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CS

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  • 29
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I Loved this Book

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-01-25

Islands of Abandonment was so good that as soon as I finished it I started over and listened to the entire book again. Cal Flyn's perfect narration and voice added to the enchantment of these stories of nature after human impact. The state of nature describe in this book is sometimes alarming, sometimes beautiful, sometimes dreamlike, and always enthralling. I am grateful to Cal Flyn for the courage and risk it took to research and write such a book so that readers/listeners could experience her discoveries alongside her. I learned so much, and I hope there will be more to come. I am so glad I found this on Audible and highly recommend it.

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Didn't Love this One

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-25-25

The narrator does well, and I can see where others might really like this book. Despite enjoying the beginning, listening to this became hard to get through for me. The main character was sarcastic throughout, condescending to her small-town neighbors, and just not that nice. Every other character was given a very strong accent that made them all sound alike, and it became distracting and tiresome. The story also could have been shortened considerably. As another reviewer mentioned, it went on and on. There's not much focus on the books or the bookshop, so don't choose this one if that's what you have in mind. If you like a very, very small town setting combined with sarcastic/acerbic dialog this might be worth a try.

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Facinating and Enjoyable Listen

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-01-25

This is a course that I did not want to end. The professor was so enjoyable to listen to, and his love of archaeology was infectious. I was already familiar with almost all of the finds and archaeological stories he covered, but his take kept them fresh and interesting and always included aspects and perspectives that I had not known of before.
This was so good that I was left wanting more.

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Not Bad, Just OK

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-05-25

This had potential but I ended up retuning it without finishing. The mystery and genealogy storyline was interesting, but the characters’ banter about drinking and hot guys and dating and “hey gorgeous”dialogue seemed contrived and distracting. To me, the characters would have been more likable and relatable without that. For example, while dealing with the shock after a murder, there’s a discussion of how hot the Sherlock Holmes TV actor is. This could be fun and cutesy dialogue, but it just took me out of the story. If you’re more into a Sex and the City-type book, you’d like this better than I did.

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The Third Story is the Best

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 09-13-24

The final story by Barbara Ross is by far the best in regard to plot and believable, likeable characters. The characters in the first two stories -- particularly some of the men and children -- can be rude and difficult to like. As a whole, the book is just supposed to be a fun, Halloween-themed read. The first two stories come across as not-great campfire ghost stories; the final one seems to be a more substantial cozy mystery. (I haven't yet finished the story, but can already speak to the difference in quality).

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On the Sad Side

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-16-24

This story is well written, but if you are looking for a light cozy mystery, this isn’t it. The main character has a sad back story and the situation surrounding the crime is sordid and also sad. There’s just not much to feel optimistic about in this book. That said, if you like a gritty, realistic mystery with a tough main character (and a great cat), you may enjoy this one.

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So Enjoyable

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-09-24

This book is so much fun, and you can’t help loving the characters. Times have changed since this was written, and you have to keep this in mind as you listen, but it doesn’t take away from the story or the adventure. There is humor throughout, and it’s perfectly captured by the narrator who does an incredible job with all of the various characters,

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Feel Good Holiday Story

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-26-23

This book was a lovely trip to the past with a heartwarming story line and enjoyable characters.

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Wise Perspective

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-11-23

As always, Thomas Moore presents a wise perspective on his subject. Here he offers a wealth of things to consider for those interested in the topic of aging. Definitely worth a listen.

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So good!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-29-23

This was a beautifully narrated story spanning ages and generations. Perfect for history lovers and anyone enchanted by old houses and imagining the lives lived in them throughout the years.

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