Lisa
- 23
- reviews
- 134
- helpful votes
- 183
- ratings
-
Sharon Tate Campaign Plan MMXX
- The Result of a Deliberative Process that Contemplates a New Dawn in Hollywood
- By: Michael A. Walker
- Narrated by: Fleet Cooper, Caroline Slaughter
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1969, the nearly nine months pregnant celebrity Sharon Tate loses her life and the life of her unborn child, horrifying hundreds of millions of Americans. How do we restore the dignity of Sharon Tate in the American psyche from an ocean of morbidity on a level unseen in the history of the United States? Sharon Tate Campaign Plan MMXX transcends the problem, navigating Sharon Tate’s enigma with a clear defense of her person as someone worthy of admiration.
-
-
A plan with an agenda
- By Lisa on 06-10-23
- Sharon Tate Campaign Plan MMXX
- The Result of a Deliberative Process that Contemplates a New Dawn in Hollywood
- By: Michael A. Walker
- Narrated by: Fleet Cooper, Caroline Slaughter
A plan with an agenda
Reviewed: 06-10-23
This isn’t a book about Sharon Tate. The author barely scratches the surface of what makes her an icon. Instead there’s a feeling of him using Sharon Tate as a tool to push a conservative, entitled, Beaver Cleaver agenda.
The author espouses censorship (he calls the Hays Code ‘timeless’) and seems to think Sharon’s image needs ‘rehabilitation’. Anyone who’s read anything about Sharon Tate knows this is rubbish. Her memory needs to be unshackled from what her sister Debra calls ‘the M word’. To censor some of the key moments of her life (her marriage, her roles, her choices) is not the way to go about it.
Quite honestly, I don’t believe this author cares about Sharon Tate, her image or celebrating her life. She’s just a means to an end for him and that doesn’t honor her.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Her Darkest Nightmare
- By: Brenda Novak
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Evelyn Talbot knows that a psychopath can look perfectly normal. She was only 16 when her own boyfriend, Jasper, imprisoned and tortured her - and left her for dead. Now an eminent psychiatrist who specializes in the criminal mind, Evelyn is the force behind Hanover House, a maximum-security facility located in a small Alaskan town. Her job puts her at odds with Sergeant Amarok, who is convinced that Hanover is a threat to his community, even as his attraction to beautiful Evelyn threatens to tear his world apart.
-
-
Disappointing!!!!
- By Chanille on 12-24-16
- Her Darkest Nightmare
- By: Brenda Novak
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
Good story but one drawback….
Reviewed: 05-03-23
Therese Plummer is one my favorite narrators but the last 2 hours was so overwrought I nearly gave up. Will continue the series and hope for a more even performance in the next books. *crosses fingers*
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
The Girl Who Lived Twice
- A Lisbeth Salander Novel
- By: David Lagercrantz, George Goulding - translator
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mikael Blomkvist is trying to reach Lisbeth Salander—the fierce, unstoppable girl with the dragon tattoo. He needs her help unraveling the identity of a man who died with Blomkvist's phone number in his pocket—a man who does not exist in any official records and whose garbled last words hinted at knowledge that would be dangerous to important people. But Lisbeth has disappeared. She's sold her apartment in Stockholm. She's gone dark. She's told no one where she is. And no one is aware that at long last she's got her primal enemy, her twin sister, Camilla, squarely in her sights.
-
-
I’m sorry...No!
- By Arryn Allen on 08-29-19
- The Girl Who Lived Twice
- A Lisbeth Salander Novel
- By: David Lagercrantz, George Goulding - translator
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
I tried... I really did.
Reviewed: 05-21-21
This is a rambling story. Lisbeth seems more caricature than the complex character Larsen created. Even Mikael seems over it. Glad I stuck it out but I’m hoping there’s no more to this series since it’s not doing any of the characters justice.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Dead Certain
- A Novel
- By: Adam Mitzner
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ella Broden is living a double life. By day, Ella works as a buttoned-up attorney on some of the city's most grueling cases. By night, she pursues her passion for singing in the darkest clubs of Manhattan. No one knows her secret, not even Charlotte, the younger sister she practically raised. But it seems she's not the only one in the family with something to hide. When Charlotte announces she's sold her first novel, Ella couldn't be more thrilled...until she gets a call that her sister's gone missing.
-
-
Mixed Review
- By Amazon Customer on 06-16-17
- Dead Certain
- A Novel
- By: Adam Mitzner
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
Suspension of disbelief a must.
Reviewed: 12-12-17
I enjoyed this book & found it engrossing enough to overlook how hokey the plot was. The writing is probably what saved it from being snort-worthy.
I probably won’t read another from this author but it was a good way to pass the time during a spring clean. And it was on sale. 😊
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Livia Lone
- A Livia Lone Novel, Book 1
- By: Barry Eisler
- Narrated by: Barry Eisler
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seattle PD sex-crimes detective Livia Lone knows the monsters she hunts. Sold by her Thai parents along with her little sister, Nason; abused by the men who trafficked them; marooned in America...the only thing that kept Livia alive as a teenager was her determination to find Nason. Livia has never stopped looking. And she copes with her failure to protect her sister by doing everything she can to put predators in prison.
-
-
This is a heartbreaker that makes u want 2 hit someone!
- By shelley on 10-27-16
- Livia Lone
- A Livia Lone Novel, Book 1
- By: Barry Eisler
- Narrated by: Barry Eisler
Grim, moving, empowering
Reviewed: 10-28-17
Parts of this book were hard to stomach. The author is unflinching in the depiction of the horrors of child abuse & trafficking.
Livia is a strong, likable, relatable anti-hero and I found my self doing mental fist pumps when she dealt to her abusers. Some people simply don’t deserve to live.
The writing is tight & jumping between then/now never confused the story. The narration was excellent.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Ratking
- Aurelio Zen, Book 1
- By: Michael Dibdin
- Narrated by: Michael Kitchen
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A powerful industrialist, Ruggiero Miletti, is kidnapped. Inspector Zen is transferred to Perugia to take over the case - but finds that there are many obstacles in his way. The local authorities see him as an interloper, and the victim’s family, one of the most powerful in Italy, seem content to let Miletti languish in the hands of his abductors. Zen has crossed swords with the establishment before - and lost. Can he succeed this time?
-
-
Narrator spoiled it for me
- By Gregory Aurand on 12-15-13
- Ratking
- Aurelio Zen, Book 1
- By: Michael Dibdin
- Narrated by: Michael Kitchen
Couldn't finish. :-(
Reviewed: 08-21-16
I love the 2011 3-part Zen TV series so I thought I'd give the books a go. This could be a great story/series but I won't be finding out from the audio versions.
Ninety minutes in, I gave up after realizing I'd not taken in any of the story because of the awful narration. His voice is nice enough but his choppy/biting manner of (over)acting rather than narrating is very irritating. If I don't like a narrator, I can usually put push through to the end but I was beaten by this one.
I'll stick to the printed version on this series.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Villa in Italy
- By: Elizabeth Edmondson
- Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marvellously atmospheric tale of strangers summoned to a grand but neglected villa on the Italian coast. Each of them has been named in a will, but nobody knows their benefactress.... Four very different people are named in a will. Delia, an opera singer robbed of her voice by illness; George, an idealistic scientist who cannot face what his skills have created; Marjorie, desperately poor and unable to dislodge her writer’s block; and Lucius, ostensibly in control but whose personal life is in chaos.
-
-
A gentle mystery.
- By Lisa on 08-19-16
- Villa in Italy
- By: Elizabeth Edmondson
- Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie
A gentle mystery.
Reviewed: 08-19-16
I was having a bad week. I listened to this book and, as corny as it sounds, it lifted my spirits. This book is not what I'd consider 'high art' or a classic but it's wonderfully evocative and a good escape. If I had to pick one word it would be 'soothing' and I'll be listening to it again.
This is a slow building story with the first 2/3 of the book fleshing out the characters, their backstories and the villa itself. The main characters are very likable, even the often irritating Marjorie, and you really get a sense of their burdens and how the villa and its inhabitants help them 'come alive' again. The visitors are mostly unlikable and come off as shallow and selfish, which is a nice contrast to the main players. However, on getting to know them a little better as the story unfolds they're actually OK (Theo & Felicity)... except Richie; he's a jerk. The last 1/3 has the reveals coming thick and fast (but it's not hard to guess them). Relationships are revealed, mended, ended and cemented and everything is wrapped up nicely. I came away from this book feeling a lighter and happier.
Excellent narration. With so many characters, it would be easy for the listener to become confused but Nicolette McKenzie has given them each a unique voice. I think I'll try one of the other Elizabeth Edmondson books she's narrated, maybe Villa on the Riviera.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
81 people found this helpful
-
A Time of Torment
- A Charlie Parker Thriller, Book 14
- By: John Connolly
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding
- Length: 14 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jerome Burnel was once a hero. He intervened to prevent multiple killings and in doing so destroyed himself. His life was torn apart. He was imprisoned, brutalized. But in his final days, with the hunters circling, he tells his story to private detective Charlie Parker. He speaks of the girl who was marked for death but was saved, of the ones who tormented him and of an entity that hides in a ruined stockade. Parker is not like other men. He died and was reborn. He is ready to wage war.
-
-
Read this book!
- By Lisa on 08-09-16
- A Time of Torment
- A Charlie Parker Thriller, Book 14
- By: John Connolly
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding
Read this book!
Reviewed: 08-09-16
I downloaded this book the day it was released but before listening, I went back and listened to the previous 2 books (definitely recommend it). I finished 'A Time of Torment' yesterday and it's really been playing on my mind, which is a good thing.
I loved this and didn't want it to end. This is not a fast paced book; the story unwinds slowly and in great detail and no scene is wasted. The writing is very descriptive; The Cut gave me the heebie jeebies in the same way that Caleb Kyle in 'Dark Hollow' did (Parker certainly knows how to find isolated, corrupt communities and/or weirdos) and Paige's story gave me a lump in my throat. Parker's deadliness has been nicely built up in the previous books but until now, it's been more subtle. In this book, it's on full display; even the mention of his name is enough to send folks running for cover. Parker's relationship with The Collector just keeps getting better. Angel & Louis... I know they kill people and all but I just love them. And Sam... she's scarier than all of the characters put together.
This book has reminded me why I loved this series in the first place. I think I'm going to have to go back and listen to some of the earlier books to keep me busy until the next in the series comes out.
Excellent narration by Jeff Harding.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
A Song of Shadows
- A Charlie Parker Thriller
- By: John Connolly
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Still recovering from his life-threatening wounds, private detective Charlie Parker investigates a case that has its origins in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War. Parker has retreated to the small Maine town of Boreas to regain his strength. There he befriends a widow named Ruth Winter and her young daughter, Amanda. But Ruth has her secrets. Old atrocities are about to be unearthed, and old sinners will kill to hide their sins.
-
-
Charlie Parker reboot.
- By Lisa on 08-07-16
- A Song of Shadows
- A Charlie Parker Thriller
- By: John Connolly
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding
Charlie Parker reboot.
Reviewed: 08-07-16
I really like this series but (to me) Parker seemed to have been drifting in many of the previous books. 'Parker on a mission' is one of the more interesting aspects of the series and he seemed to have lost that for a while. The events in 'Wolf in Winter' and this book have given him his edge back and, although still recovering, he's much more driven & lethal than before.
The supernatural element is still there but seems more focused (I can't think of a better word). Parker's relationship with his daughters is both touching & ominous. The scenes with Angel & Louis are still great and I'm looking forward to seeing how Parker's connection to The Collector plays out in the next book, which I've just downloaded.
Excellent narration; Jeff Harding is always great though.
Overall, these last 2 books have really renewed my interest in the series and I'm excited for the next one.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
The Witness
- By: Nora Roberts
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 16 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks.
-
-
Classic Nora - Outstanding!!!!
- By M. Davis on 04-20-12
- The Witness
- By: Nora Roberts
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Sweet and well written
Reviewed: 07-28-16
Romance books usually aren't my thing but I really enjoyed this one and it's become one of my 'comfort' books that I've listened to multiple times.
Roberts has created some well-rounded, intelligent and funny characters (although there are some stereotypes in this story as well) and Julia Whelan makes the story very easy to get lost in.
It was nice 'watching' Abigail blossom from rigid, frosty and guarded to more open and humorous. I loved her self-sufficiency and non-traditional views on relationships and her social awkwardness was endearing. Brooks' laid-back nature, tenacity and in-your-face family was a perfect match for her. The Gleason family's acceptance of Abigail was moving, given her non-relationship with her own mother. Even Bert (the Italian, French & Farsi understanding dog) was a great character; I would've liked to have 'seen' him in action.
Ms. Whelan did a great job with voices and accents. She easily goes from Abigail's straighforward logic to Sylbie to Sunny to a drunken Tybal. There's no confusing any of the characters.
I've found Nora Roberts books to be hit-and-miss but this one hit the mark with me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful