david h
- 46
- reviews
- 6
- helpful votes
- 55
- ratings
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The Goldfinch
- By: Donna Tartt
- Narrated by: David Pittu
- Length: 32 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 41,677
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37,571
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37,526
The Goldfinch is a haunted odyssey through present-day America and a drama of enthralling force and acuity. It begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his unbearable longing for his mother, he clings to one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Boy, am I in the minority on this one.
- By Bon Ami on 11-04-13
- The Goldfinch
- By: Donna Tartt
- Narrated by: David Pittu
Boring and soul-less
Reviewed: 01-22-25
The most tedious, over-written book I've read in years. The author takes a moderately interesting plot and literally buries it in very very lengthy characterisations, often about unlikeable characters, or detailed passages (I'm talking hours!) that amount to nothing. Even if she brings them all together at the end (at 32+ hours, you'll be hard pressed to remember all that drivel), I just cannot be bothered so I'm giving up after 12 hours. I'm not averse to long books, if they move forward. But you could listen to this at 1.5x (narrator is very good) and wouldn't miss much (this is NOT literature), but I've had enough. Very annoying recommendation from the NYT (#46 in the Best 100 books of this century... come ON!). And what on EARTH were the Pulitzer committee thinking? Now listening to The Poisonwood Bible - what a joy!
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Wolf Hall
- A Novel
- By: Hilary Mantel
- Narrated by: Ben Miles
- Length: 25 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,079
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 947
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 941
England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of 20 years and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe opposes him. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people, and implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?
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5 out of 5 stars
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Superb narration, but keep a character index at hand
- By Oculus on 12-27-20
- Wolf Hall
- A Novel
- By: Hilary Mantel
- Narrated by: Ben Miles
Amazing recreation of early 16th century England and (to a small degree) Europe.
Reviewed: 11-06-24
Wonderful story and recreation of the era.
Narrator has a lovely lovely voice, perfect for the different roles, but there are nasty noises of spit in his mouth as he prepares new lines. A bit unpleasant.
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China in Ten Words
- By: Yu Hua, Allan H. Barr - translator
- Narrated by: Don Hagen
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 291
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 255
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 255
From one of China’s most acclaimed writers, his first work of nonfiction to appear in English: a unique, intimate look at the Chinese experience over the last several decades, told through personal stories and astute analysis that sharply illuminate the country’s meteoric economic and social transformation. Characterized by Yu Hua’s trademark wit, insight, and courage, China in Ten Words is a refreshingly candid vision of the “Chinese miracle” and all its consequences, from the singularly invaluable perspective of a writer living in China today.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Best Popular Book on China
- By taylor storey on 09-21-14
- China in Ten Words
- By: Yu Hua, Allan H. Barr - translator
- Narrated by: Don Hagen
Easy flow and good narration. Getting dated, we need an updated version.
Reviewed: 07-09-24
A little too autobiographical. I'd have preferred more China and Chinese people and less Yu Hua.
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We
- By: Yevgeny Zamyatin
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 43
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
In a glass-enclosed city of absolute straight lines, ruled over by the all-powerful 'Benefactor', the citizens of the totalitarian society of OneState live out lives devoid of passion and creativity - until D-503, a mathematician who dreams in numbers, makes a discovery: he has an individual soul.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great novel, We are all in debt to.
- By Stephen on 03-17-22
- We
- By: Yevgeny Zamyatin
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
Surprisingly current for a 100+ year old tale
Reviewed: 04-02-24
Incredibly prescient story. The basis for Brave New World and 1984. Pacy and atmospheric. Excellent narration.
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The Year of Living Danishly
- Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
- By: Helen Russell
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,390
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,873
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,862
When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn't Disneyland but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long, dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. What is the secret to their success? Are happy Danes born or made?
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4 out of 5 stars
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Interesting content. Unfortunate delivery.
- By Jennifer Soudagar on 11-13-15
- The Year of Living Danishly
- Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
- By: Helen Russell
- Narrated by: Lucy Price-Lewis
Outstanding narration, interesting content
Reviewed: 03-29-24
Brilliantly narrated information on two Britisher's move to and life in Denmark. Easy listening and interesting. I enjoyed.
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A House Divided
- The House of Earth Trilogy, Book 3
- By: Pearl S. Buck
- Narrated by: Adam Verner
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 431
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 381
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 375
On the eve of a popular rebellion, the Chinese government starts to crack down in cities across the country. Fleeing the turmoil, Wang Yuan, the son of a famous general and grandson of the patriarch of The Good Earth, leaves for America to study agriculture. When he returns to China six years later, he encounters a nation still in the grip of violent uprisings. Unprepared for the social upheaval, Wang is torn by the tensions between old traditions and new ways and by his formidable family, whose struggles he hopes to solve.
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5 out of 5 stars
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the son the power
- By l howard on 12-17-17
- A House Divided
- The House of Earth Trilogy, Book 3
- By: Pearl S. Buck
- Narrated by: Adam Verner
Denouement of a family saga
Reviewed: 03-05-24
In her usual, lyrical prose, Buck winds up the fate of the Wang family against the backdrop of China’s turbulent years before 1949. Whilst strangely choosing to omit all place names and event details, she paints a grim picture of the life of the poor and a disapproving account of the rich, and of foreigners still resident there.
A bit long in parts (especially in the chapters dedicated to the hero's relationship with a local woman in the putative USA - 😵very boring), the book remained enjoyable and was very well performed. Paints a realistic picture of the old China.
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The Japanese Lover
- By: Isabel Allende
- Narrated by: Joanna Gleason
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,826
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,520
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,508
In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma Belasco's parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There, as the rest of the world goes to war, she encounters Ichimei Fukuda, the quiet and gentle son of the family's Japanese gardener. Unnoticed by those around them, a tender love affair begins to blossom. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart.
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2 out of 5 stars
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My first negative review
- By Karen O'Byrne on 11-11-15
- The Japanese Lover
- By: Isabel Allende
- Narrated by: Joanna Gleason
Magnificent, not a word out of place
Reviewed: 04-26-23
A beautiful story of family and love set over several generations in Europe and the USA, populated by diverse people tossed by the vagaries of the events around them. Lovely performance by Ms Gleason
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The Four Books
- By: Yan Lianke, Carlos Rojas - translator
- Narrated by: George Backman
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 28
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 26
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
In the ninety-ninth district of a sprawling reeducation compound, freethinking artists and academics are detained to strengthen their loyalty to Communist ideologies. Here, the Musician and her lover, the Scholar, along with the Author and the Theologian, are forced to carry out grueling physical work and are encouraged to inform on each other for dissident behavior. The prize: winning a chance at freedom.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Anti-Christian
- By chetyarbrough.blog on 06-10-23
- The Four Books
- By: Yan Lianke, Carlos Rojas - translator
- Narrated by: George Backman
History never to be repeated
Reviewed: 04-24-23
This is a "factional" account of a group of sent down educated people in late 50s China. Everything you've read is there... the mind games, the cooked-up misdemeanours, the dehumanization, agricultural and industrial failures, and eventually the mass starvation and cannibalism. To read these things written by a Chinese author, no doubt informed by family stories and domestic scholarship is powerful and moving.
Although a little long, the story is a fascinating audiobook, brilliantly performed by Mr Backman. Highly recommended.
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The Girl Who Was Taken
- By: Charlie Donlea
- Narrated by: Nina Alvamar
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 18,656
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 17,542
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 17,511
Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald are both high school seniors in the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina. When they disappear from a beach party one warm summer night, police launch a massive search. No clues are found, and hope is almost lost until Megan miraculously surfaces after escaping from a bunker deep in the woods. A year later the best-selling account of her ordeal has turned Megan from local hero to national celebrity.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great book!!!
- By tarafarah7: Tara Brown on 06-07-17
- The Girl Who Was Taken
- By: Charlie Donlea
- Narrated by: Nina Alvamar
Quality psychodrama slightly flawed
Reviewed: 03-26-23
I'm distracted by Megan not discovering the identity of her kidnapper as soon as he opened his mouth
Otherwise an entertaining and quick listen with great detail on the forensic pathology
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1 person found this helpful
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Half a Lifelong Romance
- A Novel
- By: Eileen Chang
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 36
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 31
Manzhen is a young worker in a Shanghai factory where she meets Shijun, the son of wealthy merchants. Despite family complications, they fall in love and begin to dream of a shared life together - until circumstances force them apart. When they are reunited after many years, can they start their relationship again? Or is it destined to be the romance of only half a lifetime?
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5 out of 5 stars
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super
- By Marcus Aurelius on 10-05-17
- Half a Lifelong Romance
- A Novel
- By: Eileen Chang
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Engaging romance set in a very interesting context
Reviewed: 03-24-23
Slightly too long but beautifully read story set in 1920s and 1930s Shanghai. Deals with relationships, family and romance entirely from the Chinese perspective. Describes the social hierarchy, from street vendors to lothario fat cats, and economic circumstances of families and especially women, with not a hint of anger or sarcasm. I loved this book but was sad at the ending.
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