Howard

This novel wraps several stories within stories, all which focus on the narrator's recently deceased Grandfather. These stories are all compelling each in their own right. They just don't seem to have conclusions worthy of the beauty and complexity of the tale.

The premise of this novel is wonderful. The Author does a rewarding job weaving these stories together in an interesting and compelling style. That is, until we get to the conclusion. I felt the last chapter and the final minutes were rushed, perhaps finished to meet some deadline. The conclusion left me feeling unfulfilled, It is a shame such an elegant work of fiction was plucked from the vine just before it was completely ripe. It's a tasty experience, but falls just a few millimeters short of reaching it's full potential.

Another point of contention is that the author sometimes gets too devoted to painting a landscape or setting the scene for us. Occasionally, I found myself wishing she would just get on with the story. I will concede, though, she is very artful with these overdeveloped descriptions. In true Audible form, the Narrators are exquisite.

I don't regret listening to "The Tiger's Wife" I just feel slightly unfulfilled by the conclusion.

Maybe not your first or second choice in fiction tonight but it is an interesting one. Our story starts with a corporate aquisition of an American manufacturing company. We follow Geogre Breal, a displaced executive from the acquired company move to Boston and work for Electronic Technologies Inc., a firm run by a controlling founder, John Lowell. Mr. Lowell has many problems on his hands including a German competitor who is positioned to eat his lunch, an estranged daughter and a girlfriend with an agenda. Breal is brought into to make ETI more profitable and ends up fighting to keep the company in business. Stone Lion is an interesting book that doesn't necessarily compell you to keep reading hour after hour, but eagerly awaits your return and rewards you with an palette of well developed characters and a fully crafted story of challenges, successes and failures. You'll want to finish Stone Lion but you can take your time and savor some fiction without a murder, sex scene or a lot of foul language - something of a rarity today. Take a break from all of the back biting and violence found in a lot of today's fiction and enjoy a book that challenges it's characters, shows how they grow and develop and doesn't insult you (unless you are or work for an aggressive German Corporation trying to dominate the world of photoelectric micro-switchs).

Sara J. Henry's second book is another solid novel set in the Lake Placid region of New York. It is a simple then complicated and back to simple type of a story beginning with the discovery of a body in a frozen lake. By coincidence, fate of just plain dumb luck, Troy is there when a mans body is found and recovered from the frozen lake. She knows the person and shares her house with his girlfriend and begins writing a story for the local newspaper. I'll leave the rest of the story for you to discover and enjoy on your own. It is often touching, frightening, emotional and smart all within a single chapter. Some of our friends from Learning to Swim are back, in very minor - but not forgotten - roles.

Part of my enjoyment of this series is Ms. Henry's spot-on description of the area and the people who inhabit this cold, remote place. They are indeed a hardy people who care about one another and do silly things like cut blocks of ice out of the lake to build and castle in the dead of winter. Occasionally, she takes a little literary license with some of the locations or behavior of the characters, but having many friends who live there, I believe she respects them and what it is they stand for. It is not an easy place to live, but some of the happiest people I know live there and the surrounding 50 miles. Sara has lived it and, if her writing about it is any indication, loves the tri-lakes especially those that call it home.

I feel I must comment about the Narrator. I did not care for Abby Craden's portrayal of Troy. It was like she was telling the story in a whisper, like it was a secret. This is not how this character tells her story. I found this style/approach troublesome. I hope Suzanne Toren returns as Troy Chance giving us the strength and confidence the author has given her.

Certainly a worth while listen/read indeed!

I resisted Audible's recommendation that I buy Divergent but did not hesitate to get Insurgent right away to continue the series. I'm anxiously awaiting the third chapter in the Tris' Trilogy, promised in fall 2013. Insurgent does a fine job of moving the story and Tris' relationship with 4 forward. Tris never seems to stand on firm ground because many of those around her have shifting alliances or are secretly working for or against her goals. I really enjoy listening to Ms. Galvin as she ably gives Tris' voice the strength and intellect this character possesses.

This is a simpler story than the excellent Devotion of Suspect X, but the same caliber that is way beyond a traditional police procedural. Higashino has the same dedication to creating a story as his characters have in fulfilling their important roles in his eloquent stories. Salvation of a Saint is a quality story and I'm sure you will also enjoy listening to this Japanese import.

Divergent was recommended to me long ago by Audible. I resisted buying it and regret not listening to Divergent sooner. Ms. Roth's world is conceivable as a messed up attempt to have humans re-learn how to get along with, and to be service to each other. Unfortunately, the desire for power and control causes one faction to want to eliminate another and seize control. The plot is sufficiently complicated, especially for the target audience. The author paces the story well, propelling it forward while still allowing the reader/listener to connect to the characters and the emotions they experience. Although I am long out of the 'youth' category of reader, I have to say I found Divergent interesting enough to keep me engaged and enjoying Divergent. It is also worth noting that Ms. Galvin gives the characters life with her excellent narration. In my book, Divergent is credit worthy.

Written over a generation ago this quaint story about a modest author\machinist takes you along for his adventure of a lifetime. I enjoyed how oblivious our hero was to his fame and notoriety. He was a simple, creative man that so enjoyed his work that he underestimated the impact his work had on others.

The story also speaks of a time when communication was not so instantaneous, describing how information was sought and obtained by threads of connections. Also, an element of the story I enjoyed was how the simple courtesy of answering someone's letter seeking extra advice was repaid ten thousand times over. I'll recommend you listen to this story and savor the long gone days when long distance person-to-person telephone calls and telegrams were extraordinary events and how a humble man accepts the assistance of his fans, but doesn't let it change him. I truly enjoyed my time listening to Trustee from the Toolroom and expect to visit with him again and again.

If your have read the rest of the series, you must listen to Phantom. Harry returns to investigate criminals charges against his almost step-son. True to form, Harry gets to the bottom of it all (surprisingly without losing any body parts). I'm not going to give you any more details, because doing it could spoil it for you. For Nesbø/Harry Hole fans, this is a slam dunk, credit worthy, get it immediately purchase.

After listening to Europe on five wrong turns I was confused about what I listened to. It was not what I expected. But I cannot say it didn't enjoy the experience, I just haven't found this books purpose. Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's the author taking several wrong turns and finding himself changing the purpose or reason for writing this story and not editing what was already written. I can neither recommend buying Europe on Five Wrong Turns or skipping it. All I ask is, if you listen to it post your thoughts in a review. Maybe it will help me understand the authors message beyond the difference between being a tourist and a traveler. Good luck and happy travels!

I enjoyed Kill Decision from beginning to end. It's a scary world when people put greed ahead of human life. Unknown forces kill humans using technology so they can fuel an arms race and fatten corporate coffers. This story demonstrates the length some will go to serve their own interests and how far others have to go to stop them. Science in the book is plausible with a fair amount of literary license. All in all, very glad I listened to this book except for the cheesy sound bite at the beginning of each chapter. Very fine job by Jeff Gurner narrating this compelling book!

Got the book after seeing the first trailer for the movie of the same name being release in October 2012. It can be a difficult story to follow at times requiring careful listening, or relistening, but I found it well worth the effort. Many things are left unanswered at the end of the book, an interesting twist the author has given his reader. Such a bold collection of stories, perhaps intertwined or not. Part of the pleasure of Cloud Atlas for me was completing in my own mind the canvas the author has boldly created and placed in front of me.

As always, very good narrators read a very good book! Thanks Audible. This is a book I expect I will be relistening to again (and likely several more times after that.)