Professor Sombrero

I never thought plate tectonics, atom smashing and trilobites could be so entertaining - there were times I actually chuckled. The author presents what could be a series of tedious lectures about dry subjects in a very understandable way. By using humor, he makes the subjects user-friendly without talking down to his audience.

I can't remember all the names mentioned and how to pronounce some of the terms used but I now look at clouds differently, am a little afraid of Yellowstone blowing up and think some scientists were really brave, creative and a little looney.

The narrator is great. In fact, I may purchase more books just because he narrates. I think he has a lot to do with my enjoyment of the book, capturing the tone I think the author intended.

I usually read fiction, particularly mysteries and thrillers but this was an excellent departure from that. I think anyone with a passing interest in how our world works would enjoy this book - not to mention discover things like: Newton pushed pointed objects into his eye sockets just to see what happened; heat is simply a matter of molecules banging into each other; Yellowstone is actually a volcano. Who knew!

I love the Odd Thomas series and I think the narrator is great. This story was not my favorite in the series though and I can't quite put my finger on why. I just didn't seem as tight a story as the others, as if sections were missing, Nothing that hindered understanding the story but more explanation and depth to the characters, particularly with the woman character. Maybe she'll be a recurring character and be given more depth in future books.

If I hadn't seen the movie I probably would have enjoyed this book more. That's not to say I didn't like it. I did like it. The movie, or at least my memory of the movie, seemed more exciting. There were parts that were nearly identical but the book had more of what was going through the characters minds - more big picture philosophical views. Naturally, that's hard to translate to the screen so the movie feels more gritty.

There were parts of this story that I really liked and the narrators were very good. It just seemed a little long and slow in parts. I normally like mystery/thrillers but I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and The Help so I do branch out. This story didn't capture my attention the way the others did. This book reminded me of the Book of Night Women which I enjoyed much more. I think I gave that one 5 stars.

I ended up giving this one 3 stars because although I didn't finish it (stopped with about 2 hours left) I think someone who enjoys historical fiction or generational stories would really like this book.

This was my favorite of the three Monster Hunter books I've listened to so far. (Yes, I know it's second in the series but I listened to this after book 3.) It got a bit much in the last 30 minutes or so but otherwise I loved it. The first book had very long action scenes. I like the descriptive detail but they got to be a little long. This book had action but those scenes were, for the most part, no so long that I felt tired afterward.

Narrator was great and does a good job with women's voices - doesn't make them sound like whiny school girls like some male narrators do.

In short, I don't understand why this is a classic and so loved by others. It's a about 3 hours too long and it didn't tell me anything new or even anything old in a new way. I guess at the time this book was written it may have been unique and thought provoking . Given the amount of information available today about spirituality of all kinds, this made me wonder when it was going to give me that I've-never-thought-of-it-that-way moment. It never happened.

I normally like mystery/thrillers but I have enjoyed other books in this and other genres and wasn't expecting action and adventure - but this book, particularly the first part, was a little too much pontification by a man who comes across as a little arrogant. Perhaps it was the narrators tone and not the words giving me this impression so reading may be different than listening. Having said that, the narrator was expressive and I did like him overall.

Probably not.

no

I've been a member of Audible for over 4 years and this is the worst book I've listened to - or even read - ever. The writing is corny, amateur and inconsistent. The story is full of holes and unbelievable. In one part a nurse adjusts the patients IV but then minutes later the patient manages to get out of bed, into a wheelchair and up to the second floor - no mention of how she managed that with the IV. It simply disappears. I even laughed out loud at some points because it was so ridiculous.

As for the narrator, she was boring, sappy, and couldn't make crying sound anything but childish. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, it may just have been the poor story. But I'll think twice about getting another book narrated by her.

This is the first, and I hope only, Audible book I just couldn't get through. I'd ask for my points back if I could.

This story reminds me of several different stories and movies. Take some of "Psycho" throw in a little "Sunset Boulevard" and a wee bit of "Mommie Dearest" maybe a little of "The Fall of the House of Usher." It's what you'd expect from John Saul. Since I like his stories I liked this. Not a literary hallmark but good entertainment.

The narrator was good too- didn't get in the way of the story.

The story was compelling and they did a good job of building anticipation even though you know the outcome - particularly in the beginning. The writing itself was ok. The female reader was a little too sing-songy but I liked the male reader. It did prompt me to research a little more about it on the internet. I gave it for stars because of the subject matter and how sad yet positive it ends up. I'd have only given it three based on the writing itself.

I bought this book not sure what to expect but I loved it. I usually buy mysteries/thrillers but this book seemed interesting and it was. It's told via a series of letters between the characters which could be quite dry but the narrators are wonderful. It's written almost as if the people are talking to each in person, not thru letters. I don't know if I would have enjoying reading this book but it was wonderful to listen to. Don't know that I've ever adored a book but that fits for this one.

I know this book is a classic and Stephen Covey is something of a leader in this field but he cannot read his own writing without putting the listener to sleep. And talk about slow. It took over 1 hour to explain the purpose of the book! A little background is helpful but I don't need a disertation on the difference between personality ethics and character ethics - or whatever he called them. I got the difference after the first 15 minutes or so. I listened to nearly the first two hours and couldn't tell you what any of the habits are. The only other book I've listened to that was worse was The Truth About Managing People.