Joe Talcott

Jess Walter knows how to tell a story. This 7-day adventure is a stream-of-consciousness tale about a modern, post GFC (global financial crisis) family. It is fast paced and
1. funny
2. sad
3. philosophical
4. insightful
5. funny
6. provocative
7. funny

When it comes to narration, some authors make great narrators of their own work (Bill Bryson) and some do not (Dave Berry). Jess Walter nails it. His performance is transparent, which allowed me to hear the story, not the narrator.

When the story ended, I found myself wanting to follow the main character, his family and the variety of wacky characters even further.

Having read all of the other Harry Hole novels, this first story fills in some of the mysteries that I encountered in Jo Nesbø’s later work.

This is not only a gripping crime story, it is also an Australian history lesson, travelogue and culture class. And a love story. The characters are wonderful, the dialogue insightful and pace methodical.

Let me compliment the Trinity that makes these audio books so special. First the brilliant writing of Jo Nesbø. He deserves the success he’s achieved.
Then, the the masterful translation by Don Bartlett. It is remarkable to hear the clever twists of English and wordplay that I do not suppose a literal translation from Norwegian would yield.
And finally the wonderful narration of Sean Barrett. He brings the characters to life and makes me forget that there is a narrator. I only heard the story.

This book really demonstrates "the power of two". The writing of Bryce Courtenay and the wonderful narration of Humphrey Bower.

I’m relatively new to Bryce Courtenay’s expansive storytelling. I read The Potato Factory jut a few months ago and was taken by his methodical and detailed style. The Power of One also pulled me into his world and had me connecting with his characters and reacting emotionally to the trials, tribulations and triumphs they experienced.

The Power of One left me with a single disappointment; the unfulfilling ending. In some ways it was like Peekay’s experience with Doc’s death. I felt like there was no time to say ‘good bye’. It was just suddenly over.

But I leave the book engaged with the characters, amused by Courtenay’s clever turns of phrase and enriched by the stories within the novel. And I was again captivated by Humphrey Bower and his talent for bringing Courtenay's characters to life.

In the past, when I thought about 1776 (the year, not the book) I would think of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and not much more. David McCullough’s wonderful book changed all that. 1776 methodically introduces the people, events, motivations and circumstances that made this such a momentous year.

McCullough paints a rich and expansive portrait of George Washington and allowed me to see him as a man and not just a picture that hung in my childhood schoolroom. He also provides insights into King George, his parliament, the British Generals, the American Loyalists, the fighting soldiers, the colonial life, the horrid weather and the role of luck.

This is a compelling true story. We all know the ending. But the beginning is simply captivating.

David McCullough is a superb narrator of his own work.

Jon Meecham tells the story of Thomas Jefferson in a compelling, logical and very readable manner. When I finished this book I felt as though I knew Jefferson; with all his brilliance and foibles.

This book made me smile, frown and most importantly, think.

It struck me how few things have changed in American politics. The age of the American Revolution is so often romanticised, covering over all the partisan disputes, arguments and even duels. But there they are.

Jefferson lived in such a remarkable time and had such a remarkable influence on that time . . . and the time that followed. I'm not a great reader of biographies, but this book may change that.

Mr. Hermann did a wonderful job of narration.

I never thought I would use the word “love” and “physics” in the same paragraph! Yet Walter Lewin and Warren Goldstein introduced me to the science that I had previously thought unapproachable. Clearly Professor Lewin is an outstanding teacher. If our schools were filled with teachers like Mr. Lewin, it would surely change the world.

The story is about Physics and all that it encompasses, which is everything really. And that part had me fascinated. It is also about teaching Physics and this part was just wonderful. I found myself in my garage with a tennis ball and string, attempting to duplicate the pendulum demonstration (Yes, Physics works), and in my front garden, spraying my garden hose toward the Sun to create a rainbow (Yes, red is always on the outside). Not many books motivate me to such action.

Kent Cassella does an admirable job in communicating difficult names and locations whilst still being able to convey the humour and irony in particular stories.

Overall it was a compelling read. A book of Science. Of Teaching. And a remarkable personal story of a European immigrant to America who has certainly helped us better understand the world.

Applying what I learned in this book, I would measure the uncertainty of this review to be within ± .5 stars.

I could not reach a unanimous decision on this book.

The Racketeer kept me engaged throughout, yet as I listened I found myself waiting for drama that did not eventuate. Not that there wasn't drama in this book, it just wasn't as dramatic as I expected. I enjoyed the characters and the story, but found the surprise ending a bit unrewarding.

J.D. Jackson was excellent, keeping the characters nicely separated within a predominantly first-person narrative.

"I remember those dreadful days in October 1962. And I thought I knew what went on during that standoff. But Michael Dobbs' book opened my eyes to the complexities and challenges of the Nuclear Showdown.

I especially enjoyed reading the perspective from Castro's and Krushchev's positions. When I finished the book I realised that my memory and understanding of those events where mainly shaped by the American version, which was far from complete."

Having read One Minute to Midnight, I was looking forward to Michael Dobb's approach to this momentous half year of history. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the end of WWII through the eyes of those with whom I was not very familiar, specifically Churchill and Stalin.

History always seems so much more orderly after it has been massaged by time and culture. This book demonstrates how every meeting, issue and decision was messy, complicated and difficult.

There were times when Dobb's attention to detail seemed a bit too deep, but all-in-all I found myself glued to my headphones and, in the end, wishing for the story to continue.

Bob Walter is easy to listen to and handles various names, locations and non-English words flawlessly.

First, Humphrey Bower's performance is magnificent. Men, women, children, Irish, Scottish, Australian, British and others are all executed wonderfully.

The story of the Potato Factory is a fantastic read. Full of interesting and complicated characters who experience joy and tragedy. After listening for nearly 24 hours, I found myself yearning for more. It is no wonder that Mr. Courtenay was such a successful author.