"Thriller of the minds and relationships"
I found this novel to be original and engrossing. It's about a writer makes a chance acquaintance with another man, who is psychologically disturbed. They both have witnessed a tragic balooning acident. The disturbed man falls in love with the writer after this briefest of encounters and stalks him persistently, creating tension in the writer's marriage. The author describes the writer's research into the man's clinical disturbance and makes this almost unbelievable plot seem plausible. This book has suspense, as well as an interesting cast of characters. A good read!
"Great literature - great narration"
What more is there to say about this wonderfully evocative novel full of vivid characters and historical detail? The narration is superb, even if his rendition of the female voices falls a bit short of perfect. Nicely paced. Highly recommended. A favorite author...and now a favorite classic.
"Great literature, superb narration"
What more can be said about Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray"? Fascinating, mysterious, gripping, and witty. Simon Vance's narration captures every nuance of the language, story, and dialogue.
"Late Henry James - a challenge to read/hear"
Wings of the Dove is a very good story, and I very much liked the way the different lines of plot were woven together. However, the story is long, and with all due respect to this highly revered writer, I felt that the writing rambled a bit. Nadia May is one of my all-time favorite narrators. For this novel, though, she was mildly disappointing. Not all the voices of the characters were distinct. Two of the principal characters are American, while most of the rest are British. Ms May was not able to read the American dialogue consistently with a recognizable American accent.
"Highly suspenseful, highly recommended"
This is not the typical kind of book I listen to, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story of these two late Victorian magicians is framed within a modern story about two of their descendents. Fascinating for the period details. Fascinating for the representation of art, performance, and secrecy of magical illusion. Although I personally found the science fiction aspect of it (the latter part of the book) to be less convincing and appealing than the earlier, more realistic parts, I found the book so intriguing that I could hardly put it down. The narration by Simon Vance is a superb performance.
"Mysterious, bizarre"
A couple visits a famous tourist city (unnamed in the novel) and become victims of a deranged man's fantasies. Much of the novel is written with oblique descriptions, but there is nevertheless a sense of dark suspense that builds. I would not say this is one of McEwan's finest novels. If you're a fan, it's definitely worth the read!
"Enjoyable reading of a great classic"
I can't add more to what has already been said of this great classic early novel by Jane Austen. Times and customs certainly have changed since the early 19th century in England, but Austen's portrayal of human relationships comes through with a sharpness, wit and tenderness that can still engross the interest of a reader from the early 21st century. Nadia May's narration, as always, is faultless and brings each of the characters to life with a distinct voice.