Samyann's Blog, page 11
July 10, 2019
Good Omens by Gaiman, Pratchett
Good Omens is weird, simply put. However, if you are a fan of the quirky, albeit brilliant, brains of Neil Gaimen and Teri Pratchett you will be in heaven. But, heaven is far from what this book is about.
The story is one of the upcoming apocalypse and, the bizarre friendship between an angel and a demon, the armies of good and evil, and a misplaced antichrist. That is pretty much the plot. Goofy, huh.
Very character-driven, and primarily dialogue, Good Omens is devilishly funny – pun intended. Highly recommended for all you crazy, warped, and morbid people out there. Pretty much all of us?
No issues with either production nor narration.
Narrated by Martin Jarvis, 12.5 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released 11-10-09 by Harper Audio.
July 3, 2019
The Mueller Report
The Mueller Report-The Findings of the Special Counsel Investigation was released back in April, 2019. It’s taken me this long to get through the thing. The audiobook is nineteen hours of listening in unabridged format, narrated by Marc Vietor, Mark Boyett, and Victor Bevine. I’ve no issues with audio production, and the narration is fine. The details are peppered with “REDACTED” for a variety of reasons, making this report a bit difficult to follow. These include “personal privacy”, “investigative technique”, most redactions due to potential “harm to ongoing matter”. The narrators also jump to footnotes, subsections, etc., lots of re-wind.
There is absolutely no doubt that most of the media, political pundits, and our elected officials have not read this report, including Donald Trump. This is a historical and educational document – but, given the polarization of the United States, many will not believe a word of what is in the report, nor what is in this review. But … here goes.
The report is divided into two major sections. The first deals with Russian interference in the United States election of 2016. The findings of the report are very specific and a few stand out:
The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion.
Pretty clear tells us that the Russians are messing with American democracy and our freedom of the electoral process. Period.
… while the investigation identified numerous links between individuals with ties to the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign, the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges.
This statement is also pretty clear. No evidence is sufficient to support criminal charges.
Personally, I disagree with this finding based on the details within the report. READ IT. There are many instances of accepting, acknowledging the assistance of a foreign government, Russia, to help one candidate, Trump, and hurt another, Clinton. This is very clear. It is also very clear that the Trump organization was aware, and did nothing to discourage Russia in any way – the team welcomed Russian assistance. We all heard Trump say, “Russia if you’re listening…” This statement alone is a direct conspiracy with a foreign government by Donald Trump. The entire country heard Trump make this request. If it’s something said in the open, on live TV, it’s not a “conspiracy”? Is that what this report is telling America? Trump made repeated requests of his election team for the 30,000 emails – fact, READ THE REPORT. Do we need a taped conversation of Trump asking Putin for 30,000 emails…would that make it “conspiracy”?
I’m not a lawyer – just a plain old American that reads this report and mutters. It’s pretty clear that the Russians helped elect Donald Trump.
The second section deals with obstruction of justice.
Beginning in 2017, the President of the United States took a variety of actions towards the ongoing FBI investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and related matters that raised questions about whether he had obstructed justice.
Donald Trump is guilty of obstruction of justice, several times. It is well documented in this report, undisputed by everyone except Donald Trump.
In summary, if you’re a Trump supporter, you will not believe a word of this report and will be completely convinced that this is a conspiracy to “get Trump”.
If you are not a Trump supporter, you will believe the report and you’ll be horrified and frightened for the future of this country.
There really is no in-between.
June 29, 2019
Amos Decker Series by David Baldacci
As of this writing, the Amos Decker Series by David Baldacci consists of five novels. The Memory Man, The Last Mile, The Fix, The Fallen, and Redemption. This is a review of all five in audiobook format.
You’ll learn in Book 1, The Memory Man, that Amos was a star athlete – played for the Cleveland Browns. A severe football injury results in Amos having extraordinary memory skills – in fact, he remembers everything as if it happened moments ago. He forgets nothing. This bizarre ability thrusts Amos into the role of an investigator for the government; he’s a valued FBI investigator on a special task force. Amos solves the unsolvable.
Each of the five books will stand alone; you don’t need to read them in sequence. But, if you plan on reading all five, start with Memory Man. This story gives the background of Amos and the horrible loss of his family. Subsequent stories will be more interesting for you with a more in-depth understanding of Amos Decker. Beware Book 1, The Memory Man, has some problematic audio issues that might have been corrected by this writing.
No sex, no language issues, clean reads. Don’t hesitate to give as gifts to anyone.
Typical of Baldacci, the stories are intricate mysteries, a few near-death events for Amos and his partner, much sleuthing and guessing. Narration is well done. Orlagh Cassidy reads the female characters throughout all five novels, male characters read by Kyf Brewer except Memory Man. Ron McKlarty reads this book. Personally, I prefer the McKlarty/Cassidy pairing, but either is fine. The transition between male/female voices is very smooth throughout. Baldacci books are almost like watching movies in your head, riveting stories. 
June 21, 2019
June 20, 2019
Jane Hawk Series by Dean Koontz
Looking to get your teeth into an absorbing series? Well…
Plot. The Jane Hawk Series consists of five books based on a diabolical cabal of crazies whose objective it is to own the minds of mankind. They created an algorithm to identify those among us who are leaders that may become a threat to the objective. To get the best and brightest out of the way, they are injected with controlling nanotechnology that forces them to commit suicide. Jane Hawk is an FBI agent and her husband is an early victim. Jane has an obsessive drive to determine the truth and stop the nightmare. She soon becomes the most-wanted fugitive in the country, on the run with her five-year-old little boy. Thus is the thrust of this series.
To avoid plot confusion, start with Book 1, The Silent Corner, and read the stories in sequence. Book 2 – The Whispering Room, Book 3 – The Crooked Staircase, Book 4 – Forbidden Door, Book 5 – The Night Window. All are in the area of fifteen hours of listening, give or take, and released from 2017 – 2019, narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers.
Liked. There is that “what-if” element to ponder. What if this was possible? Yikes! There are some wonderful characters that Jane meets in her journey to the truth. Some hair-raising events that you’re certain will be the end of Jane, but she keeps moving. Page turning in sections. Squeaky clean reads, no sex, no objectionable language – just good mysteries.
Not so hot. Nothing worth mentioning.
Narration by Elisabeth Rodgers is great, male voices included. She “is” the voice of Jane Hawk!
There is one more story that includes the character of Jane Hawk, The Bone Farm. This is a short, two hours of listening. Although it is more reveal of the character of Jane Hawk, it is not relevant to enjoying the series. It’s okay, a nice story written mid-series but the events take place in an earlier timeline, early in Jane’s FBI career.
Recommended. Enjoy!
June 19, 2019
The Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon
Sidney Sheldon was one of the most prolific writers of the 30s-90s, including television (I Dream of Jeanie), film (Easter Parade), Broadway (Annie Get Your Gun) and many novels and TV mini-series based on those novels. Anything you choose to read or watch by Sidney Sheldon will be a delight. He was an amazingly talented man.
The Other Side of Midnight is actually a two-book mystery series dating way back to the early-1970s. Both books are narrated by Steven Pacey. The Other Side of Midnight is just over fourteen hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, Memories of Midnight just over nine, both released by Phoenix Books.
The Other Side of Midnight plot. A drop-dead-handsome WWII flyer, Larry, has a romantic interlude with a soon-to-be-famous-actress, drop-dead-beautiful Noel. He dumps her. Shortly, a somewhat naive and vulnerable lead character, Christine, falls for and marries the flyer. The rest of the story is based on years of Noel’s obsessive revenge.
Memories of Midnight plot. The story opens with Christine living in a convent, her memories gone. Within a few years, memories begin to float to the surface and the story continues to a satisfying conclusion.
Narration by Steven Pacey is fine, male/female voices, accents, etc., no complaints. However, bumped the Audible recording to 1.25.
Liked. Everything about the stories. There are amazing twists, surprises, good guys, bad guys, intricate and vivid details. These are page turning, sweeping stories, there are no instances of fill, suspense riddles every chapter. Contrary to other authors of this period, like Herman Wouk or James Clavell, Sidney Sheldon’s stories have less purple prose and are action-oriented, probably the results of years in the more visual mediums of television, film, Broadway. Squeaky clean reads, no explicit sex nor offensive language.
Not so hot. That there is no more Sidney Sheldon. He died in 2007.
Highly recommended mysteries. Enjoy!
June 16, 2019
The Vanishing by Wendy Webb
Plot: The Vanishing is a ghost story. A young widow, Julia, escapes a collapsing life and becomes the live-in companion of an eccentric, Amaris Sinclair, long thought to be deceased. Sinclair is a famous writer of horror novels, considered to be a modern-day Edgar Allan Poe. She lives reclusively, with the exception of a passel of servants, in a huge old mansion. Can’t say much more without spoilers.
Liked: Haunting story, spooky, mysterious. Lots of twists, startling reveals. Narration by Xe Sands is outstanding.
Not so hot: The story is laboriously slow. The ending came across in a rushed wrap-up. There are some paranormal seance scenes that are… well… a bit eye-rolling.
The Vanishing is narrated by Xe Sands, just under nine hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format, released in April 2014 by Tantor Audio.
June 14, 2019
True Blue by David Baldacci
Written about nine years ago, True Blue is a while back in Baldacci’s career, and it shows. You must stretch your imagination way beyond acceptable limits of credibility.
Plot: A female cop does two years in prison for a crime she did not commit. She believes the only way to redeem herself is to solve a crime, any crime. On the day of her release, she tags along with her sister, the chief of police, and sticks her nose in the middle of a murder that ultimately involves the FBI, White House, Russia, etc. — far fetched? Ya think?
Liked. Well, it is Baldacci. There are elements about this work that blossom in his later writing. Narration by Ron McLarty is always enjoyable. Audio production is good, music, sound effects. Typical of all Baldacci books, this is a “clean” read, i.e., no explicit sex, no objectionable language.
Not so hot. Although the beginning of this story will grab your interest, mid-way into the novel, details of the story scatter to include way too many characters and events. The book becomes a re-wind hell to figure out what is happening. That, and the characters aren’t very likable.
True Blue is narrated by Ron McLarty, about 14 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format and released in October 2009 by Hachette Audio.
Recommendations? Well, there are reviews all over the place, good and bad. If you are a die-hard Baldacci fan, you will find merits … somewhere. If not, skip this one and read Absolute Power or The Camel Club Series.
June 11, 2019
Say You’re Sorry by Melinda Leigh
Plot. The story opens with Tessa running through the woods in an effort to escape a killer/rapist. She fails and is brutally murdered. The word “Sorry” is written on her forehead. The lead main character, Morgan Dane, turns down a lucrative new job with the local DA to defend her young neighbor, accused of the crime. We’re off with a murder mystery. There is a subplot of Morgan’s budding romance with a helpful former cop turned private investigator, Lance Kruger.
Liked. Who doesn’t like a good mystery? There is that! Suspects and theories abound. Sleuth away!
Not so hot. Good mysteries actually can be written without roll-your-eyes-wet-panties idiocy. There is that, too. It’s fairly tame, albeit cartoonish. *sigh-fast-forward*
Narration by Cris Dukehart is fine, no issues.
Say You’re Sorry is written by Melinda Leigh, just under 10 hours of listening in the unabridged audiobook format. The book was released in May of 2017 by Brilliance Audio.
If you can stand a bit of gratuitous come-hither nonsense, it’s a good mystery.
June 10, 2019
The Boy by Tami Hoag
How can one resist an Audible Daily Deal of a Tami Hoag mystery? Ya can’t!
Plot: The Boy opens with a bloodied woman stumbling to the doorstep of a neighbor begging for help. The book immediately grabs your attention to determine who killed her little boy; he is brutally stabbed to death. We’re off and running with a who-done-it murder mystery. Suspects and theories abound.
Liked. Environmental detail of the deep south of the USA. Cajun dialects, a sprinkle of French, via the narration of Hillary Huber is terrific. Having lived in the world of spaghnum moss and slapped mosquitos the size of hummingbirds, I found the envelopment of the southern culture and geography palpable and well done. Desperate poverty, ‘bless your heart” snobbery, and good-old-boy ignorance traverse the pages of Hoag’s story.
Not so hot. Not much. There are a few redundancies, but not so much to spoil the story.
The Boy is just over 17 hours of listening in the unabridged audiobook format and released in December of 2018 by Brilliance Audio.
Recommended. Enjoy!
