Samyann's Blog, page 49

Line of Vision by David Ellis – Audiobook Review

Line of Vision is approximately 15 hours of listening, read by the estimable Dick Hill. This audiobook has been in my reading listing since 2009, about time I listened! Released by Brilliance Audio in early 2008, the book was originally published as a hardback in 2001 – so it’s been around a while. There are actually more ratings on Audible than reviews on Amazon, interesting. Maybe that has to do with audiobook fans searching for ‘Dick Hill’?

Dick Hill is one of those few readers that, with their talent, will take a mediocre story and create a terrific audiobook. Well, he has much more than mediocre to work with in Line of Vision.

The book is a good one, winner of the 2002 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. The story is told from the viewpoint of Marty Kalish. Marty is in the midst of an illicit affair with a married co-worker’s wife, Rachael Rhinheart. The reader immediately is convinced, as are the police, that Marty murdered Rachael’s husband. Mystery solved, right? Well, not really.

In this cat and mouse police procedural, the guilt of Marty Kalish seems to be cut and dried. But, as the story progresses, the reader is gradually made uncertain. Therein is the substance of Line of Vision. Did Marty commit this murder? Did Rachael? You’ll begin to wonder. And, at the same time, enjoy one hell of a nice murder mystery. Enjoy!

The Magnificent Truths of Our Existence by Daniel Parmeggiani – eBook Review

Easily read in one sitting, The Magnificent Truths book is just over 200 pages long. In a biographical form, Daniel Parmeggiani takes the reader through the journey of his life to an enlightenment all humans seek: happiness, a true and absolute contentment with one’s self. Beginning with a heart wrenching description of a distressing childhood, including tragic death, bullying, guilt, well-meaning albeit clueless adults, shrinks, doctors, etc., the author travels through a deep self analysis and eventual understanding of a fundamental human need: to feel good. This inner peace is what everyone wants, and as Parmeggiani explains, it’s the fundamental motivation for pretty much everything in life. Altruistic in nature or not, everyone has a subliminal self motivating impetus of feeling better about themselves. Interesting to see this in words. Enjoyable read. Recommended.

 

Cold Fire by Dean Koontz – Audiobook Review

Narrated by Michael Hanson and Carol Cowan, Cold Fire is approximately fifteen hours of listening. The original novel was published in 1991. When I first heard the stigmata issue, I rolled my eyes and thought I was in for a boring, religious diatribe. Fortunately, my initial fears were unfounded, and I kept listening simply because the story was so intriguing. Koontz is an amazing story teller, and as has been said, story trumps all.

The lead character, Jim Ironheart, has a gift; call it clairvoyance. He knows when someone is in danger, and goes to whatever measures are necessary to save lives. Early in the tale a struggling journalist, Holly Thorne, witnesses this mysterious heroism. Holly smells a story that may salvage her career, and before long, the two become lovers. However, the love affair is secondary to the fact that together they journey through the macabre (It’s Dean Koontz, after all.) details of Jim Ironheart’s past to understand his amazing powers. Great plane crash scene.

The most wonderful aspect of this story is the audio reading by Carol Cowan. Just terrific. The male voices are read by Michael Hanson, and are nice … but Carol does an incredible job with the voice and thoughts of Holly Thorne. Both readers jockey through dialogue and narrative very smoothly. An enjoyable listen, well worth the credits.

 

GREAT Amazon Review for Yesterday!

 Talented and Great Read!, September 25, 2014
This review is from: Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation (Kindle Edition)
Samyann has great ability to draw out intense emotion from the reader with this wonderful work of fiction. She weaves her talent through the chapters that switch from the character’s different lives, enhancing the experience that opens her world to you vividly. The depth of her characters, especially in their past lives, is massive and will envelope you in the many emotions. The romance was dramatic and alluring. This book has it all! The mixture of intrigue, romance, mystery, humor and drama is very well done! Your heart aches for many of the characters as you follow along with them. The clock scenes were mesmerizing, and added to the already fascinating spiritual view point throughout the story. The research and detail was just excellent. This is a story with so much happening that you’ll want to read it again and again. I enjoyed this book very much, and I certainly recommend it to all adults who enjoy reading!

- J. Z. N. McCauley, Author of A Bell Sound Everafter

Blood Vengeance Book 1 by Teresa Keefer – eBook Review

At approximately 300 pages, Blood Vengeance is the first book in a SciFi trilogy. The story is centered in New Orleans, post Katrina. The author has done a significant degree of research, as the flavor and ambiance of New Orleans is wonderfully presented, from the cemeteries through the French Quarter, and the 9th Ward. You’ll feel like you are there.

Blood Vengeance opens with the brutal abduction of Abigail and her subsequent rescue by a handsome stranger, Vincent Adcock. Vincent is a vampire, albeit a good-guy vampire. Somewhat predictably, these two fall in love. However, there are some terrific character surprises the reader will enjoy. Abigail is gifted with the ability to communicate with spirits, and her mind is not easily controlled by Vincent or the other vampires that are part of Vincent’s world.

The vampires of New Orleans hunt. They hunt bad guys. Abigail needs them to hunt on her behalf and help find her sister. Steamy sex throughout, with a handsome vampire, no less … Blood Vengeance is an enjoyable read, a bit dark, satisfying ones hunger for romance, good-guys, bad-guys, murder, voodoo, and the wondrous New Orleans. Who could ask for anything more?

The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells – Audiobook Review

If you’re looking for a book that reflects the television productions of either the late 1950s or mid 1970s, this is not the book for you. Although the fundamental basis is the same, the behavior of the lead character is not. In the television stories, our invisible man was a good guy, altruistic. This protagonist is more power conscious and although the distress resulting from an accidental experiment is understandable, his devilish behavior is evidence of a nasty human being.

Worth the credits, classic science fiction. This story was written in the late 1800s and is timeless in it’s appeal. Just over five hours of listening, nicely read by James Adams, released in 2000. Been around in audio format for quite a while. Enjoyed!

 

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank – Audiobook Review

From Wikipedia: Alas Babylon is a 1959 novel by by Pat Frank (the pen name of Harry Hart Frank). It was one of the first apocalyptic novels of the nuclear age and remains popular 55 years after it was first published, consistently ranking in Amazon.com’s Top 20 Science Fiction Short Stories. 

I purchased Alas, Babylon as a result of an Audible Daily Deal. The audible version is approximately 12 hours of listening, read by Will Patton, so I wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘short story’ . Obviously, an old classic is terrific fodder for a new audio production in that Alas, Babylon is a 2012 Audie Award Winner. Will Patton does a great job. I wish they’d do more of this with classic literature. Possibly start out with audio versions of all Pulitzer Prize winners? Advise & Consent would be awesome in audiobook format.

At any rate, this story is one of survival, loss, triumph, death, and re-birth amidst, and post nuclear war. This nuclear war lasts one single day, a day the characters refer to as simply, The Day. A small town in Florida learns to do without pretty much everything and begin living in a post The Day world. Completely cut off from the rest of civilization, the town has no idea what has happened, if or not the United States has ‘won’ the war, the global implications, and to what degree the human race will move forward. Considering when this book was written, 1959, and 2014 headlines of today, I’m sorry to say the pulse of world politics has not changed. Alas, Babylon is a vision of world-wide holocaust brought about by the nuclear age that has been a real threat since WWII. The countries involved are the same, i.e., Russia, Syria, the middle east. The only difference from today is that in 1959 there were no cell-phones. Eerie.

Well worth a listen.

Black Cross by Greg Iles – Audiobook Review

Narrated by the amazing Dick Hill, Black Cross is a long listen, over twenty hours. The story begins with the death of WWII veteran Michael McConnell, who, typical of all war veterans, has never conveyed any details of his service, neither to his wife nor his son. An old companion, aware of these secrets, seeks out McConnell’s son, and deems that some amazing heroics and history needs told or forever lost. The book is the narration of Michael McConnell’s horrific tale.

There is latitude taken by the author, as it pertains to point of view and writing technique. The story is supposed to be a documented history, as witnessed by Michael McConnell. Several scenes, most in fact, are such that McConnell cannot and doesn’t witness them, the scenes include other ancillary characters and it’s never exactly clear how McConnell could be aware of these instances. For example, conversations between Churchill and his generals while McConnell is working in a lab at Oxford. Scenes that take place between two women in a concentration camp, or between a concentration camp prisoner and an SS agent. How can these events be conveyed without ever having been witnessed by McConnell himself? Much of the story is basically hearsay.

This conundrum aside, the tale is gripping and a sad commentary of the inhumanity inflicted by humans upon each other. Greg Iles thought Black Cross was one of his best efforts … it is, albeit distressing and terribly sad. Although fiction, the basics of the atrocities inflicted by Germany are true.

Excellent narration, of course, by Dick Hill. Well worth the credits.

 

Once Upon a Western Way by Marguerite Madden – eBook Review

Imagine a world wherein it is required that you spend so many hours a day on the Internet? It’s normal, everybody does it, and doesn’t think anything is weird because computers are such an fundamental part of life. They even cook and clean for you. This is the world that begins Once Upon a Western Way. But, it is far from what the story is about.

Two young friends, Sarah and James, accidentally discover an ancient diary. The diary contains the love story of Sarah and Joseph, during a time before computers, before automobiles! They are desperately devoted, a couple swept up by circumstances that threaten their lives together. Be prepared to be surprised, I won’t give away the ending. Not a life changing story, not earth shattering … but a very pleasant read. Just under 220 pages, this is a break out novel for Marguerite Madden and is available in Kindle and paperback on Amazon.

 

And yet another Amazon review for Yesterday!

 A standout in reincarnation fiction., September 16, 2014
This review is from: Yesterday: A Novel of Reincarnation (Kindle Edition)
Although romantic fiction is not my first choice when choosing a story to read, I became thoroughly engrossed in “Yesterday”, as the author expertly took me on a journey through time, linking past lives to those of the present. Awaking memories and emotions in the characters reaching through from another time. Samyann takes us from present day Chicago to the 19th century and back again in a tale of love and loss, of tragedy and triumph.
Well written and well researched. A standout representation of the fast growing genre of Reincarnation Fiction.


Review by Russell Perry, author of The Returning, also a reincarnation novel, available on Amazon!