Mary

As a reader of English history, mystery fiction, and a fan of Derek Jacobi, I thoroughly enjoyed this reading of a mystery classic. My sister, a mystery fan, was familiar with this book, but I had never read it. I'm glad I waited for the audio version. Jacobi brings just the right narrative emphasis to this classic story by a respected novelist that provides a reasoned theory as to the REAL identity of the murderer of the young English princes in the Tower of London. Overall, I found it listenable, entertaining, and satisfying!

I first read my now well-worn paperback copy of Dune in middle school and became a lifetime Frank Herbert fan. I've seen the movie and mini-series adaptations as well. This first book in his now classic series is still my favorite, and I found this multi-reader adaptation satisfying. While there were places in the narrative that I might have wished were interpreted differently, overall the characters were presented as individuals, the cultures of Caladan, Geidi Prime, and Arrakis were explicated, the rivalry between the Atriedes and the Harkonnens was developed, and the climax on Arrakis was appropriately intense. If you like Frank Herbert and love "Dune," I think you will enjoy this audio book.

When I began my Audible subscription, on of my goals was to listen to more poetry. As an English major, I read my share of classic English and American poetry, but did not read a great deal of any particular author's works. Walt Whitman seemed to me an author with a "modern" voice, and I looked forward to listening to this download. The narrator, however, was very disappointing. His tone and interpretation seemed NOT TO VARY at all from selection to selection. After about an hour, I couldn't listen anymore. Overall, it seemed a very disappointing selection.

I became a Jane Austen fan rather late in my reading life, and soon became a little frustrated because her short life as an author left me wanting to hear more from her. A number of authors have tried to continue the stories of her novels, as in this case, that of "Pride and Prejudice." I have sampled several of these authors in print, but found this audio book by Pamela Aidan to be one of the more gratifying exercises in the genre. Told from Mr. Darcy's point of view, the narrative is rather lengthy, and continues in two subsequent books. I found the narrator's interpretation pleasing however, and the leisurely pace of the storytelling gave significance to the author's views on the reason that Mr. Darcy befriended Mr. Bingley, his upbringing and family at Pemberley, his REAL attitude toward Miss Bingley, and his relationship with his sister Georgiana. Of course, the heart of the story is his gradual realization of the personality, character, and familial relationships of Miss Elizabeth Bennett. This series is not for the listener who is faint-of-heart. However, if you enjoy Jane Austen and her world, I recommend this audio book and the others in the series.

This was the first Tolkien story that I read, and I was captivated by it, long before I read the complete Lord of the Rings trilogy. This audio dramatization has become a classic in its own right, and I enjoy listening to it frequently. As a dramatization, I prefer it to a full-length audio presentation of the original. "The Hobbit," either in book or this audio format, is my favorite way to suggest an introduction to Tolkien to people who are unfamiliar with his work, or who say they don't like fantasy. This dramatization catches the spirit of the original and I highly recommend it.