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Diane

Winthrop, MA, United States | Member Since 2009

357
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 16 reviews
  • 83 ratings
  • 247 titles in library
  • 10 purchased in 2013
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FOLLOWERS
5

  • The Selection: The Selection Trilogy, Book 1

    • UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 7 mins)
    • By Kiera Cass
    • Narrated By Amy Rubinate
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (474)
    Performance
    (435)
    Story
    (438)

    For 35 girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth... to be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels... to live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want.

    A. C. Ballard says: "Engaging and entertaining"
    "Not bad"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you try another book from Kiera Cass and/or Amy Rubinate?

    I may read the second book in this trilogy. The story wasn't bad, but it was definately based on the Hunger Games, but instead of children fighting to the death, it's 35 women trying to win one man. I expected to hate this book but found it amusing and entertaining. The names were inane America Singer?? And she happens to he a singer??


    Would you recommend The Selection to your friends? Why or why not?

    Let me read the second one and then I will tell you.


    Did the narration match the pace of the story?

    I thought the narrator did a good job.


    Did The Selection inspire you to do anything?

    No.


    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
  • The Host: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (23 hrs and 5 mins)
    • By Stephenie Meyer
    • Narrated By Kate Reading
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (4154)
    Performance
    (1841)
    Story
    (1864)

    Earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. But Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

    Keith says: "Great story in a genre only touched upon before"
    "So good, I hated for it to end..."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    Yes, I would. I read the Twilight series and they were good, but a meant for a younger audience. I will admit that I expected a lot less than what this book delivered. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.


    What did you like best about this story?

    I liked the characters. They were very complex in many ways.


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

    I cannot say I'm a fan of her reading. I find her a little bland and monotone.


    Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

    The last part of the book was incredibly moving.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Calculated in Death: In Death Series, Book 36

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By J. D. Robb
    • Narrated By Susan Ericksen
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (816)
    Performance
    (716)
    Story
    (717)

    On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a woman lies dead at the bottom of a brownstone’s basement steps, stripped of all her valuables. Most cops might call it a mugging gone wrong, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas knows better. A well-off accountant and a beloved wife and mother, Marta Dickenson doesn’t seem the type to be on anyone’s hit list. But when Eve and her partner, Peabody, find blood inside the brownstone, she knows Marta’s murder is the work of a killer who’s trained, yet not professional or smart enough to remove all the evidence.

    Janet says: "Loved it!"
    "Put a fork in me, 'cuz I'm done"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you try another book from J. D. Robb and/or Susan Ericksen?

    I would love a new series from J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts. I think she is a great writer, but I'm not a fan of this series any longer.


    What was most disappointing about J. D. Robb’s story?

    I cannot stand Eve Dallas. I think her character is the worst example of police entitlement. No rules apply to her like comman courtesy or politeness because she's a cop! I am so tired of her back story and that's why we have to cut her some slack. I cannot stand the Eve/Roarke scenes because they feel so unbelievable and contrived. I kept reading the series because I liked all of the other characters, Peabody, Sommerset, MacNab, Mavis and Dr. Mira. Eve is just so unlikable, abrasive and arrogant. I have family members who were police lieutenants and a few were homicide and I'm embarrased by her actions and the way she talks to people. In a word, she's a bitch.


    How did the narrator detract from the book?

    The voices. All the woman have two tones, stupid and even more stupid.


    You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

    I always enjoy the scenes with Peabody, but there wasn't enough of the other characters. Too much Eve as far as I'm concerned.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Cold Days: The Dresden Files, Book 14

    • UNABRIDGED (18 hrs and 50 mins)
    • By Jim Butcher
    • Narrated By James Marsters
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (3299)
    Performance
    (3057)
    Story
    (3057)

    After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad - because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard. He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long.

    Ethan M. says: "Thwarts Every Expectation - In a Good Way"
    "Harry is back!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you love best about Cold Days?

    A living, breathing Dresden. I love how Dresden reacts to his new role as Winter Knight and the first mission he is given by Mab. I enjoyed seeing the crew, Thomas, Karen, Molly, Butters and Mouse joining in and interacting with Dresden as he takes us through the murky world of Winter and Summer.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of Cold Days?

    The reunion of Harry and Thomas. I really enjoy these two together.


    What about James Marsters’s performance did you like?

    James Marsters is Harry.


    Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

    Yes, unfortunately I could not. The only thing I hate is that it eventually had to end and I have to wait a whole year for the next installment!


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Gone Girl: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 11 mins)
    • By Gillian Flynn
    • Narrated By Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (9929)
    Performance
    (8644)
    Story
    (8629)

    It is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media - as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents - the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter - but is he really a killer?

    Teddy says: "Demented, twisted, sick and I loved it!"
    "Really not sure ..."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you try another book from Gillian Flynn and/or Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ?

    Yes, I would. I was not sure whether I liked this book or not. I did not care for the ending as most people did not. I was way ahead of the curve about Amy from what I read in many reviews, most people were stunned when they hit Part 2, I wasn't I had seen it coming. I did like the many twists and turns, but it is hard when you have two unlikeable characters as your main characters.


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

    Disliked it, but also saw it coming as there were hints about it. Perhaps because I was a fan of Lost who often dropped what looked like inconsequential bits of information that turned out to be major pieces in the final puzzle, I saw a lot of what happened coming.


    Did the narration match the pace of the story?

    Yes, I liked both narrators and felt they did a great job.


    If this book were a movie would you go see it?

    No. I would wait for the video.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Night and Day

    • UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 3 mins)
    • By Robert B. Parker
    • Narrated By James Naughton
    Overall
    (98)
    Performance
    (24)
    Story
    (24)

    Police chief Jesse Stone has received his share of unusual calls, but none can top the one from the local junior high school. When reports of lewd conduct by the school's principal, Betsy Ingersoll, filter into the station, Jesse is faced with a particularly delicate situation. Jesse, of course, would like nothing more than to see the prim, peculiar Ingersoll punished. But Betsy Ingersoll is married to the managing partner of the biggest law firm in the state, and Jay Ingersoll wants the matter buried.

    John says: "author can't remember his story lines"
    "An enjoyable book"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    Yes. I read many of Robert Parker's Spenser series years ago. I really enjoyed his style of writing and the dialogue. The only thing about the Spenser novels I disliked was the Spenser/Susan relationship. The only thing I dislike about the Jesse Stone novels, you guessed it, the Jesse/Jen relationship. Although this time, it appears that the author agees with me ... finally. I love the supporting characters of these books and how they enrich the storylines. I with there could be more, as I only recently stumbled upon this series.


    What other book might you compare Night and Day to and why?

    Some of Parker's earlier Spenser novels. I like the character of Jesse Stone. I think he is Parker at his best. H


    Have you listened to any of James Naughton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

    This is the first time I listened to James Naughton's performance and I found it enhanced the storyline, although the Bahston accents were a little overdone. I'm a lifelong Bostonian but if you met me, I don't tawk the way they do!


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Rules of Civility: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 36 mins)
    • By Amor Towles
    • Narrated By Rebecca Lowman
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1416)
    Performance
    (1109)
    Story
    (1090)

    Set in New York City in 1938, Rules of Civility tells the story of a watershed year in the life of an uncompromising 25-year-old named Katey Kontent. Armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, Katey embarks on a journey from a Wall Street secretarial pool through the upper echelons of New York society in search of a brighter future.

    Emily - Audible says: "Like a Country Pastoral for City Rats"
    "I expected not to enjoy this book..."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you listen to Rules of Civility again? Why?

    A friend who has a 2 out of 5 rating with suggestions for me, suggested this book. I was hesitant at first, but after half an hour I was hooked! A really enjoyable story. Having just read The Great Gatsby and being throughly disappointed, this is what I expected Gatsby to be. The writing was crisp, the characters wonderfully flawed and our protagonist interesting. I hope the author writes more books.


    What did you like best about this story?

    I liked the point of view of the protaganist Kate. She was very direct and not whiny or dramatic.


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

    She is a really good narrator. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance of the characters.


    If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

    What The Great Gatsby should have been...


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Great Gatsby

    • UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 44 mins)
    • By F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • Narrated By Tim Robbins
    Overall
    (1166)
    Performance
    (612)
    Story
    (613)

    The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's portrait of the Jazz Age in all its decadence and excess, is, as editor Maxwell Perkins praised it in 1924, "a wonder". It remains one of the most widely read, translated, admired, imitated, and studied 20th-century works of American fiction.

    Erin says: "Something you won't fall asleep to..."
    "Am I missing something?"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Is there anything you would change about this book?

    I have always heard what a great American Classic this book was, and I'm sorry, I just don't get it. It was a good book, but great American Literature? No thanks. If this was written today, it would hardly be classified as a classic.


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

    I thought the plot was dull, the characters were not that interesting and I never believed the love story between Gatsby and Daisy. I thought it was one sided ... his. She came off as incapable of any emotion except extreme narcissim.


    How did the narrator detract from the book?

    Tim Robbins narration was HORRIFIC! I had to keep changing the volume while I listened. I had to go back several times and turn the volume way up to hear what he was saying. He whispered all of his lines as Gatsby, it was incredibly annoying.


    Was The Great Gatsby worth the listening time?

    No.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • From the Corner of His Eye

    • UNABRIDGED (21 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By Dean Koontz
    • Narrated By Stephen Lang
    Overall
    (783)
    Performance
    (193)
    Story
    (198)

    Bartholomew Lampion is born on a day of tragedy and terror that will mark his family forever. All agree that his unusual eyes are the most beautiful they have ever seen. On this same day, a thousand miles away, a ruthless man learns that he has a mortal enemy named Bartholomew. He embarks on a relentless search to find this enemy, a search that will consume his life. And a girl is born from a brutal rape, her destiny mysteriously linked to Barty and the man who stalks him.

    Ric says: "Great Book"
    "Another great book by Dean Koontz"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you listen to From the Corner of His Eye again? Why?

    Yes, I will most definately listen to this book again. I really enjoy Stephen Lang's narration. He had narrated a few of Dean Koontz's books. I liked the characters in this book and was almost sad when it ended.


    What did you like best about this story?

    The story and the writing. Dean Koontz is one of my favorite writers. His characters are always so believable, even if they are in extraordinary situations.


    Have you listened to any of Stephen Lang’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

    Yes, Stephen Lang is one of my favorite narrators. I actually looked to see if I had missed any of his other narratives from Dean Koontz's work and I haven't.


    Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

    This book made me laugh and cry. You get so involved with the characters it really affects you.


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy

    • UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 47 mins)
    • By E. L. James
    • Narrated By Becca Battoe
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (11016)
    Performance
    (8730)
    Story
    (9335)

    When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

    Penelope Poopendorfer says: "Holy Crap minus the Holy"
    "There's hours of my life I will never get back!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you try another book from E L James and/or Becca Battoe?

    No. I am all done with this author and narrator. I understand the author wrote fanfiction. It's too bad some publisher picked her over the hundreds of others I have read. This book was not erotic, well written or even interesting. The plot was missing, these characters had no spart and I did not buy the attraction for one minute. The overuse of 'holy', 'inner goddess', 'oh my', 'hot' and 'Christain Grey" made this book more annoying than anything else. Once you sleep with a man, he loses his last name forever. When the main character spends so much time wondering why he picked her, we start to feel the same way because she comes off as boring and unreal. We are supposed to believe that she has never had a relationship by the time she is 22? She lives with the editor of the school newspaper who comes from a wealthy urban family and has remained 'naive'? EL spend some time watching American television and you will realize there is no way thsi person exists.


    Would you ever listen to anything by E L James again?

    No.


    Would you be willing to try another one of Becca Battoe’s performances?

    Absolutely NOT. She is horrible and should stand aside to let better performers obtain the job.


    If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Fifty Shades of Grey?

    The emails, and the endless talks with her subconvious and inner goddess.


    Any additional comments?

    I wish I could get my cedit back!

    345 of 369 people found this review helpful

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