Alan

Here is an audiobook that I will listen to and recommend to others because the story is timeless and the rendering in word and in voice is so fresh and clear.

It was when I began to realize just how foreign to our modern way of thinking is the whole pantheon of gods and godesses quarreling and playing tricks that formed the traditional foundation of ancient Greek life. We may view nature and the things that happen to us as the result of impersonal, physical forces or, perhaps, those forces being superintended by a benevolent, omnicient, omnipotent and omnipresent God. But o the Greeks of Homer's day, either notion would have seemed sacreligious and absurd.

Reading his own translation, Stanley Lombardo gave the characters the right pacing and inflection. Although he is not as gifted a reader as my favorite narrator, John Lee, the modern translation was so refreshing and clear that I didn't miss John's well-modulated tones. Some may feel that this translation was too 'free' compared with the cononical version, but it felt more natural to me. Susan Sarandon's voice was pleasant and her comments were helpful to visualize the structure of the chapter and to learn about the cultural aspects that are unknown to most of us. For example, Homer expects his audience to understand that women slaves washed the tired bodies of men, but that custom is as strange to us as their view of the dead in Hades. So having those brief introductions read by her was very helpful to me.

It was when Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, came back to his home and his faithful dog, Argos, dies after recognizing his master. Odysseus cannot allow anyone to realize that the dog recognized him, so he hides his tears. I am still very touched just to remember that scene representing faithulness and love.

Rumor has it that Prof. Lombardo plays the drums in the musical interludes introducing each chapter. If so, his drums and the haunting melody on a flute are a portal to move from Susan Sarandon's helpful introductions to travel back to the story. Penelope comes across as a strong hero in her own right and not some shrinking wallflower. Trying to imagine what life was like for even those at the top of society was quite a stretch.

Other biographies of C.S. Lewis (and I think that I have all of them from Audible) are told from the perspective of the scholar, but George Sayer tells the story of his friend. Because he can share personal details of Lewis' life, this biography is much more intimate. For example, Sayer deals with the matter of Lewis' relationship with Mrs. Moore. Was it based on his sense of duty to her deceased son, Patty, and to her appeal to him as a surrogate mother, or was there some 'purient' motivation that he was ashamed to admit? There is no doubt that Jack was extremely protective of the details of their relationship, but Sayer's insight helps to dispel the confusion around the subject with good, sound reason and facts. The only quibble that I have with this audiobook is that it shows EACH half as being 13 hours whereas the total of BOTH halves is approximently 13 hours. I read an earlier review that pointed out this error and so I called Audible to find out and was assured that it really is 26 hours long -- it's not. But the 13 hours that it is, is worth listening even if you are a Lewis fan like me and think you've heard it all.

This is like listening to someone read from one of those 'Page-a-Day' calendars, but without the passion. The narrator sounds like a pleasant young man who was given a reading assignment. For example, when he introduces each day's reading, he gives a brief biographical note on the author of the quotation and then -- without changing his inflection to indicate that he is now quoting the author -- he instantly transitions into the quotation itself. To say that it is distracting is an understatement. Jarring would be a better word. The quotations are mostly interesting, but the book is not meant to be read (or listened to) for more than about 5 minutes at a time -- the quotation of the day.

I haven't read the print version, but hearing the author tell this intensely person story in his own voice makes it even more impactful.

When Frank Peretti pleads with his live audience to pledge that THEY will stop bullying others.

I would have missed the passion and the hurt in his voice of growing up with a birth injury that made his face and tongue the object of ridicule by his classmates. It wouldn't have had the same impact if I just read the words on the page.

Look at me -- Look at yourself -- Now look differently at others.

Yes, I would edit it to be about 30 minutes total instead of hours. The author takes one point and beats it to death. His basic premise is that Tolkien was a pacifist who was able to realize, because of his experience during World War I ('The Great War') that no human being (or elf or valar, etc.) has a right to kill another or even to coerce another person. Having proved that to his own satisfaction, he cites passage after wearisome passage in an attempt to convince the reader of his thesis.

See above. He didn't talk about anything 'enchanting,' about Middle Earth. He just used his platform to try to prove that Tolkien wouldn't hurt a flea, ignoring all sorts of evidence to the contrary.

The narrator has a soft, baritone voice. He also speaks v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y, so I put my device on 1.25 speed and it because more tolerable. I keep listening in hopes that the author will pull it all together in the last chapter so I won't feel like I wasted all this time.

No, not with almost 90% completed. I keep hoping.

Save your money and your time unless you want to be told time and again the same thing.

Amazing - Blessing - Miraculous

Knowing that no regime on earth can keep out God's love.

The patient in the doctor's office

'CAN'T KEEP GOD OUT'

Very inspirational information that should encourage every listener with hope that the evil and hatred that has infected Iran will be overcome by the love of God.

Hearing the mellifluous voice of Jonathan Keeble with his British accent definitely added to the impression that I was about to go on an adventurous journey to the time and place that the author described.

I'd compare it to some Bill Bryson books on travel

As mentioned, his accent contributed to the authenticity of the story.

You see the sights and hear the sounds, but be thankful that you don't smell the aromas.

For anyone who enjoys reading about the Middle Ages, it is a great companion to such books as Sir Gwain and the Green Knight and Chaucer's Tales because it helps put such stories into their proper context. Otherwise it's easy to transport such works into our contemporary society and be shocked by customs that were common then.

Absolutely - by developing the characters so what happened to them mattered and then setting their action in scenes that might have been taken from the nightly news as it was being read. Fast paced action.

The lead character, David.

Of course, but other thing like eating and sleeping kept getting in the way. Did I mention work too?

Superb narration. This was my first book read by Christopher Lane, and he was able to provide a realistic palate of voices and accents that all sounded genuine and appropriate to the characters.

In the process of learning 101 words, you actually learn hundreds more because they are used along with the featured word.

None that I tried

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Life during the days of Joshua and the Israelites who conquered Caanan was miserable, brutal and short for both conqueror and conquered. But it still seems terrible to think of wiping out all the inhabitants of the land so that they could live in their towns and settlements. The Media Group that does The Bible Experience has done another great recording with voices and background sounds and music to heighten the experience. The only thing that would make it seem more real is to feel the heat and smell the aromas of that place.

I would compare it to Exodus because of the battle scenes and seeing how God is working through this band of followers who are threatened with annihilation every time they win a battle.

The narrators provide a sense of reality and excitement.

I listen to audiobooks as I drive to and from work every day, so listening to it all in one sitting is not ever going to happen, but I appreciate the fact that they do not give chapter announcements. That would be very distracting and make it seem more like a book than a story.