Tony

This is a 5-star read categorized as science fiction. However, Audrey Niffenneger's writing is so intelligent, characters so well developed and the plot so compelling I could not put down this "genie in a bottle". It has it all, a story, characters, humor, love and the heart rending sadness that lingers for days. This is a MUST READ. I will not go see the movie (coming out in Aug. '09) as there is no way it can capture this wondrous, detailed and never dull read as we walk through the lives of two people, and those they love, trapped by something which cannot be tamed - time.

I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the 5 books of the "A Song of Fire and Ice", aka "The Game of Thrones" for us HBO buffs. The charcter and plot development is enormously richer than could ever be unfolded in a teleplay. The only issue I have I is keeping up with the enormous cast of characters and the switch in plot lines through the performance of Roy Dotrice. This had to be an enormous undertaking for Mr. Dotrice and, as an American, his English accent is, on some rare occasion difficult to understand at times. I wish I had the ability to give the narrator 4.5 stars as one star is for pure effort in changing his voice from one character to another so quickly. But this is the only reason I gave this performance a 4 out of 5 for performance. If I had the gift of voice-overs, which people like Roy Dotrice and my favorite, Will Patton, I would pass on this monumental task to bring this rich tapestry to the ear of the listener. My only concern now is, will there be a Book 6?

This was a further development of those characters which survived from book I. Ned is no longer with us, but this adds to the curiosity of "WHAT NEXT". Having established the characters, the numerous subplots are more richly developed into each story keeping this avid reader wanting more at the end. The only negative, and this is a persoanl issue, I do not like singing on an audiobook so I tend to turn down the volume on these. Otherwise, outstanding writing and narrator!!

Last year I was really thrilled to read King's "Under the Dome" as it was a return to a style which made him famous. Then, with 11-23-63, he takes it up another notch. I liked the plot, the narrator and how it all unfolded in King's sometimes over-desciptive scenes and character development. Best of the Year for sure!

Scott Brick delivers a brilliant performance in bringing to life this honest, detailed biography or one of our four greatest Founding Fathers: Washington, Hamilton, Franklin and Jefferson. This should be required reading for all American History scholars, not only for its honest, frank insight into a vain, character flawed but brilliant personality. But it also wonderfully purveys the perseverance of the UNION of the United States of America. In my opinion, he is the most underappreciated of our founding fathers for whom only George Washington garnered a true appreciation and understanding. God Bless America and God bless the sinner and absolute devotee to the Union of the United States of America, Alexander Hamilton.