Rickapolis

This book was a terrible disappointment. I love Homer's works. I've read and listened to them multiple times. After all the rave reviews of 'The Lost Books...' I was very eager to give this a listen. I even bought it without waiting for my credit. All I got for my trouble was a mishmash of disjointed sputterings that made no sense at all. I found the 'stories' uninteresting, dull and without merit. Even Simon Vance couldn't turn this into anything of value. Perhaps others will have a happier experience but I cannot recommend this at all. One of the biggest flops from Audible ever for me.

Books and the movies based on then so frequently have little in common I didn't know what to expect from this book. But, because I loved the movie 'The Outlaw Josie Wales' I decided to give this a try. And am very glad I did. The film took the book very much to heart, including much of the exact dialog (and why the devil don't more movies do the same?), that I could almost hear the actors in their roles. But don't take that to mean Ed Sala didn't do a top notch job of narration. His delivery tied the whole story together in a simple convincing way. I will definitely listen to this one again (and again) and strongly recommend it. Whether or not you've seen the Eastwood film, don't miss this. A real treasure.

Rickapolis

I hadn't read these stories since I was a boy and somehow remembered them fondly. They are still in print so someone must think there is something in them. But, my Lord, how verbose Irving is. Thedescriptionsofeverythingjustwentonforeverandeeverseeminglywithoutendwithnoobviouspurposethantomakethestorylonger. Audible is courteous enough to offer me a refund since I rated it so lowly, but I went into this with my eyes wide open, so I'll wait for another major disappointment before I take advantage of that offer.
John MacDonald does a fine job with the narration. How he manages NOT to sound bored means he well earned his money.I have NO desire to listen to these stories again.

I found this to be a very enjoyable listen. A lot of the specific details of the invention of the compass can never be known, so Aczel tells what is known, then goes off on different entertaining tangents of the times and places that are relevant to the story. At the end what you really know is that too much is unknowable. But it is still worth the trip. Henry Leyva does a very nice job reading, never sounding overbearing. Give this one a try. Rick.

I read this book as a boy and enjoyed it very much. (As I did the David Niven/Cantinflas film). And I strongly recommend you give it a listen because it still is an absolute delight. Verne's story is considered a classic, and rightly so. He makes a little fun of the English, and many others along the way, as he relates the story of the unflappable Fogg. Frederick Davidson does an outstanding job of narration (and I've gripped about him in other books) and keeps the story going strong all the way through. If, like me, you've read this book before, then reacquaint yourself with it now, and if you are unfamiliar with it give it a try. You'll be glad you did. Rick.

Lions, tigers, bears, and everything but a duck billed platypus on this island, that somehow no other people have discovered (save a female shipwreck victim which the family takes three years to find). I know this is considered a classic in the Robinson Crusoe vein (hence the name) but it was so unbelievable that it became laughable after a while. No one ever got sick (except an occasional 'fever' of Mother's), never an accident, and after nearly ten years alone on the island the four brothers were delighted to welcome their new 'sister' into the family. Yeah, sure. I'm glad I listened, but I'll watch the Disney film version many times over before I submit myself to this again.I didn't much care for Fredrick Davidson's narration, but I don't want to be any more negative than I have been already. Rick

I remember reading this book back in the late 70's (and the sequel as well) and found it to be one of the best Sherlock Holmes take-offs I had ever read. Of course, Holmes doesn't directly appear, although oft talked of, but authors have been building on Doyle's characters for a century and most have failed to hit the mark. John Gardner does, with flying colors.
The professor has returned to London (it seems he survived Reichenbach Falls as well) and is tending to his family. That is what he calls his criminal organization. Think Vito Corleone and you will be right on track. And if he looks out for his people, his people better be there to greet him when he wants them. To further the 'Godfather 'comparison, he is conscienceless, brutal, and quite deadly. Holmes said of Moriarty, 'He is the organiser of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city...' and you will be convinced. Still, at times the reader/listener finds himself pulling for the bad guys, although as the story goes on those guys become very bad indeed. The ending left open room for a sequel which appeared a couple of years later. I understand that book, 'The Revenge of Moriarty' will be re-released next year.
Robin Sachs is an excellent narrator as he provides just the right touch of menace in his voices he describes the goings-on of the gang.
Some Holmes aficionados may be a bit offended by Sherlock's attitude to all this (reported indirectly), but I found this to be a very entertaining tale, and will be happy to download the sequel when it becomes available.
Rickapolis

I found this book a terrible disappointment. It was slow, dull, and completely uninteresting. I cared not a wit for the characters and found it an extremely difficult chore to stick with it to the end. I was convinced by the listener review to give it a try, but that writers opinion is, as it turns out, quite different from mine. I cannot recommend it at all. On any level. I consider this one of the biggest 'waste of a credit' in my Audible experience. Sorry to be so negative, but there you are.
Rick

This is simply one of the very best Audible books I've yet listened to. Miller's prose and Douglas's narration are unsurpassed. I've read several books based on Homer's works, but this is the only one I can think of that I'd recommend to everyone and anyone. Yes, the details of the intimacy between the two men made me feel a little uncomfortable, but that tells you more about me than it does about the book. (All you macho guys that are afraid others will think you're gay because you listened to this book just pretend that you fast forwarded passed 'those' parts). The details of the violence of the battles made me feel even more uncomfortable, but I survived them as well. Knowing all but the details of how it was to end did not spoil a single minute. The story was moving, believable, and made me wish for more. I give this five stars only because I cannot give it six. A must listen. An absolute must.
Rick

'Vampyre' is an interesting story, one of the earliest vampire stories published. I listened to it just after I listened to 'Carmilla' to try to get the flow of the progression of the vampire tales. Carmilla is a better story, in my opinion. I found Vampyre a little too predictable, but then perhaps I'm spoiled from all the blood sucker books I've read (and movies I've seen) over the years. The big downfall, by far, is the narration of B.J. Harrison. His expression is very poor and his emphasis misplaced. I think he might do well with some childrens books, but I'm not even sure of that. I cannot recommend him at all. Since his is the only version of Vampyre available on Audible I suggest you read this story. I believe you will be better satisfied.