Jo Green

.I ordered this from the Neil Gaiman present's section, thinking as much as I enjoy his stories I might like one he likes himself. Not disappointed at all, except that I want more. This was a unique and fun story. I found myself listening to parts over again because of the details. I hated the way the book ended. It was kind of left up to your own imagination to figure out how things might happen, but it was ended so that there could be more story. I immediately began to look for a book 2. I thought the narration was superbly done, and will definitely look to get more from the author and the narrator both.

As I listened to these books I remembered why I don't like romance as a genre generally. The frequent sex scenes are unrealistic, the men are generally jealous and semi-barbaric, which is explained away in this series because it's part of their vampire nature. I actually thought the story line of the Brothers isn't that horrible, but the constant "What's doin?" and "You feel me?" started to drive me nuts.

The women are insecure and co-dependent, or just ignorant most of the time. I liked the story of Rhage and his curse, but the Sacred Scribe/Virgin? is a flat out witch, more like the short sited, emotional Gods of Olympus than a holy being. With her for an ally when the omega is just creating beings to fight the vampires, I can't figure out what else they're for, everyone is pretty much screwed. Life is a battle and the women were created to be docile cows, and of course the sex is frickin' life changing. Women remain virgins in this series for 300 yrs? That is of course because that is the ultimate gift.

It's a medieval society functioning in the modern day with horrible grammar and unlimited money. I finished the series and actually enjoyed some of the stories with characters I liked and disliked, but with the grammatical irritants, and the frequent disagreements between the men and women, generally because the males are possessive chauvinists, who can't see anybody else's point of view but their own, I found myself getting repetitively frustrated and/or irritated. I don't know why I keep reading series that I just "sort of" like when there are so many books I love. Every one of the relationships in the rest of the series are dysfunctional, conflict then wonderful sex. Ugh. (I guess I keep reading so I can find out what happens to everyone else, and it makes my life seem so good in comparison, free of a whiny, clingy partner.)

This first book was unique enough as a romance novel, that the romance part of it was sort of just there. I really ended up liking the characters, and it was an interesting concept for a vampire story. There are the typical "romantic" interludes, which to me began to sound the same in all of the books quite quickly, but the stories around those scenes were good enough for me to get past that. This book is about Wrath, the reluctant king of the vampires, and his friend's half-blooded daughter, who Wrath is initially reluctant to help. After Darius, the friend, is killed he feels obligated and of course has to help her, reluctant or not, and falls in love with her. The side characters have some depth to them, and I actually found myself wanting to read the rest of the series. (which I did)

I generally don't like romance novels, basically because it's a regurgitation every time of a man and a woman with horrible communication skills. They don't get along but are really attracted to each other, and by the end of the book the physical attraction, and firework sex, gets them to the point they can talk, and eventually live happily ever after. This book does have some of that, but the story itself was pretty good, and I liked the narrator. I don't recall having heard Jim Frangione before, but his performance was more than adequate. I don't know that I'd put him up there in the top 5, but he never irritated me with mispronunciations and some of the other things that some narrators do, which keeps him off of my "not going to listen to that guy again" list.

I got this book because of the excellent reviews it was receiving. I was definitely pleasantly surprised. I listened straight through except for an hour with my mother. Only because I didn't want to miss any part of the book. This was such a fun book, and the narration was spot on for entertainment value. Not over the top or monotonous. I am now a definite fan of Luke Daniels also. I laughed out loud a couple of times, usually when Atticus is talking with Oberon his dog, receiving some strange looks from my own dogs. If only.......

This is the continuation of the story of Menolly, the girl Harper. She's breaking "tradition" and irritating people to no end, really just through circumstance. Typical teenage jealousies that turn vindictive cause her numerous problems. The fact that she's a girl and the "owner" of 9 fire-lizards, in a male dominated society and in a school of jealous kids just automatically marks her as trouble. I like this story for the most part, but Menolly's subservience and eagerness to please are almost irritating, and even knowing her history of abuse and denigration at home don't make it totally acceptable. She does of course, overcome these things and all ends up well. Same problem for me with name pronunciation as before, and the narrator seems to veer a little to the melodrama for me again, but all in all this book still ranks at the top.

This is our introduction to Piemer. A young boy who's very beautiful singing voice changes. It creates numerous problems for him as a future Harper. His proclivity for troublemaking causes problems in his new Harper home in the Drum Tower. The jealousy of others to his quick mind cause him numerous problems, due to his reputation for being a little too conniving. That may have come back to bite him initially, but saves him in the long run.
As before, Sally Darling was OK as narrator. Not at all bad, but the pronunciation of the names still grated. N'ton to me is Nah-ton, she says in un-ton during these books and it just doesn't sound natural to me, both narrators pronounce Piemer as pi-mer (like primer), and to me he's always been pee-mer, like pea the vegetable, so that was an adjustment. That's just me and my opinion though (and my possible mispronunciation for over 3 decades), and it doesn't get in the way of another Anne McCaffrey classic being as wonderful as it is for the ultimate in escapism.

This book is about Menolly, a young girl who loves her music and restrained by tradition. She runs away and accidentally impresses 9 fire lizards. This is our introduction to another favorite Pern inhabitant, and how her tenacity and good luck move her towards a life of music she can live and love.

Now for the narration. I think Sally Darling was an adequate story teller, her inflections at times seemed almost melodramatic. The pronunciation of names I've heard in my head while reading for over 30 years was different and for some reason irritated me. They weren't even the same as the narrator for the first 3 books of the series. All in all though, it wasn't enough to actually rate this very low. The story is part of a series that will forever be my favorite. (though George RR Martin has come very close I have to admit) The characters are unforgettable and will forever be a part of my memories, unlike the hundreds of books I've read and forgotten.

I loved this book, by book three I was so involved with the characters the story was so great. Jaxom and his little dragon Ruth are the main characters, but the story intertwined with so many of my other long time favorite characters, it just kept me engaged from start to finish. This book is about how this Lord Holder adapts to having a not quite traditional dragon. Jaxom's best friend is Felessan, the son of F'lar and Lessa who are the dragonriders I fell in love with in book one. These books are such entertaining and unusual reads. Pern is definitely a world of it's own and one I think everyone should visit, frequently. I've been a fan of Anne McCaffry for over three decades, and the first 6 books have been revisited often. Why the first six? Well for one they were the ones published when I started to read these books, for another these books almost seem to be parts of one epic tale, which from the beginning if I read one, I had to read all six. They are the introduction and predominant tale I've loved for decades.

This second book of the Pern series is just as good as the first. This takes us more into the relationships of F'lar, F'lon, Lessa and a lot of new characters that I love and love to hate. More in depth as the explanation of the Red Star and threads is done. The introduction of fire lizards, the little ancestor of the dragons is in this volume. One of my favorite creatures, the colonizing of the Southern Weyr, and lots of dramatic moments. From the fight of the queens to the exploration of ways to stop thread at it's source, this one kept me hooked just like it did over 30 years ago.

I've been reading the Pern series since the 1970's, the first 6 books probably 10 times apiece. Having it in audio-book is even better. (Takes less space) Dick Hill does an admirable job of narrating this classic. This was my introduction to sci-fi/fantasy and I fell in love. When I first read of Lessa and Pern I wanted a dragon like this in the worst way. College, children and grand-children later, I love to revisit my old friends. F'lar, F'lon, Lessa and the journey that they take with the first fall of thread in 400 years. Awesome story that I'll never outgrow!

I absolutely loved this book. I just listened to it a second time, and it reminded me of why I'm such a fan of Ken Follett. He makes history engaging and not at all boring. I totally get sucked in when I get started. John Lee has a wonderful voice and was a great choice for narrator. Mr Follett's stories are just meant for John Lee's narration. I loved the two previous titanic historical novels Mr Follett wrote and am so grateful for his research and dedication, plus his ability to write a story that keeps me snared.