Sekhmet

This is Book 7 which means that I've spent the last half year listening to Amelia Peabody. And whenever I've finished one I looked forward to the renewal of my subscription so I could get the next book. If this doesn't tell you what I think of this series, nothing else I say will.
I love Peabody (as she's affectionately called by her Emerson), the way she talks, behaves and misjudges herself and others (of course, without being aware of it). Plus. Ms. Rosenblat's reading is on the spot.

Every single absurdity about the show - the ones I remembered as well as the ones I didn't even remember - was addressed. I kept going "yes! yes!" But of course in a nice way. We love Star Trek, after all.

This book may or may not be interesting for people not familiar with / fans of Star Trek. I couldn't say.

Not sure about the Coda yet... Still mulling that over.

I sure would. Completely immersed in the story. Can't explain why - not much "interesting" happens. But the author has a sharp eye for the details of life, character and events and nothing is trivial. The title is programme: "xxx takes a cigarette break" - who would think to write a book on somebody taking a cigarette break? Even if it's a Minotaur.

There's many of them. All the moments described in detail, closely scrutinized but never boring.

Just imagining M as a dinner partner. Nah, the conversation wouldn't exactly flow. "How's the roast?" "Mmm" - "Anything interesting happen today?" "Mmm"

There were moments that didn't feel entirely "true" to me, slightly construed. Thus "only" 4 stars. But It's an excellent book nevertheless.

Well, the book is as well plotted as ever, or rather, the characters are as perfectly drawn as in the previous books.

Complex motivations drive the characters. There's no good vs. bad, simply opposing agendas and goals. Just like it is in real life.

How could it be worse? I truly liked Roy Dotrice's narration in the first 3 books. But here, suddenly the voices not only change, but all women have ridiculously crone-like voices. They all sound like the ugly old witch, even the young ones. I can hardly hear a distinction between thought and speech. Different characters talking with each other are hard to tell apart.
Plus,

Eternal politics in a medieval realm

Listening to this book as a Liza Marklund fan (never read anything by Patterson before), I was a bit disappointed by the characters. The plot is okay. But what I love about Marklund is her characters. Life is happening to them and as a part of life the case develops, not the other way round.
Here things seemed very construed - apart from the fact that I can't understand how the protagonists could fall for each other. Really.... hardly seen anything needing more suspension of disbelief.

As someone of Chinese descent I can only say: mouth-watering. I don't know that much about Chinese food - but I love eating it. And listening to this book I must say, the author understood the preeminent place Food takes in Chinese culture.
The rest of the story was pretty predictable, but okay.
Caveat: I had trouble with the pronunciation of Chinese expressions/names. It's certainly not Mandarin as I've learned it and maybe the narrator does not know Chinese at all. But I did find it a bit distracting, trying to figure out what she was saying.

I like a comedy of errors as much as anyone. I have the suspicion that "Lady Winderemere's Fan" or some other Oscar Wilde play was to be emulated (great works!). But honestly, if the stupidity of the main character is the driving factor of a story, it soon becomes very tedious.

I have only finished the first part so far, but I do profess - I'm not looking forward to the rest.

Mike Brown does an excellent job not only telling about his discoveries, but explaining the whole planetary Astronomy thingy to the layperson. His passion for planets is infectious!

You do have to have at least a vague interest in the topic, however, so it's not for everyone. Thus only four stars.

I was sceptic when I first saw this title recommended. I'm not a fan of superhero comics. (I love graphic novels however). The ever-repeating, simplistic story, the villain caught for the umpteenth time, the same mad schemes, making the same mistakes, never learning; it gets on my nerves.
And maybe that is exactly why I have so much fun listening to this book. Yes, the author takes his characters very seriously. But hearing the villain asking himself "why do I always explain my schemes?!" made this worthwhile.

I found it rather captivating how the two/three main protagonists interact. All of them deeply flawed - lying, scheming, betraying, but all of them desperately searching for something good in their life. Hoping that finally there would be an end to the pain and hurt.

Regarding other reviewers' remarks about the sexual content: yes, there was quite a bit of it - but I found it neither erotic nor sensual nor did it bother me. Mainly I took it as an expression of their desperate need for connecting and finding a way out of loneliness.

When this book was the vogue I avoided it because I'm wary of fashionable books. Am I glad I decided to listen to it after all. This certainly is one of the best books I've read/listened to in a long time.

It is not fantasy in the narrow sense, despite magic being done. There is no action and adventure in here, despite wars going on. I found it gripping and enchanting - because the characters were so realistic and believable, complex and contradictory. No heroes and heroines, just people. Clarke's achievement is weaving a reality equal to our own that is utterly convincing.