Mississippi Jack: Bloody Jack #5

I am a 40-yr old fan of this series. I read book 3, but did audio for 1,2 & 4, and let me tell you, I wish I had done it for #3 - I really felt I missed out on something! Kellgren is impossibly brilliant in her voicework and narration. If I had read book 4, I would have never heard her take on Mike Fink, and that is very scary, as it is the most annoyingly hilarious thing thus far in the series...or as funny as hearing mam'selle call Jacky "preciousssss". I now walk around saying "Well, helloooooo, preciousssssss", but no one understands.

Another splendid rendition both by narrator and auther. Wonderful characters, memorable voice acting. I liked how this one evolved Jamie a little bit more.

And who can't like Fink?

If you're a fan, stick with it and move on to the next one, they get better again. They're formulaic and silly, but enjoyable. This particular book and the narration were the weak link in the series, I challenge anyone to not cringe while hearing the narrator voice the character of Mike Fink in this book.

While I've LOVED the Bloody Jack series to date and Katherine Kellgren's performance, this wasn't one of my favorites on either account. The story was a bit too long with too many mishaps and I didn't like Ms. Kellgren's portrayal of some of Jacky's wilderness "friend" (for lack of a better word). Every time Mike Fink spoke I had to cringe just a little.

What I loved about this story, was Jaimy Fletcher's travel down the Allegheny, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. When he was coming up with wording for the U.S.A. acronym I was absolutely doubled over in laughter. I couldn't wait to get back to Jaimy's story to hear what he came up with next. Poor Jaimy - he simply could not catch a break in this book.

If you are reading/listening to this series, you cannot skip this book. It is very good - just not my favorite.

Enjoy!

The rendition of Mike Fink made my ears ache! The only thing I don't like about audio is the difficulty skipping the parts you can't stand. Otherwise, the book was great and I loved it!

Did you think you were going to get the fifth book in this series with the same old characters, no matter how much you love them? Think again.
Jacky stays one step ahead of the law--pretty much--as she traverses the United States on her way to New Orleans. She and Jaimy both meet distinctly unforgettable characters, and reunite with some old friends. I guarantee, within the first few minutes of meeting Mike Fink, you will have a mental image of him you will never forget! (I kind of hope we see him again in future books, although I am sure Jacky would be happy to have seen the last of him.) Many, many thanks to Katherine Kellgren and Louis A. Meyer for creating such amazing characters. There are many close calls for Jacky, both pleasant and (very) unpleasant. You may be able to guess at the nature of some of them [cough], but others will take you completely by surprise!

This is another exciting installment in the Jacky Faber saga. Great fun, and the narrator does a terrific job of bringing all of these characters to life. Mike fink is especially fun. Katherine Kellgren continues to delight with song and many different accents.

I LOVE this series. I can't get enough of Jacky Faber and her mischievous ways, and Katherine Kellgren does an amazing performance. I've not heard any other narrator actually sing the songs, and she really puts her all into these books.

That said this was probably my least favorite book in the series to date. The adventure seemed pointless, dry and long. By no means was it bad, just not L.A. Meyer's best work. Definitely don't skip it as there are some important plot points that occur in the book, but I have to say the book after this one was a whole lot better.

I LOVE this series. I can't get enough of Jacky Faber and her mischievous ways, and Katherine Kellgren does an amazing performance. I've not heard any other narrator actually sing the songs, and she really puts her all into these books.

That said this was probably my least favorite book in the series to date. The adventure seemed pointless, dry and long. By no means was it bad, just not L.A. Meyer's best work. Definitely don't skip it as there are some important plot points that occur in the book, but I have to say the book after this one was a whole lot better.

L.A. Meyer has given us a gift in Jacky Faber and her over the top adventures - a strong, yet fallible female character and the opportunity to discuss her life lessons with our own girls. She is a good natured big thinker, courageous thru fear, yet prone to nightmares and depression. She learns from her many mistakes, is always willing to learn new skills, is never above working hard at what must be done and doesn't blame others for her misfortunes. She cobbles together a family of friends, experiencing the unconditional love and loyalty that comes with it. She accepts others as they are without prejudice, she might not like someone but she accepts them and their dislike of her in turn. She vocalizes and acts on her principles and puts others first even when the consequences for her are dire. She is manipulative and a shyster, sometimes blurring surviving and conning. Throughout this series, Jacky learns (and takes to heart) that her actions have unforeseen, sometimes negative, consequences for her friends as well as herself - not something often represented.

And then there's the history. It's dirty, appalling, uplifting, exciting and pretty accurate. Jacky is a dynamic character and her outlandish story highlights the limitations imposed on fellow characters. The historical context and dialog give a glimpse into the soul of the time and place, not just a textbook overview.

As for the increasing sexual nature of Jacky, she is now sixteen and has for a long while been responsible for the health and welfare of herself and many others. It is understandable that this part of her life would mature, too. The consequences for herself and her friends aren't lost on her. I have survived one teenage daughter, have another on the brink, and feel it has been handled well so far but it may not be for everyone. I am listening ahead of my 12 year old daughter so I know which subjects, both personal and historical, I want to address more fully.