Samyann's Blog, page 17
March 14, 2018
All the Little Children – by Jo Furniss
This is a UK location, author, and narration. Usually, this Yank would take a pass on the audiobook because of reader accent and the King’s English. The car has a ‘bonnet’. Uh, huh. ‘Mericans put bonnets on babies. I think a ‘trolley’ at the super market is a grocery cart. Not sure, though. Anyway, the Audible summary for All the Little Children got me. A young mother, Marlene, on the cusp of a divorce, decides to take her kids camping. Her sister and more kids go along. They all head for the woods with tents, coolers, sleeping bags.
The first evidence that something isn’t right is when Marlene drives by a bunch of cows in distress because they haven’t been milked – serious distress. Next, she see buzzards, next she goes into town – and there are dead bodies. There is a cell signal, but nobody answers – anywhere. Only static on the radio. The world as we know it is over – an apocalypse tale.
The apocalypse flies out of the author’s head occasionally, like when Marlene’s kid is lost for several chapters, her sister’s son is fatally burned in an accident, other tragedies. The story ends up in the air, lots of open issues – a sequel to come? The UK is quarantined, ergo this doesn’t affect the entire world – I think – it isn’t clear. After the first few hours of excitement, the story peters to a very anticlimactic cliff hanger. Not so much that I’ll hold my breath for the sequel, though. I suppose if you’re okay with the codicils above, it’s listenable – but ‘meh’.
Written by Jo Furniss, narrated by Fiona Hardingham, released in September of 2017 by Brilliance Audio.
March 12, 2018
The Key Trilogy – by Nora Roberts
This review addresses a series, The Key Trilogy, by Nora Roberts. Book 1 Key of Life, Book 2 Key of Valor, Book 3 Key of Knowledge.
A Nora Roberts novel is usually a simple boy-meets-girl-romance with a story sprinkled throughout. Out of the box a tiny bit, The Key Trilogy is fantasy, i.e., witches and Celtic gods type Sci-Fi. A character even walks through a mirror as in Alice In Wonderland. But, Roberts does stick to her formula of chic-lit with the typical mawkish romance scenes *roll-eyes-hit-fast-forward* and an intriguing mystery.
All the characters are drop-dead-gorgeous, and much of the story is will-he-won’t-she romance. Two of the Celtic gods are personified by a handsome couple that own a mansion in a pretty town. They invite three women, complete strangers to each other, to complete a mysterious task (hint: involves keys, duh), ergo three books, one for each.
Anyway, if you like Nora Roberts, saccharine love scenes that do not fade-to-black, a bit of mystery, paranormal/SciFi, these will do.
Brilliance Audio, 2008, narration by Susan Ericksen (same reader as the In Death series) is great as usual. Each book is about 10 hours of listening.
Chic-lit fans enjoy!
February 19, 2018
The Island of Dr. Moreau – by H. G. Wells
The basics of the story are pretty well known. Moreau is a ‘mad scientist’ who experiments with animals on a remote island.
From Wikipedia: Vivisection (from Latin vivus, meaning ‘alive’, and sectio, meaning ‘cutting’) is surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure. The word is, more broadly, used as a pejorative catch-all term for experimentation on live animals by organizations opposed to animal experimentation but rarely used by practicing scientists. Human vivisection has been perpetrated as a form of torture.
Wells explains to the reader through the character of Dr. Moreau why this is so important in his research. Fundamentally, the study of pain and fear. Realizing this story is SciFi and written written a long time ago, I still want to scream WTF! Dr. Moreau takes vivisection a bit further in that the animals develop the ability to speak , they have human characteristics, and can be educated. The protagonist, Prendick, is rescued following a sea disaster and winds up on the island. This is his story, told from his perspective.
Personally, I didn’t care for this gruesome tale, cringing often – too much of an animal lover, I guess. Read this SciFi novel for one reason – just to say ‘Yep, I’ve read The Island Of Dr. Moreau’. No other reason. Now I can state with confidence, ‘Some pretty sick stuff in that book.’ I’m sure Stephen King, Koontz, and other SciFi authors have studied H. G. Wells a great deal and this classic is held in high esteem. Not by me.
Recommended for SciFi fans who are okay with the abuse of animals.
Narrated by Simon Prebble, a short audiobook – only 5.5 hours long in unabridged format. The Island of Dr. Moreau was written in 1896. This narration published by Recorded Books and released in July of 2011.
February 16, 2018
The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts
The Perfect Horse is a true story. During WWII the Lipizzaner stallions of Austria were rescued by George S. Patton and placed under the protection of the American Army. This is their story through the retirement of some war horses and their riders and handlers through the mid 2000s. You’ll read about the animals subjected to allied bombing, slaughter, the heroism of Alois Podhajsky, director of the famed Spanish Riding School of Vienna, a former Olympic equestrian Bronze medalist. He was cheated out of Gold by a judge scratching out and lowering his score at the Berlin games of 1936. Two Germans won Gold and Silver, no surprise there.
Go to YouTube for viewing of the Lipizzaner moves, i.e., airs above the ground, dancing in place, and some fancy words that remind you of ballet moves. There are some good videos that will give much more depth to your understanding of this beautiful horse and the book itself.
The fundamentals are on the dry side, but factual. The Perfect Horse is a history book with a few hair-raising instances during the heat of WWII. Very educational. For example, the horses are not mistreated, and never have been. Their amazing moves are accomplished with loving hands and horse whispering. Learned that George S. Patton was an Olympian (he did not medal) – had no idea. The German obsession with creating the “perfect” Arian race was mirrored by one German individual who wanted to created the “perfect” German war horse, using the same horrible methods. Alois Podhajsky protected his animals from this fate with the help of others who resisted.
No issues with narration. In that I do not speak German, I can’t comment on pronunciation of some German names/words. All sounded fine to me.
The Perfect Horse is narrated Paul Boehmer, about 13 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format. Release in August of 2016 by Random House Audio.
If you have any interest in the true history of the Lipizzaner stallion, highly recommended.
February 13, 2018
The Dead Room by Robert Ellis
The Dead Room has been around since 2012, published by Robert Ellis himself, audiobook released in 2015 and narrated by Jim McCance.
About narration. Jim McCance has little creative inflection – if any. His voice is monotone, and to me, a difficult go through the entire story. You may like, but listen to the sample before you purchase.
Briefly, a talented artist, albeit a bit slow in everything else, is accused of brutal, grisly murders. If you’re into a feel good story, skip this. If you’re into grisly murder scenes, behavior and discoveries that might well make you nauseous – go for it. I did finish, but it was a chore and I fast forwarded through some particularly disgusting scenes. Ellis ties up everything, but there are so many little asides that serve no purpose in the basic plot. Some brutal editing, i.e., toss about a third, and it would be a much better book.
I’ll provide no spoilers, but found the ending a disappointment. The Dead Room is by no means a happy story – dark, brooding, disturbing = so much so credibility is lost.
February 11, 2018
The Verdict by Nick Stone
The Verdict is very British, so not sure American readers will enjoy as much as our friends across the pond.
Narration is, as expected, by a British reader. Suggest you listen to the sample first – some may find this narration annoying. Personally, I didn’t care for the reading – you may find it just peachy. Get used to the word clerk sounding like clark, started pronounced stahted, etc. I just kept thinking of Eliza Doolittle.
I’m a bit puzzled by some of the reviews. I just don’t think the book is that good. A very convoluted story – especially nearing the end, difficult to follow. Many little asides of no importance. There are a bunch of reviews, so you’ll have no trouble finding a synopsis. But, briefly: A wealthy man is on trial for the murder of a woman found dead in his hotel room. The main protagonist is his childhood pal, now a law firm clerk. In my opinion the clerk is a loser, jealous of success, a whiner – childish. The Verdict is a cross between a police investigation procedural and a court room drama. Grisham-British style, but a lot more difficult to follow. I couldn’t find a character to like.
The audiobook version of The Verdict is long, over twenty-one hours, which I like. Narrated by David Thorpe, published by Blackstone Audio, released in 2015.
Can’t recommend. The Verdict is not my cup ‘o tea.
January 1, 2018
Birth and Death Rates
World Birth and Death Rates
Birth Rate
Death Rate
• 19 births/1,000 population
• 8 deaths/1,000 population
• 131.4 million births per year
• 55.3 million people die each year
• 360,000 births per day
• 151,600 people die each day
• 15,000 births each hour
• 6,316 people die each hour
Lots of interesting data: Source
November 8, 2017
The Finest Hours by Michael Touglas – Audiobook
The Finest Hours is presented in a journalistic fashion. A very matter of fact documentation of a United States Coast Guard rescue of two tanker ships broken up in a violent storm. Pretty much sans emotion on the part of the narrator, Malcolm Hillgartner, the story requires reader imagination to visualize the hair-raising circumstances only hinted at in the writing.
The cover is the most dramatic of images, but the text doesn’t bring such dire events to life. There must have been some chilling, breathtaking moments – terror beyond belief, right? But … not here.
The book was made into a movie. Big loss for the studio. Wikipedia.
November 7, 2017
Origin by Dan Brown – Audiobook Review
Briefly, a protege of Robert Langdon, Edmund, is preparing to make an announcement regarding the existence, or lack, of God – and the proof. Langdon is in the audience at the request of Edmund, and we’re off and running when the guy is murdered before the big reveal. What was Edmund about to announce? Thus is the thrust. Langdon is accompanied by the beautiful future queen of Spain and the voice of “Winston”, the AI intelligent computer invented by Edmund. “Winston” is the best part of the book.
Origin isn’t up to the standards of the previous Robert Langdon stories, in my opinion. Pages and pages of build-up to a disappointing climax. Theories abound in several discussions/lectures that might put you to sleep. The earth shattering, life altering news of “where are we going” and “where have we come from” is simply speculation that is old news to anybody with half and eye on the news. There are hundreds of Internet pages spouting the same fundamental beliefs. Ridiculously hyped. Even Robert Langdon is smarter than to buy into this silly story. Stephen Hawking has been telling us all this same stuff for years – there is nothing new here.
Narration by Paul Michael is super, as usual – no narration issues.
Written by Dan Brown, Book 5 in the Robert Langdon series. About 18 hours of listening in unabridged format and released by Random House Audio in October 2017.
November 1, 2017
The Lighthouse Keeper by Cynthia Ellingsen
Premise: A girl loses her job, returns to her hometown and purchases a lighthouse for rehab. She is taking advantage of this opportunity to clear the bad-name of her great-grandfather. He’s supposedly pilfered silver coins from a shipwreck off the shores of the lighthouse. Okay, interesting plot line, so I jumped at an Audible Daily Deal.
What I though would be an cool mystery is actually a valley-girly-randy-chic-lit-stupid-cliche-ridden-bore. A complete waste of time. Immediately upon purchasing the lighthouse, our female lead has a wet-panties reaction to the male romantic interest – he’s named ‘Kip’. Really. The continueing weak kneed girly crap is interrupted with a periodic reference to the fundamental mystery. But, not often enough for me care if she actually clears gramps bad name. Stopped listening with 6 hours to go and requested an Audible refund.
Maybe okay for a tweenaged girl, but eye-rolling nonsense for anyone else.
Narration is fine, albeit should have been a clue to this being chic lit – listen to the sample before purchasing.
Written by Cynthia Ellingsen, narrated by Kate Rudd, close to 12 hours of listening in unabridged audiobook format. Released in April, 2017 by Brilliant Audio.
