S. Perreten

OK but not great

Reviewed: 10-03-16

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

Maybe

What about Adam Sims’s performance did you like?

He does great accents. His style doesn't distract from the narrative.

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

No

Any additional comments?

It's a good enough listen for the gym. YOu kind of have to suspend credibility as there are many implausible moments. The excellent reader brought it up to pretty good.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

OK but not great

Reviewed: 09-15-16

Would you recommend Before the Fall to your friends? Why or why not?

Implausible plot with too many inconsistencies.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

Any additional comments?

Really, it's a rather silly book. Better research was needed - for instance, Block Island is not 1 mile from Montauk. Not nearly. The idea was clever, but clever wears thin quickly. Well read, but not over the top fabulous. Various plot-line techniques were too obvious, so it seemed like a writing class exercise. Too often there were long descriptions which added nothing. Characters were quite well drawn - that was the big plus.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Fascinating

Reviewed: 04-12-16

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dispatches from the Edge?

Katrina

What three words best describe Anderson Cooper’s performance?

flat, clear, dull

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

There are too many to list

Any additional comments?

This is a fascinating little book, but the surprise is that such a superb newscaster is such a flat reader. He would be better served by a different reader. Especially compelling is his section on Katrina. This is something that every American should read, or listen to. We must make sure it never happens again that a disaster is so incredibly bungled.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Interesting history

Reviewed: 02-10-16

Any additional comments?

The reading is very amateurish, but the history and story are fascinating and make it worth suffering through the performance....though, I would caution the author not to use the word 'penchant' so often you start to wait for it. It is inexcusable to mispronounce a President's name and the reader should learn how Delano is pronounced correctly. In short, it is not great reading, and the writing is sometimes clumsy, but the story told is a valuable one.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

A riveting read

Reviewed: 01-24-14

Who was your favorite character and why?

The author

Any additional comments?

It is totally annoying that you want us to can a review to your templates. If we are going to write a review we don't need you pushing us into pigeonholes that may, or may not, suit the book, or what we have to say. These questions assume your readers have middle school mentalities, single digit IQs and can't think.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Faithful Place

Reviewed: 12-15-13

Would you try another book from Tana French and/or Tim Gerard Reynolds?

I don't know why I could never get interested in the characters. The performance is wonderful, the dialogue is realistic. Perhaps it's because the personalities are dreary in the extreme. I found my mind wandering while I listened and I never became curious about who the murderer was.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Perhaps. It would need a great Director and cinematographer to breathe life into it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

I have to differ

Reviewed: 04-09-12

Would you consider the audio edition of Steve Jobs to be better than the print version?

No, probably worse by a lot.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jobs...The book is about his life.

How could the performance have been better?

Clumsy rendition with tone and emphasis that began to seem condescending and snotty.

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

no

Any additional comments?

I am surprised by the extremely unflattering picture painted of Jobs - which was exaggerated by the reading. I would have thought there would be a lot of criticism of this aspect of a really fascinating story. Perhaps if I had read the book rather than listening to it I would have had a different opinion. You could almost think Bill Gates had hired the narrator.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Disappointing

Reviewed: 11-21-10

Totally implausible. You can only suspend so much credulity....then it becomes either silly or boring, or both.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Beautifully read

Reviewed: 06-05-08

This is a highly entertaining listen and the reader does a terrific job. It's a good, old fashioned story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Reading disappoints

Reviewed: 06-23-06

This is a fascinating book, read so badly it would be better to buy the print edition - which would have the advantage of maps.

The reading is done with a persistent inflection that becomes tedious to the point of stupefying. Nautical terms are mispronounced, which is really irritating. For example: Lead-line is pronounced as 'leed'. Leeward is pronounced as lee-ward rather than lew-'ard.

This is the first time a reading has spoiled an Audible book for me in almost 2 years. I really regret wasting money on it, though the book itself is superb.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful