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Barbara

Placitas, NM, United States | Member Since 2002

HELPFUL VOTES

12 reviews
18 ratings
491 titles in library
9 purchased in 2013

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Nano

UNABRIDGED
- by Robin Cook
- Narrated by George Guidall
Nano

UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 24 mins)

By Robin Cook

Narrated By George Guidall

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(181)
Performance
(151)
Story
(153)

Pia Grazdani, the embattled medical student from Death Benefit, decides to take a year off from her medical studies and escape New York City. Intrigued by the promise of the burgeoning field of medical technology and the chance to clear her head, Pia takes a job at Nano, LLC, a lavishly funded, security-conscious nanotechnology insititute in the picturesque foothills of the Rockies. Nano, LLC is ahead of the curve in the competitive world of molecular manufacturing, including the construction of microbivores, tiny nano-robots with the ability to gobble up viruses and bacteria. But the corporate campus is a place of secrets.
Patricia says: "Good Book but unfinished"
"The Pia Trilogy?"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you try another book from Robin Cook and/or George Guidall?

I will never read another Robin Cook book about Pia Grazdani. The first Pia book was interesting but one of Cook's weaker novels. This last book was a total waste of time and obviously designed to get you to read his next one. No chance!

George Guidall is an excellent narrator and I have no complaints about him.

Has Nano turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not necessarily.

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

George did well; it was the book itself that was weak.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was interesting to learn something about nano technology. That was the only redeeming quality because the story line was non-existent.

Any additional comments?

I've read almost every one of Robin Cook's novels. The previous Pia novel, Death Benefit, was the weakest of his books up until this one. The character of Pia is difficult to believe or understand and her boy friend, George, is equally difficult to believe. Nano is obviously leaving the door open to a third Pia novel. I won't consider reading it.

It appears that Robin Cook is spending all his time researching and writing about interesting new medical technology at the expense of character and plot development. Well, it just won't sell books! Robin, give it up.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes

UNABRIDGED
- by Marcus Sakey
- Narrated by Christopher Lane
The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes

UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 18 mins)

By Marcus Sakey

Narrated By Christopher Lane

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(42)
Performance
(24)
Story
(26)

The only sign of life for miles is an empty BMW. Inside the expensive car he finds clothes that fit perfectly, shoes for his tattered feet, a Rolex, and an auto registration in the name of Daniel Hayes, resident of Malibu, California. None of it is familiar. How did he get here? Who is he? Who was he? While he searches for answers, the world searches for him - beginning with the cops that kick in the door of his dingy motel with guns drawn. Lost and alone, the man who might be Daniel Hayes flees into the night. All he remembers is a woman’s face, so he sets off for the only place he might find her.
Lu says: "A Never Ending Soap Opera"
"Plot has potential"

Overall
Performance
Story

This book might have been more compelling if it had been edited down by half. If you believe the odd amnesia that Daniel Hayes is supposed to have and if the plot had not dragged on and on, it could be good. I hung in there but it felt tedious.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Corduroy Mansions: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by Simon Prebble
Corduroy Mansions: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 32 mins)

By Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated By Simon Prebble

Overall
(243)
Performance
(138)
Story
(139)

In London’s Pimlico neighborhood lies a tenement described in architectural guides as “a building of no interest whatsoever.” But the residents of Corduroy Mansions—including a literary agent, a wine merchant, a thoroughly unpleasant member of Parliament, and a vegetarian dog—are a rather fascinating lot.
connie says: "Oedipus Snark, MP"
"Lacks Plot and Character Development"

Overall
Performance
Story

I think Alexander McCall Smith should stick to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Everything else he writes is dismal. What plot exists in this novel is left hanging at the end. The characters are one-dimensional and uninteresting with the exception of the dog. Don't waste your time.

7 of 17 people found this review helpful
Shattered

UNABRIDGED
- by Karen Robards
- Narrated by Susan Ericksen
Shattered

UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 25 mins)

By Karen Robards

Narrated By Susan Ericksen

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(487)
Performance
(255)
Story
(259)

With an ailing mother to care for, Lisa Grant takes the first job she can find: research assistant to District Attorney Scott Buchanan. What Lisa expects to be a mind-numbingly boring task turns into anything but when a missing-persons case draws her attention. The details of the case are engrossing: an entire family — father, mother, and two children — disappeared without a trace more than 28 years ago. Except that’s not all: the mother in a photo Lisa finds could be her own twin.
SassiKassi says: "All that's promised and more."
"I Managed to Finish Listening"

Overall
Performance
Story

This book would be much better if it had been edited to half its length. There is far too much extraneous stuff, especially about what Lisa is thinking, feeling, and/or how her breathing is quickening. Come on! I'd like to know if any real person would be as aware of her every emotion, feeling, or quivering as Lisa seems to be. In fact, the character of Lisa, in spite of all the feedback about her response to everything, is not really well developed. I suspect that the author wants Lisa to come across as a strong, appealing woman. I came away feeling that I knew too much about Lisa's responses and not enough about what kind of a person she is. The character of Scott could use some rewrite as well. Rude and manly don't do it. There needs to be more to make the reader want to root for Scott to win over Lisa.
Then there's the plot or lack of it. When I read the reviews of this book, I thought the plot line had tremendous potential. When I got through the book, I thought that there has to be a better way to develop the plot. I am still confused about how some of the plot is supposed to have taken place. I would not have bothered reading this book had I known how boring it would be. I hung in there just to find out how the author would explain the mysteries. It was very unsatisfying.

12 of 13 people found this review helpful
The Associate: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by John Grisham
- Narrated by Erik Singer
The Associate: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 52 mins)

By John Grisham

Narrated By Erik Singer

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(1640)
Performance
(244)
Story
(247)

Kyle McAvoy grew up in his father's small-town law office in York, Pennsylvania. He excelled in college, was elected editor-in-chief of The Yale Law Journal, and his future has limitless potential. But Kyle has a secret, a dark one, an episode from college that he has tried to forget. The secret, though, falls into the hands of the wrong people, and Kyle is forced to take a job he doesn't want, even if it's a job most law students can only dream about....
A User says: "Good, but not nearly as good as The Firm""
"Missing Plot"

Overall
Performance
Story

The plot for this novel is just not credible. Even if it were, the book drags on and is frankly boring. Grisham can't seem to come up with a new idea. This will be the last one of his books that I purchase.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Bookwoman's Last Fling: A Cliff Janeway Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by John Dunning
- Narrated by George Guidall
The Bookwoman's Last Fling: A Cliff Janeway Novel

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 44 mins)

By John Dunning

Narrated By George Guidall

Overall
(143)
Performance
(35)
Story
(34)

Tempted out of his bookstore into the world of horseracing, Janeway accepts an invitation from wealthy horse trainer H.R. Geiger to travel to Idaho and look at some rare first-edition books. The books are stunning, flawless children's classics that render the usually eloquent Janeway speechless.
Andrew Stone says: "Another Good Book in the Cliff Janeway Series"
"Good read"

Overall
Performance
Story

I was happy to see another book in John Dunning's "The Bookman" series. I wish there had been more about book collecting in this one but the subject was certainly a key factor in the plot. The ending was a little weak but overall it was an engrossing read.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful
The Tenth Circle

UNABRIDGED
- by Jodi Picoult
- Narrated by Carol Monda
The Tenth Circle

UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 17 mins)

By Jodi Picoult

Narrated By Carol Monda

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(635)
Performance
(190)
Story
(194)

New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult explores a complex and troubled American family in The Tenth Circle, the tale of a broken-hearted teenage girl and the father who will do anything to protect her. High school freshman Trixie Stone comes home from a party and says the boy she loves, and who recently dumped her, sexually assaulted her. Her father never imagined anything so devastating could happen, and now he's not sure how to help his daughter.
Linda says: "Picoult wrote a disappointing story."
"Weak Plot"

Overall
Performance
Story

Having read Vanishing Acts and My Sister's Keeper, I expected more from this book. The plot was too weak to keep the reader involved. The motivation for the things that happened was not believable. I stuck with this story hoping it would improve, but the ending was a disappointment too. I would advise readers to skip this Jodi Picoulet novel and hope she does better with the next one.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The Time Traveler's Wife

UNABRIDGED
- by Audrey Niffenegger
- Narrated by William Hope , Laurel Lefkow
The Time Traveler's Wife

UNABRIDGED (17 hrs and 49 mins)

By Audrey Niffenegger

Narrated By William Hope, Laurel Lefkow

Overall
(821)
Performance
(137)
Story
(138)

This extraordinary, magical novel is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, a librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was 36, and were married when Clare was 22 and Henry 30. Impossible but true, because Henry has Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity in his past, present, and future.
Lucy says: "Worth trying to sort it out"
"Boring"

Overall
Performance
Story

I have found that customer ratings are pretty accurate on audible.com. The only reason I chose this book was because of the extremely high customer ratings. That's why I feel compelled to come back and provide my own review. This book is long and tedious. I got halfway through and gave up, which is unusual for me. The story is too absurd and the main characters are just not compelling enough to hold my attention. I don't understand what others liked about it.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful
The Sunday Philosophy Club: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery

UNABRIDGED
- by Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by Davina Porter
The Sunday Philosophy Club: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery

UNABRIDGED (8 hrs and 7 mins)

By Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated By Davina Porter

Overall
(345)
Performance
(86)
Story
(81)

New York Times best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith, winner of the first-ever Saga Award for Wit, has entertained millions with his beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mysteries. Now this phenomenally popular author introduces a fresh series, brimming with the charm and humor his stable of dedicated fans can't get enough of.
connie says: "Not Number One Ladies Detective Agency!"
"HUGE Disappointment"

Overall
Performance
Story

I have read and reread all of Alexander McCall Smith's books about Botswana and the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I absolutely adored the series.
So when his new book came out about Scotland, I thought it would be the same caliber. I bought the book and immediately downloaded it for listening. Tonight I finished the book and I want to warn other fans to avoid this book at all costs.
First of all, the "Sunday Philosophy Club" is mentioned only briefly in the book and never meets. What is the point in the title???
Secondly, since Isobel, the heroine, is a philosopher, over half of the book is about her philosophical musings about ethics. This book has no real plot or action.
Finally, the murder, about which the entire book is based, is not a murder at all. Just an unfortunate accident. If I am giving away the plot, believe me, you haven't lost much.

20 of 30 people found this review helpful
The Circular Staircase

UNABRIDGED
- by Mary Roberts Rinehart
- Narrated by Rebecca Burns
The Circular Staircase

UNABRIDGED (6 hrs and 58 mins)

By Mary Roberts Rinehart

Narrated By Rebecca Burns

Overall
(8)
Performance
(2)
Story
(2)
Barbara says: "Nostalgic Read"
"Nostalgic Read"

Overall
Performance
Story

I was anxious to reread this book that I had read as a teenager. It now seems a bit tedious with all the repititious questions that the heroine keeps asking herself. If the action had just moved along, it would have kept me on the edge of my seat (and shortened the book by 50 pages). Still, it was fun to read.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful