Bjerkana

Charm and humanity

Reviewed: 07-31-21

Although admittedly dark, this for me is the best of Rachel's books. Still infused with her characteristic humour and whimsy, this book faces, head-on, topics which our society shuns but should discuss, serious illness and death, with a humanity and lightness of touch which permits her to plumb enormous depths without seeming maudlin. It has inspired me to revisit The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which I read years ago and will now enjoy again with the added insights gained from Queenie Hennessy.

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Fabulous trip back in time

Reviewed: 04-14-20

I began this book, having already listened to the previous two books in the trilogy, just at the beginning of the Coronavirus "social distancing" and it has been my companion on all my "exercise walks" for the past couple of weeks. What a marvellous book! I have been so absorbed in Cromwell's story that I felt I had lost a friend by the time I finished it and cried walking along the path at the end. The final interview between Hilary Mantel and the Narrator, Ben Miles, whose outstanding telling of this story took me right into the Court of Henry VII, added another dimension. Ben has truly inhabited the character of Cromwell and feels more familiar than my own family at this time of physical separation. I can't recommend this book highly enough - but if you haven't already heard the first two books in the trilogy I strongly suggest visiting them first. That way you live Cromwell's entire life through the series. This is a series I'm very sad to have concluded.

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3 people found this helpful

Totally engaging

Reviewed: 08-28-19

I chose this book as a fan of Hilary Mantel's writing but a short way into it I confronted the topic of the spirit world in terms which normally would have had me tossing the book away. However, I decided to persevere because Anna Bentinck's narration was so outstanding and soon I found myself deeply into "willing suspension of disbelief". Despite the content of the story departing fundamentally from my own belief system, the writing, characterisation and above all the performance were so excellent that the book was one of my most enjoyed titles from Audible.

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Gripping, intriguing

Reviewed: 01-23-17

I've recently become a fan of Christobel Kent, with her almost stream-of-consciousness style of unfolding a narrative. The story is told very much from the perspective of her protagonist and develops in the manner of thought, with random connections, recollections and ideas provoked by what's going on in the action, so that the story unfolds in patches, with a misty confusion like real life. The characters come into focus and then recede as the heroine interprets and then reinterprets their motivations, keeping the suspense level high. My only quibble is that there are some aspects of the plot which are a little extreme but Kent maintains the willing suspension of disbelief through her masterful unravelling of the facts of the story. The narration is excellent and contributes to the drama.

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LOVED this book!

Reviewed: 12-02-16

I've enjoyed all Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad books, although I'm not usually a crime fiction fan. She has a knack for human portraits and a gift for seeing the intricacies of relationships which elevate the book far above the average "who dunnit". Her plots are full of interesting twists and I love the way she brings back minor characters from previous books to flesh them out in more detail. Can't wait for her next book.
As with all the books I've heard in this series, the performance is outstanding and I'd certainly seek out other narrations by Hilda Fay.

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Exceptional audiobook

Reviewed: 11-05-16

If you liked Emma Donoghue's "Room" or Liane Moriarty's "Truly, Madly Guilty", this book takes a look at similar issues but is so, so much deeper. With great sensitivity and compassion, Olsen handles very difficult and dark content without the need for graphic horror. And yet it is a story of redemption and love, amid all the bleakness.
The lead character is totally sympathetic, although her naivety is sometimes a little surprising, but understandable from her restricted up-bringing.
This was a totally gripping story. Excellent use of flashbacks illuminate the present as the story unfolds.
The cream on this cake was the performance, which was truly outstanding, like watching a movie, with carefully nuanced voices for each character, including both genders.

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33 people found this helpful

Live the story

Reviewed: 10-20-16

It's so easy to gloss over the amazing events of Henry VIII's life with a sentence or two. Katherine of Aragon is often dismissed with a few words as Henry's first wife yet she shared more than twenty years with him, had six pregnancies of which only one produced a surviving child, Princess Mary, and she died as a virtual prisoner when he decided to get rid of her to marry Ann Boleyn. In this remarkable book, Alison Weir brings her story to life, through careful research of contemporary sources, so you feel as though you live through the whole saga at Katherine's side. A great addition to her body of historical work and a really engaging audiobook.

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1 person found this helpful

Charming and poetic

Reviewed: 07-08-16

It took me a little while to get into this book as the writing style is distinctive and beautiful and you need to get your head into it. However it was worth persevering. A book of rare beauty, slightly magical, delightful and wonderfully written. Winman's prose is gorgeous and her characters are deep and mysterious. The story has a delightful circularity which I didn't see coming.
The narration was excellent, not the usual quality of an author-read book but powerful and elegant, with beautifully delineated characters. A most different and enjoyable book.

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4 people found this helpful

Fascinating psychological study

Reviewed: 05-20-16

This intriguing book provides an intimate glimpse into the thoughts of two characters locked in a life and death struggle with each other. Each character perfectly justifies their own thinking processes and neither makes the contact they wish with the other. A fascinating study of the minds of a prisoner and a jailer, it shows the shifting of emotional power between the two and how each rationalises their reactions according to their own values. The performance was excellent, with each character finding a believable voice. A most worthwhile book.

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Sweet romance

Reviewed: 03-17-16

I didn't realise when I bought this book that it was a formulaic romance. It's a sweet story but very predictable from the beginning. If romances are your bag then this is a charming one in a beautiful setting. However, if you are expecting some depth, strong characterisation and adult treatment, then this novel might not be for you.

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2 people found this helpful