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Deborah

love to read, love to listen

Lynnwood, WA, United States | Member Since 2011

HELPFUL VOTES

12 reviews
21 ratings
154 titles in library
15 purchased in 2013

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FOLLOWERS

The Hunger Games

UNABRIDGED
- by Suzanne Collins
- Narrated by Carolyn McCormick
The Hunger Games

UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 14 mins)

By Suzanne Collins

Narrated By Carolyn McCormick

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(28052)
Performance
(19722)
Story
(20016)

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by 12 outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Teddy says: "The Book Deserves The Hype"
"Bought this for my son, listened to it myself"

Overall
Performance
Story

This suspenseful science fiction novel is written for a younger audience, but thoroughly engaged me. Catness is a likeable and worthy heroine, competing for her life with a number of other adolescents in the sadistic Hunger Games. The author treats all the children with at least some compassion; there are no all-bad-guys or all-good-guys.

Catness develops a rich, nuanced understanding of the despotic system in which she must operate, and maintains her hold on humanity, compassion and love, while sometimes making choices that set these aside for the moment, in the hope that she will live to love another day. Though the situation is life-or-death, the decisions she must make are not black-or-white.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful
The Bat: A Harry Hole Thriller, Book 1

UNABRIDGED
- by Jo Nesbo
- Narrated by Sean Barrett
The Bat: A Harry Hole Thriller, Book 1

UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 43 mins)

By Jo Nesbo

Narrated By Sean Barrett

Overall
(672)
Performance
(581)
Story
(571)

Harry is out of his depth. Detective Harry Hole is meant to keep out of trouble. A young Norwegian girl taking a gap year in Sydney has been murdered, and Harry has been sent to Australia to assist in any way he can. He's not supposed to get too involved. When the team unearths a string of unsolved murders and disappearances, nothing will stop Harry from finding out the truth. The hunt for a serial killer is on, but the murderer will talk only to Harry. He might just be the next victim.
Charles says: "Probably the best of this remarkable series."
"Social studies lesson"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you try another book from Jo Nesbo and/or Sean Barrett?

Yes, I've listened to a few by Jo Nesbo and think they're great mysteries. Love Harry Hole.

Would you recommend The Bat to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes and no. Yes, I would recommend it because it's part of the Harry Hole series and gives us a lot of history and insight into his character. No, because it was short on plot and long on social studies essays. A lot about the culture, economy, political environment, and history of Australia. Some of it went on and on and while interesting, it was hard to suspend disbelief that in the course of a conversation at a bar, someone would launch into a 10 minute monologue about the history of the treatment of aborigines.

I hesitate to give it 2 stars because it's much better written than the mysteries I normally would give 2 stars, but honestly, I'm not sure it's worth 3.

The narrator was very good! Not too heavy handed with the accents but still was able to convey them.

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

Not that I remember.

Did The Bat inspire you to do anything?

See if there is another mystery writer out there similar to Nesbo, not because I won't read him again, but I was bored with this one and didn't want to bring my negative feelings along with me into another book in the series.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Yard

UNABRIDGED
- by Alex Grecian
- Narrated by Toby Leonard Moore
The Yard

UNABRIDGED (14 hrs and 42 mins)

By Alex Grecian

Narrated By Toby Leonard Moore

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(323)
Performance
(287)
Story
(285)

Victorian London is a cesspool of crime, and Scotland Yard has only 12 detectives - known as “The Murder Squad” - to investigate thousands of murders every month. Created after the Metropolitan Police’s spectacular failure to capture Jack the Ripper, The Murder Squad suffers rampant public contempt. They have failed their citizens. When Walter Day, the squad’s newest hire, is assigned the case of the murdered detective, he finds a strange ally in the Yard’s first forensic pathologist, Dr. Bernard Kingsley.
Debra says: "Enjoyable annoying book"
"Engaging mystery"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you listen to The Yard again? Why?

Probably not. It was a fun listen, but not my favorite mystery in the world. There were some loose ends I would have liked to have seen tied up. However, I would read more by the same author.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked Sgt. Hammersmith. He was a real hero.

What does Toby Leonard Moore bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great performance. Really drew me in, even though there were a few weak points in the story.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Just the way Hammersmith was so dedicated to the work, especially as an advocate for children.

Any additional comments?

The treatment of this story in light of the murders by Jack the Ripper was a little weird. First, the author made a claim that the Ripper was the first of a whole new breed of killers. This is just not true. Second, there was some claim that police approached crime a bit differently in the aftermath of the Ripper. Was there a distinct "end" to the Ripper's crimes?

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Keeper of Lost Causes: Department Q, Book 1

UNABRIDGED
- by Jussi Adler-Olsen
- Narrated by Erik Davies
The Keeper of Lost Causes: Department Q, Book 1

UNABRIDGED (15 hrs and 41 mins)

By Jussi Adler-Olsen

Narrated By Erik Davies

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(849)
Performance
(729)
Story
(724)

Jussi Adler-Olsen is Denmark's premier crime writer. His books routinely top the bestseller lists in northern Europe, and he's won just about every Nordic crime-writing award, including the prestigious Glass Key Award-also won by Henning Mankell, Stieg Larsson, and Jo Nesbo. Now, Dutton is thrilled to introduce him to America.
Kelli N. Perkins says: "Maximum Thrill and Fabulous Characters"
"Adler-Olsen has created some crazy characters!"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you try another book from Jussi Adler-Olsen and/or Erik Davies?

Yes, absolutely.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Keeper of Lost Causes?

The ending was pretty fantastic!

Would you listen to another book narrated by Erik Davies?

Yes, but...the accents were really weird and I'm not sure they were necessary. The characters sounded kind of goofy and it was hard to get past. I don't think Danes really sound that goofy when they speak English.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes. It was a pretty great story.

Any additional comments?

The bad guys were just as crazy as they come and what they did was horrible, yet the author made it seem believable.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bring Up the Bodies: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by Hilary Mantel
- Narrated by Simon Vance
Bring Up the Bodies: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (14 hrs and 35 mins)

By Hilary Mantel

Narrated By Simon Vance

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(680)
Performance
(580)
Story
(583)

Though he battled for seven years to marry her, Henry is disenchanted with Anne Boleyn. She has failed to give him a son and her sharp intelligence and audacious will alienate his old friends and the noble families of England. When the discarded Katherine dies in exile from the court, Anne stands starkly exposed, the focus of gossip and malice. At a word from Henry, Thomas Cromwell is ready to bring her down.
Darwin8u says: "Mantel Pulls the History out of the History"
"Great listen, but not as good as the first"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Absolutely. The writing is beautiful.

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

The characters have become too one-dimensional and less is said about their backgrounds to help us understand their motivations. Where Thomas Cromwell was heroic in Wolf Hall, he has become a petty villain by the end of this novel. Is he really just getting back at people who wronged him and Cardinal Woolsey? It seems such a step down for him and without explanation. For instance, it's difficult to understand why he tried so much to save Thomas More from himself in the first novel while he almost seems to enjoy killing the various courtiers who had much less or nothing to do with Woolsey's downfall.

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably where Henry lost consciousness and the ambitions of the courtiers came right to the surface.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Absolutely.

Any additional comments?

As another reviewer noted, this novel has been edited more than the first, which has its upside, but at the same time, I think we've lost something of Cromwell that we needed to understand his transition here.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I Am Legend

UNABRIDGED
- by Richard Matheson
- Narrated by Robertson Dean
I Am Legend

UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 19 mins)

By Richard Matheson

Narrated By Robertson Dean

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(2962)
Performance
(922)
Story
(937)

In I Am Legend, a plague has decimated the world, and those unfortunate enough to survive are transformed into blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Robert Neville is the last living man on earth. Everyone else has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville's blood. By day, he stalks the sleeping undead, by night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn.
S. Casper says: "Superb!"
"Listened to this because I'd seen the movie"

Overall
Performance
Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It was quite different from the movie, and the differences made it really interesting. I guess I hadn't noticed when I purchased it that it was more of a novella, though. I was a bit disappointed at how short it was.

If you’ve listened to books by Richard Matheson before, how does this one compare?

n/a

What three words best describe Robertson Dean’s performance?

believable, engaging, realistic

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

Well, yeah. Will Smith!

1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Gone Girl: A Novel

UNABRIDGED
- by Gillian Flynn
- Narrated by Julia Whelan , Kirby Heyborne
Gone Girl: A Novel

UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 11 mins)

By Gillian Flynn

Narrated By Julia Whelan, Kirby Heyborne

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(9387)
Performance
(8147)
Story
(8128)

It is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media - as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents - the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter - but is he really a killer?
Teddy says: "Demented, twisted, sick and I loved it!"
"Meh"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you try another book from Gillian Flynn and/or Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne ?

Yes. It was an engaging story, even if not entirely believable.

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

I think it was the same. Without giving the story away, the "twist" is both interesting and yet, pretty unbelievable. I just found it impossible to believe that the bad person got away with everything they did for as long as they did.

Which character – as performed by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne – was your favorite?

Huh, I didn't really like any of them that much, now that I think about it. I guess Nick's sister Margo. She was likeable and believable, though not central to the story. I didn't like the main characters very much and the peripheral characters were not especially complex.

Did Gone Girl inspire you to do anything?

Listen to something a little more substantial the next time.

Any additional comments?

It is really difficult to say much about the book without giving the center of this story away.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Wolf Hall

UNABRIDGED
- by Hilary Mantel
- Narrated by Simon Slater
Wolf Hall

UNABRIDGED (24 hrs and 19 mins)

By Hilary Mantel

Narrated By Simon Slater

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(1385)
Performance
(723)
Story
(720)

Winner of the prestigious Man Booker prize for fiction. In the ruthless arena of King Henry VIII's court, only one man dares to gamble his life to win the king's favor and ascend to the heights of political powerEngland in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years, and marry Anne Boleyn.
S. Marie says: "A unique perspective of history"
"Brings the individuals to life!"

Overall
Performance
Story

Would you consider the audio edition of Wolf Hall to be better than the print version?

n/a

What did you like best about this story?

I loved how the characters were developed -- rich portraits of Thomas Cromwell, Cardinal Woolsey, and Thomas More in particular. Really interesting (and unflattering) take on the Boleyns.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked a lot of the home scenes with Cromwell and his family. He had great affection for his family and wards, and treated them all very well. Somewhat different from his public face.

Also, I'd want to revisit the scenes with Cromwell and More again. They had a complicated relationship, and their interactions were fascinating. There was some affection, yet they were strongly opposed to one another.

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

Not really, just thoroughly enjoyed it.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
1Q84

UNABRIDGED
- by Haruki Murakami , Jay Rubin (translator) , Philip Gabriel (translator)
- Narrated by Allison Hiroto , Marc Vietor , Mark Boyett
1Q84

UNABRIDGED (46 hrs and 50 mins)

By Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin (translator), Philip Gabriel (translator)

Narrated By Allison Hiroto, Marc Vietor, Mark Boyett

Overall
(2992)
Performance
(2584)
Story
(2552)

The year is 1984 and the city is Tokyo.
A young woman named Aomame follows a taxi driver's enigmatic suggestion and begins to notice puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She has entered, she realizes, a parallel existence, which she calls 1Q84 - "Q" is for "question mark". A world that bears a question....
Howard says: "Worth the investment."
"It went on and on and on!"

Overall
Performance
Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would make it shorter.

Would you be willing to try another book from the authors? Why or why not?

Yes. The writing is really good. The characters are all so weird and broken, though, and it's a little difficult to believe the trajectory of some of them.

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

N/A.

Was 1Q84 worth the listening time?

I listened to it, but I have to admit my mind started to wander around the 30th hour or so!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Woman in White

UNABRIDGED
- by Wilkie Collins
- Narrated by Roger Rees , Rosalyn Landor , John Lee , Judy Geeson
The Woman in White

UNABRIDGED (25 hrs and 45 mins)

By Wilkie Collins

Narrated By Roger Rees, Rosalyn Landor, John Lee, and others

Whispersync for Voice-ready

Overall
(233)
Performance
(163)
Story
(164)

Secrets, mistaken identities, surprise revelations, amnesia, locked rooms and locked asylums, and an unorthodox villain made this mystery thriller an instant success when it first appeared in 1860, and it has continued to enthrall ever since. From the hero's foreboding before his arrival at Limmeridge House to the nefarious plot concerning the beautiful Laura, the breathtaking tension of Collins's narrative created a new literary genre of suspense fiction, which profoundly shaped the course of English popular writing.
JGrace says: "Another multi-cast winner"
"The narrators really shine!"

Overall
Performance
Story

What made the experience of listening to The Woman in White the most enjoyable?

The narrators. The story was very good, but they really brought it to life.

What other book might you compare The Woman in White to and why?

It's a Victorian era mystery.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The descriptions of the characters are very good, but the narrators really put a breath of life into them.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think every time the villain entered the picture, I was entertained.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful