Sarah C.

Magical Mets History Narrated By SNY's Gary Cohen

Reviewed: 03-22-25

My family is steeped in Mets fan history. My grandpa grew up in the Bronx and we believe he was a Giants fan partially just to spite his Yankees-loving brother; and when they decamped to California in the 1950s, he became a Mets fan in 1962. My mom grew up listening to games with him and her favorite pitcher has always been Tom Seaver; she remembers the 69 game particularly, though she was eight at the time. It must've brought Grandpa great joy when they won again in 1986.

As a kid, I remember seeing my grandpa watch games a lot when we visited my grandparents in New York. Though he died in 2012, I'm sure Grandpa really would've been happy when I started following the team in 2015 when the Mets won the NL pennant and got to the World Series before losing to Kansas City. Ever since, we've been following games again and even going to minor league games and this year for my birthday, my mom and I are going to CitiField for the first time.

To prepare for this trip, I decided to grab some books on Mets history since SNY often mentions stats and it never hurts to brush up on game history, especially since this series really is considered so magical. Once I heard Gary Cohen's voice narrating, I immediately got in a 2-for-1 deal. It's just like hearing a game. And I can see why now this season was so amazing.

To have seven previous years of heartbreak, disillusion and hopelessness suddenly disappear seemingly overnight is truly incredible ( I will say, though, it is ironic that I'm listening to this now that the 2024 White Sox have surpassed the 1962 Mets for the worst baseball loss record in modern-day history...) But it wasn't entirely easy. The Mets had to deal with tough teams like their bugaboo team the Astros (still not easy to beat today), injuries and players who needed more guidance than others. And, just like today, everyone but the Mets and their fans assumed they'd never make it as usual.

I really liked how this book brought to life the personalities of each player and staff though: from Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, Ed Charles and Don Clendenon's battles with racism and poverty, to Seaver's early struggles just to make it to the big leagues and Jerry Grote's topsy-turvy beginnings before becoming their essential top catcher. A lot of the 69 Mets were hardworking, affable and humble guys who also wanted to prove themselves to each other just as much as they wanted to do it to the MLB. And they definitely picked the right manager in Gil Hodges to do it: the more I listened to Gil's decisions, the more I wish managers today actually took pages out of Gil's playbook. The rules are different today, but he cared about his players and gave them integrity and principles. Even when pitchers like Koosman and Tug McGraw struggled or seemed to veer off course, Gil did not dismiss them outright. Instead, he tried to reconsider what they needed at that moment or where they could best go from there. Thus McGraw became one of the best relievers in the game and Koosman, like every pitcher, had to understand when he had it and when he didn't in a game like the Atlanta series.

Listening to this book reminded me how not that long ago pitchers both pitched and batted at games. I remember seeing deGrom when he was still a Met do this before that rule ended it, but now i can barely imagine it with the DH rule too. And complete games were more common too. With the amount of pitcher injuries in the MLB today (though pitchers are told to throw harder than they did back then), I can't see anyone's stats making it the way they did back then.

You can never go wrong with Gary Cohen as a narrator. I love him as a commentator in the regular season. I half expect him to yell "IT'S OUT OF HERE" at a crucial play, though I know he won't. It must've been amusing when he read the part about himself attending Game 1 of the World Series against the Orioles. If he reads other books on Mets history, I'm in.

Ed Kranepool just passed away last year, so this is not only timely reading but a good choice before we go to the game in May. I'm looking forward to it for multiple reasons and now I know a lot about Mets history. I really recommend this audiobook to Mets fans and if you're into baseball history in general. But really if you're a Mets fan, considering I'm a third-generation Mets fan!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Strange and Wonderful

Reviewed: 03-02-25

This book really is unlike anything I've ever listened to before. I learned about it through a Youtuber I like, who recommended it. So when I bought it, I wanted to see what the hype was about. Particularly since I have read this author before, but did not like "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" very much so would something else by this author be better? And the answer was yes.

We meet a young man called Piranesi who lives in a mysterious home that's full of statues and is constantly being washed by the tides. As far as he knows, he's alone in the world besides someone called The Other and thirteen dead. The Other comes to do experiments that Piranesi assists with, but questions why. Meanwhile, you get the impression something isn't right as the clues begin to pile up.

I'm glad I didn't guess what was going to happen, though I had an inkling. I like books where it's not obvious what the big plot twist is. I will, however, say that "the house" itself is hard to wrap your head around and even "getting there" isn't explained well, even by the end. Is it a metaphysical representation or something even more abstract? The entries you read about in Piranesi's journal don't really help either. By the end of the book, there are still some unanswered questions for more than just the characters and readers.

Chiwetel Ejiofor was perfect for this. His reading was lovely, no matter what mood the story needed to be at the time. I wouldn't mind something else to be read by him.

I recommend this book highly, like the Youtuber who initially recommended it to me. It's a journey, but it's a mostly satisfying listen that is an intriguing story unlike anything I've listened to before.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Stories Good; Main Story Becomes Unappealing

Reviewed: 01-30-25

This book has been a bit of a challenge for me. The stories within the story isn't a new concept, but the constant onslaught of stories does get wearisome and distract from the main story. At times, I got overwhelmed and confused. The stories do have to do with where Ronan, the main character, is in his journey, but it feels endless. Especially the way Audible formatted this, with no chapters.

The story also goes along those lines too, but with some underwhelming notions towards the end. We meet Ronan O'Mara at age 9, who gets to host an enigmatic and traveling storyteller in his home whom he becomes fascinated by. But then suddenly the storyteller leaves after he offends Ronan's mother and Ronan is left trying to track the storyteller and learn more about him. Meanwhile, Ronan's life gets more complicated as he grows up and his family doesn't help.

*SPOILERS*

To quote the opening of Anna Karenina, "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." This really does apply to the O'Maras. While John and Alison are super happy together, they can't have kids so they ask Alison's sister to be their surrogate. Alison is not good at showing affection unless it's to John and is strict and socially conscious, so she doesn't develop a real maternal relationship with the child she wanted; meanwhile, Kate doesn't seem bothered by her part in Ronan's birth until Ronan turns eighteen when suddenly she becomes overbearing and evasive. And John just acts like nothing is the matter, while teasing and gaslighting his son about the storyteller until right before he dies of cancer. No wonder Ronan went nuts.

Speaking of that tantrum, though, it's very odd how Ronan was shut out from experiences. While a lot of it was self-imposed due to his search for the storyteller, the ones we hear about later (not knowing how to handle bad experiences, for example) also show how his family also sheltered him pretty extremely. It made him very self-centered so that he couldn't handle anything quite literally, yet Ronan never once blames his father once for any of this (only Kate and Allison). Throughout the book, we see John being a loving father, husband and member of his community. However, he also really did some lasting psychological damage (unintentionally) by refusing to talk about anything that turned out to be important like Ronan's true parentage or even why he kept bringing the storyteller back in touch with Ronan; even placating Ronan from a young age apparently when he was unmanageable. That was really weird and jarring about John O'Mara; the one thing he did fail at was raising his son normally.

Meanwhile, apparently everyone but Ronan is aware of his parentage though Kate, Allison and John thought they'd kept it a secret. But no one still thought about telling the damn thing to him till the poet friend of the storyteller got drunk enough to let it slip. Basically, T. Bartlett Ryle had the best response and summary to this really unnecessary arc when Ronan says he doesn't understand anything.

And then the big reveal was the worst part: the storyteller was just Ronan's grandfather. He'd had Ronan's father out of wedlock but not been able to marry the woman he loved due to societal pressure; as a result, he turned to traveling storytelling. That's also why Alison was not keen on him, though apparently she softened up later on. And it also explained why John and his half-brother Toby were able to gaslight Ronan all those years, which makes it worse.

Honestly, the stories themselves were more interesting than the twists about Ronan. If you don't know a lot about Irish history, it can seem fantastic. But if you do know anything, the stories are nice and dramatic retellings of events you've heard or read about like St. Patrick's conversion of the country or Strongbow's campaigns in the 12th century.

Delaney did a good job of reading his book, which makes sense. He'd know how to make everyone sound the way they're supposed to, but I wouldn't object to listening to him read something else.

I can't say I'm a fan of this story because of the way the main story characters are confusing or just become less appealing as the story progresses. However, if you like Irish legends and folk stories, this might be more of your thing if you ignore the main story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Anne Lister's Diaries are Amazing

Reviewed: 12-09-24

When I first learned about Lister's diaries while browsing on my library's website, I knew I wanted to read them. A 19th-century lesbian who was a prolific journal writer and defied gender norms? Count me in! And I when I saw Vol. 1 of her diaries were going to be available on Audible, I knew I wanted it.

Anne was a strong, fierce and passionate person who wanted a loving partner and the finer things in life (intellectual pursuits, a nice home, a good steady income, etc.). Some of those things were guaranteed because she was the heir to her childless aunt and uncle (fortune and home were set), but had to wait until her uncle passed away to inherit. Because her father was inept at managing money and her uncle had poor health, she did have things to do that kept her busy but she was also restless and desirous of improvement. As a result, she could also be snobbish, proud and tactless, which meant she was often lonely and unable to understand why people shunned her or were hurt by her actions or manner. I am always struck by often she complains about someone being vulgar, but then being surprised when they stop asking her to do things (like the Saltmarshes); did she not draw a connection, did she expect her being around to improve people for half an hour or did she not realize that after declining every invitation to parties and events, she'd stop being invited after awhile (she even notes this in conversation at one point)?

Anne's toughest road was her on/off relationship with Mariana Lawton (nee Belcombe), her former lover who she initially wanted to build a life with but married a man for security and whom Anne never really forgave for it. The incident at Scarborough illustrates this best; Anne is unable to forget it and though Mariana tries to rationalize and placate or soothe and even Anne will make some allowances, she will also never forget or forgive and it's constantly brought up again and again (and will be if they do Vol. 2 of the diaries too).

It's hard to know Mariana Lawton's character because we can only see her through Anne's eyes, who obviously adores her but is also blinded too. Anne is constantly wondering if Mariana loves her and even when Mariana and she spend nights together, it's not enough to prove their bond. Anne only questions the strength of their relationship after Scarborough and then starts to see Mariana as flawed slowly. But if she was really that way, was manipulative, conflicted about her feelings, ashamed about Anne as the former suspected, etc., is hard to say since we have only Anne's journals to give one POV.

Though she was often hurt and felt unloved and vulnerable because of her own actions and desires, Anne lived life as she wanted to and despite societal expectations, with who she wanted to. For those of us in the LGBTQ+ community and even those who aren't, wanting to live life in a way that suits your needs best even if people don't understand them is something I think we can all understand.

While Anne Lister is considered a lesbian in most modern accounts (though she never had a term for herself other than "oddity"), some do coin her as a trans, nonbinary or gender nonconforming person based on her presentation and probably on some of the diary entries mentioning sexual fantasies and her issues surrounding clothing (which I also sympathize with). I believe in Halifax today, they have noted this distinction in recent times, especially since the filming of the Gentleman Jack TV series and the tourism at Shibden which you can visit today.

I loved Kristin Atherton's performance in this book. She read everything so nicely, especially when her voice drops for the crypt-hand sections. I imagine that's what Anne sounded like when she was thinking about her entries, whether she was brisque, despairing, seductive, musing, etc. If they record Vol. 2, I hope Atherton does that one as well.

I highly recommend this if you loved the Gentleman Jack series, but even if you didn't/haven't yet seen the show and/or want to read about a very special and colorful person in LGBTQ+ history who lived life on their own terms, here's your book!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Stephen Fry Can Read Me Anything

Reviewed: 11-08-24

This is one of my favorite series and although the 2005 movie had its issues, Stephen Fry doing the narration was definitely a great choice so when this audiobook popped up with him doing the reading, I snapped it up.

I already love Fry's other works (his Mythos series is great and I loved his Secrets podcasts), but hearing him read Douglas Adams stories just makes it fun. He's good at making each character sound as they need to: what with Trillian being the only person who you can possibly count on, Zaphod with his lack of impulse control for two, Marvin and his depression/tendency to suck the joy out of anything (though I will always miss Alan Rickman from the movie because I loved him as an actor), Ford who is always just along for the ride (though here it takes a while compared to the later books). And Arthur? Well, I liked it best when he was threatening the demolition people while not being aware the Vogons were above him though everyone else was. The entire time, Fry is voicing him as the oblivious and somewhat wimpy guy he is. Also, props to the computer singing scene at Magrathea.

Having an unusual sense of humor helps while reading or listening to this, but remember "Don't panic" and just enjoy the listen. It's ridiculously enjoyable and sometimes, that's the kind of story we need!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Jezebel Is Undeniably True To Herself

Reviewed: 10-26-24

If you know the biblical story, then you have an idea of how this story will go from the get-go. But that doesn't mean we don't want to hear what the infamous woman whose name has been used as a slur by pious men (and women) alike for centuries doesn't have a say in what happened too.

From the start of her life, Jezebel was born wanting to be powerful. And once she realized she wasn't going to be powerful the same way her father the King of Tyre was, she vowed to do it her way even if it meant marrying someone she didn't get a say in choosing. So even though she gets sent to the last place on Earth she wants to go to (Israel), she's determined to make it prosper like Tyre and to make a name for herself.

Unfortunately, her past will come back to haunt her in the form of her relationship with Elijah. I don't remember if in the Bible it was mentioned he was the cousin of Ahab or that was Barnard's invention to make it easier for the characters to be in contact, but the Elijah you meet in the beginning will not be the same one you hear about later on. Jezebel's choices make a lot of impact, which then gets the ball rolling on the biblical story you might have heard of.

It's partially Jezebel's choices and actions that also make her a bit hard to like initially. She's so determined and willful, to the point of being spoiled and ignorant of others' feelings. Especially Sophira, whom largely has no say in anything that happens but goes along with things because she cares for Jezebel. Sometimes Jezebel does realize this (with Ahab, with Sophira, with her children a little, etc.), but where Elijah is concerned that never happens.

*Spoilers & a Bit of a mini Summary* Before Jezebel starts to care for Ahab, she and Elijah do talk about running away together. Jezebel does it without putting much thought into it, but Elijah is being serious which is why he asks her to do it on the coronation day. And then she is cold and rejects him, saying she'll be nothing if she goes with him. Elijah after becoming the Prophet then basically slut-shames her for the rest of the book and gets everyone else to join in because he got rejected. I'm not saying either of them were right, but the way Barnard put it the biblical story is really a ex-lovers' quarrel of biblical proportions. And Jezebel doesn't understand that for the longest time, wondering why Elijah left and missing him though she starts to love her family and husband.

That's probably what I disliked about Jezebel; she wanted it both ways: Elijah on the side, but to be remembered and queen. And still be with her family and I guess Ahab once she began to like him? Though the entire time, the sides were clearly waving their banners (Yahweh vs Astarte) and Elijah had one foot in the former before Jezebel's carelessness pushed him toward it. Maybe he would've gone there anyways even if she'd been gentler (though it's not her personality), but it still proves my point that Jezebel's actions have major long-term consequences. And she doesn't seem aware of it until it's too late at Mount Carmel.

Of course Weeks did a lovely job reading. She really was the best person to do Jezebel; from haughty, to seductive to ready to lash out, she had it all. I also liked the way she voiced Sophira and Taneth.

The latter two are probably my favorite characters in the book. Sophira is the unsung hero of the book; she is Jezebel's only friend (save Taneth) from Tyre, but has been basically made from birth to do what she wants. From becoming her personal scribe to moving to Israel with her, Sophira does it all. And largely uncomplaining and rather practically. She's the voice of reason to balance Jezebel's passions and lack of observance to others' feelings; she notices what Jezebel does not. Taneth, of course, is the spiritual power of the trio being the Priestess of Astarte and the best diviner. She too was forced (kinda) to come to Israel from Tyre and probably foresaw much of the events in the book. Her wisdom and gentleness is also valuable and refreshing to hear since Jezebel can be a bit too indelicate at times.

While Jezebel can be trying, she did what she wanted to do: made a name for herself that has lasted throughout the centuries. However, I don't think she ever considered or cared about the difference between fame and infamy until it was too late. Eitherway, Weeks' reading makes this really worth listening to!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Complete and Utter Joy to Listen To

Reviewed: 10-06-24

This was my first introduction to both Gaiman and Pratchett's works. And by Someone, it was hilarious. Think of it as a cross between Monty Python's Life of Brian (or anything Monty Python but that one in particular) and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, which is how one review described it and how I felt the entire time I read it. I also watched the show afterwards and loved it too. And so when this came up in a 2 for 1 credit deal with both Tennant and Sheen from the show and a lot of others doing a full cast production, I was in immediately.

They have done nothing wrong at all with this reading whatsoever. Not only are the cast completely true to their characters in the book as they were in the Amazon Prime show, but they still make it just as funny as the book. The story is just as fun and twisty as always. I always felt like comparison to the Hitchhiker's Guide was so appropriate because I felt like up was down and left was sideways in this book and it sill made sense. If you've only seen the show, it left out things in the book that were really funny too that you don't know about unless you've read it but that are brought to life here. Like Aziraphale dealing with mobsters that are after his bookshop's land or the Greasy Johnson being the third baby in the switch at the crucial 11-year point (and being into tropical fish breeding). It's sometimes fun to guess where Gaiman was writing and where Pratchett was. If you know either of their works separately, it's kind of easy at times but not easy at others. Gaiman once remarked something like that his fans looked like they were about to commit suicide and Pratchett's looked bright and cheerful; Good Omens gave them both something to talk about. Sums it up rather well in some ways.

I love every actor's reading. From our demon and angel and the Them, to the bit pieces like the wannabe secondary Apocalypse bikers and the BBC radio people talking about fish in the garden. It's all so spot on and every word brings a smile to the face and a laugh out loud. Even the narrator sounds lovely, though it's not Frances McDormand (she's still great though). I want to listen again just for the sheer joy of it, it's that fun and entertaining.

This book got me to start reading and listening to Gaiman's other works (like Neverwhere and American Gods) and to read Pratchett's Discworld series. I really enjoyed Pratchett's books too, especially Monstrous Regiment and Maskerade. If you haven't read Good Omens yet, you won't be sorry to get this version at all.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

It's Wonderful with Multiple Readers

Reviewed: 08-22-24

This is one of my two favorite of the Anne of Green Gables books (the other being Anne of Windy Poplars), so I wanted to treat myself to as special a version as I could. And I'd listened to a reading done by multiple readers before on Youtube that I enjoyed so I hoped the experience might be repeated. I was not disappointed.

Here we have Anne and Gilbert in their first two years of married life with all the ups and downs that go with it and a new cast of characters that will come to make up the remaining adult years of the Anne books: Miss Cornelia, Leslie, Susan, and the unforgettable Captain Jim. I think some of the funniest and best stories are in this book, though Montgomery was always creative throughout the Anne series. Captain Jim and Miss Cornelia alone have plenty to say between them. Of course, there's tragedy in Leslie Moore's story and even Anne and Gilbert will not be immune but there is also much happiness in their first home.

The voicing is what hooked me: I love Anne and Gilbert's readers. They were perfect to me for their parts. Nearly everyone else was too, such as Captain Jim, Marilla, Leslie, Susan, Owen Ford (in the later half of the book), etc. I wasn't always too crazy about the narrator because she seemed a bit monotonous but I guess the main cast made up for it. And Miss Cornelia's reader could've been a bit more lively, considering she as a character is not at all complacent. But overall, it was a lovely reading.

I can't recommend this version enough. If you love the Anne of Green Gables series and are looking to listen to Book 5 in the series, get this one!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

When Ghosts are Family & Graveyard is a World

Reviewed: 08-07-24

Having read American Gods and Neverwhere, I decided to give The Graveyard Book a try after hearing a Youtuber I like mention it on her reading list. I haven't read any of Neil Gaiman's children's books and certainly I hadn't listened to anything he'd narrated. But I am glad that I chose this one.

After a sinister man kills his family, a baby is rescued by the inhabitants of a graveyard in an unnamed English town. Named Bod (short for Nobody), he's cared for by a ghostly couple and watched over by an equally mysterious guardian. The book describes his childhood as he grows and the lessons he learns from his experiences both inside and outside the graveyard. Bod makes friends with two people in particular: a living girl named Scarlett, who doesn't believe he's a person and Liza, a witch whom he tries to do a kindness for later on. But we also meet all sorts of people in the graveyard: Mother Slaughter, the Frobbishers, Gaius Pompaius, etc.

My favorite characters of the graveyard inhabitants were probably Miss Lupescu and Liza. Miss Lupescu, though she doesn't live in the graveyard, seems strict, but you can kind of see what she's trying to do with Bod before her secret is revealed later on. I do like, though, how after all is said and done she does open up more to him after those events. I wish her ending wasn't so sad though too. Liza was definitely one of the most interesting characters to me. Burned as a witch and seen as an outcast by the graveyard inhabitants, yet she also cares deeply for Bod and goes out of her way to aid him when she sees he's in trouble. I think she already loved him from the start after he was kind to her, though he couldn't return those feelings.

The hardest character for me to understand was Silas. He's mysterious for a reason. Is he living? Is he dead? Why can he do things the other inhabitants can't (like leave the graveyard or talk to the living)? He seems to understand the modern world, but it's not clear how old he is. Even by the end of the book, nothing about him is answerable. If he's some kind of supernatural creature, maybe I missed it. But I really did not understand Silas the most, though I did like him and enjoyed the way he was portrayed.

Neil did a great job reading this. If this is how he reads, I'd love to hear him do other things in addition to his work. He was good at the sinister sounding parts or characters best, but I loved hearing him read everything. Probably, he's one of those narrators that could make anything sound interesting.

And I loved the playing of Danse Macabre throughout the reading. It works because that's the "Dance Macabray" mentioned in a chapter, so you can imagine the characters dancing to it but I also just love the music because if you know the history behind it, it becomes that much cooler. The legend is that on Halloween at midnight Death appears and calls the dead to dance for him while he plays the violin. You can hear him playing when the solo violin part comes. The dead dance until dawn, when the rooster crowing (the horn blowing) signals they must return. The whole scene with the dead dancing with the living works so well with this and the song playing throughout the book that it just becomes that must better.

Since a family is killed within a few pages of the book starting, I will say this is not a book for really young listeners. If your child is over 10, they can probably handle it. But if you're an adult or a fan of Gaiman's other works (like Neverwhere) or want to listen on Halloween for atmosphere, this is a good pick!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Character Voicing Comes in Types But It's Good

Reviewed: 07-08-24

Anne of Windy Poplars is one of my two favorite of the Anne of Green Gables series (Anne's House of Dream's is the other). We see an Anne, for the first time, in a situation that's unlike the previous three books: she's alone for the most part, though the other characters we've come to know and love, like Marilla, Mrs. Lynde and especially Gilbert (whom Anne's writing to) make appearances. As a result, a whole new set of characters unique to this book appear that don't appear in any other books in the series (though I do believe Elizabeth and maybe Rebecca Dew reappear briefly in Anne of Ingleside or Rainbow Valley). But I just love Anne for how much she's grown up to this point and that this book shows throughout the story: no longer flighty, no longer spurning Gilbert, a bit more clear-eyed and mature, but still the same warm-hearted and cheerful girl we loved from the beginning.

My favorite stories that probably show these themes are the Miss Valentine graveside story, the Lewis Allen/Little Fellow one (though it's sad), the Katherine Brooke Christmas visit and of course, little Elizabeth's story, which arcs throughout the book. I also enjoy Dovie and Jarvis's elopement, mainly for Franklin Wescott's reaction. You really don't see that coming if you haven't read the book before!

The only thing that truly prevented me from being super enthusiastic about this audiobook reading was Tara Ward's voicing of the characters. The best way to put it is that she has certain "types" for character voices, but unfortunately that makes them sound the same. Hence Mrs. Lynde and Rebecca Dew are voiced in a similar manner. And later I noticed Katherine Brooke and Nora Nelson had the same thing. The same issue goes for boys. She was good at making characters sound like they were sobbing while they were talking (which there's lots of) or growly, but if some of these characters had been in the same room together, it might have been hard for Tara Ward to voice them since her types sound the same. If she'd just varied them a little more, it would have made the book that much better for me.

Despite the reader's tendency to stick to character voice types, I did enjoy this reading. To me, Windy Poplars is unique in the Anne books. It's got some flavors of the first book but is more mature. Have one more hurrah with Anne before she goes onto her House of Dreams with Gilbert!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!