Relic worth the listening time?

For the first title in the Pendergast series I recommend reading the dead tree variety. I'm sure it can be found cheap or free at your local library.

Any additional comments?

It's a shame I had to dump so much of this review into the bad taste that was left in my mouth from the reading. It really is an excellent book and a classic of the genre.

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The start of a well respected detective series.

Revisado: 02-12-16

Would you listen to The Sins of the Fathers again? Why?

Maybe. While the book shows growing pains for the still developing Scudder character, it's the performance that really stood out. As far as the story goes, it's...fine.

Have you listened to any of Alan Sklar’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to the first three in the Scudder series and the narrator is fantastic. In the fourth book they switched to another narrator who isn't nearly as good. It's a shame. Sklar really nails Scudder's inner voice.

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

There is a conversation Scudder has towards the end of the book that is incredible. It would make for a great film scene. Shame none of the movies are very good.

Any additional comments?

This book is for completionists like myself. I've heard it's actually better to skip the first two books in the series, but I couldn't do that. Personally I found it to be a good listen. Just don't expect the fireworks the later books in the series apparently have.

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Excellent narration. A lesser Scudder mystery.

Revisado: 02-11-16

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

This was a messy Scudder novel with a less than stellar conclusions. Only tackle it if you are like me and a completion.

Any additional comments?

The narration is excellent. I'm saddened Sklar didn't narrate the entire series.

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