Tyler Tanner

In dire need of a remake

Reviewed: 09-09-19

The subject and story is interesting but the narrator brings the audiobook down. It was clearly recorded a long time ago due to the poor audio quality and the hiss of white noise. What does not help is that the book can be a bit technical and dry. Which is fine but I've listened to books along the same lines and they have been elevated by the enthusiasm of the person reading it. Nelson Runger is a good example of what I'm talking about. Instead John MacLean, the authors son and who has written books on forest fires himself, does best but comes off like one passionately reading an insurance policy.

Despite this, I was able to appreciate and learn from the book. Highlights were when the author goes with the survivors back to the scene of the fire, years later. Knowing what a Blow Up is and recreating the sense of chaos once the smoke jumpers landed in the middle of the fire. Essentially a "Fog of War" scenario. I'm looking forward to listening and reading more from the author but not if it is read by this gentleman.

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2 people found this helpful

Nice Find

Reviewed: 03-19-19

A voice in a child's head turns out to be real. Because this was first published in 1963, I thought this was going to be a bit dated and formulaic and I was pleasantly surprised to find some nice twists. The book clips along nicely thanks to Daniel Weyman's superb narration and his vocal range when playing different roles. My only criticism is that here are some decisions that the characters make that strain credulity but those can easily be overlooked. After reading this and The Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham has been my favorite find while pursuing the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list / challenge. Now I plan on going through his entire canon. Definitely recommend if you haven't heard of him already.

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More Please

Reviewed: 08-03-16

What made the experience of listening to Passage to Juneau the most enjoyable?

Jonathan Raban attempts to follow the same route than Captain George Vancouver weaving his own adventures in with the rich history of that expedition and area. I had no idea and therefore taken for granted, how Vancouver Canada got its name. I learned a lot listening to this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Passage to Juneau?

The personification of Captain Vancouver. Though not the most popular or charismatic, I really got a sense of the man and it made me curious to find out more about him.

Which scene was your favorite?

Where Raban comes across a breaching Killer Whale while alone at sea. Paraphrasing; He says something along the lines like "When you're on a tour it's exciting. When you're alone it's terrifying"

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The only "extreme" reaction is that it made me more curious about the region. I had picked this up just after a week long cruise of the inside passage and now I can't wait to go back armed with what I know from this book.

Any additional comments?

It's really a shame that this is the only book by Jonathan Raban on audible. And abridged at that. His rich British baritone and his use of voices makes him one of the better author-narrators.

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4 people found this helpful

This is the CODA of Huxley's canon

Reviewed: 07-27-16

What disappointed you about Crome Yellow?

Here's an obscure quote that sums up how I feel "I mean Led Zeppelin didn't write tunes everybody liked. They left that to the Bee Gees." - Wayne Campbell, Wayne's World

The thing that I loved about Brave New World is that Huxley was able to insert his philosophy and ideas into an overall narrative, which made it easier for the reader (or listener) to absorb. For me, this didn't happen in Crome Yellow. I'm not sure if this was a common practice in the 1920's, but the premise is that of bright young minds gathering in an old English estate and discussing various subjects in an intellectual manner. Like a social think tank. Giving the book almost a vignette style. Some of the subjects were interesting, but they were very few, far an in between. It was difficult to stay engaged.

What was most disappointing about Aldous Huxley’s story?

I would not say disappointed. I appreciate that this was Huxley's first novel and I'm glad I listened to it for that fact alone. However, the "story" was simply not my cup of tea. I would like to attempt it again, but I would have to be in the right mind-set for it. There are some good nuggets to think on.

What about Robert Whitfield’s performance did you like?

Robert Whitfield does the best of what he has to work with. He makes the voices distinguishable, is able to color the dialogue and any lack of attention that the listener may experience because of the "story" is not his fault. A less talented narrator would make Crome Yellow a much more tedious listen. I would give serious consideration to another book if we were narrating it.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Crome Yellow?

That's the problem. I found myself tuning out a lot of it, so I can't remember the parts that would need cutting out.

Any additional comments?

Despite my criticisms, I like Crome Yellow in terms of following the trajectory of the author. From what Aldous Huxley did here and how he refined it in Brave New World. I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's works.

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Good Descriptive Writing

Reviewed: 06-28-16

Would you try another book from Barry Lopez and/or Barry Lopez?

Yes, but it would be something I would have to be in the mood for. Driving for a long time in a car? No. His calm voice would put me to sleep. Hiking or going for a long walk? Yes. I did this and it made me slow down and take a look what was around me. For me, Barry Lopez is that one Jazz album that you really like and have when the rest of your music collection is rock and roll. The descriptive way that he writes and his choice of words really do take you to the locales that talks about.

Would you recommend Field Notes to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes. I think more of my introspective friends would appreciate it. This is not for anyone looking for something fast paced.

Which scene was your favorite?

No specific scene, but I like the recurring theme of each narrator not understanding the world around them juxtaposed with the people who do.

Did Field Notes inspire you to do anything?

When I'm hiking, taking the time to see what's really around me and appreciate it.

Any additional comments?

My one severe complaint are the piano interludes . Some last as long as three minutes between stories and I found myself pressing the 30 second jump button a few times. Since this is an abridged version of the book, I think that the time allotted for the musical pieces could have been swapped for an additional story. Some people may like it, I didn't.

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True Southern

Reviewed: 03-03-16

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I'm not sure if this is for everybody but I appreciated it. I'm making my way through the Pulitzer's for fiction and this one is one of the better ones.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The Southern colloquialisms border on poetry. This is one of those stories that deserves to be listened to multiple times. One of the few lyrical books that I've read that doesn't let the prose get away from the story.

What about Eudora Welty’s performance did you like?

Only a southerner could have read this and I'm thankful that the author did. I was unsure when I started listening but by the end I concluded that she was the only one that could have read the story. It reminded me of an old Grandma rocking in her chair and telling a family history.

Did The Optimist's Daughter inspire you to do anything?

To write and see if I'm able capture the same local flavor that I grew up with.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this for a long road trip. It comes in at only four hours.

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Really Surprising

Reviewed: 02-08-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, absolutely. This book took me by surprise. My understanding is that this was the novel that kicked off the post-apocalyptic genre. I took it up to check another book off the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. I was expecting the language to be archaic, it being over 60 years old, but it holds up exceptionally well. This is a must for Sc-fi fans.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Day of the Triffids?

1) The sinister way the plants were written. Initially you would think that the way that they are described, they would be laughable. They are not.

2) The realistic way that civilization breaks down as a result of the attacks and how they handle the Triffids. A fully realized and well thought out concept.

3) The added layer of the protagonist being one of the few people that isn't blind in the novel

What does Graeme Malcolm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Malcolm had to do a bit of a hat trick here. He is able to balance the dramatic tone associated with 50's sci-fi with subtext and characterization. Really well done.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

This is the book that started it all.

Any additional comments?

It's been a few month's since I've listened to the book and it still lingers with me. Influences of H.G. Wells and the cold war run rampant. But what's really interesting is how many current books and shows are influenced by this book. Anywhere from Stephen King's The stand to the The Walking Dead.

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Worth Listening to Multiple Times

Reviewed: 10-01-15

I normally don't take to lyrical prose, if that is in fact what I listened to. The book comes in at three and a half hours, which was ideal for getting out of my comfort zone. In an era where information comes lightning fast and you just want to hurry up and get to the next thing, I like that the book makes you slow down and take the time to really listen to what it has to say. When I realized that the opening scene in the kitchen was not going to transition anytime soon, I let myself appreciate the choice of words and how DeLillo was saying it.

Laurie Anderson's narration is warm and deliberately paced. It was well suited for the way the story is told.

In short, it's about a woman who loses her husband to suicide and a "being" who has been in the house where she lives appearing to her shortly after. What makes me want to listen to this again is that, now that I have a full understanding of what a Body Artist is and does, it leaves me to wonder if the apparition was real or not. The book makes no effort to answer either way, which I loved.

What I thought was going to be tedious wound up being a pleasant surprise and I'm glad I stuck with it. I'll be looking for more of the author and the narrator in future.

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Great Overall History

Reviewed: 09-28-15

Where does The Plantagenets rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As far as content goes, very high. I've been reading about Plantagenet history for some time. The reason why I got the audiobook was to 1) brush up on the subject and 2) hear how a lot of the names, particularly the French, were pronounced. I'm glad I did. For years I had pronouncing Outremer like it was spelled. Out - Remmer instead of Oo - Tra - Mare. The Audio helped a lot. However, read below.

What other book might you compare The Plantagenets to and why?

I've read bio's on most of the King's in this time of history. Warren, Gillingham, & Edmund King. Those would be the closest. Even though they are fiction, I'd say Thomas B. Costain's books and Sharon Kay Penman.

How could the performance have been better?

I agree with many past reviewers who said that Clive Chafer's narration wasn't to their liking. He did not bother to accentuate or play up some very gripping historical stories. He kept with the same "News Reporter" cadence to the end. I might have been able to ignore this style, but the last book I listened to was No Ordinary Time in which Nelson Runger did a superb job and felt what he was reading. However, Mr. Chafer's strength is that he can tackle Welsh and the aforementioned French words with ease. But I'd have to think twice if I saw his name on another audiobook.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This era of English history covers some landmarks in the formation of the country. The Anarchy, Thomas Beckett, The Third Crusade, The Magna Carta, Longshanks & William Wallace, The Order of the Garter. The text of the writing is sound, which makes the narration all the more frustrating. How can you not get excited about this? So no, I wasn't "moved." but I was informed.

Any additional comments?

The narrative wasn't bad per se, just a missed opportunity. I'm looking forward to re-reading this in print. This book is written for the armchair historian. Example: Jones actually makes Henry II taxing system streamlined to the lay reader. I read W.L. Warren's very good but scholarly bio on him and that section was very confusing. Jones makes it palatable & significant. He gives a wonderful overall narrative and I would recommend this book as a great beginning for those interested in this time of history.

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Great book as prep for the AT

Reviewed: 09-16-15

Would you consider the audio edition of AWOL on the Appalachian Trail to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version but I would say that that the only thing lacking in audio would be maps. That being said, anyone with a general knowledge of U.S. geography won't feel lost. So I would go with audio. Great book to listen to while hiking trails yourself. At least, that's what I did and it was very motivating.

What was one of the most memorable moments of AWOL on the Appalachian Trail?

There were a lot, actually. The half-gallon challenge. Ver-Mud. "The toughest part of the trail" The shady guy the author kept leapfrogging in the beginning

What about Christopher Lane’s performance did you like?

The fact that he wrote the book himself and was able to layer subtext into what he was reading. He was a decent reader and one of the few times where author read audio enhanced the book. A professional reader, I feel, would have missed some of the nuances Christopher Lane added.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not not have an *Extreme* reaction to this book but I really enjoyed it. Did it make me laugh? Yes. More than a few times. Cry? Eh, no.

Any additional comments?

This is a really fun & informative listen about the AT. It's not a "soul searcher" and he gives some great practical insight on what to expect when not only hiking this trail but in long term hiking in general. I would not go so far as to say that this is a definitive book on the subject but it's a great addition to a hiker's library & I'm looking forward to listening to it again.

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