Cheryl M. Spires

A profound sense of compassion and understanding

Reviewed: 02-28-24

I have always assumed that I would not like this book but having returned to classic fiction to find a good piece of fiction, I decided to give it a try. Minutes into the narration, I was sure I had made a mistake, but I pressed on.
I am glad I did. Of all the books, fiction and non-fiction, I read or listened to in 2023, this was the best.
The events of the story are briskly told and keep the reader engaged. The story is also told with only a hint of disdain for those who do wrong and is unapologetic in its delivery of the events of the story.
Even so, the author's ability to relay the feelings of the main character and to show compassion for him is unparalleled in any other story I have ever read.
The narrator's gritty, clear voice is perfect for the story.
It is no wonder that this book is a beloved classic. I rarely read books twice, but I am sure I will listen to this again one day just to hear its poignant messages again.

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Short story, big impact

Reviewed: 06-24-23

I am a fan of the short story already, but Ethan Frome is definitely now one of my favorites. It would be a chilling tale even if much of it wasn't set in the cold and snow.
At first I wasn't overjoyed by the added music and sound effects, but once I swapped from my phone to my car speakers and other Bluetooth devices, I had no problem hearing the narrator clearly above the background, and I began to appreciate the added touches. They were very well done, and the light grit in the narrator's voice lent itself well to the darkness of the story.

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A little too "Southern" for me

Reviewed: 06-24-23

While I strongly identify with a number of female southern writers, I did not particularly enjoy this book. I recalled starting on it years ago in paperback form and never coming back to it. Welty's ability to capture the essence of the town and the characters was excellent, but the story itself was so sticky-sweet and sappy (typical rendition of many southern towns and their people), I almost stopped listening a couple chapters in. I did finish listening, however.
For what the story was, the narrator was perfect and did an excellent job delivering each character's most likely voice.

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Not my favorite Flannery

Reviewed: 12-25-22

This collection of stories is not my favorite of Flannery O'Connor. Some stories were better than others, but those I liked least all seemed to be much too similar and drug out a simpler moral more than necessary.
I would have preferred a single narrator to the several included here and generally prefer a woman reading Flannery's work.

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As profound today as ever

Reviewed: 12-25-22

Ayn Rand is as skilled a writer as they come. To build such a monumental work with such precision to convey her philosophy is evidence of an incredible mind and talent. Regardless of one's agreement or not with her point of view, these things cannot be disputed. An incredible tale paced to perfection.
Christopher Hurt did a great job narrating. It was not the best I have heard, but it deserved more than four stars and thus my five star rating.

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Superb narration. Exquisite writing.

Reviewed: 11-22-22

Quite honestly, the best narration I have heard to date. I did not know what to expect of this story, as the Bronte's have been called sappy on more than one occasion. What I found was a believable tale woven by a master writer, a tale that touches on many inner battles we all face. I will be sure to read more of Charlotte Bronte's work.

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A most timely point

Reviewed: 09-05-22

This book is cleverly written, and the final toast can be applied to so many periods of time, including and most certainly today.

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Timeless story

Reviewed: 05-03-22

What an enjoyable story this was! The plot was timeless and the characters familiar. The narrator was able to create pictures of the characters with merely the associated voices he gave each of them. Excellent perforformance!

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Bad choice by the book club

Reviewed: 12-29-21

I dont know who chose this book for our book club, nor do I know why they chose it. I could have done done so many more valuable things with my time than listen to this book. The narrator was excellent, but the story was really nothing more than a string of the main character's sexual exploits. There didn't seem to be a real point to it, and any attempt to do so missed the mark completely. I would not recommend this book at all.

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How do you fall in love with Flannery again?

Reviewed: 12-22-21

Listen! Listening to Flannery brings the "reader" to an even greater understanding and a greater appreciation for all the detail and nuances of her writing. I loved this reading. Kudos to Marguerite Gavin for a job done exquisitely!

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2 people found this helpful