“… I can see how tired you are. All of you. It’s been an exhausting year for everyone. George’s company almost going under, then my Colin passin1 star
“… I can see how tired you are. All of you. It’s been an exhausting year for everyone. George’s company almost going under, then my Colin passing on, now Marissa’s illness.” Emily’s tone was flat and determined. “You have to go. We’ve been through this a dozen times. You HAVE to. This vacation has been like a lifeline for all of you.” - Tidings of Comfort and Joy
I have no patience about this type of “crisis” – no one “desperately” needs a vacation. I’ve been bone tired and stressed to the max and managed to not dump off a sick kid at Christmastime because I “needed” a vacation.
Plus, I don’t want to read about teenage angst. The over-the-top theatrics exhaust me.
2. This is the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
3. This is the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the hous1. This is the house that Jack built.
2. This is the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
3. This is the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
4. This is the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
5. This is the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
6. This is the cow with the crumpled horn, That toss'd the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
7. This is the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
8. This is the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
9. This is the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milked the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
10. This is the cock that crow'd in the morn, That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That kill'd the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built.
11. This is the farmer sowing his corn, That kept the cock that crow'd in the morn, That waked the priest all shaven and shorn, That married the man all tatter'd and torn, That kissed the maiden all forlorn, That milk'd the cow with the crumpled horn, That tossed the dog, That worried the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. Did you get sick of reading that nursery rhyme? Me too!
By the time I got through listening to the entire SLOW recitation of this poem, I decided that I was done listening to this audiobook. So far it had been longwinded, repetitious, boring and not at all humorous. It was nothing at all like his other book ‘Christmas at Grandma’s’.
Audiobook Narrated by Donald Davis 58 minutes Abandoned ship after 45 minutes. There was only 13 minutes left to go, but I just couldn’t do it....more
Do you remember the television show ‘I Love Lucy’? Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) has the same lovable vibe and the same propensity to get herself intoDo you remember the television show ‘I Love Lucy’? Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) has the same lovable vibe and the same propensity to get herself into “situations” as Lucy Ricardo. This ditsy heroine will not appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed it immensely.
This was absolutely the right book at the right time. ...more
**** An Elderly Lady Has Accommodation Problems ** An Elderly Lady on Her Travels *** An Elderly Lady Seeks Peace at Christmastime ** The A2 1/2 stars
**** An Elderly Lady Has Accommodation Problems ** An Elderly Lady on Her Travels *** An Elderly Lady Seeks Peace at Christmastime ** The Antique Dealer’s Death * An Elderly Lady is Faced with a Difficult Dilemma
By the time I got to the final story I was heartily sick of Maud. Just how many times can an old lady commit murder and get away with it? Everything felt repetitious and I was thrilled to be done.
Audiobook Narrated by Suzanne Toren 3 hours 12 minutes ...more
At first, I deemed the narrator’s exaggerated Southern accent too annoying to listen to, but somehow it very quickly became perfect for the voice of tAt first, I deemed the narrator’s exaggerated Southern accent too annoying to listen to, but somehow it very quickly became perfect for the voice of the young lad recounting some Christmas memories from his childhood. When I wasn’t laughing out loud, I had a small smile on my face the entire time I was listening to it. I thought it absolutely charming!
Audiobook Narrated by Donald Davis (author) 43 minutes...more
This wasn’t even a story – just a characterization of a crabby old lady that supposedly everyone adored and/or feared. Even the excellent narAunt Sass
This wasn’t even a story – just a characterization of a crabby old lady that supposedly everyone adored and/or feared. Even the excellent narration by could not save this.
NOTE: These stories have nothing to do with Christmas. They are stories that the author wrote and then gifted to her friends at Christmastime.
Gave up after 48 minutes and the completion of the 1st story
Audiobook Narrated by Catherine Clark 2 hours ...more
Lisa Jewell is always very "readable". However, I could have done without the triple timeline. I had to read the last chapter 3 times and try to rememLisa Jewell is always very "readable". However, I could have done without the triple timeline. I had to read the last chapter 3 times and try to remember everything that had happened before so that it all made sense. (And actually, some of it didn't.)
(view spoiler)[ What the hell was the end game going to be for the Jacques? If Scarlett's mother was protecting her daughter, then why didn't she kill Tallulah? They were never going to be able to let her go because she saw Scarlett kill Zach. Are we to believe that Scarlett was trying to get her mother to return to land? Yet assisted in keeping Tallulah tied up and drugged all the time? Which was over a year! And the brother was involved in this kidnapping too? WTF? None of that made any sense. (hide spoiler)]
I also do not understand AT ALL why the book opens with the definition of Arachnophobia. It gets mentioned once again VERY BRIEFLY in the body of the book, and is not meaningful to the story in any way, shape or form.
Both read and listened to.
Audiobook Narrated by Joanne Froggatt 11 hours 56 minutes ...more
This book should have been titled 'Everyone is Lying'. After a slow start, the "twists" come one right after the other. Try to keep up!This book should have been titled 'Everyone is Lying'. After a slow start, the "twists" come one right after the other. Try to keep up!...more
I became increasingly bored by this, and have not had any desire to listen to any more of it.
Audiobook Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden 13 hours 10 minutI became increasingly bored by this, and have not had any desire to listen to any more of it.
Audiobook Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden 13 hours 10 minutes
I like to read children’s literature at this time of year because I am looking for potential gifts to give to my grandchildren for Christmas. This booI like to read children’s literature at this time of year because I am looking for potential gifts to give to my grandchildren for Christmas. This book won’t be one of them.
First, let me say that there were some good things and some not so good things about this book. Happily, most of the characters were quite charming and I enjoyed spending time with them. The story was also original, which I always applaud. On the negative side, even though readers may appreciate that it ticks all the boxes popular these days, it is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. If this had been marketed as a book for adults, or even YA, then my rating would be 3 stars.
If this was supposed to be a book for children, my rating would be 0 stars. I would be horrified to imagine my granddaughter reading it. I don’t think that there is a place for overt and frequent sexual tension in a children’s story, nor should there be any veiled references to masturbation.
I both read this and listened to it, and preferred listening to it. The narrator was very good, and used several different voices.
Audiobook Narrated by Daniel Henning 12 hours 12 minutes...more
Some books are better read than listened to... this is one of them. Even though I thought Derek Jacobi was an excellent narrator, I preferred the noveSome books are better read than listened to... this is one of them. Even though I thought Derek Jacobi was an excellent narrator, I preferred the novel when I was reading it at my own pace. I was better able to savor the first-rate writing and not miss out on any of the details of the story.
Audiobook Narrated by Derek Jacobi 10 hours 27 minutes
NOTE: This novel was recommended by Stephen King...more
I'm not sure how much of this was actually written by Sarah Ferguson and how much by her "co-writer" Marguerite Kaye, but it was definitely NOT a matcI'm not sure how much of this was actually written by Sarah Ferguson and how much by her "co-writer" Marguerite Kaye, but it was definitely NOT a match made in heaven.
I hated the narration too.
Bailed after 15 painful minutes.
Audiobook Narrated by Sarah Ferguson and Ell Potter 16 hours 2 minutes...more
• Caroline ��� good storyline so far and very good narration
• Tess – unbelievable characters and mediocre narration
• Sarah – terrible writing and worse • Caroline – good storyline so far and very good narration
• Tess – unbelievable characters and mediocre narration
• Sarah – terrible writing and worse narration
I know I am not a fan of the “spunky” in-your-face heroine, so no surprise that I REALLY disliked Tess and Sarah, but I would have hoped that these characters could have acted in ways that were at all believable. Nope!
After Robert shared with Tess an intensely personal confidence, I rolled my eyes and decided that I could not listen to this bull s**t for another 10 hours. (Robert was an aristocrat and Tess was a servant. They barely knew each other since this was the 3rd time in their lives that they had even seen each other.)
I don’t know who wrote what, but I need to find out so that I can be sure never to read anything else written by 2 of these authors – and I never want to listen to anything by the woman who narrated Sarah.
Good premise to the story, but lousy execution.
Abandoned after 3 hours 54 minutes
Audiobook Narrated by Vanessa Johansson, Saskia Maarleveld, and Brittany Pressly 13 hours 44 minutes...more
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