B. Collins
- 10
- reviews
- 2
- helpful votes
- 11
- ratings
-
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
- A Novel
- By: Mitch Albom
- Narrated by: Mitch Albom, Paul Stanley, George Guidall
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,397
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,076
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,063
Mitch Albom creates his most unforgettable fictional character - Frankie Presto, the greatest guitarist ever to walk the Earth - in this magical novel about the bands we join in life and the power of talent to change our lives. It's an epic story of the greatest guitar player ever to live and the six lives he changed with his magical blue strings.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fiction interwoven with REAL people, places,events
- By BunnyBoy on 12-02-15
- The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
- A Novel
- By: Mitch Albom
- Narrated by: Mitch Albom, Paul Stanley, George Guidall
Frankie Presto is truly magical!
Reviewed: 01-18-25
This was a book club pick and I'm excited to discuss all the obvious and subtle themes. The audiobook added the depth of alternative voices which made the story come to life. A delightful story with rich inner meaning
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
When Ghosts Come Home
- A Novel
- By: Wiley Cash
- Narrated by: JD Jackson
- Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 166
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 144
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 142
When the roar of a low-flying plane awakens him in the middle of the night, Sheriff Winston Barnes knows something strange is happening at the nearby airfield on the coast of North Carolina. But nothing can prepare him for what he finds: a large airplane has crash-landed and is now sitting sideways on the runway, and there are no signs of a pilot or cargo. When the body of a local man is discovered—shot dead and lying on the grass near the crash site—Winston begins a murder investigation that will change the course of his life.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Stick with it
- By Tennessee Wilson on 09-30-21
- When Ghosts Come Home
- A Novel
- By: Wiley Cash
- Narrated by: JD Jackson
Engaging characters. Abrupt ending.
Reviewed: 01-30-22
A well narrated book with many touching scenes, especially the scenes between father and daughter. But for me, the ending felt abrupt. It seemed like there were too many unanswered questions.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Even as We Breathe
- A Novel
- By: Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
- Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 91
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 80
Nineteen-year-old Cowney Sequoyah yearns to escape his hometown of Cherokee, North Carolina, in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. When a summer job at Asheville's luxurious Grove Park Inn and Resort brings him one step closer to escaping the hills that both cradle and suffocate him, he sees it as an opportunity. With World War II raging in Europe, the inn is the temporary home of Axis diplomats and their families, who are being held as prisoners of war. Soon, Cowney's refuge becomes a cage when the daughter of one of the residents goes missing.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Such a well written book.
- By Justice McGhee on 02-17-25
- Even as We Breathe
- A Novel
- By: Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
- Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab
A new perspective on Appalachian history
Reviewed: 08-26-21
Well written and well performed. A unique look at a point in time when cultures collided out of fear and unknowing. Seen through the eyes of a young native boy struggling to make sense of it all.
I look forward to meeting the author when she visits Sparta, NC in September!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
By Fire, By Water
- By: Mitchell James Kaplan
- Narrated by: Clinton Wade
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 23
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 20
Luis de Santngel, chancellor to the court and longtime friend of the lusty King Ferdinand, has had enough of the Spanish Inquisition. As the power of Inquisitor General Toms de Torquemada grows, so does the brutality of the Spanish church and the suspicion and paranoia it inspires. When a dear friend’s demise brings the violence close to home, Santngel is enraged and takes retribution into his own hands. But he is from a family of conversos, and his Jewish heritage makes him an easy target.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Bit hard to follow
- By Kelsi Gulig on 11-02-22
- By Fire, By Water
- By: Mitchell James Kaplan
- Narrated by: Clinton Wade
My favorite kind of historical fiction!
Reviewed: 07-04-21
More than just a story set in a historic period, this book delves deep into the character's lives as influenced by their clashing cultures and religion.
I enjoyed the story and a glimpse of that time in the world.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Down River
- A Novel
- By: John Hart
- Narrated by: Scott Sowers
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,202
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 819
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 813
Adam Chase has spent the last five years in New York City trying to erase his worst memories and the scorn and abandonment of his family. Then a phone call from his best friend awakens in him a torrent of emotion and pain. Having left North Carolina and its red soil for good, he never thought returning would be easy—but being remembered as a murderer doesn't help much. Adam is beaten, accosted, and hostilely confronted by his family, including Grace, the young woman whose abandonment torments him still.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best Audiobook Ever
- By Donald on 11-03-07
- Down River
- A Novel
- By: John Hart
- Narrated by: Scott Sowers
Totally Satisfying
Reviewed: 12-09-20
Good story with a compelling cast of characters. Keeps you guessing till the end. Love Hart's economy of dialogue. Very real.
Great narrator, too!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
The Masterpiece
- A Novel
- By: Fiona Davis
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,641
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,461
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,455
In this latest captivating novel, New York Times best-selling author Fiona Davis takes listeners into the glamorous lost art school within Grand Central Terminal, where two very different women, 50 years apart, strive to make their mark on a world set against them. For most New Yorkers, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different. For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future. It is 1928, and Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
If you want a novel that has everything...
- By Debra Jo on 09-10-18
- The Masterpiece
- A Novel
- By: Fiona Davis
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
Trifecta!
Reviewed: 12-02-20
Art, history, and a famous building. great narrator. A versatile voice that. Can be convincingly old, young, and enthic.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
- A Novel
- By: Kim Michele Richardson
- Narrated by: Katie Schorr
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 21,246
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 18,889
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 18,781
The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything - everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter. Cussy's not only a book woman, however, she's also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy's family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A LOVELY, SAD AND PROFOUND BOOK!
- By Janna Wong Healy on 08-17-19
- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
- A Novel
- By: Kim Michele Richardson
- Narrated by: Katie Schorr
Compelling story of little-known mountain history.
Reviewed: 06-19-19
Page-turning historical fiction based on extensive research. A definite must-read for readers of all ages.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Shadow Song
- By: Terry Kay
- Narrated by: Terry Kay
- Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 12
In the summer of 1955, Madison Lee "Bobo" Murphy was a waiter at the Catskills' Pine hill inn, where the eccentric Avrum Feldman became his unlikely friend. A rural Southerner on his exciting first journey north, Bobo learned from Avrum that each life is marked by one grand, undeniable moment of change that never stops mattering. It came for Bobo in his first meeting with Amy Lourie, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Abridged version makes me want to read the book!
- By B. Collins on 04-12-16
- Shadow Song
- By: Terry Kay
- Narrated by: Terry Kay
Abridged version makes me want to read the book!
Reviewed: 04-12-16
The writing was lyrical and smooth, and it's always a plus when the author narrates. It's a private performance!
The love story was touching. watching an old man live vicariously through a young couple, wanting them to have a happy ending. Eager to read every word and go deeper into the characters and story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
The Island at the Center of the World
- The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan
- By: Russell Shorto
- Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
- Length: 15 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,161
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 647
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 652
Nearly 40 years ago, a New York State Library archivist discovered 12,000 pages of extraordinary records from the original Dutch colony on Manhattan. After decades of painstaking translation, the documents became the primary source for this breathtaking history of early New York.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Wealth of Information, but Continual Repitition
- By Steven on 05-31-05
- The Island at the Center of the World
- The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan
- By: Russell Shorto
- Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
The Other Side of the Story
Reviewed: 09-25-12
Would you listen to The Island at the Center of the World again? Why?
This audiobook deserves a second listen to absorb further the great amount of information. I always knew the Dutch were great seamen and traders, but this book tells of their culture and how it translated into the lands they explored.
What other book might you compare The Island at the Center of the World to and why?
Any book that discusses the exploration of America and the first American settlements. Maybe a book like 1493 or even the book Cod.
What does L.J. Ganser bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
His pronunciation of the Dutch names added to the ease of understanding.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I listened on a long road trip. I wish I had been driving through the Hudson River Valley. It would have been even more pleasurable!
Any additional comments?
I appreciated the comparison between each country's approach toward settlement. The Dutch culture and attitudes were far different from the French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English, and it translated in the development of the new land.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Fifty Shades of Grey
- Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
- By: E. L. James
- Narrated by: Becca Battoe
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 38,073
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 32,378
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 32,986
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Holy Crap minus the Holy
- By Penny on 05-21-12
- Fifty Shades of Grey
- Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy
- By: E. L. James
- Narrated by: Becca Battoe
Really? What's the fuss about?
Reviewed: 08-30-12
Would you try another book from E. L. James and/or Becca Battoe?
Probably not.If this is "mommy porn" it's for a much, much younger mommy . . . like a twenty year old. Becca's delivery was fine. She sounded like the naive college student she was meant to play.
What could E. L. James have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
I'm all about sexual tension but it was way into Chapter 4 and the couple had yet to even kiss! All the hype about the "heat" . . . I got tired of waiting for the action to begin. Also, the main character kept asking herself questions. It became a bit tedious. And, if her roomate said, "I think he really likes you" one more time! Enough! I quit listening before Chapter 5.
What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?
The narrator did a good job of portraying the character.
What character would you cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?
Where do I start?
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!