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Alejandra Marie Rivera

Member Since 2011

1
HELPFUL VOTES
  • 11 reviews
  • 26 ratings
  • 82 titles in library
  • 3 purchased in 2013
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  • Burn Before Reading: Presidents, CIA Directors, and Secret Intelligence

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 19 mins)
    • By Stansfield Turner
    • Narrated By Michael Prichard
    Overall
    (45)
    Performance
    (9)
    Story
    (9)

    Drawing on his own personal experience, as well as interviews with living presidents, Turner takes us into the White House and shares with us an intimate view of the inner working of our government's intelligence agency. There has never been a time when the relationship between the president and the head of the CIA has been so scrutinized or so relevant to our government policy.

    Kenneth says: "Ernest and sincere, will be politicized"
    "Dry."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you like best about Burn Before Reading? What did you like least?

    I like the facts int his book, but it was very dry. I almost think a text book could have been made more exciting. But I did love the information.


    What aspect of Michael Prichard’s performance would you have changed?

    He was very monotone, and there was little excitement or even anger in his voice.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Let the Great World Spin

    • UNABRIDGED (15 hrs and 16 mins)
    • By Colum McCann
    • Narrated By Richard Poe, Gerard Doyle, Carol Monda, and others
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (927)
    Performance
    (288)
    Story
    (293)

    A Pushcart Prize-winning author and contributor to the New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly, and GQ, Colum McCann is renowned for his carefully constructed character studies. No exception, Let the Great World Spin follows the fortunes of a menagerie of New Yorkers through a day in 1974 - the day of Philippe Petit's death defying tightrope walk between the newly built Twin Towers.

    Robert says: "An essential addition to your Audible library."
    "This book wanted to be so much better than it was."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you try another book from Colum McCann and/or the narrators?

    Probably not. The entire time, I felt like McCann was desperately trying to write a deep, insightful and life changing story. But his characters lacked a lot of depth. They were fairly cliche and took a lot of interest out of the book.
    I did enjoy the narrations. Each person played their part well.


    How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

    I would not use a priest, struggling with his oath. Nor a hooker who realized she messed up. Or the starving art student, or the lonely housewife. I just felt the characters left so much to be desired. YES, they were actually deeper than this. But not by much.... It was far from original. And far from deep or thought provoking.


    Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

    Gloria. She was my favorite character and my favorite narrated. Probably because she was the most genuine on both ends.


    Was Let the Great World Spin worth the listening time?

    Nope :-/ I reallllly wanted it to hurry up and end. I can't bring myself to NOT finish a book.


    Any additional comments?

    The way the story wrapped up in the end was actually nice, and achieved some of the things you could tell the author was reaching for.
    Unfortunately, I had to read the entire rest of the book to get to that point.....

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • I Capture the Castle

    • ABRIDGED (4 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By Dodie Smith
    • Narrated By Emilia Fox
    Overall
    (30)
    Performance
    (26)
    Story
    (24)

    The head of the Mortmain family is Cassandra Mortmain’s father, a writer suffering from writer's block who has not published anything since his first book, a hit entitled, Jacob Wresstling. Ten years before the story begins, he took out a forty-year lease on a dilapidated but beautiful castle, hoping to find either inspiration or isolation there; now, his family is selling off the furniture to buy food.

    Paulette says: "love the accent"
    "It's abriged!!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you like best about I Capture the Castle? What did you like least?

    I like the Jane Austen meets Mystery aspect.


    Any additional comments?

    It felt fairly random at times and I couldn't connect why one thing would escalate to another. And then I realized it was Abriged. Shameful. I will have to buy this book in paper and re-read. I just didn't get into it.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Gideon's Sword

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 57 mins)
    • By Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
    • Narrated By John Glover
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (868)
    Performance
    (476)
    Story
    (472)

    At 12, Gideon Crew witnessed his father, a world-class mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down. At 24, summoned to his dying mother's bedside, Gideon learned the truth: His father was framed and deliberately slaughtered. With her last breath, she begged her son to avenge him. Now, with a new purpose in his life, Gideon crafts a one-time mission of vengeance, aimed at the perpetrator of his father's destruction. His plan is meticulous, spectacular, and successful.But from the shadows, someone is watching. A very powerful someone, who is impressed by Gideon's special skills.

    k. says: "Pendergast fans beware"
    "Fast paced, and surprisingly suprising"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you love best about Gideon's Sword?

    I love action, thriller and mystery. This book is all of those things.
    At times, the author's descriptions or word choice seemed almost jouvenille, but somehow, I was still intrigued and addicted. And I couldn't wait to keep going.
    I guess I just laughed off the unbelievably un-believable parts and stuck to the guts of it.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of Gideon's Sword?

    Not really. It's just one of those quick reads you read for pure enjoyment. I'll take nothing away from it but a fun time. It's not deep or life changing in any way.


    Which scene was your favorite?

    Bleh. Yes and no. There are times where it seems to technical and researched, and there are times where it seems like the author got tired and just made something up to keep it going.
    And then there's Orchid. I'm not sure if he just desperately wanted a James Bond-eque character who finds women along the way. But there was way too much connection and emotion for a 2 hour interaction. And too much feeling and heart break later on. She should have been left out completely.


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

    The narrator is a man, and more than half of the characters are women. They all ended up with low voices that sounded more like a grandfather? Even the young ones. Thank goodness there are descriptions of the voices in the book so I could counter what I was hearing with what the Author was most likely picturing as he wrote it.
    The narrator seems to change up Gideon's voice quite a bit through the book as well which annoyed me. But only slightly.


    Any additional comments?

    Good read. Great for a short weekend trip or plane ride. Not too much thinking, just action, adventure and an ending.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan

    • UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 24 mins)
    • By Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, Benjamin Ajak, and others
    • Narrated By David Henry, David Zinn, Augustino Mayai, and others
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (25)
    Performance
    (11)
    Story
    (11)

    Benjamin, Alepho, and Benson were raised among the Dinka tribe of Sudan. Their world was an insulated, close-knit community of grass-roofed cottages, cattle herders, and tribal councils. The lions and pythons that prowled beyond the village fences were the greatest threat they knew. All that changed the night the government-armed Murahiliin began attacking their villages.

    William says: "Important History"
    "What seems scattered comes together."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you listen to They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky again? Why?

    I'm not sure if I'd need to listen to the book again. I remember it well enough. And it's a sad/triumphant story. There are parts I never want to hear again.
    It's also read by people with certain accents that didn't allow me to speed up my reading pace, since I was concentrating on what they were saying.


    What was one of the most memorable moments of They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky?

    Some of the specific tragedies they described are burned in my memory forever, and I choose not to revisit. I did expect some horrors and sadness, so I'm not upset. These types of books remind me why I am so happy to be healthy, safe and free.


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

    I have not.


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

    The same as the book's tagline. The stories of 3 lost boys from Sudan. I wasn't aware when I began that the term "Lost Boys" was not the Author's word choice, but a well-known term for those who escape.


    Any additional comments?

    Thank you for this book. It hurts you heart in the right way.
    While the stories seem extremely scattered and far between in the beginning, hold tight. They begin to shorten and intertwine and make so much more sense later. Be patient :)

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Outlander

    • UNABRIDGED (33 hrs and 8 mins)
    • By Diana Gabaldon
    • Narrated By Davina Porter
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (11057)
    Performance
    (5680)
    Story
    (5487)

    Why we think it’s a great listen: An all-time Audible favorite that mixes historic fiction, adventure, and romance with one of the most fascinating literary devices: time travel. Outlander introduces an exhilarating world of heroism and breathtaking thrills as one woman is torn between past and present, passion and love. In 1945, former combat nurse Claire Randall returns from World War II and joins her husband for a second honeymoon. But their blissful reunion is shattered....

    Lulu says: "The Reason for the Existence of Audio Books"
    "It just kept going.........."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

    Probably not. I would warn them first. I think the author went WAY too far at the end of the book. To much information. Too much disgusting. It didn't fit with the first 2/3 at all. I hated the last 4 hours.


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

    I love the true-to of the languages, the cultures, and the regions or Scottland. There was authenticity there SOMETIMES.


    What three words best describe Davina Porter’s voice?

    British. Low. Calming.


    Could you see Outlander being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

    Yes, Rupert Everett? No idea really. i don't that many red-headed actors.


    Any additional comments?

    This book was a 4.5 or 4 until the last section. It should have ended when Claire said the important words. Everything afer that is just absurd and ruined all the time I spent falling in love with the story. I understand WHY we needed to hate Randall, I don't understand why ANYONE needs to read that level of disgusting detail tha tis so freakishly random compared to the rest of the story line.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon & the Journey of a Generation

    • UNABRIDGED (22 hrs and 56 mins)
    • By Sheila Weller
    • Narrated By Susan Ericksen
    Overall
    (144)
    Performance
    (45)
    Story
    (44)

    Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon remain among the most enduring and important women in popular music. Their stories trace the arc of the now-mythic generation known as "the 60s" - the female version. Filled with the voices of dozens of these women's intimates, this alternating biography reads like a novel. Except it's all true.

    N. Speroni says: "Good, but..."
    "Took a bit to get into, but enjoyed very much!"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you like best about Girls Like Us? What did you like least?

    I had very little former knowledge about these three women, or any of the other artists I found out about in the book. I'm glad I chose a book tape format as opposed to the paper copy because it's very long and very slow. i would never have finished if I had to flip the pages. NOT because it was a bad book, because it was not. I had a hard time in the beginning, thinking that the mention of experiences or other characters was irrelevant, but it turned out to all come back around and put the pieces together through the middle and end. But I get very antsy. I listen to my books at 1.5x and 2x speed, if that helps you understand my antsy-ness. I like tot get tot eh point and this isn't a cut to the chase story. But it is still very much worth reading if you dig history in any way.


    Did Girls Like Us inspire you to do anything?

    Listen to the music, research some of the artists further, and talk o my mom about it :) Since that was her time. This book was her upbringing.


    Any additional comments?

    I got really cranky at how many time the phrase "Who would be" was used. You'll see.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Columbine

    • UNABRIDGED (14 hrs and 9 mins)
    • By Dave Cullen
    • Narrated By Don Leslie
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1483)
    Performance
    (539)
    Story
    (543)

    Over the course of this gripping narrative, Dave Cullen approaches his subjects with unrivaled care and insight. What emerges are shattering portraits of the killers, the victims, and the community that suffered one of the greatest - and most socially and historically important - shooting tragedies of the 20th century.

    Book reader says: "Truth and heartache"
    "Too true for comfort, but glad I know now."
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    You'll have to have a tough stomach to finish this. I was unable to finish the tape. It was too gruesome, too true, and too heartbreaking for me to go on.
    It was almost too long, for the simple fact that one heart can only bear so much hurt in a period of time. I had nightmares, day mares, and sometimes I wanted to pause and cry. Sometimes I stopped the tape because I wouldn't be able to eat my dinner.
    Beware. It's good to know. I'm glad I read it, but it was very hard to handle.


    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
  • The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

    • UNABRIDGED (4 hrs and 46 mins)
    • By Gary Chapman
    • Narrated By Gary Chapman
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1982)
    Performance
    (893)
    Story
    (897)

    Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love. Learn to speak and understand your mate's love language, and in no time you will be able to effectively love and truly feel loved in return. Skillful communication is within your grasp!

    William says: "Highly Recommended"
    "Listening together helped a lot"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What made the experience of listening to The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts the most enjoyable?

    I liked that we chose to listen to the book, because my Fiance and I were hearing it at the same time. We could pause and chat about things. But it helped to take it in at the same time. We had initially started reading this book separately and it was more disjointed that way.


    What insight do you think you’ll apply from The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts?

    All of it. We don't have a bad relationship, but we often find one person does or says something and the other interprets it in a way that it wasn't intended. We had fun discovering our love languages and learning how to communicate in our partner's.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • You Can't Drink All Day If You Don't Start in the Morning

    • UNABRIDGED (3 hrs and 58 mins)
    • By Celia Rivenbark
    • Narrated By Celia Rivenbark
    Overall
    (66)
    Performance
    (38)
    Story
    (38)

    From the author of the best-selling classics We're Just Like You, Only Prettier and Bless Your Heart, Tramp comes a collection of essays so funny, you'll shoot co'cola out of your nose. You Can't Drink All Day if You Don't Start in the Morning is sure to appeal to anyone who lives south of something.

    David says: "Can I have a translated version?"
    "Funny enough"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    What did you like best about You Can't Drink All Day If You Don't Start in the Morning? What did you like least?

    I laughed at her humor a lot. but the book was more of a humor column in a paper than a book.


    How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

    A plot?


    What about Celia Rivenbark’s performance did you like?

    It was her book, so she knew where to put emphasis. I like that.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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