"Absolute Delight"
I am new to this sort of chick lit. But I am addicted after Olivia Joules and then this. The premise is wildly improbable. I couldn't stop listening. Laugh out loud funny. The novel makes a corporate office delightful in its absurdity.
"For Romance Fans"
I enjoyed the Twilight series through Audible. I enjoyed Olivia Joule through Audible. This is very much that kind of enjoyment. The male vampire is described as radiating cloves and cinnamon. This is a sensual novel at its most basic without being erotic. The ideas and the allusions of history are not the real hooks. The ideas and history presented aren't accurate. This book is for listeners who find a male vampire with a scent of cloves and cinnamon alluring, irresistible. The book is as silly and as profound as that. And his home is a French castle. And he has gray eyes. But he hangs out at Oxford. Too many buttons pressed. This is for those meta-listeners, who can enjoy fantasy as fantasy, and truly accept that this is entertainment different than any history or possibility of our time stream.
"For those of us who love technology"
Narration was wonderful. The seriousness of the main character is captured with full respect. Because it is about the mind and a mind that is unsound, the earnest steadiness of the narrator's voice is admirable. I read this in the 70's. The landscape is a retro experience as well as a literary force. The story breathes technology. I found poignant listening to the story now because his celebratory trip would have had a completely different texture today, more of the unknowns would now be easily knowable. Highly recommended.
"the meaning of work"
Trollope gives direct instruction on virtuous work. In his case, he followed his bliss of novel writing while working for a steady income in government service innovating efficient mail delivery guidelines for Ireland. I am changed by Trollope's moral strength. For him, all action follows from character. The narrator is a 19th century elderly voice. The narrator was brilliant.
"immersion"
The narrator had elegant delivery which made the story luxurious and visual. The novel's ending was a bit of a let down but until the easy roll-up, it was compelling as hidden history.
"fun and silly"
This isn't as funny as kinsela or fielding but it surprised me in how good it made me feel. But I grew up admiring doris day on tv so I guess this was not a stretch . It was well done and captured the doris day joy.
"Not as advertised"
This seems to be using the historical mystery as a ruse to lure in the buyer. The story seems to be actually a hit-over-the-head message that every one in the Palestenian/Jewish conflict are people. Of course, message books are legal but that is not how the book is being sold. If you want a thriller, a mystery that is compelling, this is not the book. If you want multiple sad stories about how awful the whole history is but how every one has a legitimate right and there are no real villains, then this is for you. For me the story doesn't stick to one story line enough to be interesting and the characters are cartoons. The da vinci code can be criticized but it did have a chase. Here the chase is rarely mentioned much less happening and seems to be dressing for the author to feel good about trying to look at the conflict as filled with sympathetic individuals who all have valid points of view. The whole thing is not what expected and as a picture of the Middle East doesn't ring true. The reader does a good job except with female voices which are patronizing in their wheedling delivery so that even women sound like they are 11 years old.
"weak"
The first half was suspenseful, dramatic, full of promise. Then it was down hill with sophmoric pontifications. There were fillers of repetitive flashbacks and trippy dream sequences. The fantastic elements that motivated the story made less and less sense the more detail provided. (And I am a fan of Heinlein, Baum, Tepper, and Vinge, as well as Orwell.) The author despises celebrityhood but begins and ends the book with a theatrically disguised first person on how he has a hidden identity. The narration, however, was well done.
"Discovery of Real Freedom"
A surprising tale of profound achievement and authentic charm -- being narrated by Lawford added wonderful texture. Another side of the memoir is how it reminds me of Andrew Morton's life of Diana. Different in the sense that the Diana story was never finished with stable discovery of self, but similar in telling a frank account against a major publicity machine -- the Kennedys in this case. Bravo, Christopher Lawford.
"Vastly Victorian"
I was sick in a Mexican hotel for a week while I listened. This audio book makes that week a treasured gift. The voices of the characters living different class roles in English town and country was mesmerizing. This is a medley of perspectives on values and the nuanced relationships between people. The narration is so good it seems almost impossible.