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Dottie B.

Dotdumdum

Washington DC | Member Since 2006

69
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 41 reviews
  • 76 ratings
  • 240 titles in library
  • 9 purchased in 2013
FOLLOWING
5
FOLLOWERS
5

  • The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Number 13

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 29 mins)
    • By Alexander McCall Smith
    • Narrated By Lisette Lecat
    Overall
    (421)
    Performance
    (356)
    Story
    (354)

    Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series has become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the appeal of endearing protagonist Precious Ramotswe and the author’s charmingly quirky prose. In this 13th installment, Mma Ramotswe’s attention is focused on a pesky disciplinary problem at her adopted daughter’s school - while Grace Makutsi adjusts to wedded bliss and the famed Clovis Andersen arrives in Botswana looking for more than bush tea.

    Rugbysmom says: "This series + this narrater = great entertainment"
    "I think this is the best of the whole series"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I really loved this book. It's hard to put my finger on why I enjoyed this even more than some of the others in the series, but I did. If you love this series, I think you will be really happy with this one. This one is much more memorable than some of the others which I can hardly remember. I won't forget this one!
    I recommend whole heartedly!

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • Broken Harbor: Dublin Murder Squad, Book 4

    • UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 59 mins)
    • By Tana French
    • Narrated By Stephen Hogan
    Overall
    (1486)
    Performance
    (1258)
    Story
    (1231)

    In Broken Harbor, all but one member of the Spain family lies dead, and it’s up to Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy to find out why. Mick must piece together why their house is full of cameras pointed at holes in the walls and how a nighttime intruder bypassed all the locks. Meanwhile, the town of Broken Harbor holds something else for Mick: disturbing memories of a childhood summer gone terribly wrong.

    Miller says: "Best in the Series"
    "Quite pleased with this book."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I listened to this author's book, Into the Woods, and felt very disappointed. At the time, I was bummed that I had already bought Broken Harbor. After reading the reviews for this book, I thought I would go ahead and give it a try. I am not disappointed that I listened to this one.
    There was very little over-writing, and the suspense built at a consistent, steady pace, I absolutely wanted to know how the book would end, and and who committed the crimes.
    I definitely recommend listening to this book, even if you, like me, ended up not enjoying Into the Woods.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Human Remains

    • UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 13 mins)
    • By Elizabeth Haynes
    • Narrated By Karen Cass
    Overall
    (54)
    Performance
    (45)
    Story
    (44)

    Highly intelligent but socially inept, Colin spends his free time collecting academic qualifications and searching for ways to meet women, until he stumbles upon a new technique that proves both potent and deadly. Police analyst Annabel is shocked when she discovers a decomposing body in the house next door and realises that no one, including herself, noticed her neighbour's absence. At work she finds data showing that such cases are frighteningly common in her own town and sets out to investigate, convinced she is on trail of a killer.

    Lisa says: "Disturbingly Sad"
    "A bit far fetched, and another passive protagonist"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I enjoyed this author's first book, Into the Darkest Corner, and thought I would give this book a try. This book just did not cut it for me. The plot was far-fetched and the main character was too passive for my taste.
    The narrator was perfectly good at reading this book. But If you are grossed out by icky biological happenings, don't listen to this book. And if you are someone who needs the plot to be mostly believable, don't bother listening to this book either.
    Without giving spoilers, the book involves many decomposing bodies, and two main unappealing characters whose heads we have to be in for the entirety of the book.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Anansi Boys

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 8 mins)
    • By Neil Gaiman
    • Narrated By Lenny Henry
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (3116)
    Performance
    (1019)
    Story
    (1027)

    Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Times best seller American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaiman offers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny, a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment of the author as "a treasure house of story, and we are lucky to have him."

    A. Hawley says: "Beautifully narrated"
    "Really fun book...BRILLIANT reader!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I really enjoyed this book. Just a good, fun, clever book like most of Gaiman's books.
    What I absolutely loved was the reader! He was utterly brilliant narrating this book. I just keep hoping I will find him narrating more books. He really did the characters perfectly.
    Seriously, listen to this book for the book itself and for the narrating brilliance of
    Lenny Henry.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Book Thief

    • UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 56 mins)
    • By Markus Zusak
    • Narrated By Allan Corduner
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (2597)
    Performance
    (1232)
    Story
    (1232)

    It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books.

    Sandra says: "Will steal you!"
    "Two months later I still hear this book in my head"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    There's a reason most reviewers are giving this book such high ratings. This book was so beautifully written, and so wonderfully narrated, it certainly ranks as one of my top five audio books. This book makes me marvel at the talent that some people have for writing.

    I did not want to stop listening to this book for one minute. When it was over I cried simply because it was over. I could go on and on about every wonderful aspect of this book. But in the end, I need only say that this is one to listen to and one to remember.

    When I think of Liesel saying the word "Papa"' I still feel a flood of emotions.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • In the Woods

    • UNABRIDGED (20 hrs and 23 mins)
    • By Tana French
    • Narrated By Steven Crossley
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (3582)
    Performance
    (1736)
    Story
    (1732)

    As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children, unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

    Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a 12-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery.

    Lesley says: "Detection with a Difference"
    "Very mixed feelings (semi-spoilers included)"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    First, the narration was very good. I would listen to him again.

    Second, the first half of the book was also very good even with the overwritten parts. I wanted to know very much what happened in both crimes. I also liked the main characters, and I loved the relationship between the main characters.

    Third, the second half of the book really changed my pleasure in listening to the book. The anger and animosity coming from our main character, Rob, was so incongruous with how he had been I was thrown. A very large part of the book that I had been enjoying was the friendship between Cassie and Rob, and once that was taken away, I did not enjoy the book as much.

    Fourth, so much of the book was unnecessary and irrelevant that I found myself drifting for long moments (especially during the second half of the book).

    Fifth, the conclusion was ridiculous and unresolved and frustrating.

    It was almost like two people wrote this book.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Dark Places: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 43 mins)
    • By Gillian Flynn
    • Narrated By Rebecca Lowman, Cassandra Campbell, Mark Deakins, and others
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1873)
    Performance
    (1329)
    Story
    (1331)

    Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in "The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas". As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived, and famously testified that her 15-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who've long forgotten her.

    Glenda Jeffers says: "Riveting but brutal"
    "Very interesting read and great listen"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Dark Places was a very interesting and entertaining book. Not entertaining in the sense that there is much (if any) joviality, but because I really enjoyed the unravelling of the story. I did not think the ending was predictable at all, and that is often hard to achieve when you are a mystery writer.
    The readers all did a good job with the characters (especially the mom).
    I think that Flynn's books are all a bit too wordy, but the wordiness did not detract from wanting to know "who did it". Sometimes when a book is too wordy, e.g. Game of Thrones, I drift off and have to rewind when I can tell I've missed something important. I did very little drifting because I knew that almost all the details were going to be relevant to the conclusion of the story.

    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Sharp Objects

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 29 mins)
    • By Gillian Flynn
    • Narrated By Ann Marie Lee
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1498)
    Performance
    (946)
    Story
    (945)

    Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker's troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psychiatric hospital, Camille's first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

    Kelley says: "I agree with Stephen King"
    "The passivity kills me!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I have read and listened to several of Gillian Flynn's books. I have enjoyed them a good bit, up unto this one. The main character is so passive, and makes such irritating choices, that I found myself annoyed during this read.
    The story line was just not as tight and as compelling as Flynn's other books. I believe that too much of the book was unrealistic...just not a believable plot.
    Some may say that it is realistic, and quite imaginable. But when I think about the choices the main character makes, my first reaction is "no way"..."no way would this happen like this"..."no way would I just take this like she does.."
    All of the main characters are quite unlikeable, and obnoxious. If you're in a bad mood, don't listen to this book.
    The reader does a good job, and has a very nice voice.

    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Nor All Your Tears

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 44 mins)
    • By Keith McCarthy
    • Narrated By Seán Barrett
    Overall
    (8)
    Performance
    (7)
    Story
    (7)

    July, 1977. Lance’s eccentric father, the retired Dr Benjamin Elliott, has been running a Horticultural Club at local Bensham Manor School, a good deed he decided to take on to impress Ada Clarke, the head dinner lady at the school. One summer’s evening, Lance and his girlfriend Max turn up for the school’s parents evening to show their support of the elder Dr Elliott’s efforts.

    Dottie B. says: "Where was the suspense?"
    "Where was the suspense?"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I have listened to many of Keith McCarthy's Eisenmenger books and enjoyed them. However, I was disappointed that Nor All Your Tears was essentially a rehash of the Eisenmenger stories (or maybe the Eisenmenger books are rehashes of the Elliot Lance books). So that was the number one disappointment.
    The number two disappointment was that there was no real suspense at all. I was never excitedly waiting to hear what happened, because it was being rather dully revealed throughout. It was a very surface book - nothing deep nor nothing real. Like a "cookie cutter" book in a way.
    The last thing that disappointed me was not explaining the real deal about Max and her petulance. That was so unrealistic to me, and so unsatisfying that I basically thought "whatever" at the end.
    I always feel guilty about giving negative reviews because I like to support authors and their efforts. I have liked his novels before, but this one gets a thumbs down.
    The narrator was as ever very good.

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • The Magdalena Curse

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 47 mins)
    • By F. G. Cottam
    • Narrated By David Rintoul
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (4)
    Performance
    (4)
    Story
    (4)

    It only takes a couple of visits to convince Dr Elizabeth Bancroft that Adam Hunter is not just having bad dreams. He's a child possessed.His father is desperate: adamant that his son's affliction is the result of a curse he incurred in the depths of the Amazon, where a badly misguided military operation ended in a terrifying and macabre encounter.

    Dottie B. says: "Good narration of a kind of silly book"
    "Good narration of a kind of silly book"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    The plot is so unbelievable and the book is so overwritten that I wasn't sure I could finish it. I did finish cause I wanted to know what happened, but it was overall a head-shaking book that I really couldn't recommend.
    The narration was good.
    If you love books about curses, witches, and superstition, then you might be able to overlook this book's main flaw which is its plot.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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