This story was a cautionary tale for us all, with a stunning 5 star ending.
However, I feel the novel as a whole merited somewhere between 33 1/2 stars
This story was a cautionary tale for us all, with a stunning 5 star ending.
However, I feel the novel as a whole merited somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. There were just too many characters, all with disparate storylines. The only thread that connected them was how the Marriage Act affected each. I would have enjoyed the story more without the constant shifting after each chapter from each character’s story to a different one. Most chapters consisted of 5 pages or less, and there were 94 chapters. That was a LOT of bouncing around.
I am 1 1/2 hours in, and am not enjoying this at all. Also, I had no idea that Jo was supposed to be autistic until I just read the book blurb. You coI am 1 1/2 hours in, and am not enjoying this at all. Also, I had no idea that Jo was supposed to be autistic until I just read the book blurb. You could have fooled me.
I found this to be an uncomfortable novel to listen to. Ms. Howard did an excellent job of narration - but maybe a bit too good. I found he3 1/2 stars
I found this to be an uncomfortable novel to listen to. Ms. Howard did an excellent job of narration - but maybe a bit too good. I found her tone to be decidedly creepy. The subject matter was disturbing enough as it was - it didn't need the added embellishment.
Danny Montooth began narrating as Nate in Part 2, and I can't help wondering why? It really broke the flow of the story for me, and he sounded nothing at all like he did in Part 1.
I would have liked Part 3 to have been expanded. The ending seemed very rushed to me. And the last couple of paragraphs were ridiculous, unnecessary, and came out of left field.
Audiobook Leslie Howard - Narrator Danny Montooth - Narrator Duration: 09:35:31...more
“Always awake by 6am, up by 6.30am at the latest. Comes from years in the army. On exercise we trained our m3 1/2 stars
I liked the understated humor.
“Always awake by 6am, up by 6.30am at the latest. Comes from years in the army. On exercise we trained our men the same way. Bowel movement at 7am and on with the day.” He coughs and returns to the crossword and Janice wonders if he is regretting sharing the last part.
And you gotta love names like Mrs. YeahYeahYeah and Mr. NoNoNotNow ...more
I like the idea of this series better than I like the execution.
Does the author really need to make so many of these characters such over-the-top carI like the idea of this series better than I like the execution.
Does the author really need to make so many of these characters such over-the-top caricatures, and so incredibly inane? I am wondering why in the world I am continuing with this series. I think it is only because each is short and sweet, and they fill the time when I have a gap in between novels that I REALLY want to read. I read them when I was pressed for time, but I am getting real tired of the absurdity of them all.
All we need is Agatha Raisin to move in next door, and the series would be complete!
35 minutes of this was enough to convince me that I did not want to listen to any more of this book.
Audiobook Jessie Cave - Narrator Lino Facioli - Narr35 minutes of this was enough to convince me that I did not want to listen to any more of this book.
I was utterly charmed by the innocence and naivete of the 5 puppets… the King, the Wolf, the Boy, the Girl and the Owl. The story was enhanced by one I was utterly charmed by the innocence and naivete of the 5 puppets… the King, the Wolf, the Boy, the Girl and the Owl. The story was enhanced by one of the most perfect narrations I have ever listened to.
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Audiobook Allan Corduner – Narrator Duration: 01:39:29...more
I am very surprised that this novel is being marketed as a book for adults. I think it would be better suited for youngsters. (Except for that "vulva"I am very surprised that this novel is being marketed as a book for adults. I think it would be better suited for youngsters. (Except for that "vulva" comment - which I could have done without.)
Both read and listened to, and I preferred reading the hard copy. I really, really, REALLY disliked the voice the narrator used for Hugo.
Audiobook Rachel L. Jacobs - Narrator Paul Boehmer - Narrator Duration: 10:38:16...more
Even though this was a story that centered on misery, heartache and betrayal, there was something compulsively readable about it. I would be 3 ½ stars
Even though this was a story that centered on misery, heartache and betrayal, there was something compulsively readable about it. I would be shocked if this does not get nominated for a GoodReads Choice Award next fall.
I have to say that I WAS disappointed that the story was so completely predictable, and not really nuanced.
I went into this novel cold (and I HIGHLY recommend that you do the same). I had put it on hold at the library several months ago, and consequently haI went into this novel cold (and I HIGHLY recommend that you do the same). I had put it on hold at the library several months ago, and consequently had no memory of what it was about. When it showed up in my email, I downloaded it and began.
What a pleasant surprise the opening chapter was! The story started out in a completely original way, and just blew me away. I was delighted with it, and my delight continued right to the end.
This was one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. Kudos to the author, and to all of the narrators that brought her novel so vividly to life.
NOTE TO MATURE ADULTS: Do not be put off by the many YA awards
YALSA Teens Top Ten Title Winner, 2020 Golden Kite Award for Young Adult Fiction Winner, 2020 Amelia Walden Prize Winner, 2020 Whitney Award A New York Times Bestseller Wall Street Journal Best Children's Books of 2019 Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 2019 Blue Ribbon Kirkus Best YA Romances of 2019 Booklist Editors’ Choice Books for Youth 2019 Horn Book Fanfare Title 2019 BookPage Best Books of 2019 (#3 out of 10 books) Shelf Awareness 2019 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year BuzzFeed Best Young Adult Books of 2019 (#7 out of 31 books) The Young Folks Best Historical YA Fiction of 2019 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Semifinalist 2020 YALSA Amazing Audiobooks Booklist Editors’ Choice Youth Audiobooks 2019
Audiobook Narrated by - Allan Corduner – the Narrator Jayne Entwistle - Aphrodite Dion Graham - Apollo Fiona Hardingham – Hazel’s letters John Lee - Hades Nathaniel Parker - Ares Steve West – Jame’s letters Julie Berry – Colette and Author’s Notes Duration: 12:57:47
UPDATE 5-1-24 Purchased as a gift for 15 year old granddaughter Meredith...more
Do not let your mind wander while you listen to this, or you may get completely lost. There are twists GALORE in this novel (many of which 2 1/2 stars
Do not let your mind wander while you listen to this, or you may get completely lost. There are twists GALORE in this novel (many of which are completely unbelievable - as is the ending).
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Audiobook Narrator - Christine Lakin Narrator - Dawn Harvey Duration: 12:32:25...more
If you are in the mood for chick-lit, this one is a good choice. The ending actually took me completely by surprise!
Audiobook Evanna Lynch - Narrator HIf you are in the mood for chick-lit, this one is a good choice. The ending actually took me completely by surprise!
Audiobook Evanna Lynch - Narrator Heather Long - Narrator Kathryn Drysdale - Narrator Luke Thompson - Narrator Duration: 10:47:37...more
This story was not doing it for me AT ALL. Even though it was read by one of my favorite narrators, I just could not get into it.
Can I also add that IThis story was not doing it for me AT ALL. Even though it was read by one of my favorite narrators, I just could not get into it.
Can I also add that I thought the dialog between the two best friends was completely ridiculous, as was their names. January and Shadi... who has names like these?
Audiobook Julia Whelan - Narrator Duration: 10:13:04
My daughter had recommended this book to me, and I happily dived right in just as soon as I could get my hands oI should have loved this – I didn’t.
My daughter had recommended this book to me, and I happily dived right in just as soon as I could get my hands on a copy. I was dismayed to realize that I was not enjoying this AT ALL – in fact, was bored by it. Things really headed south after I got to Part 3, and learned Esme would be seeking out “improper” words… words used by the lower classes… words not being collected for the main dictionary. Words like “c**t” and “q**m”.
After being treated to the definition of words like “c**t (‘I got an itchy c**t’ she said scratching the front of her skirts) and “q**m (‘Tis the juices, lass’ she flicked her tongue in and out against her cracked lips), I decided that this was not for me and I could reasonably be released from having to read any more of it. What a relief it is to be a prude!
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Both read and listened to. The narration was fine.