Pamela S K Glasner

Could Not Put It Down!

Revisado: 03-12-25

Simply put, this book was excellent. The narration was perfect in every way and the story was better than engaging -- I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. This is a definite winner, and I would say it's appropriate for anyone over the age of 13.

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Sorry, But I Just Had To Stop

Revisado: 01-11-25

Normally I love Kate Morton! And Claire Foy is a lovely narrator. But this book just did absolutely nothing to hold my attention. I listened for eight full hours and kept waiting for something 'important' or 'interesting' to happen, something that might make me think, "Oh, yes! Now I MUST keep listening because I need to know what happens next!" But that never occurred. It just dragged on and on and on. Sorry, Ms. Morton, I don't like leaving negative reviews, but this book just didn't do it for me.

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Very Disappointing

Revisado: 12-11-23

This is the first Lisa Wingate book that I have listened to -- and I have listened to many of them -- that I am disappointed in. There was absolutely no substance to the story, just Girl Meets Boy, falls in love with the boy within minutes of that meeting, and then a series of "He Loves Me -- He Loves Me Not" the dragged on for over 10 hours.

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OK, but I wouldn't read any more of the series

Revisado: 08-28-23

The first thing I noticed was that the narrator, Allyson Ryan, finishes all of her sentences, regardless of whether it’s narration or dialogue and regardless of who the character is, in the same way. All the sentences end with a “downturned intonation,” meaning a downward movement of her voice. It quickly became monotnous. After a very short while, it became annoying, hard to listen to.

I did, however, make myself listen to the whole book because the story sounded interesting. Unfortunately, I found the story -- and the main character -- very sophomoric. I think I would recommend this book to girls from about 8th grade through junior year in high school.

Rather disappointing, considering how much I enjoy reading Ms. Pandian’s “Accidental Alchemist” series.

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Another masterpiece, plain and simple!

Revisado: 08-19-23

There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about this story. The story itself was excellent - I could not put it down. The narration was equally superb - I love Johanna Parker. And I am glad to have met Peggity Price - she is delightful. On top of that, Lisa Wingate, aside from being an outstanding wordsmith, has a marvelous sense of humor - she had me laughing out loud multiple times! She also had me close to tears more than once. DEFINITELY a very good read!

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Another masterpiece, plain and simple!

Revisado: 08-19-23

There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about this story. The story itself was excellent - I could not put it down. The narration was equally superb - I love Johanna Parker. And Lisa Wingate, aside from being an outstanding wordsmith, has a marvelous sense of humor. DEFINITELY a very good read!

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A Masterpiece, Plain and Simple

Revisado: 08-03-23

There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about this story. The story itself was excellent - I could not put it down. The narration was equally superb - both narrators were well-chosen. And Lisa Wingate, aside from being an outstanding wordsmith, has a marvelous, dry sense of humor. DEFINITELY a very good read!

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Definitely a good choice

Revisado: 07-21-23

I enjoyed "The Forgotten Garden" quite a bit. I love historical fiction and I especially love it when the story interweaves the past and the present, something which Kate Morton does exceptionally well.

If I had one complaint at all it would be the way the narrator does dialogue. Instead of just speaking in a normal voice, she does this odd thing where she accentuates the letter "R," so much so that the sound grated on me. In fact, it is so striking that it kept pulling me out of the story. I wish she would have just continued speaking in a normal voice, the way she did for the characters of Nell, Cassandra, Eliza and Rose. Other than that, however, she does a beautiful job.

I definitely recommend this book!

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Not a whole lot of substance, IMHO

Revisado: 06-16-23

When I see all those other positive reviews, It’s clear I am swimming against the tide. Can’t help it—I was expecting an excellent book and I was disappointed. Without getting into spoiler territory, I’ll explain why I say this:

Point #1) Ever hear of the literary principle known as “Chekhov’s Gun?” Basically, it says a writer should not be including details in a story unless those details contribute to the overall narrative. In other words, don’t waste a whole lot of time describing or focusing on a gun in the room if the gun is not going to have meaning later on. Unfortunately, Delemhach makes this mistake by spending a whole lot of time—particularly in the beginning—on a possible war between two countries. So much so, that I was expecting (and hoping for) a big conflict with all sorts of intrigue and suspense and characters in imminent danger. In other words, excitement. But none of that ever materialized.

Point #2) Halfway through the book I was so bored, I was ready to quit listening. But I soldiered on, waiting for Delemhach to finally get to the point. Other than poor boy/rich girl, there WAS no point. There was no reason to ever mention a potential conflict between two countries. And Fin (male protagonist) did not need to be a House Witch. He could just as easily have been a Town Crier and the story would not have significantly changed.

Point #3) It was not until the last few chapters (and there are 55—this book is 17+ hours long!) that I finally started “feeling” the characters, particularly the two primary characters. Delemhach got his point across, but something was missing because I just did not care about them. Listening was a chore, not a pleasure.

Point #4) Regarding the narrator: every now and again some of the characters suddenly changed their form of speech, sounding as though they’d just walked off a 1960’s wild west movie set. Jarring because they all had UK accents. Different parts of the UK to be sure—which was fine and made perfect sense—people wandering in and around a castle SHOULD come from far and wide—but none of them were supposed to be cow-poking neighbors of Rooster Cogburn!

Sorry to be so negative—it gives me no pleasure to say these things. I guess I’m not completely sorry I listened to it, but I will not listen to any of Delemhach’s other books.

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ABSOLUTELY CHARMING!

Revisado: 03-18-23

Tantoo Cardinal does a beautiful job narrating this book, which reads like a diary. Even though there is, for the most part, only one person speaking—Karana, the young girl who is the main character—she makes use of every element of a good story: happiness, sadness, tranquility, tension, imagery and symbolism—and Cardinal does it all with her soft, soothing voice. The descriptions of the island, its resources, its legends, its culture, and Karana’s courage are all so perfectly executed, I could see and hear and smell and feel everything as if I was right there. BRAVO, Scott O'Dell and Tantoo Cardinal for a story that is VERY well done!

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