Vira

Courtenay and Bower are born storytellers. I listened to The Persimmon Tree, and immediately followed up with this sequel, Fishing for Stars.

I enjoyed them both immensely, especially the Javanese and Japanese historical aspects, which were new to me and very interesting. Also, the insights into Japanese language and customs were interesting and entertaining.

Nick was, typically of Courtenay's characters, rather too good to be true, while Anna was beguiling, her father disgusting, the natives all very good folk and the immigrant settlers all very bad. Nevertheless, this can be overlooked in the interests of a most entertaining story. A lovely, long, good one.

Mr Bower is a brilliant narrator, and I became so engrossed in the various voices, which were constant and unflagging, that i actually forgot it was all being read by one person.

I found there was a little too much repetition, although its understandable in the second book, for those readers who hadn't read the first.

What really bored and irritated me though, was the way the author used the latter part of the novel 'Fishing for Stars' as a soapbox to preach environmentalism. On and on and on ..... and then there's this little frog you're welcome to send donations for ..... by all means, but perhaps this isn't right platform?

I am sympathetic to the cause, and very aware of the problem. I live in a country where the struggle against the savage and barbaric poaching of rhino and also elephant is a constant and heartbreaking struggle.

IMHO, too much of the frogs, rivers and environmentalism detracted from the novel and felt rammed down my throat, but i guess the point was well made and for a good cause.

You still cant go wrong with Bryce Courtenay and Humphrey Bower!

Is this the same Dekker who wrote "Adam"? He's obviously matured somewhat if a comparison of the two books is anything to go by, since this was written almost ten years earlier. I bought it because I enjoyed "Adam" and wanted to try more by the same author. The book has some good reviews. Has it been applauded by Christians out of a sense of duty? I feel as if I've skirted the fringes of lunacy for 16 hours.

I find almost nothing likeable about the main characters. The hero, Kent, is a highly intelligent man who becomes mentally unhinged and starts acting like a moron. The other main character, his mother-in-law, is depicted as a warm and caring old lady. Actually, I find her pushy, self-righteous, hammerhead preachy, and almost abusive in the way she lords it over others. She has visions of heaven, where they seemingly spend their time in continuous histrionic laughter. Well anyway, that’s all she tells us about it. Sounds scary. But we should strive for it.

The rest is preachy ad nauseum, with the single expletive of “Goodness!” repetitively thrown in at every turn. I waver between irritation and annoyance. Its one of the worst books I’ve listened to. I feel robbed! I think the only "goodness" out of this would be to gather all copies and send them for recycling.

The sole redeeming factor is the excellent narration.

A riveting thriller about a serial killer, as good as any the genre has to offer. It incorporates aspects of psychology, child abuse, religion, and most of all love - as the only force which can overcome evil.

I believe that every murder has at its core an element of evil, and often its not only the perpetrator who is to blame. Sometimes its the victim, sometimes society - but there's always a complex interplay of forces and influences. This book highlights the complexity of factors involved, and, together with seamless narration, deserves 5 stars, in my opinion.

What fun to get this rabbits-eye view of the world! I simply loved these creatures - their innocence, loyalty, friendship, and absolute heroism. (Who'd think of rabbits as being heroic, but it seems all creatures, great and small .....).

Pure, clean, innocent, and touching. A wonderful listen.

This is not some macabre book about corpses, dead bodies and things that scratch your door in the dead of night. Not at all. Instead, its a book written in journalistic style, always respectfully, which brings to light knowledge which is not easily available. Its a topic we'd rather not approach, until we suddenly need to. And this stuff is not only interesting, but some of it is also useful and good to know. Also easy to understand and very accessible.

The body is regarded as a vehicle which we all at some stage will leave behind, and which then needs to be disposed of. The question is, whether we do so with a more emotive mindset, or alternatively, a more helpful one.

Its about how much the dead have already helped the living, and a sense of gratitude pervades the writing. Its given me a much broader outlook towards organ donation, which I always thought was only for students in anatomy labs. But its more. Much more.

There's a fair amount of historical background, and info about what other cultures have done in other ages. Some gruelling stuff there.

Finally, Ms Roach presents some of the latest "disposal" technologies, such as composting (mostly in Sweden) and liquefication (I forget the exact terminology). This is news to me.

Overall, a sensitive and extremely well-written, interesting expose of what happens behind closed doors. Lots to think about.

Some Art History 101. Not particularly interesting. At all. The author could have made much more of this, by incorporating Renaissance symbolism relating to the circle and the square, the new religious outlook and ascendancy of Man in that era, and the effect it still has on modern times.

Instead, he drones on about the various historical personages and art sponsors. The same old same old. I remain unimpressed.

I learnt much about the Black Death from this work, and often felt quite sickened but informed. An entertaining read, with the time-travel theme similar to that of "To Say Nothing of the Dog", which I also enjoyed.

One easily relates to each character, in typical Connie Willis style.

My heart bled for the cow!!!!!

Excellent narration. I loved the British accent, and I love lengthy, quality books from Audible.

This book recalls the Old Testament dictum of "An eye for an eye". Or the concept of Karma, where what you give out is what you get back.

Its different. In the end we almost feel sympathy for the murderer, and antipathy towards the victims.

I enjoyed this different-ness. The reason I didn't give it four stars is simply because this is not my favourite genre.

An interesting book about evil and how it uses each human weakness as a tool against the human. (I've known con men and manipulators who do exactly the same) .

Here, each individual's Want, not Need, for a specific item - either for collection, sentimentality, or any other reason, becomes a weapon used by evil, against the self and others. It renders the individual character almost helpless, and leads them to do what they know is wrong.

The book also demonstrates how deftly an instigator can turn otherwise friendly people against each other. In real life terms, (I think for example of a vicious in-law creating havoc within the family).

Each character's story unfolds, and there's always an override to the small inner voice prompting him/her to do the right thing.

There's an ironic wordplay on the title "Needful Things". A Want becomes a Need and the difference between the two is blurred.

A good listen, but I find Stephen King's voice a little harsh on the ears, but not too bad.

This book starts out with a promising sense of humour, poking fun at Hollywood elite parties. I'm enjoying this. But the fun suddenly and abruptly ends, devolving into crudity, irritating stupidity, and a frustrating listen.

Hour after hour, for three quarters of the book, the writer grinds on and on about Greyson's incessant and insatiable need to hump every woman in sight, and about each random woman's body parts. Like some erotic collage of breasts and pubics he's slapping together in a frenzied haphazard derangement.

In Thailand, its all about sex for sale. Its much the same for the other places he visits. In Africa, he meets a Kenyan woman in a slum, whose husband has died of AIDS. He immediately beds her too, without any protection, then marries her in a totally off-handed way before he leaves, ensuring he sends her enough money to live on. Paid her off. That's the other theme of this book. He's a rich Hollywood hero who throws money at everyone, precluding the need for any caring. I spend the rest of the book wondering whether he's contracted AIDS or some other form of STD. I'm still wondering. Syphilis is said to attack the brain and cause similar symptoms.

I was expecting a classier book. Something deeper and more meaningful. Greater insight into bipolar disorder. This author must've heard that sex sells. I wont touch any other books by her. What a load of rubbish!

I've given 2 stars for the beginning and the ending, as well as the attempt at portraying at least something about bipolar disorder.

The content of this book does not live up to its title. It does not show how 'Randomness Rules our Lives'! I expected something completely different. As I'm not particularly into maths and stats, I felt bombarded by it, whereas that which would have been of interest to me was missing. I barely managed to finish listening, and eventually raced through at full speed simply to get it over with.