LISTENER

Valerie

  • 19
  • reviews
  • 3
  • helpful votes
  • 21
  • ratings

Real life stories often have a disappointing ending

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

Reviewed: 02-10-24

And such was the case here. Her life was a fairy tale for a while, but then everything disintegrated. Also, she became not as nice of a person, focused on exacting revenge. Also, for a Western reader, I could really have used that list of characters read at the beginning in a printed format to refer to frequently. Midway through the story, it was increasingly hard for me to keep track of who all the characters were. But, all in all, I enjoy stories from a different culture, the opportunity to learn a bit about a different way of life than my own. Plus, her life really was amazing.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Took a turn for the better

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

Reviewed: 01-27-24

At first, I was a bit turned off by the stupid, uncooperative way the witnesses to the crime were responding to the police. But I liked the narration part and appreciated the writing, the interesting way the author had of letting you realize something just before it was revealed. And as more was revealed throughout the story, I was drawn in and no longer was irritated by the characters. Well, the real estate agent was still a bit annoying, but not nearly as much.

The narrator did a good job of reading the narrative potions in an even, reasonable, companionable tone, talking directly to the reader, while distinguishing very clearly between all the different characters and giving them a pitch perfect voice unique to each.

Was this translated to English? If so, an excellent job.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Awful

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

Reviewed: 12-16-23

All the characters were such caricatures. All very whiny. I felt no connection to any of them. Waste of time.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Glad I listened to this

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

Reviewed: 12-14-23

It’s really long and from an era past, so I was intimidated to start Middlemarch. And it was initially a little hard to get into with so many characters and story lines and lofty conversations about art and politics of another age and (for me) country. But Eliot has a wry wit that I enjoyed with little comments about human nature, which, of course, hasn’t changed much at all over time. And gradually all the story lines started intercepting and it felt like a fun soap opera. In the end, quite a satisfying read. Also, the narrator did an excellent with all the different voices, imbuing each with character of his or her own. Quite a feat for such a long narration and so many prominent characters.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Interesting premise but weak development

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

Reviewed: 11-04-23

I found the mysterious notes from Nathaniel Droll to be incongruous. There aren’t other supernatural elements in the story, so why that one? I mean I get how it furthered the plot, but it seems a weird plot device. Also, while a lot of things tracked, there was a last minute disclosure that just seemed unnecessary to the story and some side situations that were tied up without explanation.

A lot of reviews mention the Christian aspects of this book. I was surprised the first time the main character quoted a verse from a Psalm in the Bible. Like others, I wasn’t expecting that. But then it just seemed like part of her character when she would do so. Sort of the opposite of a character who curses all the time. Anyway, it fits with the time period. It didn’t bother me, but I can see how it might antagonize those with strong feelings against such things. Just as strong language might antagonize others.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Heavy

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

Reviewed: 09-16-23

This story tackled several different weighty issues: abuse/controlling behavior, foster care/control by the system, even refugee immigration and more. It overall was a really sad situation. No neat answers, true to life. But an interesting listen nonetheless. The male narrator had a delightful Aussie accent and his story drew me in from the beginning. The female narrator wasn’t as good and I guess her accent was supposed to be more posh, but I couldn’t identify it. Fortunately, her portion was much shorter.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Ok for a freebie

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

Reviewed: 09-02-23

I don’t think I’d like the protagonist if I met her. She’s whiny and vindictive.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Mesmerizing

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

Reviewed: 08-30-23

This is the kind of book I love. Nothing formulaic about it. I wouldn’t have thought I’d enjoy a book so much that delves into medical and surgical details, but it’s truly a part of the story. Nothing is wasted in the telling. It all plays into the greater tale. And the narrator was fantastic. He did a wonderful job switching between male/female characters and accents from different countries and continents. This is a story that will stick with me.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Flat

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

Reviewed: 07-20-23

Redeeming Love has long been one of my favorite books. So, I was expecting to like this one. But the main character, Abra, just felt flat to me, so passive. Maybe that’s realistic for women in abusive relationships. But i was expecting her to be a bit more feisty. Maybe it was how the narrator read everything so calmly without too much inflection. And the good guys of the story were just too good, too perfect. Finally, the storyline was pretty predictable. Even the final “twist” was obvious from the get go.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Loooong

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

Reviewed: 07-15-23

I like a long book that captivates me, but this one was a bit of a chore to get through. I was interested to learn (per Wikipedia anyway) that, by and large, the historical elements of Desiree’s life were all true. The author gives our protagonist a somewhat childlike persona and the narrator certainly read her that way. And gave a distinct whine to some other characters, such as her sister, Julie. I don’t particularly recommend the story, but I don’t recommend against it either.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup