Marissa

I've read all the Arkady Renko books and am a great fan. So even when MC Smith puts in a pedestrian effort, with minimal character development -- it's still worth a read. But it was also a disappointment given what Smith can do in terms of pulling you into a new setting (Three Stations is still in Moscow, guess I've been spoiled by recent excursions to Havana and Chernobyl). I even had to check to make sure this was an unbridged version because the book seemed to skip over chapters of character, place and plot development. And everything seemed to fall in Arkady's lap. Again, Smith is such a good writer that it's still worth a listen, but next one, please get back up to your usual speed.

Craig Ferguson is funny in his performances, and funny, in an understated way, in his narrative of his life.

Craig, of course. As the case with others who have been through rehab, he has a clear understanding of his faults and bad choices. He is not preachy, just honest.

The way a Scot says "book", sorta like buuuk! Being Scottish is a key aspect of the book, so it's natural for Craig to narrate. And you would not want a plummy Scottish actor to narrate either.

Actually, it was more one that I reserved for times when I needed for-sure listening pleasure, so I eaked it out. I didn't want it to end.

I now have some of Craig's movies back-orded on Netflix. I've never seen his late night show, but have seen a DVD of his live performance, and the performance rings true to his book.

It's a very good read. It was listed as an Editor's favorite and I appreciate the recommendation.

I enjoyed all the characters in the apartment building. They had a good reparte that didn't seem too strained, as is often the case. Although several were career-adrift twenty and thirty somethings, a middle aged character added some balance. As a baby boomer myself, I could still relate to the characters.

The narration worked quite well.

I just enjoyed the book overall.

I love a book with creative, but not treacle or predictible, prose -- and Skippy Dies delivers in droves. Just a joy to listen to.

As other commenters have noted, you don't need to be, or have been, a teenage boy in Ireland to feel simpatico with the characters. They drew you in, though ironically, Skippy was amongst the last fleshed out.

Multiple narrators; worked really well.

Definitely laughed. Killing off the main character in the beginning pages (not to mention the title page) undercuts the crying option. One of the best novels I've listened to in a long time.

I pretty much listen to all my books (not much left eye-wise once work is done), but this book is clearly better due to the narration -- love those Irish accents.

Inside stories exposed

Getting a sense of the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates

Perfect inflection. Not intrusive.

There were times I didn't want to pause it, which is high praise for a non-fiction political book.

You do wonder how the reporters were able to get some of the conversations, particularly the two-person ones. Overall, had the ring of truth, and interesting to reflect on 2008 as we head into 2012.

An honest, but not deep, review of Steve Martin's early life. After recently listening to Keith Richard's and Patti Smith's autobio's, not quite as detailed, nor brash, a life story. Wish there was a bit more devling and more post-fame discussion.

It's always cool for the author, particularly of an autobiography, to narrate.

Yes.

The White Noise is that of our society, advertising, media, relationships that is eerily predictive of the societal noise surrounding us 25 years later. Do not expect realistic dialog (which is all so many recent novels promise) but instead expositions on daily life. The book can be challenging at times, annoying at times, perplexing at times. There is always a veneer of contrivance, but I never minded, due to the insights and compelling prose.

An intelligent and engaging finale. You should read books one and two of the series. I expected Book Three to be anticlimatic, but it very much held my interest.