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Stephanie

Borger, TX, United States | Member Since 2009

HELPFUL VOTES

8 reviews
93 ratings
296 titles in library
8 purchased in 2013

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A Widow's Story: A Memoir

UNABRIDGED
- by Joyce Carol Oates
- Narrated by Ellen Parker
A Widow's Story: A Memoir

UNABRIDGED (14 hrs and 58 mins)

By Joyce Carol Oates

Narrated By Ellen Parker

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(97)
Performance
(60)
Story
(61)

In a work unlike anything she's written before, National Book Award-winner Joyce Carol Oates unveils a poignant, intimate memoir about the unexpected death of her husband of 46 years and its wrenching, surprising aftermath.
glamazon says: "Breathless!"
"Wonderful Narration"

Overall
Performance
Story

Where does A Widow's Story rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Possibly the best for narration -- at least in the top 3. Overall, the book itself, however, was a great disappointment. I don't think I'd have finished it had the narration not been so so good.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Disappointment

Which scene was your favorite?

1 of 1 people found this review helpful
American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)

UNABRIDGED
- by Neil Gaiman
- Narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris , Daniel Oreskes , Ron McLarty , Sarah Jones
American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)

UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 39 mins)

By Neil Gaiman

Narrated By Dennis Boutsikaris, Daniel Oreskes, Ron McLarty, and others

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(2448)
Performance
(2102)
Story
(2103)

First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic, an intellectual and artistic benchmark from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman. Now discover the mystery and magic of American Gods in this 10th anniversary edition. Newly updated and expanded with the author's preferred text, this commemorative volume is a true celebration of a modern masterpiece by the one, the only, Neil Gaiman.
Michael says: "New to Neil"
"Well Done"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes -- although there are a few spots where the voice-actors are obviously doubling (enough tripling) characters, the overall performance is very very good. I especially enjoyed Gaiman reading the Coming to America chapters himself, and Dennis Boutsikaris is one of the best narrators I've ever heard.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

They truly bring the book to life -- particularly the voice-over artists who portray Shadow and Mr Wednesday.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

UNABRIDGED
- by Julia Scheeres
- Narrated by Robin Miles
A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 53 mins)

By Julia Scheeres

Narrated By Robin Miles

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(425)
Performance
(355)
Story
(352)

In A Thousand Lives, the New York Times best-selling memoirist Julia Scheeres traces the fates of five individuals who followed Jim Jones to South America as they struggled to first build their paradise, and then survive it. Each went for different reasons - some were drawn to Jones for his progressive attitudes towards racial equality, others were dazzled by his claims to be a faith healer. But once in Guyana, Jones' drug addiction, mental decay, and sexual depredations quickly eroded the idealistic community.
Rachel says: "Unforgettable"
"So many mispronunciations :-("

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

to read, yes, but not this recorded version

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The whole story is interesting and Ms Scheeres does a good job of showing the Temple members as individual human beings, rather than "cult zombies".

How could the performance have been better?

There are so many mispronunciations -- some of the same words mispronounced in two different ways even. It was very distracting. The narrator also, at times, used a very melodramatic tone of voice which definitely wasn't required as the subject matter was so dramatic to begin with.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
1861: The Civil War Awakening

UNABRIDGED
- by Adam Goodheart
- Narrated by Jonathan Davis
1861: The Civil War Awakening

UNABRIDGED (18 hrs and 54 mins)

By Adam Goodheart

Narrated By Jonathan Davis

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(470)
Performance
(324)
Story
(321)

As the United States marks the 150th anniversary of our defining national drama, 1861 presents a gripping and original account of how the Civil War began. 1861 is an epic of courage and heroism beyond the battlefields. Early in that fateful year, a second American revolution unfolded, inspiring a new generation to reject their parents' faith in compromise and appeasement, to do the unthinkable in the name of an ideal.
James says: "Fascinating."
"Interesting"

Overall
Performance
Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

While the overall concept of the book is very interesting, the trivia became tedious at times.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Death of Ivan Ilyich

UNABRIDGED
- by Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by George Guidall
The Death of Ivan Ilyich

UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 36 mins)

By Leo Tolstoy

Narrated By George Guidall

Overall
(31)
Performance
(8)
Story
(8)

Leo Tolstoy is quite simply one of the greatest writers to ever set pen to paper. Immortalized by such epic novels as War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Tolstoy's genius was also readily apparent in his short fiction. The Death of Ivan Ilych follows the career of the unremarkable title character, who does not question his desire to live an "easy, agreeable, gay and always decorous" life, until he is lying on his death bed.
Stephanie says: "Great Listening Experience!"
"Great Listening Experience!"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you listen to The Death of Ivan Ilyich again? Why?

I've already listened to it twice. Of course, the book itself is wonderful, but Mr Guidall's narration is truly a performance. He handles the difficult Russian names with grace (and perfect pronunciation) and does a tremendous job of giving each character a distinct, recognizable voice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ivan himself -- such an interesting study of the end of a life.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Long Goodbye: A Memoir

UNABRIDGED
- by Meghan O'Rourke
- Narrated by Meghan O'Rourke
The Long Goodbye: A Memoir

UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 58 mins)

By Meghan O'Rourke

Narrated By Meghan O'Rourke

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(26)
Performance
(20)
Story
(20)

What does it mean to mourn today, in a culture that has largely set aside rituals that acknowledge grief? After her mother died of cancer at the age of 55, Meghan O'Rourke found that nothing had prepared her for the intensity of her sorrow. In the first anguished days, she began to create a record of her interior life as a mourner, trying to capture the paradox of grief - an endeavor that ultimately bloomed into a profound look at how caring for her mother during her illness changed and strengthened their bond.
glamazon says: "Really great. Loved it."
"Author Narration is Sometimes NOT a Good Idea..."

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The book, yes -- the audiobook, no. Meghan O'Rourke's narration detracts from her own writing.

How could the performance have been better?

Definitely needed a professional reader.

Did The Long Goodbye inspire you to do anything?

It made me consider looking into getting back to work as a Voice Artist.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy

UNABRIDGED
- by Ann Rule
- Narrated by Lorelei King
The Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy

UNABRIDGED (18 hrs and 31 mins)

By Ann Rule

Narrated By Lorelei King

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(101)
Performance
(87)
Story
(87)

Ann Rule was working on the biggest story of her career, tracking the trail of victims left by a brutal serial killer. Little did this future best-selling author know that the savage slayer she was hunting was the young man she counted among her closest friends. Everyone's picture of a natural winner, Ted Bundy was a bright, charming, and handsome man with a promising future as an attorney. But on January 24, 1989 Bundy was executed for the murders of three young women - and had confessed to taking the lives of at least thirty-five more women from coast to coast.
aaron says: "More Like a Police Report than a Vibrant Story!"
"Terrible Narrator Performance"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you try another book from Ann Rule and/or Lorelei King?

From Ann Rule, but never Lorelei King.

What didn???t you like about Lorelei King???s performance?

Her attempt to "sound like" various characters was very, very annoying and detracted from the story.

Was The Stranger Beside Me worth the listening time?

Yes, though there were times I didn't think I could stand the narration another moment.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The End of Normal

UNABRIDGED
- by Stephanie Madoff Mack
- Narrated by Stephanie Madoff Mack
The End of Normal

UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 40 mins)

By Stephanie Madoff Mack

Narrated By Stephanie Madoff Mack

Overall
(92)
Performance
(82)
Story
(81)

An explosive, heartbreaking memoir from the widow of Mark Madoff and daughter-in-law of Bernard Madoff, the first genuine inside story from a family member who has lived through - and survived - both the public crisis and her own deeply personal tragedy. In this candid insider account, she talks about her idyllic wedding to Mark, what it was really like to be a part of the Madoff family, the build-up to Bernard's confession, and the media frenzy that followed. It is about the loss of the fairytale life she knew and the tragic and final loss of her husband.
Naturalbohemian says: "Everything is disturbing about this book..."
"Whine Whine Whine"

Overall
Performance
Story

What disappointed you about The End of Normal?

At first I thought it might just be the author/narrator's annoying voice that ruined this story, but it's not -- it's the fact that the story is just, well, disgusting -- in so many ways -- Listening to Stephanie Madoff Mack re-enact her own whining over her wounded ego is probably the most disgusting thing of all...

What could Stephanie Madoff Mack have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

not written it

Would you be willing to try another one of Stephanie Madoff Mack???s performances?

never

You didn???t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

none

0 of 1 people found this review helpful