You no longer follow Michal

You will no longer see updates from this user when they write new reviews, or suggestions based on their library or recommendations.

You can re-follow a user if you change your mind.

OK

You now follow Michal

You will receive updates from this user when they write new reviews, or suggestions based on their library or recommendations.

You can unfollow a user if you change your mind.

OK

Michal

I'm a private mortgage banker for Wells Fargo. I'm married with 5 children and 2 granddaughters. I love Audible as I spend lots car time.

Scotsdale, AZ, United States | Member Since 2009

74
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 31 reviews
  • 82 ratings
  • 263 titles in library
  • 13 purchased in 2013
FOLLOWING
0
FOLLOWERS
2

  • Painter of Silence

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 48 mins)
    • By Georgina Harding
    • Narrated By Siân Thomas
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (9)
    Performance
    (9)
    Story
    (8)

    Romania, the early 1950s. A nameless man is found on the steps of a hospital. Deaf and mute, he is unable to communicate until a young nurse called Safta brings paper and pencils with which he can draw. Slowly - painstakingly - memories appear on the page. The memories are Safta's also, for the man is Augustin, son of the cook at the manor house which was Safta's family home. Born six months apart, they grew up with a connection that bypassed words.

    Cariola says: "Very Unique Story"
    "Why does the reader whisper?"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What disappointed you about Painter of Silence?

    The reader whispers the entire book. I had my volume almost on high, and it's still difficult to understand her. It's so annoying that I almost can't concentrate on the book.


    What do you think your next listen will be?

    Not anything that's whispered by this reader.


    Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Siân Thomas?

    Anyone.


    You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

    I'm half way through this book, and I'm not sure if I'll even finish it.


    Any additional comments?

    Have it re-recorded by someone with a voice.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Painted Girls: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 15 mins)
    • By Cathy Marie Buchanan
    • Narrated By Cassandra Campbell, Julia Whelan, Danny Cambell
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (87)
    Performance
    (76)
    Story
    (73)

    Paris, 1878: Following the death of their father from overwork, the three van Goethem sisters find their lives upended. Without their father’s wages, and with what little their mother earns as a laundress disappearing down the absinthe bottle, eviction from their single boarding room seems imminent. With few options for work available for a girl, bookish 14-year-old Marie and her younger sister Charlotte are dispatched to the Paris Opera, where for a scant seven francs a week, the girls will be trained to enter its famous ballet. Their older sister, stubborn and insolent 17-year-old Antoinette, finds herself launched into the orbit of Émile Zola....

    Carole says: "Abundance of Misery"
    "Couldn't finish this book"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

    Honestly, I tried. I even went away, read another one, and came back. Finally just deleted it. the book is beyond boring, and the reader is even worse.


    What do you think your next listen will be?

    The Storyteller


    What didn’t you like about the narrators’s performance?

    Mainly, she was monotone. No variance to her voice. I'd drive along, and realize that I flat couldn't remember what she just read.


    If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Painted Girls?

    Editing, and definitely a new reader.


    Any additional comments?

    I do not recommend.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Lost Wife: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 5 mins)
    • By Alyson Richman
    • Narrated By George Guidall, Suzanne Toren
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (248)
    Performance
    (209)
    Story
    (209)

    In pre-war Prague, the dreams of two young lovers are shattered when they are separated by the Nazi invasion. Then, decades later, thousands of miles away in New York, there's an inescapable glance of recognition between two strangers. Providence is giving Lenka and Josef one more chance. From the glamorous ease of life in Prague before the Occupation, to the horrors of Nazi Europe, The Lost Wife explores the power of first love, the resilience of the human spirit, and the strength of memory.

    DIANE says: "Never read a book so fast"
    "Amazing Book"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you love best about The Lost Wife?

    I read this book after it was recommended to me after I read The Storyteller. This book is also told in past and present time. It's beautifully and sadly written. I also purchased the book for my mother stayed up all night reading it. I highly recommend it.


    What about George Guidall and Suzanne Toren ’s performance did you like?

    Both of the readers were absolutely excellent.


    Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

    I laughed, but mostly cried.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • All You Could Ask For: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 37 mins)
    • By Mike Greenberg
    • Narrated By Tavia Gilbert
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (7)
    Performance
    (7)
    Story
    (7)

    Happily married Brooke discovers her loving husband has led a separate life with…another wife. Newlywed Samantha learns of her husband's cheating heart when she finds the goods on his computer. High-powered career woman Katherine works with heartbreaker Phillip, the man who hurt her early on in her career. Brooke, Samantha, and Katherine don't know one another, but their stories are about to intertwine in ways no one could have imagined. And all three are about to discover the power of friendship to conquer adversity.

    FifthGradeTeacher says: "Great story and great performance!"
    "Not at all what I expected"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Where does All You Could Ask For rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

    This book ranks at the top of the books I've listened to. I did not originally know about the subject matter, but I got it beause of a review I saw in the Wall Street Journal. I sort of expected a Sex and the City kind of book about 3 friends. I couldn't have been more wrong. I also wasn't thrilled abou the tone of the voie of the reader at FIRST. However, as the book prgressed and the characters became more clear to me, it occured that she was perfect. She perfectly captured the personalities of the 3 different women.

    I really don't want to spoil the story because I'm afraid that if I reveal the topic some individuals might not decide to purchase this book. Please don't. It's an excellent book that should be read by anyone who has ever loved, known or cared for someone with Cancer.


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • The Aviator's Wife: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (16 hrs and 24 mins)
    • By Melanie Benjamin
    • Narrated By Lorna Raver
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (217)
    Performance
    (179)
    Story
    (183)

    For much of her life, Anne Morrow, the shy daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, has stood in the shadows of those around her, including her millionaire father and vibrant older sister, who often steals the spotlight. Then Anne, a college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. There she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charles’s assurance and fame, Anne is certain the celebrated aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong.

    Audrey says: "The Megalomaniac's Wife"
    "Amazing story!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you listen to The Aviator's Wife again? Why?

    I had very limited knowledge of Anne Lindberg. This is an excellent story. I oFten sat in my car waiting for a chapter to complete.


    What did you like best about this story?

    How it was told in past and present.


    What does Lorna Raver bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

    She was an amazing reader. I saw one reviewer who didn't like her voice. This has caused me to be cautious about some books as the reader makes or breaks a story. The magic of this reader is to remember that the story is basically being told past tense by an old woman. Once I realized this, I loved the reader.


    If you could rename The Aviator's Wife, what would you call it?

    The rest of the story!


    Any additional comments?

    This is a fantastic book. I bought 2 copies from Amazon and sent them to my mother and sister.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Blood Gospel: The Order of the Sanguines, Book 1

    • UNABRIDGED (17 hrs and 59 mins)
    • By James Rollins, Rebecca Cantrell
    • Narrated By Christian Baskous
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (159)
    Performance
    (142)
    Story
    (143)

    An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators - Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist - are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl. But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb's sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ's own hand....

    tom says: "narration"
    "I should have known better!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you try another book from James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell and/or Christian Baskous?

    I read the reviews about the reader before I purchased this, but I didn't believe them! I should have. He was horrible. He read so slow that I often found my mind had just wandered off and I couldn't even remember where I was in the story. Unfortunately, I can't even comment on the book because after listening to both Part 1 and Part 2, I decided to just quit.


    Has The Blood Gospel turned you off from other books in this genre?

    Most likely. However, not with this reader, and I'll pay attention to previous reviews before I purchase. Unfortunately, the topic fascinated me, so I guess I'll never know.


    What didn’t you like about Christian Baskous’s performance?

    Too slow.


    What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

    Major disappointment because I was really looking forward to this particular book.


    Any additional comments?

    No, looking forward to my next book and won't finish this one.

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  • Suspect

    • UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 30 mins)
    • By Robert Crais
    • Narrated By MacLeod Andrews
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1597)
    Performance
    (1418)
    Story
    (1413)

    LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well, not since a shocking nighttime assault by unidentified men killed his partner, Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty - until he meets his new partner. Maggie is not doing so well, either. The German shepherd survived three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing explosives before she lost her handler to an IED and sniper attack, and her PTSD is as bad as Scott’s. They are each other’s last chance.

    Jacqueline says: "Gripping Page Turner!!"
    "I loved Maggie!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    OMG, I loved this book. The story had me almost in tears in the first 5 minutes. The reader is excellent, and I so loved the dog.


    Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

    I would say I was concerned!


    Which scene was your favorite?

    The end! It was perfect.


    Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

    the heartbreak of Maggie made me cry. I love dogs, and the story captured a dog's personality perfectly.


    Any additional comments?

    If you love dogs, you will love this book. I did.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Round House: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 39 mins)
    • By Louise Erdrich
    • Narrated By Gary Farmer
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (478)
    Performance
    (402)
    Story
    (402)

    One Sunday in the spring of 1988, a woman living on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked. The details of the crime are slow to surface as Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and 13-year-old son, Joe. In one day, Joe's life is irrevocably transformed. He tries to heal his mother, but she will not leave her bed and slips into an abyss of solitude. Increasingly alone, Joe finds himself thrust prematurely into an adult world for which he is ill prepared.

    Patricia says: "A coming of age story in another culture"
    "Loved the narrator."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you consider the audio edition of The Round House to be better than the print version?

    Absolutely, because the reader's accent really added to the overall understanding and feeling of the book.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of The Round House?

    When the mother described what happened.


    Which character – as performed by Gary Farmer – was your favorite?

    Joe


    Who was the most memorable character of The Round House and why?

    Joe


    Any additional comments?

    Excellent book about family, love, growth. The audible version exceeded my expectations.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • The End of Your Life Book Club

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 40 mins)
    • By Will Schwalbe
    • Narrated By Jeff Harding
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (235)
    Performance
    (207)
    Story
    (209)

    >"What are you reading?" That's the question Will Schwalbe asks his mother, Mary Anne, as they sit in the waiting room of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In 2007, Mary Anne returned from a humanitarian trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan suffering from what her doctors believed was a rare type of hepatitis. Months later she was diagnosed with a form of advanced pancreatic cancer, which is almost always fatal, often in six months or less. This is the inspiring true story of a son and his mother.

    fred says: "Loved this book"
    "How lucky is he!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you love best about The End of Your Life Book Club?

    Since I am not close to my mother, I really envy those who are! This book is a tribute to the love of a son to his mother. It's absolutely beautifully written, and I kept hoping the ending would be different.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of The End of Your Life Book Club?

    Because the book really covers so many life events it's difficult to pinpoint a favorite. I just loved getting to know the mother through the eyes of her loving son.


    Have you listened to any of Jeff Harding’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

    This was my first.


    Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

    The mother's ability to so articulately describe her feelings toward death. I hope I am that graceful if ever faced with such a life event.


    Any additional comments?

    This is a fantastic book. Don't let the "death" topic discourage you. It's really a book about a fantastic life.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Back to Blood: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (20 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By Tom Wolfe
    • Narrated By Lou Diamond Phillips
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (343)
    Performance
    (273)
    Story
    (277)

    As a police launch speeds across Miami's Biscayne Bay - with officer Nestor Camacho on board - Tom Wolfe is off and running. Here is a big, panoramic story of the new America, as told by our master chronicler of the way we live now. Based on the same sort of detailed, on-scene, high-energy reporting that powered Tom Wolfe's previous best-selling novels, Back to Blood is another brilliant, spot-on, scrupulous, and often hilarious reckoning with our times.

    Cynthia says: "Masterful Story-tel!ing & Great Narration!"
    "Borning and too long!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

    I couldn't wait for this book to come out! I loved Charlotte Simmons and most of Tom Wolfe's other books. The problem with this book is that I never came to care about any of the characters. After investing almost 20 hours, I should have cared about someone! I didn't Some reviewers have objected to the sexual situations. That's odd because all of Tom Wolfe's books have sexual situations, and this book was no different. Unfortunately, I do not recommend this book. Major waste of time, and I only finished it because I bought it.


    Has Back to Blood turned you off from other books in this genre?

    Absolutely not!


    Which character – as performed by Lou Diamond Phillips – was your favorite?

    Nestor! His growth in self-confidence was mildly interesting.


    What character would you cut from Back to Blood?

    Not really sure as this was an ensemble book. Since I really didn't care about any of them, it wouldn't really matter.


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

CANCEL

Thank You

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.