Linda N

Absolutely Perfect

Reviewed: 03-26-24

I always look forward to a new Kristin Hannah book and eagerly awaited this one. It is such a great piece of historical fiction of the Vietnam era. We learn about the experiences of the women who served in Vietnam through Frankie’s story of being a trauma nurse. Like all of Hannah’s books, this one is real and raw and doesn’t hold back on the tears and heartbreak. Beautifully written and narrated.

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A Little Disappointing

Reviewed: 01-26-24

This started out pretty good, suspenseful and intriguing. But as it continued it dragged on and on. Part of the problem is that I did not really like a single character at all, and none of them were very well developed. I think the narrator did a good job with the voices, but it was a special kind of cringeworthy torture to have to keep hearing the character’s inner thoughts. It did read more like YA than an adult suspense novel. And Kayla - oh my gosh, can someone just shut her up with her constant suspicions and snooping. And after all of those long hours of listening way past being so bored I almost did not care how it turned out, I did not even get the reward of a happy ending.

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1 person found this helpful

Didn't deserve the hype

Reviewed: 09-02-23

Oh my, where to start? I saw this on Obama's summer reading list and am still perplexed as to why. A modern day Little Women? Maybe, but without the charm and, well, good writing. I was bored to tears waiting for something to happen. There may have been kernels of a good story in there, but the narration ruined any chance I may have had of finding them. I did not enjoy the contrived way the narrator spoke and every character had the same artificial affect to their voice. Honestly I got to the point of listening at 1.5 speed just to be done. Big yawn here,

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Full of Surprises

Reviewed: 09-02-23

I love that the author read her own book. Sometimes narrators miss the point the author was making, I think. I loved her way of speaking and other characters' voices too. Starts just a bit slow, but then takes off and is hard to stop listening to. Really enjoyed this one.

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Captivating

Reviewed: 05-20-23

Very good story with an unexpected twist! Excellent narration too!! I would definitely recommend this book.

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Stellar book with outstanding narration

Reviewed: 04-20-23

I love Barbara Kingsolver and have read all of her books. I decided to listen to this one and - wow!! From the first chapter, the narration was so perfect I was captivated. I cried at times, and once felt so angry for the misfortune that befell little Demon that I pounded the dashboard as I was driving. It sucks you in that much. I fell in love with this little lost child just needing someone to love him and a place to call home. I was right there with Demon as he went from foster to foster and found himself in devastating circumstances. The writing is so pure and so wonderful that I finished and am listening immediately again for anything I missed, and now knowing the outcome (no spoilers) I want to read it in that light. This book touched my soul.

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Disappointing

Reviewed: 06-22-22

I am a big Jodi Picoult fan and for me, this book falls very far short of her earlier works. The narration was ok, but when performing Gabriel's accent with a Spanish accent I wanted to cringe. SPOILER ALERT, do not read further if you don't want spoilers. The story was somewhat engaging with Diana's time spent stranded during quaratine in the Galapagos, the people she met there and the events and nature descriptions were engaging. Then, to find out most of the way through the book that it was all a COVID dream was more than disappointing. It felt like an author's cheap trick, an easy way out to not have to deal with a love triangle. The level of detail about all that happened was ridiculous to believe it was just a fever dream. I felt swindled out of the story I wanted to see come to fruition. Oh and then at the end of the book when Diana actually visits the Galapagos and almost falls and a stranger reaches to help her... could it be Gabriel? Was it fate? Was it destiny? Ugh.

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I wanted to love it...

Reviewed: 04-23-21

I’ve loved everything Hannah has written, and was so excited about this new book. Another reviewer said it was depressing, and before I had listened to it, I thought to myself, of course it will be depressing, it’s about the Dust Bowl. But, oh man. Tragedy after tragedy after tragedy and no one ever gets a single break. Eventually you really want, no need, to see just one character get a break. I get it - it’s a really sad historical time period, all those poor Dust Bowlers traveling west to find their fortune and being ostracized and forced to become basically slave labor to survive. I do get it. But, this is historical fiction. Fiction. I would have really loved it if there had been even a ray of hope for anyone. So terribly, terribly sad at every turn. I would not recommend for this reason.

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HATE the narration

Reviewed: 12-14-19

You know how sometimes an audiobook starts with a little music or other ambient noise, just softly in the background and for a few seconds? This narrator chose to have the background noises ALL OF THE TIME. Little bird tweets, music, or other background noise that is just so terribly distracting I cannot listen to this book. I tried three separate times to just ignore this noise during the narration, but I can't stand it. I'm sure it's a good story as Sparks' books always are. But I just can't.

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Great story!

Reviewed: 08-22-17

A wonderful story with perfect narration. Although heartbreaking at times, it was emotionally satisfying. Wingate really made the characters authentic and I felt like I knew each one personally. I hated this book to end.

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