Micheline Golden

Good story, annoying narration.

Reviewed: 09-19-23

I enjoyed the story, always mindful that historical fiction is fiction. Those looking for more accuracy should look to non fiction.
However, the narration is a distraction. The constant mispronunciation of names is irritations. “Gentry” should be pronounced with a soft g, like a j, not a g. It’s a common name and word. Queen Alexandra’s nickname “Alix” was pronounced like “Alex” yet the narrator continually says “Uh-leeks.” As others have said, all the men sound alike, making it difficult to hear who is who.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Learned more about the author than her corset

Reviewed: 01-17-19

First, I will admit that I didn't finish this book. I gave up about two hours from the end. By that time I had already learned the author is scathingly superior to almost everyone she meets, has a difficult relationship with her mother, has a better grasp of medicine than doctors, is smarter than her fellow massage students, and uses faulty historical research. What I really wanted to hear was about her corseting experience - minus the long-winded judgements of the rest of the world. After being subjected to the boringly extended description of her broken foot experience, which contributed nothing to the narrative, I gave up. This is not a book about what someone learned from wearing a corset, Instead it's a kind of diary written by a snarky author who seems to only like her judo instructor, her husband, and a teenaged girl she met at a meeting once.

I had hoped for something more substantial. Despite allusions to her education and research, the author is not a historian. In supporting her choice to wear a corset the author cherry picks from primary historical sources. She fails to explore whether these references were truly substantiated in their opinions in their own era, and blatantly ignores many things we know now about corset use and the impact and affects on the human body.

Finally, the author just comes off as mean and petty. She doesn't want to be judged for living a lifestyle that is out of the norm, but certainly judges everyone around her. After several hours of listening to her disparage the opinions, conversations and life style of everyone around her, I gave up. Perhaps the end of the book was better, but I doubt it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Great stories, but ads are annoying

Reviewed: 10-03-08

I love these adaptations. They are fun, capture the spirit of old radio dramas, and the old Twilight Zones. However, be aware that at the end of each episode there is a 2-3 minute advertisement for the dramas, including the website address and information for ordering CDs and cassettes of the episodes. What the heck? I already bought it, that's how I'm listening to it. Since the episodes all run as a continuous show, there is no easy way to move my iPod past them. This alone will probably keep me from purchasing another collection.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Absolutely spectacular

Reviewed: 04-11-08

I'm not sure how I can adequately express just how much I enjoyed this book. I was slightly put off by the length - not sure if I could get through 40 hours. By the end, I was slightly sad to realize my time with this fascinating community of people was coming to an end. I read "The Pillars of the Earth" many years ago, so I can't make too much of a close comparison. This book accurately portrays like in Medieval England, from food and housing to medicine and lifestyles. The story deals with a time of change - not only the beginning of the 100 Years War, but the end of the Dark Ages, and a huge change in labor and aristocracy brought on by the beginning of the Plague.
Well worth the time and such and enjoyable book. The characters are real and believeable, and you'll find yourself sad to leave Kingsbridge once again at the end.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

36 people found this helpful

Outstanding historical novel

Reviewed: 04-22-07

I've been a fan of Alison Weir's non-fiction historical works for many years. This, her first venture into fiction, it every bit as satisfying. The input from so many sources, slowly building an unwanted web around Jane Grey, is addictive. It's a truly well-researched and compellingly written version of a tragic story.

The voicing in the audiobook makes it easy to keep track of the many narrators. It could easily be a confusing book but the multiple voices prevent that. The final voice, unheard until that time, brings the story to a hearbreaking end.

This book is so like Arthurian legend - you already know the end of the story, but somehow keep hoping this time it be different.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

54 people found this helpful

Horrible audio quality

Reviewed: 10-19-06

I love these books, and I love the story, but this sounds like it was badly re-recorded from someone's old cassette tapes. Parts of the story are just unintelligible. The weird echo effect for the dragon's voices renders them impossible to hear. An unabridged version with new audio would be much appreciated.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Darkly hysterical

Reviewed: 10-07-06

What a great book! Charlie, an unlikely hero and unwitting saviour of the world, is the kind of guy you usually ignore. His job as a second-hand junk merchant dovetails nicely with his unasked for avocation as a death merchant.

Set realistically in San Francisco, this book is just flat out funny. I've always suspected there were demons in the Trans Bay BART tunnel, and this book just confirms it.

The first few chapters were a little slow, but stick with it. They introduce the characters and set the scene for a great story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Enjoyable for fans

Reviewed: 08-02-06

Fans of this series will not be disappointed. This book has the intrigue, family connections and business dealings that have made all of these books favorites.

The narrator's American accents are horrid. The American characters all sound whiney and childlike, quite wrong for the dialogue.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Cute story

Reviewed: 08-02-06

A cute story, engaging and funny. The adventures and misadventures of the three women keep the story moving. Lots of fun.

The narrator's interpretation of an American accent for Jojo, however, it rather irritating. She sounds incredibly like a 16 year old California mall rat, rather than an international business woman.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good Adaptation, poor sound quality

Reviewed: 01-22-06

A good, sweet adaption of a wonderful book. It's read by the author's daughter, mean the Irish names and words are all correct. However, the sound quality of the recording is somewhat lacking. It sounds like it was recorded from a tape.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful