Nancy

This is a source of the hippie stereotypes

Reviewed: 02-10-25

The story was supposedly told from the point of view of a journalist, but it was very inconsistent. At some points he sounded more drug addled and obnoxious than the people he was observing. The book started out fine, but the language and tone became louder and more crass as it went on. The audio narration intensified the effect. At times, it was dripping with sarcasm, racism, and sexism. If you ever wondered why hippies and drug users in modern movies all seem the same, I think this might be the source they’re all copying. It has all the stereotypes. I’d like to know the rest of the story, but I just couldn’t listen to another word. I wish I could share this information without rating the book. To be fair, the rest of the book might have been much better. I would have liked to be warned, but I am very grateful that audible”s policy allows me to return a book that I really don’t like.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Lovely and magical. Ahhh.

Reviewed: 11-19-23

I love this book. I reread it twice (which is very unusual for me), plus I listened to the beginning many times to help me relax after a hard day. The book is charming, poetic and captivating right from the start. The narrator has a unique sound that makes the book stand out from all the rest. This author has the ability to write a fresh story in a genre that is filled with clones. The romance in this story is suitable for a YA audience, but it’s complex and nuanced enough to satisfy this older reader. I liked seeing the relationship change over time., and I liked the castle intrigue. I adored the main character Lark, who cannot speak. It’s been 3 years since my previous reading, and I had forgotten enough to be surprised by many of the plot twists. (There is a plus side to age related memory loss. You can experience a favorite book as though it was the first time.)

I also recommend What the Wind Knows by the same author. Irish historical fiction, time travel, romance.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

NOT the original book by Collodi.

Reviewed: 10-29-23

This is NOT the original book by Carlo Collodi, which is 5 hours long. Audible does have the real book, but you’ll have to use a credit or pay for it. This is a sweet short story for small children. This is more in line with a Disney picture book, or a little Golden Book. The cricket might warn us that we will turn into donkeys if we are foolish enough to be conned.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

One hour of nostalgia was enough for me,

Reviewed: 10-25-23

I was addicted to the TV show, and I was excited by this chance to go down memory lane. I enjoyed hearing a few familiar voices (Drucilla’s voice is still deliciously creepy), and it was pleasantly nostalgic. I liked the alternate reality idea to bring people back from the dead. It was sort of like watching a show without a picture. All the extra sound effects were sort of fun and campy at first (like the show often was), but it became very tiresome. I just couldn’t listen to more. I gave it an hour and that was enough. I guess I’m just not a fan of this style.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

Fascinating story

Reviewed: 06-14-21

This is a fascinating story, and I thought Dov Fox did a wonderful job in organizing and presenting the information. Every episode had something of value. I'm fairly new to pod casts, and this was the first one that I listened to all the way through. I really enjoyed it. He presented alternative perspectives and explanations, and showed a great deal of empathy to the families and even the donor. I really feel for those kids. I liked that he included just a little of his own story too. I thought it was funny though that people were trying to figure out why the donor did it. Biologists might point out that procreation is a biological imperative of all species, and males of many species use sneaky ways to spread their seed. I first became interested in the topic when reading the book Inheritance, by Dani Shapiro. It's a memoir from a woman who discovers as an adult that her mother used a sperm bank. (Also on Audible.) Thanks. I'll be looking for more podcasts in the future.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Not culturally accurate

Reviewed: 10-06-19

I was disappointed when I realized this book was not culturally accurate. Stereotypes don't help us to appreciate other cultures.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Owen Meany talks LIKE THIS

Reviewed: 07-16-18

This is a book that some people love and some hate. The title character is described as having a "wreaked voice" and his quotes are printed in capital letters in the book to convey that his voice is VERY LOUD AND ANNOYING. I thought the narrator did a good job in giving Owen an irritating and LOUD voice. The first few chapters were fine and parts of the story are very funny. But as the story progressed, Owen spoke more frequently, and I just couldn't take it. It seemed that I got a headache every time I turned it on. I like to listen to a book at night with the sleep function to ease me into sleep, but I couldn't do that with this book due to the sudden volume changes. I eventually gave up. Fortunately there is a large print edition of this book, so I'll be able to finish it. I really want to love the book, and maybe I will. Based on comments from my bookclub members, this book can have a profound impact on some people. So I encourage people to try it for yourself. You might love it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Beautiful Classic Story. Re-read it!

Reviewed: 07-16-18

This is a wonderful classic that is worth rereading. I read it when I was young, but this time I picked up on things I wouldn't have appreciated then. It is set 100 years ago, but the writing does not feel dated to me. I love the honesty of the language, and the deep insights about childhood, marriage, parenting, and heartache. While my childhood was completely different than Francie's, I was drawn into the story and felt like I WAS Francie. On this second reading, I was also able to understand her mother so much more.

This book is on the Great American Read top 100 list, and my online bookclub voted to read it. It was a big hit with everyone in the group. I started listening to a different audio version (with Carrington MacDuffie) in the car from the library, and I liked it right away. I knew I would want to own it, and have it on my phone, so I purchased it through audible. I was disappointed to discover that the voice was completely different. This version is voiced by Kate Burton, a well known actress (I recognized her voice from Gray's Anatomy - she was Meredith's mother). Her personality and voice are very professional, but not well suited to this book. It sounded cold compared to the older audio version. She lacked the warmth that permeates throughout the book. She gave some of the characters a subtle New York accent, but I didn't hear much of a Brooklyn accent. One character sang a lot and she didn't sing any of those lovely Irish songs (which MacDuffie did beautifully). If I hadn't heard the first one, I might have been perfectly satisfied. I gave it several hours, but I decided to finish it by reading the print book. I think most people would be happy with the reading.

Overall, it's a wonderful book and I highly recommend it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The amazing power of friendship (and therapy)

Reviewed: 11-10-17

This is the most powerful book I've read in a long time. It's been compared to A Man Called Ove, and I agree, but it goes so much deeper. If you've ever known an odd duck or felt like one yourself, Eleanor's story is bound to give you another perspective. Gail Honeyman does a masterful job of revealing truths about human behavior and social interaction, while telling a fascinating story about the mystery of Eleanor Oliphant.

The book shows the darkness of depression, along with sources of hope of recovery. I hope that the next time I meet someone like Eleanor (or Sammy), I'll remember this book, and behave more like Raymond, and reach out with kindness and acceptance. And I hope that whenever I'm feeling a little like Eleanor, I'll remember that friendship, therapy, or simply talking about it, are all better options than vodka and isolation. This is a gross over-simplification of what I got out of this book. There is a lot more here. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I wrote the above review in 2017. I just reread the book for a book club, and it was even better the second time. I'm sure it will lead to a great discussion tomorrow. I also upgraded the performance rating now that I listened to it all (last time I mostly read the print book). I recommend this book to anyone.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!