LISTENER

Blue

  • 45
  • reviews
  • 44
  • helpful votes
  • 208
  • ratings

Decidedly unpleasant, likely last Sparks novel I'll read

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-02-24

Having read all of Sparks novels over the years, I find this and his last to be quite regretable departures from the stories and style I've so enjoyed in the past. Gone are the sweet, inspirational charactures of life and love, with relatable elements of hardship, challenge, and triumph, to a far darker, grittier... slap in the face.

Honestly, feels a bit like bait and switch. And while that is entirely unfair, an author should write what ever speaks to them... this book does not read like ANY of his other books, except maybe the last.

It's not even the heavy handed Bible versus, with all due respect, I don't care for... the story itself is ridiculously heavy handed.

I'm stoppimg my review here, before I say something that disappoints anyone reading my review as much as the central theme of 'Counting Miracles' disappoints me.

Sorry Sparks and fans. This is not what I'm looking for in a good read/listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sweet, starts off a bit clunky

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-09-24

Took a few attempts to get into this one. Super glad I got past the confusing start. Typical sweet Cara Bastone story + characters. Incredible narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Not my favorite

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-16-24

Character development continues, a bit painfully slow. That would be okay if weren't for the unpleasant treatment of the characters, or a less unfortunate story arc in this book. Will continue to the next, but an much hoping the background setting is as amazing as the narration, language, and characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Mostly entertaining

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-11-24

Not fan of murder mysteries, but the characters, narrator and writing are very good!

Frustrating review requirements.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent narration, love the language

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-06-24

Very much enjoyed. Excellent narration, love the language. Very much enjoyed. Excellent narration, love the language.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Interesting premise, excellent narration, but...

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-30-24

Too many elements of drama, suspense, and "you won't believe what happens next"... Read too much like a made-for-TV series with literal cliff hanger after cliff hanger.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sweet story, very much enjoyed.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-21-24

Listened straight thru while working on projects around the house. Sure helped the time fly by!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sweet and short, almost perfect

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-19-23

Very much enjoyed. Writing and voice acting all felt so effortless, as did the story. Good stuff!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Exhausting, couldn't finish - overly graphic

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-18-23

Not entertained by detailed depictions of rape, torture, or gory battles... for hours on end. High fantasy, this is not.

Aside from the overly graphic writing, the lack of pacing is jarring, further breaking any sense of immersion.

Nearly all the characters are unbreakable. They all move between -what might be in other stories- "final" epic, heroic, climactic events... scene... after scene... after scene. They all are brutally wounded and exhausted, both physically and mentally, only to repeat the process over and over. Sometimes the next day, hour, or minute to minute, with little to no break in-between.

Couldn't finish the last hour.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Surprisingly good... when listened as single book.

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-06-23

Good on so many levels, voice and sound design are bar none. While I don't care for the genre, was expecting more apocalyptic, , glad I gave this one a listen... that is, until I slogged thru the sequel.

Do your self a favor, LEAVE off with this book as stand-alone. 'Season Two' doesn't belong in the same series, such a departure from everything that made this book an excellent listen.

Too bad too, this one was as good as the next was awful.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!