Interestingly enough, I have never listened to a podcast. Are they supposed to sound like someone reading off a script?
I've never been a hu3 1/2 stars
Interestingly enough, I have never listened to a podcast. Are they supposed to sound like someone reading off a script?
I've never been a huge fan of "amnesia" stories, because (of course) the mystery will be solved when POOF the main character gets his/her memory back. That does not impress me. Had I known that before starting this book, I may never have picked it up.
For all that, the story was engaging. Both read and listened to, and each was equally enjoyable.
Audiobook BRK January LaVoy - Narrator Will Damron - Narrator Duration: 09:18:34...more
I'm not sure if it was just bad timing, but I just could not listen to another minute of this. It was nauseatingly "perky", and the narration was realI'm not sure if it was just bad timing, but I just could not listen to another minute of this. It was nauseatingly "perky", and the narration was really getting on my nerves.
Lots of people are waiting for this at my library, and will be delighted that I returned it so early.
I listened to the audiobook for just over an hour, and was bored to tears. Everything washed right over me, and I could not get interested in the storI listened to the audiobook for just over an hour, and was bored to tears. Everything washed right over me, and I could not get interested in the story. I kept waiting and waiting and WAITING for it to get better, and it never did. Since the average rating on GoodReads was 4.32 based on over 7500 ratings, I decided to give it one last shot by reading a hard copy and seeing if it got any better. BINGO!
Some books are just not meant to be listened to… this is one of them. There are frequent formatting changes, and the story bounces around too much to be successful as an audiobook. You are never quite sure where you are in time, what is happening or to whom Eddie is speaking (sometimes it is to the hamster!). But it all makes perfect sense when reading the pages.
And I agree with the high praise for this novel. I think the story is completely charming.
The author has a very easy breezy style of writing. I finished this off in 2 days.
I need to make note that Ms. McFadden has published 4 nov3 1/2 stars
The author has a very easy breezy style of writing. I finished this off in 2 days.
I need to make note that Ms. McFadden has published 4 novels and 1 short story in 2024, and I can't help wondering about that. Are these "old" stories, or is she cranking them out to cash in on her popularity this year?...more
I can't put my finger on it, but I am not enjoying this at all. Even Julia Whalen's narration can't get me interested in this story.
Audiobook OWWL NarrI can't put my finger on it, but I am not enjoying this at all. Even Julia Whalen's narration can't get me interested in this story.
Audiobook OWWL Narrated by Julia Whalen Duration: 07:49:24
I was better prepared this time for the type of story I would be getting with this 2nd book in the “Agnes Sharp” series, and consequently, en3 ½ stars
I was better prepared this time for the type of story I would be getting with this 2nd book in the “Agnes Sharp” series, and consequently, enjoyed it more. Not surprisingly, the story was a complete farce, but that is exactly what I expected it to be. I think one really needs to be in the mood for this type of thing in order to enjoy it… I was and I did.
I have a couple of criticisms:
Whover produced this audiobook needed to do a better job indicating the paragraph breaks. I can’t tell you how many times I became completely baffled, and had to back the story up after something appeared seemingly out of the blue.
Also, I could have done without all the dream sequences. I felt they were a distraction and added nothing to the story except more confusion.
This story felt completely dumbed-down, and there was not much mystery about it at all. While reading it, only one question kept running through my miThis story felt completely dumbed-down, and there was not much mystery about it at all. While reading it, only one question kept running through my mind... does Juan know Molly AT ALL?...more
This novel had it all… an intricate plot, clever writing, and humorous characters.
I was slow to get into the story as I was not absorbing anyth[image]
This novel had it all… an intricate plot, clever writing, and humorous characters.
I was slow to get into the story as I was not absorbing anything, and had to keep rewinding. After I was 100 pages in, I caught the flow and really began to enjoy it. I especially loved the tongue-in-cheek humor.
Both read and listened to, and both equally enjoyable.
I was not in love with this for the first 80 pages or so, mainly because the story was long on introspection and short on plot. I thought i3 1/2 stars
I was not in love with this for the first 80 pages or so, mainly because the story was long on introspection and short on plot. I thought it was quite depressing as Phoebe continually internalized her feelings of despair. The only good thing I took from it was that every now and again the author hit me with some comment that totally resonated. At least it gave me something to ponder.
Somewhere around Chapter 6, I started to enjoy it much better. The novel developed a decent storyline, and I was thankful that Phoebe’s analyzing became much less frequent.
I was not a fan of something that happened near the end of the novel. (view spoiler)[I felt that by sleeping with her ex-husband Matt, it undermined Phoebe's new found "strength", and cheapened her burgeoning "love" for Gary. Did it need to happen just so Phoebe could proclaim that now SHE was leaving HIM, and on her own terms? I don't know - I only know that it left me so disappointed. I would have preferred if she had rejected Matt without the need to have sex with him. (hide spoiler)]
This book sparked a lively conversation within my book club, featuring our fond memories of the large department stores that used to exist in RochesteThis book sparked a lively conversation within my book club, featuring our fond memories of the large department stores that used to exist in Rochester, NY. Everyone was nostalgic about going "Downtown", especially at Christmastime. We reminisced about The Midtown Clock, the Magic Mountain, the Mono-rail, lunch at McCurdy's 'Garden Room', B. Forman's window displays, Sibley's Toyland and the Magic Corridor... we went on and on, with each memory coming hard on the heels of the last! I disliked the book (boring), but LOVED our discussion.
[image]
And this is what became of our beloved Midtown Mall in 2007
This author has yet to disappoint. Both read and listened to, and each was enjoyable. I give a slight edge to the audiobook.
Audiobook QPL Narrated by KThis author has yet to disappoint. Both read and listened to, and each was enjoyable. I give a slight edge to the audiobook.
Audiobook QPL Narrated by Kristin Atherton Duration: 11:58:34...more