Pasi

I've been waiting for a new E. Lynn Harris novel as an audiobook for a long time, and now that I've listened to it I can say that it was well worth the wait. Harris has moved on from the characters of his earlier books to new ones, and that's okay. Sure "I Say a Little Prayer" is written in the same style that his other books are, but well, I see that as a good thing. There's just something about his novels that make my heart feel warm with their romanticism and, yes, with their gay values that don't apologize for being what they are. Inside the fast pace of his storylines and not-too-deep characters there's still something very profound about all of us, something very humane, and in the, very positive.

Sure these novels are not for everyone, but I happen to love them. I just wish they'd all be unabridged versions here at Audible and not these abridged ones...

This was the first book I've listened (or read) from Tess Gerritsen, and I rather liked it. The suspense was good, the developing mystery was fine, the characters were pretty likable (although I met them first time here, and they've been in Gerritsen's books before), BUT in the end of the book things just happened too fast. I had a feeling that was this really it, since it felt like the nice build-up was rushed to fast ending that took away something from the experience.

But anyway overall the book was quite good, and Lorelei King did a great job as a narrator. I think she managed to nicely convey the world Gerritsen had created. And I like her voice.

I'd give this book 3.5 stars but because I can only give full stars I give it a four. I must add that I have a bad habit of starting to listen to an audiobook and then taking a loooong time finishing it (I'm talking months and years here). If I finish an audiobook in less than a couple of weeks there's something special (to me) in that book and in the production. This book took maybe a week to listen to, so maybe that tells something of its entertaining value.

I've been listening to this recording a few times during the last few days and so far I can tell that I will continue to do so in the future also, since it works pretty well.

First of all Glenn Harrold has a great voice to guide the hypnosis session: it's deep and commanding and supporting enough to let you "believe" him to be there for you. Secondly, the pacing of the exercise just seems right and it made, at least me, really fall deep into a state of relaxation, and then in the end to rise back to the full consciousness. I have to say, though, that I've been doing relaxation by my own before, so I presume that I've had a bit of exercise on this part already, but actually I think that although this recording doesn't guide one into a deep relaxation by going through every limb one by one (like I've learned to do before) one can still get very relaxed by listening to it, and even more so by continuing to keep listening to it.

So I can full-heartedly recommend this recording to anyone wanting to find more motivation and energy to their lives. I've been using it to get more energy to go through one tough work project I'm on at the moment, and it has helped me alot. I've been doing it lying down on the bed and listening to either Part 1 or Part 2 and when I get up after the exercise I feel ready for some action! I give this recording 5 stars easily.

Although I can't really say that The Traveler is something completely new and astonishing it anyway is remarkable in the way it manages to combine contemporary popular fiction, thriller and science-fiction with the traces of zen-like state of pureness of Eastern religions. And as everyone can guess from that sentence I can't really clearly spell out my impressions about this novel. But I must say that those impressions are very positive. This novel is extremely entertaining and enjoyable, and I was sad when it ended.

John Twelve Hawks' writing style was criticised in some of the earlier reviews here, and I must disagree with those reviewers, since I think that Hawks has managed to create a suspenseful novel with a wonderful idea that developed during the book nicely with characters which were very much alive, albeit staying a bit caricaturish. Certainly the book is not exactly the next Nobel price winner, since it anyway is quite light due to the the writing style, but then again I found the mixture of different ideas and beliefs to be quite intelligent and thought-provoking. And it must be said that although The Traveler, which I find to be more of the popular culture-side of the literature, might seem to deal with serious issues lightly there's still such a strong and dark undercurrent present here that makes it clear that the author means business, and he truly delivers.

The reader Scott Brick is a professional, of course, but personally I've grown quite tired of his mannerisms that rarely change between the books. There's a sort of smugness in his voice that has really started to get on my nerves, and actually I almost didn't purchase this novel because of him, but in the end I think he did his job quite well here and I wouldn't mind listening him read out the further installments of the trilogy.

I give this novel 5 stars because it was very well made and it has something so many novels lack: a good heart in search of the truth.

I haven't read or listened to the earlier Sheva-book by Greg Bear (Darwin's Radio), so bear that in mind when reading my review.

Although raising interesting questions about genetic development of the human species this book was extremely annoying in its righteous atmosphere and in its portrayal of the characters with such one sided empathy that seemed at times pathetic. The characters were surprisingly one dimensional and although one might assume that the main characters were supposed to be touching to the listener, they left, at least me, pretty much cold. I felt like the writer tried to force the idea of human evolvement with these Sheva Children to be right, without leaving room for any other thoughts. I felt underestimated by the writer for not giving me the option for wider speculation.

I'm not too sure whether Scott Brick was the right choice to voice this book. I really do like him, and sometimes even buy a book here because he is the reader, but in this production his usually quite rich voice acting felt rather melodramatic and carried with it mainly the tired and tiring message of how sad is it that the Sheva Children are treated so badly. Throughout the book Brick used his voice to sound like it's almost breaking of emotion, which might of course be good if the action in the book would justify that, but he used this effect ALL THE TIME with the main characters, and made them sound like such a sorrowful bunch, which actually made me hate them.

I'm sure that many people find this book to be very interesting and thought provoking. It's too bad that the rather splendid idea is, in my opinion, carried out so poorly and flatly. But to the book's credit I have to say that in a good science fiction fashion it raised interesting questions, and anyway kept me entertained. Although I expected more from Greg Bear and Scott Brick.

This audiobook was such a pleasant surprise: the book in itself was very well written with good action, well thought, believable and touching characters and pacing that keeps the reader/listener interested all the time. The reader was well chosen for the job and he made the book alive with a professional voice that had the warmth and dramatic depth to carry the listener throughout the book.

Being used to listening to the Audible audiobooks narrated with an American accent I was a bit worried at first that the British accent might be a distraction, but I soon found out that those fears were unfounded. Since I feel that 5 stars is meant only for an extremely special book & narration I'd give this book 4.5 stars in its genre, but since half points are not accepted in the rating system here I have to give only 4 stars. Anyway, Class A entertainment: enjoy!

This (audio)book continues the stories of the characters formerly known from Harris's earlier books with the same solid quality the earlier books were written. Harris's books might not be the cornerstones of the Western literature but they sure do make this guy from Finland yearn for more. I guess the most important aspect that touches me is the compassion and gentleness in the way the characters are presented, and by doing that Harris succeeds to bring them close to the reader's/listener's heart. I always feel good when listening to his books because somehow I know that in the end everything's going to turn out all right after all. And in today's world optimism can only be a good thing, although undoubtedly some would disagree.

Keep up the good work, E. Lynn, people like you are needed!

BTW, the earlier reviewer said in his/her review that the audiobook left him/her hanging and that the book seemed to end abruptly, and that was really the case since Audible made a mistake by omitting the last 2,5 hours from the end of the book; an error that has since been corrected. Thanks for Audible for noticifation of the matter to the customers who had bought this book.