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Virginia

Cobden, Australia | Member Since 2007

204
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 61 reviews
  • 288 ratings
  • 0 titles in library
  • 10 purchased in 2013
FOLLOWING
21
FOLLOWERS
34

  • The Duke's Children

    • UNABRIDGED (21 hrs and 31 mins)
    • By Anthony Trollope
    • Narrated By Timothy West
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (78)
    Performance
    (68)
    Story
    (69)

    Plantagenet Palliser, the Duke of Omnium and former Prime Minister of England, is widowed and wracked by grief. Struggling to adapt to life without his beloved Lady Glencora, he works hard to guide and support his three adult children. Palliser soon discovers, however, that his own plans for them are very different from their desires. Sent down from university in disgrace, his two sons quickly begin to run up gambling debts.

    Virginia says: "Heaven On A Stick!"
    "Heaven On A Stick!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I am just hoping that I won't develop post-Palliser depression! Timothy West is as one with the words.... simply sublime. I so loved this series. The final sentence is one of the most brilliant in literature. Profoundly pleasurable. Thank-you.

    7 of 7 people found this review helpful
  • The Warden: Timothy West Version

    • UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 44 mins)
    • By Anthony Trollope
    • Narrated By Timothy West
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (121)
    Performance
    (69)
    Story
    (69)

    The first of Trollope's Barsetshire novels, The Warden concerns the moral dilemma of the Reverend Septimus Harding, who finds himself at the centre of a bitter conflict between defenders of Church privilege and the reformers of the mid-Victorian period.

    Joseph R says: "The Old Man & His Terrific and Single Daughter"
    "Marvellous Book"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    The book is simply beautiful and the narration is perfect. A sheer joy from start to end.
    If you like Trollope, you must read this book and the others in the series. Timothy West is the perfect reader for this work. Brilliant!

    6 of 6 people found this review helpful
  • The Casual Vacancy

    • UNABRIDGED (17 hrs and 53 mins)
    • By J. K. Rowling
    • Narrated By Tom Hollander
    Overall
    (130)
    Performance
    (116)
    Story
    (117)

    When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early 40s, the town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty facade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils.... Pagford is not what it first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen.

    Michael says: "Don't have expectations!"
    "Weepingly Poignant"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    This is the most beautiful and confronting book I have read this year. The narrator is simply perfect. The story is heart-breakingly lovely. So sad to say good-bye to these characters. I did not want the book to end. An absolutely brilliant book. Brava!!

    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Good Night, Mr. Holmes: An Irene Adler Mystery, Book 1

    • UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 15 mins)
    • By Carole Nelson Douglas
    • Narrated By Virginia Leishman, Patrick Tull
    Overall
    (17)
    Performance
    (16)
    Story
    (16)

    Behold the incomparable Irene Adler - rising opera star and amateur sleuth extraordinaire. In total defiance of the restrictions of Victorian society, this liberated American woman joyfully flaunts her many talents and even outsmarts Sherlock Holmes. Irene finds a life-long friend and chronicler for her adventures in Penelope Huxleigh, a parson’s daughter she rescues from the London streets. Leery at first, Nell’s respect grows as Irene takes on the recovery of Marie Antoinette’s missing zone of diamonds and finds herself pitted against no less an adversary than the venerable Sherlock Holmes.

    Virginia says: "Contrived and Tedious"
    "Contrived and Tedious"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Stilted and self-conscious writing. Patrick Tull is usually fantastic as a narrator but was truly awful on this one. Couldn't be bothered finishing it. Dreadful.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • Around the World in 80 Days

    • UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 51 mins)
    • By Jules Verne
    • Narrated By Patrick Tull
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (34)
    Performance
    (32)
    Story
    (33)

    When an eccentric Englishman named Phileas Fogg makes a daring wager that he can circle the globe in just eighty days, it’s the beginning of a breathlessly-paced world tour. With his devoted servant Passepartout at his side, Fogg sets off on an adventurous journey filled with amazing encounters and wild mishaps. Pursued all the way by the bumbling Detective Fix, who believes the two travelers are bank robbers on the run, Fogg and Passepartout must use every means of transportation known to 19th-century man - including a hot-air balloon, a locomotive, and an elephant - to win the bet.

    Darwin8u says: "A straightforward adventure/exploration story"
    "A Classic Not To Be Missed!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Thrilling and charming adventure. This was a sheer delight and I am at a loss as to why I have not read this book earlier. Delightful in every sense of the word. Endearing characters and pure escapism. The performance by Patrick Tull was sublime. He was perfect. The tension and excitement he created were spine-chilling at times. One of my favourite books and I have listened to it twice already. Fabulous!!!!

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes

    • UNABRIDGED (4 hrs and 39 mins)
    • By Mollie Panter-Downes
    • Narrated By Lucy Scott
    Overall
    (17)
    Performance
    (13)
    Story
    (14)

    For fifty years Mollie Panter-Downes' name was associated with The New Yorker, for which she wrote a regular 'Letter from London', book reviews and over thirty short stories; of the twenty-one in Good Evening, Mrs Craven, written between 1939 and 1944, only two had ever been reprinted - these very English stories have, until now, been unavailable to English readers.

    Jerri says: "Another Great Persephone read"
    "Domestic Perspective Wartime"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Glimpses of the time through the narrative of a non-military perspective. Somehow the era is beautifully created through these short stories. There is a humour and poignancy which I really enjoyed. Some great characters too. A light but insightful and subtle book. Nice reading style from the narrator who captured the atmosphere beautifully. For me this was an unexpectedly enjoyable book. Not a masterpiece but quite beautiful. Loved it.

    5 of 5 people found this review helpful
  • Cheerful Weather for the Wedding

    • UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 23 mins)
    • By Julia Strachey
    • Narrated By Miriam Margolyes
    Overall
    (17)
    Performance
    (9)
    Story
    (9)

    "How are your lectures going?" asked Kitty of Joseph, a kind of desperate intentness in her voice and face. This was her style of the moment with the male sex. "Very well, thank you," said Jospeh and added: "We heard about the practices of the Minoan Islanders upon reaching the age of puberty at the last one." He started snapping up his cutlet."Oh really, how terribly interesting!" said Kitty."Yes, very. Like to hear about them?" offered Joseph.

    Virginia says: "A Mosaic"
    "A Mosaic"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Amid the bustling preparations for a wedding the subtle, intertwined relationships of the party emerge. Amusing and sad misunderstandings abound. Somehow, the listener cares about the characters. This book is written in a similar real-time, day-in-the-life manner used by Virginia Woolf. I loved it. Wonderful narration. Nice inter-generational descriptions that were quite touching. Delightful, funny and picturesque.

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 48 mins)
    • By Anthony Trollope
    • Narrated By Tony Britton
    Overall
    (25)
    Performance
    (11)
    Story
    (11)

    On the death of his son, Sir Harry Hotspur had determined to give his property to his daughter Emily. She is beautiful and as strong-willed and high-principled as her father. Then she falls in love with the black-sheep of the family.

    Joseph R says: "Sometimes a Great Fall"
    "Beautiful Narration"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Tony Britton has a beautiful voice and superlative diction. I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the performance. This is an interesting book and the characters are engrossing.

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • The Prime Minister

    • UNABRIDGED (27 hrs and 11 mins)
    • By Anthony Trollope
    • Narrated By Timothy West
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (75)
    Performance
    (67)
    Story
    (65)

    Plantaganet Palliser, Prime Minister of England - a man of power and prestige, with all the breeding and inherited wealth that goes with it - is appalled at the inexorable rise of Ferdinand Lopez. An exotic impostor, seemingly from nowhere, Lopez has society at his feet, while well-connected ladies vie with each other to exert influence on his behalf - even Palliser’s own wife, Lady Glencora.

    Liz says: "Wonderful!"
    "Perfect Diction and Seamless Rhythm!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    The narration of this wonderful book by Timothy West is simply superb. Because he is so obviously absorbed in the story and the characters, the whole experience is rich and authentic. Timothy is such a consumate actor that he sweeps the listener into Trollope's world. Simply sublime! Interesting insight into the isolation of the lonely and self-doubting leader. This is a fascinating installment in this brilliant and engrossing series. Emily's resistance became a little tiresome but Trollope was probably endeavouring to protect the honour of his heroine. What a marvellous team: Timothy and Trollope! This series is pure bliss!

    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
  • Something Fresh

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 28 mins)
    • By P. G. Wodehouse
    • Narrated By Jonathan Cecil
    Overall
    (21)
    Performance
    (4)
    Story
    (4)

    The one thing that could be expected to disturb the peace of life at Blandings is the incursion of imposters. And Blandings has imposters like other houses have mice. On this occasion, there are two of them: both intent on a dangerous enterprise.

    Virginia says: "Pure Rollicking Fun"
    "Pure Rollicking Fun"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    If you want a bit of fun, this book is for you. The narrator is perfect for the story. I enjoyed this book immensely. It has all the elements that you would expect of a P.G. Wodehouse story. If you like this sort of comedy, you won't regret listening to this. Jonathan Cecil really reflects the class and era of the story's setting. Utterly charming and delightful in every way. I loved it.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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