K. P. Cunningham

I love that the same voice has told me the story of Jim Stark from the beginning. And I have a little Crush on Stark.

The Laundry series by Charles Stross is similar. It is James Bond meets The Deep Old Ones. Bob a geekier version of Jim. They both fight the good fight against Big Bad.

Always, always, always Stark.

Back out of Hell

I listened to this for 3 hours and finally quit because I simply didn't care about any of it. They aren't bad people and I'd probably have a nice chat with Winnie if I bumped into her in a coffee shop, but I could not listen to any more of their lives. It is ordinary people living ordinary lives of happinesses, confusions and struggle. I've already got one of those. Mr. Dietz' careful enunciation didn't make it any more riveting.

This is the story of a Jew caught out after curfew and a deserter from the Russian army. They are forced to work together for a week and they become friends in the process.

This insiders' view of the privations and dangers of living in and around Leningrad, still thought of as St. Petersburg by the population, is well told. The characters are engaging. I wanted extra socks, a warm coat and a cup of something hot to drink the entire time I listened to it.

It isn't always easy to hear. One part in particular had me cringing as I listened. And the disadvantage of listening rather than read is that you can't skip the hard stuff as easily.

This isn't light, but it is very, very good.

This is fun. It takes a look at the lives of the crew of an Enterprise-like space ship when the camera is no longer on them. And then RUNS with it. It has adventure, explosions, dimension travel and a love story. What's not to love?

I was expecting expansion of the myths and tall tales that are referred to by the characters of the DiscWorld. Instead, I found a comparative analysis of DiscWorld and Our World myths and legends.

It isn't uninteresting, but it isn't what I expected.

If I was editing this book now, I would take Hugo's soapbox away. Every day, there was a new rant about education, politics, religion, a new topic, a new rant. And they lasted for 2 hours.

The narrator was good and I found the characters engaging. I finally gave up on the book because my interest in the characters was outweighed by the tedium of the sermons.

I do not love Dickens. In my grandmother's words he never used one word when a thousand would do. Serial stories and being paid by the word did not improve his writing. Listening to it made that fact less onerous. And the last half is better than the beginning. I will never read it again, but I am glad that I know the whole story, now.

Most definitely. Hartman has a complete world here. The history and culture are complete, not created as she goes along. The characters are engaging, the relationships complex and real. I like the steam punk feel. I look forward to spending time with these characters, again.

I think I liked Seraphina's relationship with her uncle, Orma, the most.

I have not, but I did enjoy this one.

Not exactly. I didn't want to rush through so that it was over too quickly. But it was hard to stop.

I was hoping for an engaging urban fantasy. I got something written for 12 year olds with no discernment.

No, just from this author.

Probably

No that I could find.

And I have clearly missed the beginning. There have been several YA stories that I have enjoyed, so I'm frequently willing to give them a shot. This one is more aimed at the Percy Jackson age range than The Hunger Games or The Golden Compass series.

The narrator did a good job with the material, for as long as I listened, but I'm not inclined to finish the book or the series.

.

It's just not my flavor.