LISTENER

anasta

  • 110
  • reviews
  • 56
  • helpful votes
  • 145
  • ratings

Not good

Overall
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-01-25

Awful narration! Was the reader on a mission to finish asap? The Welsh pronunciation was right but some other words were not correct. The story was poor too...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Weird little story!

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 13-12-24

The story never got any more believable nor less complicated the more it went on!
the narrator is not too bad, which is a bonus.
No more books by this author for me!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Cosy and utterly predictable!

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 13-12-24

Great book for insomniacs as it is quite harmless and very predictable.
The performance by Helen Keeley was very good though.
May not read anything else by this author!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Twee

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 22-09-24

I thought that there were some aspects of this book which were fairly OK. The performance was good and saved the story I thought. Just glad I didn't read it and just listened to it.
It was weird that this author tried to put every life experience known to man in one book. Divorce, betrayal, moving home, giving up your job, new pet owner, finding long-lost people, missing people, long-lost romance, autism, loneliness, dementia, old-age, DNA testing, community life, mental health problems, teenage anxiety, etc etc etc!!!
Goodness me, there was enough material for 6 books here!
Some of the writing was good in its reflective aspects, but I think that this book was definitely NOT for me! Much too twee - too many loose-ends tied up for a sugary ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent story

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 24-08-24

This book had unexpected twists and turns at the beginning but pretty soon I guessed the significance of the main plot.
It was well-written, good characters, good plot.
I liked the idea that the main protagonist was not young - and that things happen to older people!
I must say the narrator was amazing and did a fabulous job with the whole story. She performed it all so well and made it come to life. I would definitely read more from this author but also listen to this narrator again.
I like the different feel to this book and its POV is refreshing.
Would recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Ok but over-complicated

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 18-08-24

Was a bit convoluted in its plot formation....not for me! \
I am not sure I would want to read more of this author.
Fair play - the narrator did her best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Too long!

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 18-08-24

Normally I enjoy Edith Wharton but this book was SO LONG!
I mean, if there is a moral to this story, one can see it about a third of the way through the book.
However, it is amusing and quite fun to listen to I guess.
The narrator was brilliant and performed the story very well indeed, I thought.
Maybe I shoul have abandoned it and not finished it [the ending was slightly strange!].
Overall...a bit disappointing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Brilliant!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 31-07-24

I loved this book. I had read [for my book group] "You are here" so I perhaps should have started with this one.
I think the writing of David Nicholls is superb. The way he structures his stories, brings characters in and out of focus, surprises the reader with events and generally just uses words properly and excitingly.
The characters take over the plot and become so well-known to the reader that they are missed when the book finishes!
The narrator [Anna Bentinck] performs this book superbly and never forgets a character's nuances or accents. She is exceptional and does the book proud.
I shall go on with more David Nicholls' work but I think I heard in an interview that he only writes one book every 3-4 years...so hopefully there are enough to keep me heppy!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The Love Letter cover art

Oh dear!

Overall
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-07-24

Well, it is the sort of book which leaves me speechless, all for the wrong reasons!
It is about 5 hours too long - mainly because the intricacies of the convoluted plot are so tightly woven as to become completely incredible.
All the characters were flawed - did not believe in ANY of them! Even down to the old lady [same name!] from the Titanic film...and others named after [it seems] characters from other books. [Won't give anything away, see if you can spot them].
The book is heavy on coincidence which doesn't help the feeling of being totally unbelievable. It was almost like a soap opera in that "surely not all that drama [and so many necessary revelations] can happen in one book"....?
Quite a few grammatical errors - not sure how they were missed! By the way, I think the narrator did as good a job as she could...
This is my first [and last!] Lucinda Riley. So disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 23-06-24

Another triumph by Hilary Boyd!i
This author manages to write about people and their lives in an interesting and caring way.
She is aware of - and sympathetically writes about - the problems and foibles of people who are "past the first flush of youth" shall we say and that alone is refeshing. [Not everything is about people in their 20s - 40s!]
Most of the issues written about in this book are topical and relevant to society in general and that is brilliantly done.
The narration is also great and I felt it is worthy of a 5*
I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. Well done Hilary Boyd and well done Anna Cordell.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!