This started out well, but the more I read the less I liked it. The novel tried way too hard to be humorous... but only became annoying and2 1/2 stars
This started out well, but the more I read the less I liked it. The novel tried way too hard to be humorous... but only became annoying and ridiculous. Also, the frequent discussion about S&M became a bit much.
This was a delight to listen to, and bumps my four star rating up to a full 5 stars. It was an excellent choice for my book club, and I look forward tThis was a delight to listen to, and bumps my four star rating up to a full 5 stars. It was an excellent choice for my book club, and I look forward to a lively discussion.
NOTE: So glad I did not read the book blurb before starting the book.
• Hard to believe plot • Annoying characters • Uninspired denouement
(view spoiler)[I am not sure who make the decision to have 3 people narra2 1/2 stars
• Hard to believe plot • Annoying characters • Uninspired denouement
(view spoiler)[I am not sure who make the decision to have 3 people narrate this story, but whoever it was must think we readers are clueless idiots. There are several male characters in this story, yet only ONE of them rates his own narrator. Can we guess that is because he is the murderer? DUH!
Knowing who the murderer was right from the beginning really ruined it for me. And the entire time I was listening, I became angry at passages like this one – “The killer sent a text to Riley. It made the hair rise on the back of my neck this morning when she told me, in confidence. Why would he do that?”. I was shaking my head because he knew damn well, and there would have been no reason for the hair to raise on the back of his neck. I call that cheap manipulation (hide spoiler)]
I expected much better from this novel.
Audiobook NYPL January LaVoy – Narrator Jorjeana Marie – Narrator Barrett Leddy – Narrator Duration: 08:49:48...more
Wow… I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed in a series book. What was fun, flirty and suggestive in the first book was crude, smutty anWow… I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed in a series book. What was fun, flirty and suggestive in the first book was crude, smutty and blatant in this second one.
Evidence of Veronica’s crassness appeared throughout the story. My low opinion of this novel was firmly cinched when Veronica began stroking a dildo, and then proceeded to describe the sensation to Stoker. Pardon MY crudeness, but this type of thing only served to show Veronica as an unflattering cocktease.
“I ran a finger down the glass specimen. “Delightfully smooth, although it is too cold to be inviting. I imagine one could warm it up in hot water first—or perhaps some heated oil just to make it nicely slippy. Stoker, are you quite well? You were blushing like a queen of the May a moment ago and now you’ve gone white.” – A Perilous Undertaking
So here is my dilemma… I am halfway in love with Stoker, but I have come to intensely dislike brazen Veronica. Stoker has the instincts / qualities / actions of a gentleman, and I find him absolutely charming. Veronica has none of the attributes of a lady, and I consider her to be low class / abrasive / vulgar.
I am not sure if I am going to be able to continue with this series. I am not looking for erotica....more
Oh no... even though Betty was not back, the novel centered around her cottage and she was mentioned quite frequently. I loathe Betty and h3 1/2 stars
Oh no... even though Betty was not back, the novel centered around her cottage and she was mentioned quite frequently. I loathe Betty and her "American" ways. (and I am American) I DO NOT want her to end up with Alfie.
Audiobook Nathaniel Parker - Narrator Duration: About 3 hours
As part of a compilation audiobook Episodes 7-9 Duration: 09:26:58...more
This is going to sound petty, but I got really annoyed by the frequent references to the death of June's mother. It was like she was completely paralyThis is going to sound petty, but I got really annoyed by the frequent references to the death of June's mother. It was like she was completely paralyzed because of it. And it was 8 years ago!
All I could think of was Prince Harry and is constant whinging about the death of his mother. I am not a monster, but life goes on and I am sick of hearing about it.
Since I could tell exactly where this story was going, and I was so frequently annoyed by it, I knew this book was not for me.
This book tried too hard to be “quirky”. It was frequently nonsensical, and I found my mind often wandering when listening to the audiobook.
There was This book tried too hard to be “quirky”. It was frequently nonsensical, and I found my mind often wandering when listening to the audiobook.
There was definitely a pattern to the writing. A character would remember something important, forget it in a dementia induced haze at a somewhat crucial moment, and then remember it sometime later as if a light bulb went off over their heads. Plus, the author employed just about every looney tunes stereotype known to exist for seniors. At time it made for frustrating reading.
I had no idea what was happening for much of the novel. Everything was continually crazy, and my attention kept going in and out because so much of it did not make much sense. I could not help but wonder at the purpose of Hetty and Brexit. Were they supposed to be zany comic relief? If so, they fell abysmally short. They did not add much at all to the story other than to underline “quirkiness”.
The story was mildly amusing, but I didn’t get any laugh-out-loud moments. The ending was very good however, so I am glad I stuck with it. If there is going to be a sequel, I would probably read it.
Both read and listened to, and I preferred reading the hard copy. Even though the narration was excellent, I found I focused better on the story when looking at the written word.
Audiobook Narrated by Moira Quirk Duration: 12:04:49
Both read and listened to. This audiobook does not divide the 3 novellas into books, nor does it label the chapters. Consequently, it is really hard tBoth read and listened to. This audiobook does not divide the 3 novellas into books, nor does it label the chapters. Consequently, it is really hard to go back and forth between formats. Stick with one or the other.
Audiobook Narrated by Nathaniel Parker Duration: 03:06:58
As part of a compilation audiobook Episodes 7-9 Duration: 09:26:58...more
This was just "ok". The further I got into the story, the less I liked it. I particularly did not care for Tess gossiping to her friend Orl2 1/2 stars
This was just "ok". The further I got into the story, the less I liked it. I particularly did not care for Tess gossiping to her friend Orla about all the B&B guests, and then the friend actually interacting with all of the guests.
NOTE: This is the 2nd book in which Tess and Orla appear. I consider this to be book #2 in a series, since it refers back to things that happened in the book "The Silver Ladies of Penny Lane".
Audiobook Jilly Bond - Narrator Duration: 08:32:40 ...more
I love how clever this book is... for example, it gently illustrates that "getting to the top" may not be all it is cracked up to be, and warns us thaI love how clever this book is... for example, it gently illustrates that "getting to the top" may not be all it is cracked up to be, and warns us that "going too far" can have negative consequences. On the other hand, "taking matters into your own hands" can turn out to be a very good thing and you really need to "get used to disappointments". Delightful!
At the end of this book it seems like there will be another in the series, but nothing so far. This was authored in 2016, so I don't have high hopes. I would definitely read it if one ever gets published.
Audiobook Narrated by Katherine Kellgren Duration: 06:10:27...more
Some good – some bad. [image] The plotting was strong, but the characterizations were weak. For example, I frequently disbelieved that Kate would haveSome good – some bad. [image] The plotting was strong, but the characterizations were weak. For example, I frequently disbelieved that Kate would have acted as she did, given her history. There were several instances where the overriding thought in my head was “BULLS**T”!
The good and bad rating also applied to the narrator. I enjoyed her clear diction and expressive elocution, but after a while I became fixated on the LOUD inhalations she routinely took every few minutes. It became very distracting.
The powerful start to this novel fizzled to a questionable ending.
Both read and listened to.
Audiobook Narrated by Eva Kaminsky Duration: 10:56:10...more
As usual, I did not look at the book blurb prior to selecting this story. Had I realized the idea behind the writing, and that Neil Gaiman shared authAs usual, I did not look at the book blurb prior to selecting this story. Had I realized the idea behind the writing, and that Neil Gaiman shared authorship with “Twitterverse”, I never would have chosen it. I actually picked it up because of both the author Neil Gaiman and the narrator Katherine Kellgren. She did not disappoint.
However, the story DID disappoint. The best thing about it was Mr. Gaiman's opening line.
"Sam was brushing her hair when the girl in the mirror put down the hairbrush, smiled, and said, "We don't love you anymore."
Wow, what a GREAT first line! Too bad everything that followed was discordant nonsense.
Audiobook Narrated by Katherine Kellgren Duration: 01:46:08
Neil Gaiman, the BBC, and 124 Twitterers Make Fiction • 12-03-09
Award-winning writer Neil Gaiman (one of our Most-Creative People) started a new fairy tale on Twitter–and the world wrote the rest of it. Users tweeted lines for the story, helping it unfold on BBC Audiobooks America’s twitter feed. The now-finished story has been edited and released as a free audiobook available at the BBC’s site and iTunes.
How did the Twitter story, “Hearts, Keys, and Puppetry,” come about? The plan for the crowdsourced project was inspired by the Royal Opera House’s Twitter experiment. BBCAA sought out a twitter-savvy author to kick the thing off, and found it in Gaiman. “Neil very generously embraced the idea right away,” says the project’s moderator for BBCAA, Tara Gelsomino. “He crafted a doozy of a sentence and agreed to tweet it at our selected start time, despite the fact that he would be en route to China.”
After Gaiman’s start, users tweeted lines marked with a certain hash tag. Those were reviewed and the next bit was chosen. This continued, tweet by tweet, scene by scene, from 9 to 5 over eight days, until the story reached its conclusion. The BBCAA received about 10,000 tweets, with the final story including 874 tweets and a total of 14,374 words. There were 124 contributors (including this writer). “It was thrilling and a tiny bit overwhelming,” says Gelsomino.
But is the final result of this experiment, “Hearts,” a good read? Decide for yourself....more
While walking along the canal yesterday, I saw a penny laying on the ground. I bent over to pick it up, saw that it was tails up, and immediately abanWhile walking along the canal yesterday, I saw a penny laying on the ground. I bent over to pick it up, saw that it was tails up, and immediately abandoned it. Ms. Rapscott would be so proud of me!
This story was great fun! The narrator was over-the-top, which some may find annoying. Not me, I thought it added to the production value and loved it!
Audiobook Narrated by Katherine Kellgren Duration: 03:40:21...more
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