Gail

Huge disappointment

Reviewed: 06-05-24

I just finished listening to the audio version of this book, and I have to admit I was hugely disappointed. For winning the International Booker Prize, I expected so much more. Katharina seemed completely lacking in common sense and self-esteem; I kept trying to put the blame on the German-to-English translation (like something wasn't translating well?). I couldn't imagine why someone would create a character who was so lacking on so many levels. And so much repetition. "He writes such-and-such. She writes nothing. He writes such-and-such. She writes nothing." On and on. Very tedious. Hans' character was abysmal and really made you want to hate that man. If the author wants us to believe that there really are people who are this twisted in real life, well, she didn't succeed. To juxtapose this relationship next to the crumbling east/west German statehood and try to draw parallels - it just didn't work for me either. I don't know what the Booker Prize judges were thinking, but they really stepped in it this time.

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False advertising

Reviewed: 04-28-24

The book advertised by the publisher and the one I listened to were completely different. Yes, the parents died in mysterious circumstances, and those circumstances remained a mystery...it was never revealed in the book. These four "sisters" sounded more like colleagues to me, complete strangers in fact, getting together and hardly having a thing to say to each other. The author took the opportunity of four different careers to lecture on everything from global warming to continental drift to veganism to politics in Northern Ireland. It was the oddest collection of philosophies and it was hard to keep interested. At one point, as the four sisters are gathered at the bungalow of the eldest one, eventually found (who keeps waiting for them to leave), one of them asks, "Why are we here?" Indeed. Unless you enjoy esoteric discussions of high-brow topics, save your money.

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Terrible narration

Reviewed: 03-12-23

Be sure to listen to the sample before you buy this book. I had to return it - the narrators are native Nigerians and unless you are the same, you will have an almost impossible time understanding their English. I had to listen so closely and rewind so often it became an arduous chore trying to listen to the audio version of this book. I returned and will buy the Kindle version, as I'm still interested in the story.

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Very sad yet compelling

Reviewed: 01-22-23

A riveting story of women taking control of their own destinies in a Mennonite community after suffering unimaginable abuse. The only thing I felt stretched believability was that for women who supposedly could not read or write and who lead a cloistered existence, their vocabulary was quite wide and modern, right down to their ability to cuss like sailors! Otherwise, an excellent book.

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This book was WAY TOO SHORT

Reviewed: 09-01-21

My only criticism of this book is in my title: it was WAY TOO SHORT. I don't know what it is about Seth Rogen that makes me want to bust a gut every time he opens his mouth, but this guy is just damn funny and all I can say is, I hope there's a sequel. He could find something funny to say about paint drying and I would pay to listen to it. Even when he was being serious (the chapter on Twitter, Trump and the 2020 election) his insights were right on and I wanted to hear more.

I listened to this book in a day. How he pulled together such an amazing cast and such a great production is just astonishing. That alone was worth the price of this audiobook, or a credit. Thank you Seth, for a great day of escape. Please don't let it be the last book you ever write!

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Compelling true story

Reviewed: 03-15-21

The description of this book caught my attention for several reasons: it was a true crime story, it took place in the state where I grew up (North Dakota) (how often does that happen?!), it involves the industry where I make my living (oil and gas), and it also intertwines the culture of native Americans. For all these reasons, the author had to prove herself a capable, well-rounded researcher, and she did not disappoint. Once I started listening, I had a hard time turning this book off. The way the author manages to intertwine a complicated narrative of native American/US government relations, an opportunistic and greedy oil & gas industry, murder for hire, and the psychological effect that sudden wealth can have on exploited people is masterful. Here she sheds a bright light on industries and government bodies that continually prey on groups of people who are either defenseless or don't know the value of what they are selling. This book should be required reading not only for those who could fall victim, but also for those who would victimize.

A note about the narration: yes it is read by the author, and I appreciated that she did not overdramatize or "perform" this book, as so many author-narrators do. She reads it neutrally and dispassionately, so that you can make up your own mind about the material. This is a good thing.

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Celebrities should not narrate their own books

Reviewed: 01-03-21

I probably would have enjoyed this book a whole lot more if I had read it in hard copy, or if Matthew himself had not read it. But like other celebrities, he didn't trust anyone else with his own material...he just HAD to do it himself, and in the process he didn't just narrate it, he PERFORMED it as if he were on stage, which ruined the whole experience of listening to an audiobook. instead of a neutral listening experience where you can make up your own mind about the material, he made sure you experienced it in only one way...his way. His delivery was so irritating I almost didn't get past the first few chapters. He comes off as arrogant, impressed with himself, and sounding as if he has this "livin' life thing" neatly sewn up.

If you are looking for some flippant bumper stickers, a few choice "notes to self" to get you through the day, then Matthew's the man for you. They are here in spades. But real wisdom and a deep understanding of life's struggles and what it takes to keep from drowning when it seems like the world is against you? Read Hillbilly Elegy instead.

I'm disappointed that I wasted an Audible credit on this one. Instead of getting any real insight into his character, I feel that I just got a longer late-night show monologue filled with gimmicks and tag lines, none of which were very entertaining or insightful.

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1 person found this helpful

Devastating corporate greed

Reviewed: 12-08-19

This excellent book lays out in painstaking detail the lengths to which a large corporation will go to protect their profits and reputation above all else. The health and welfare of the human and animal population, and the environment at large, is of little concern. It is shocking to think that the same company goes to great lengths to build "community citizenship and partneership" and goodwill, while at the same time continues to dump chemicals that they know cause cancers and other diseases into our waterways. The level of deceitfulness and two-facedness knows no bounds.

Just like the book "Amity and Prosperity," where the oil & gas fracking industry contaminated an entire town with their injection chemicals, here is another example of company not held accountable for their actions, and pointing to every other conceivable cause for the incidences of cancers, diseases, and birth defects in the surrounding communities. When is the government going to act against these corporate polluters??

Read this book and if nothing else, boycot DuPont and its products. We vote with our dollars!

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2 people found this helpful

Dismal

Reviewed: 11-23-19

The most depressing book I’ve listened to in a long time. Almost abandoned it several times. The accents and the foreign town/people’s names didn’t lend themselves well to an audiobook experience.

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No mystery here

Reviewed: 11-18-18

Don't buy this book if you're looking for a good mystery - you'll figure this one out in the first few chapters. The writer does a poor job of dropping hints - her bread crumbs are more like bricks. Add to that the implausible nature of the whole premise, and you've got yourself a pretty lousy story! I'm surprised I finished this one.

The narrator does a pretty good job with the Scottish lass, but other than that, the voices (other than the main character) are laughable. All the other women sound like men.

All in all, don't waste your money or credits on this book!

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1 person found this helpful