LindsayRoseEliz

I really enjoyed it!

Reviewed: 09-02-22

Update: I really enjoyed this audiobook! I didn't mind the online exchanges, and I thought that Robert Glenister did an amazing job with a very difficult narrative challenge. No spoilers, but I was so glad that the book's ending leaves room for more books! And--for what it's worth--as much as I disagree with JKR's personal politics, the book didn't read to me like a "woe-is-me" meta-narrative that some people are making it out to be. I was so looking forward to this audiobook, and it didn't disappoint!

Original review: I’m only mid-way through the audiobook, so I’ll update my review but I wanted to assure other nervous listeners who—like me—were so excited for this audiobook: the online exchanges don’t bother me! Would it be easier to read on-the-page? Sure. Does it require you to pay a little more attention? Yeah. But Robert Glenister does a great job with this unique challenge. Don’t let that scare you away.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

Best Book Yet!

Reviewed: 09-19-20

The Strike books are, by far, my favorite audiobook series. They are the Harry Potter of my adulthood--I can't wait for the next one to come, and it's like Christmas morning when they do. Robert Glenister is a masterful narrator. I am endlessly in awe of his ability to switch between accents, emphasize character-to-character specificities, and maintain them across all 5 books.

When I saw that this book was 30+ hours, I was delighted and a little nervous. Lethal White (which I still enjoyed) was more meandering than the other books, and that was just 22 hours long, but Troubled Blood was my favorite book in the series thus far! I adored the occult aspect, the cold case, and--of course--learning more about the personal lives of Strike and Robin. There are a ton of characters and a lot of leads to follow, but it seemed more fluid and natural than Lethal White's convoluted plot. The ending came from left field, and yet it all made sense! I cannot wait to listen to it again. And again. And again.

I was a bit worried about this one, given the initial press about the book being anti-trans. The line I remember reading from one of those reviews is something like "the lesson is clear: never trust a man in a dress." I did not sense any anti-trans sentiment from the book, unless mentioning a serial killer's occasional MO of dressing up as a woman three times in a 900+ page book qualifies. For what it's worth.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

153 people found this helpful

Odd person out?

Reviewed: 06-11-19

This book has such glowing reviews! I made it through 6 hours before turning it off because virtually nothing had happened. The writing is beautiful, the narrator is compelling, but the story never captured me because... well... I wasn’t sure what the story was. Kya cooks, fishes, and collects seashells for 6 hours as a murder investigation slowly—slowly—gets going in every few chapters. I saw where things were going but didn’t care enough to get there with 6+ hours left to go.

I wish I loved this book like everyone else, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. This book is one of the very few I will return.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

31 people found this helpful

A bit disappointed!

Reviewed: 01-13-19

I was so excited for this audiobook, but I only got through 7 hours of it before turning it off. I just couldn’t get into it, and it only started picking up around hour 5, and I knew exactly where the story was going. I ended up just reading a plot summary and turning it off. Michael C. Hall was a great narrator, though.

The most entertaining part was the opening commentary by King. Everything else was disappointingly dull for a horror book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Listened in one go!

Reviewed: 11-26-18

I am a true crime lover and part of the Paul Holes fan club. I followed the Golden State Killer case through the podcast My Favorite Murder, and I was as excited as anyone when I heard GSK was caught. I listened to this production on one long car ride, and I enjoyed it immensely. Much of it re-tells the details many of us already know but it was special to hear it straight from survivors, victims' families, and the detectives.

If you are a true crime lover or a follower of this case, you'll love this!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A Decent Story that Goes a Bit Slow

Reviewed: 05-18-16

Would you listen to Amy Snow again? Why?

Never say never but I am unlikely to listen to Amy Snow again any time soon. The plot was slow and sometimes plodding, but I enjoyed it well enough, and I greatly enjoyed the narration. However, it isn't an audiobook I'd go back to over and over like I do with so many others.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It certainly focuses on relationships and societal constructs, which has very interesting moments, but sometimes those relationships fall into very predictable storylines. The Henry/Amy interactions near the end of the book regularly caused eye-rolls, but I suppose that's to be expected considering the characters are quite young.

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

Her voice takes on that of the character. I really enjoyed her narration.

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

No, but I loved Ms. Thorpe.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Good Fun

Reviewed: 05-18-16

Where does Inferno: A Novel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I greatly enjoyed it. It's not my favorite audiobook, but it certainly held my attention better than most!

What did you like best about this story?

I am an art history PhD student of Italian Renaissance art, so I greatly enjoyed being able to follow the intricacies of the story and picturing its various sites and objects in my head. I found it great fun.

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

I've never heard any of Paul Michael's other work, but I greatly enjoyed his narration. His accents are very good!

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

No extreme reactions, but I'm not terribly reactive.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this! I like listening to Dan Brown's books more than reading them (although I enjoy that, too). His fast-paced, intricate plots work great for audiobook.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Love Miranda Hart, Didn't Love This Book

Reviewed: 10-08-15

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

I wouldn't, and it PAINS me to say that. I absolutely adore Miranda Hart--Miranda is one of my all-time favorite TV shows and I look up to her as a person--but this book just didn't do it for me. I went in expecting to break a rib laughing, and I found that it was... well... sort of boring. A lot of the jokes were repeats from her comedy appearances and the TV show, and I found it very hard to hear even when blasting it in my car.

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

I haven't listened to any of her performances before, but I have watched her television show religiously and repeatedly. I love her, but I didn't love the book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Love Love Love

Reviewed: 10-08-15

Where does An Ember in the Ashes rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's one of the best. I absolutely adore this audiobook, and I've listened to it a number of times already.

Have you listened to any of Fiona Hardingham and Steve West ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't heard any of their other performances, but I absolutely loved them in this. They sound perfectly in-character. I adore Fiona Hardingham's accent and Steve West's voice is off the charts.

Any additional comments?

I cannot recommend this enough.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Enjoyable but not great

Reviewed: 10-08-15

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

I know that it's sacrilege among the YA community to dislike Sarah J. Maas's books, but I just can't get into them, and this one was no different than the Throne of Glass series. I'm just not into it. It was an entertaining listen on a long car journey, but I won't actively seek out the sequel.

Has A Court of Thorns and Roses turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jennifer Ikeda?

Sure.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful