Laura

Keeps your interest...

Reviewed: 09-25-06

I really liked the story, specially the beginning, before the title character shows up, to tell the truth... The dynamics of the family forming out of the two divorced parents with children is very well done. I almost wish the Tamsin part of the story hadn't been there. But overall, the book is interesting, and one does wonder what will happen at the end. One big drawback I felt was that the book being read by the author was not a good thing. After all, the story is told from the first person by a teenage girl, it's odd to hear a mature man's voice!

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Fascinating story!

Reviewed: 09-25-06

I loved this book! It has just the right amount of technical detail, but doesn't overwhelm. Jeffrey Kluger is an excellent science writer. I also found interesting that the "politics" of medical research were similar in the first half of the 20th century to what they are now. I recommend this book to all who are interested in how this horrible disease of children was finally conquered.

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7 people found this helpful

Fascinating

Reviewed: 04-24-06

I really enjoyed the author's weaving of history and the adventures of Attilius the aquarius. The details about the eruption follow the description given by Pliny who was actually there. And you have to wonder how the hero is going to survive when he is in the wrong place at the wrong time... Very worth listening to. It encouraged me to find out more about volcanos and Vesuvius in particular.

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Excellent!!

Reviewed: 04-24-06

I loved this book! Not only is the book excellent, the narrator is great at doing all the different voices. I had to laugh out loud several times, specially during the Bartimaeus chapters. I really recomment this book to readers of all ages. Also the other two in the trilogy.

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Tiresome and too long

Reviewed: 08-24-05

Even the first story within the story I thought was too long. The "main plot" becomes quagmired in all the "stories" that are part of this book. I was able to guess rhe answer to all the "surprises" the author had laid for the reader. Couldn't care less what became of the unlovable characters. I ended up fast-forwarding thru the last few stories because I couldn't stand it anymore. Good premise, but not executed well. I had higher expectations...

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4 people found this helpful

An interesting place, The Alhambra...

Reviewed: 07-02-05

It was interesting to read about Spain and the Alhambra as it was so long ago. The characters are well drawn, the stories are fascinating. My only complaint would be the lisp and monotonous tone of the reader. That almost put me off when I first started to listen to the book. I would still recommend it, I did get used to reader eventually.

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1 person found this helpful

A little slow going at first...

Reviewed: 07-02-05

I have to admit I got rather tired of the first third of this book. I wanted to get this part over with and start delving into the "secret world of the geisha". There's really not too much of that in this book. But it does get more interesting once the heroine begins her geisha studies, and it does have a satisfactory ending, in my opinion.

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Better than first book!

Reviewed: 03-17-05

I enjoyed the continuing story of Takeo and Kaede. This book is even better I think because it builds up the characters and they grow up thru the hardships they have to endure. As in the first book, the descriptions are beautifully detailed and make you feel like you're there.

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Fascinating setting in feudal Japan

Reviewed: 03-17-05

I found the setting fascinating, the descriptions of the characters and environment so detailed I felt I was there. It's hard not to like the characters in this book. I also enjoyed the male voice for Takeo's chapters and the female voice for Kaede's chapters. It's a refreshing change from other novels set in this timeframe and always set in a European culture context.

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1 person found this helpful

Really fascinating mysteries

Reviewed: 01-27-05

Just finished listening to Haunted Ground. The two mysteries in the story are really fascinating. I learned about bog bodies, and the book inspired me to do some research on the subject on the Web. These are truly fascinating. The characters in the book are very well drawn. I found myself really caring for them, and really involved in their emotions as the answers were revealed. The ending has a surprise twist in it which is totally unexpected. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to more by the same author. And I should mention the narrator's voice and accent are wonderfully suited to the Irish setting and voices of the characters.

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2 people found this helpful