John P. DERMODY

Fave author, non-fave book

Reviewed: 11-27-21

I'm writing this review before returning the Audible version of it. Mario Vargas Llosa has written novels I would read twice, but I just can't finish this one. Such chaos in the delivery. So many character names thrown at you at once, many without substance or clear impact on the storyline. Yes, the book begins well with an intriguing prologue about amoral characters and a first chapter with deep human interest about the birth of one of the main characters, but after that the story is a literal drone of thinly connected or non-connected occurrences around nightmarish political intrigue and battles. If there is a positive outcome for me it's that we must protect our democratic institutions and the integrity of large businesses that have integrity. Otherwise, watch your children get enveloped in the hopelessness of chaos and war.

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3 people found this helpful

Sutton was flawed genius

Reviewed: 11-12-17

I enjoy all of Moehringer’s books. Sutton was no exception, except the audible narrator’s take on the photographer character—one of the likeliest people I would punch in a bar fight. I think some of the actions of the losers that Sutton himself hung out with were superior to the junkie-like babble of the photographer. Using the same lines, I think another narrator would have revealed a more sympathetic character. Despite that, this story nails the best and worst traits of manhood—as do nearly all of the author’s books, fiction and non-fiction. Without giving the story away, I have to say that Moses forgot to engrave another commandment that should have been Thou Shalt Have Empathy. Without empathy, some of us men not only come off as cruel, but we ourselves may be unaware of the enormous damage we incur upon our loved ones. Worse, in our own minds, we believe we are loving and empathetic as our family and friends wither and die around us. Also not to give anything away, it’s public record that Sutton was an escape artist from prisons. I have never understood how so many criminals who have managed to escape from concrete and steel fortifications almost always plan poorly to outsmart the law once they get out. It makes all of humans appear stupid. In any case, put this book on your wish list soon.

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Prize-worthy to the last sentence and word.

Reviewed: 11-12-17

A friend in a writing group recommended The Sympathizer. I am an unapologetic draft evader from the Vietnam War era and am grateful for Viet Thanh Nguyen’s masterpiece. I read this while binge-watching the ten episodes of The Vietnam War on PBS. And to hear this gut-wrenching story from our opponent’s side satisfied so many desires. I could not have wished for a better ending from my own world view and experience. I’m 72 years old, so I do have some perspective, though this oeuvre has helped me realize how unimportant I am. The writer got a genius award among many others and deserves it — his command of the English language and American culture is hardly surpassed in the history of American literature. If you choose to read this book, prepare yourself for raw truth—Tourettes of truth. Better yet, listen to the audible version narrated by Francois Chad—a genius himself with tongue and tone. In any case, prepare yourself for a re-examination of your own life and one of the greatest attacks on the conscience since Dostoevsky.

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Prize-worthy to the last sentence and word.

Reviewed: 11-12-17

A friend in a writing group recommended The Sympathizer. I am an unapologetic draft evader from the Vietnam War era and am grateful for Viet Thanh Nguyen’s masterpiece. I read this while binge-watching the ten episodes of The Vietnam War on PBS. And to hear this gut-wrenching story from our opponent’s side satisfied so many desires. I could not have wished for a better ending from my own world view and experience. I’m 72 years old, so I do have some perspective, though this oeuvre has helped me realize how unimportant I am. The writer got a genius award among many others and deserves it — his command of the English language and American culture is hardly surpassed in the history of American literature. If you choose to read this book, prepare yourself for raw truth—Tourettes of truth. Better yet, listen to the audible version narrated by Francois Chad—a genius himself with tongue and tone. In any case, prepare yourself for a re-examination of your own life and one of the greatest attacks on the conscience since Dostoevsky.

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Even the history lessons rivet

Reviewed: 04-10-16

Berenson's name should be spoken with the same reverence as Grisham and Rowling. Add his audio narrator George Guidell's name as well. Trust me. Please. Listen. Read.

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A visit to hell

Reviewed: 10-17-15

What disappointed you about Love in the Time of Cholera?

The writing style goes nowhere today. Imagine a work with unending quantities of passive verbs, impersonal descriptors, and narrative that tells more than shows.

Has Love in the Time of Cholera turned you off from other books in this genre?

Apparently all aspects of society were barriers to real human connection. Who would want to know any of these people? Who could possibly love any of these people? Imagine committing all seven deadly sins in a society with hardly any role models of the seven virtues.

What about Armando Durán’s performance did you like?

Armando Duran has the voice a thousand angels. I will look for other work of his.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Reviewers of this book believe the subject is love when nothing could be further from the truth. It's really about human inability to care for one another, selfishness, corruption, the potential emptiness of wealth, cruelty, insensitivity, hautiness, misplaced pride, illusion, and delusion. If you believe in a god, especially one who inflicts plagues on hordes his/her deserving creatures, than this could be the book for you.

Any additional comments?

I need to wash my hands.

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1 person found this helpful

Messy

Reviewed: 07-21-15

Mr Metzler once said he liked creating characters that were far smarter than he is. Good God, most of my friends are smarter than his characters, truthfully. I listened to the audiobook, normally a best read of any good book. The narrator had the voice of Hannibal, making the hero as creepy as the villains. All characters became conniving, if not evil at some point. Add the confusion of unnecessarily frequent side plots and weird rationale for imposing roadblocks to the protagonist's quest -- well, the novel was messy. I hate to be negative or to give negative reviews. I feel rotten inside, even though I told you how I really feel.

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Soulful to your bones

Reviewed: 06-02-15

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

If you have ever worked or lived within the Catholic or Anglican seminary systems, you will soar with delight for the memories this story triggers. PD James continues to shine as mistress of mystery, character, and setting.

The narrator Charles Keating deserves an Audie for the audio performance -- deliciously centering, calming, entrancing.

Read it. Listen to it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Death in Holy Orders?

The moment was the entire narration by Mr Keating. A voice of God.

Have you listened to any of Charles Keating’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The very first, but not the last.

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

Old Church, New Church -- Who Wins?

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Sociopath

Reviewed: 05-21-15

Reader excellent voice and voices from other characters. Story line very good. Research into sociopaths is very disturbingly scary. Wish there was evidence of cases with successful outcome. What a fantastic story in the first person.

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Such a hot topic with zero empathy

Reviewed: 11-30-14

Would you try another book from Brian Donovan and/or Ax Norman?

Over a thousand reviews of this book - and why? Internet dating is huge today, so this book looked just as hot. But no. Donovan rates women like cattle at an auction and himself - deservedly - as shallow and unworthy of women everywhere. I felt more empahy choosing a masseuse through a window in Bangkok than this guy could even begin to feel. Does he represent a norm for his generation? I hope not.

Would you ever listen to anything by Brian Donovan again?

Donovan must be a sociopath with a budding flair for comedy. Why would anyone read a second book? It's hard to say unless, like me, they recognize that the guy says stuff the rest of us are afraid to say, so.....

Would you be willing to try another one of Ax Norman’s performances?

Az Norman was the perfect choice to reflect the geeky, shalow author. He sounded like a late-twenties-something frat boy with enough residual autism to be nearly totally blind to the souls and values of fellow humans. Imagine a young Mitt Romney reading such a book.Some of the writing was truly funny, but would have been better "timed" through the use of a reader with a successful comedian's credentials.

Do you think Not a Match needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Actually yes. Donovan might atone for Not a Match with a book revealing greater depth -- on so many levels.

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