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Vivienne

Jacksonville, FL, USA | Member Since 2007

36
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 3 reviews
  • 11 ratings
  • 0 titles in library
  • 13 purchased in 2013
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  • Christine Falls: A Novel | [Benjamin Black]
    Christine Falls: A Novel
    UNABRIDGED

    Christine Falls: A Novel

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 31 mins)
    • By Benjamin Black
    • Narrated By Timothy Dalton
    Overall
    (600)
    Performance
    (178)
    Story
    (176)

    It's not the dead that seem strange to Quirke. It's the living. One night, after a few drinks at an office party, Quirke shuffles down into the morgue where he works and finds his brother-in-law, Malachy, altering a file he has no business even reading. Odd enough in itself to find Malachy there, but the next morning, when the haze has lifted, it looks an awful lot like his brother-in-law, the esteemed doctor, was in fact tampering with a corpse, and concealing the cause of death.

    Vivienne says: "Engaging debut."
    "Engaging debut."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    This is an engrossing read, with deep character development and a great plot line. The first half of the book keeps you riveted to the story. Unfortunately the second half is not as fast paced and bogs down some in the emotional life of the central characters. Some interesting twists and turns keep you going. Enough of the story is unique that it is possible to overlook the places where it becomes predictable.

    24 of 24 people found this review helpful
  • Water for Elephants | [Sara Gruen]
    Water for Elephants
    UNABRIDGED

    Water for Elephants

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 26 mins)
    • By Sara Gruen
    • Narrated By David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (11416)
    Performance
    (3960)
    Story
    (4002)

    Why we think it’s a great listen: Some books are meant to be read; others are meant to be heard – Water for Elephants falls into the second group, and is one of the best examples we have of how a powerful performance enhances a great story. Nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus. It's the Depression Era and Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

    Teddy says: "This is what Audiobook should be..."
    "Wow- Run away to the circus!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    This book grabs you right away and doesn't let you go. From the character development to the descriptions of everything having to do with a circus in the 1920's. Fabulous detail, and great plot line. Plus the two readers were perfect- both soundling like they had actually lived this life they are narrating. Simply wonderful.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • The Bastard of Istanbul | [Elif Shafak]
    The Bastard of Istanbul
    UNABRIDGED

    The Bastard of Istanbul

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 39 mins)
    • By Elif Shafak
    • Narrated By Laural Merlington
    Overall
    (124)
    Performance
    (17)
    Story
    (18)

    In her second novel written in English, Elif Shafak confronts her country's violent past in a vivid and colorful tale set in both Turkey and the United States. At its center is the "bastard" of the title, Asya, a 19-year-old woman who loves Johnny Cash and the French Existentialists, and the four sisters of the Kazanci family who all live together in an extended household in Istanbul.

    Vivienne says: "Istanbul lives"
    "Istanbul lives"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Having been to Istanbul recently, this book brought back a lot of memories. The place is alive, in real life as in the book. The story for me was a little slow at first, the characters didn't really come to life until the second half of the book- but when they did, it was wonderful.

    12 of 12 people found this review helpful

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