This was a really good audio drama in the vein of Max Brooks' World War Z. It's made up of interviews and recordings from the survivors of the rise ofThis was a really good audio drama in the vein of Max Brooks' World War Z. It's made up of interviews and recordings from the survivors of the rise of apocalyptic dragons. A large cast from the Audible studios all do quite well. My only complaint would have been the young girl doesn't sound (not the actress, but the writing) like how a young girl would speak. The music and sound effects added are subtle, but add to the realism of the interviews. It gets wrapped up in a nice epilogue made like a news article from a radio show. ...more
A fun space opera. Light on any sort of detail, just like space opera should be. Heavy on dialog and action, but the characters do get fleshed out as A fun space opera. Light on any sort of detail, just like space opera should be. Heavy on dialog and action, but the characters do get fleshed out as well. I actually preferred this before the all powerful ancient AI became part of the story (roughly half) when things felt like more danger and was a focus solely on the people. Now the AI just does everything instantaneously almost without fault, almost. Sometimes the AI's wise-crackery can be funny, sometimes it can be annoying. The times it does have a fault are done pretty well (humans need spacesuits in space? preposterous) because it just can't imagine being a meatsuit monkey. The narrator does a phenomenal job with narration and voices. The characters are very different from each other. ...more
I, of course, read this in high school and I, of course, remember almost nothing about it. This time was more a pleasure to read, since it's not assigI, of course, read this in high school and I, of course, remember almost nothing about it. This time was more a pleasure to read, since it's not assigned and I don't have to write some paper about the tone or whatever. But now, I am wondering what about this book in particular makes it the de facto high school reading? It is relatively short and fairly straightforward, so it isn't overbearing to the average student, I suppose. The language is a little flowery, but not in a confusing way. It keeps the interest well enough so kids don't get utterly bored by a lot of other 'classic' choices.
I did enjoy reading it. I thought there would be more investigation or reveals of Gatsby's past, but I guess it covered it well enough. And toward the end when Gatsby is murdered, I didn't realized it at first. I put some of that down to the language of the writing and quite possibly reading it at bedtime. I think it's still worthwhile to be recommended reading, but there are probably better books to be required reading.
One other thing that I found interesting. Half of the time it seems characters are all carrying on different conversations. It's like none of them really are listening to each other, because each of themselves is most important in their own minds. This tracks with so many people today, too. ...more
Pretty slow and a little boring. Pretty disappointed since I was expecting something pretty scary based on some reviews. The ending was pretty good, bPretty slow and a little boring. Pretty disappointed since I was expecting something pretty scary based on some reviews. The ending was pretty good, but not hardly worth the slog to get there. The writing was good, though and I liked the jumping between the two times....more
I went into this with pretty low expectations and they were satisfyingly exceeded. It reminded me of Jo Nesbø books. This was an audible production wiI went into this with pretty low expectations and they were satisfyingly exceeded. It reminded me of Jo Nesbø books. This was an audible production with multiple voices, music, and sound effects based on a German novel. And the team did a fantastic job. I've definitely had a mixed result with audible originals and this is one of their better ones. A darker police procedural where kids are getting kidnapped and it's tied to the Pied Piper fairy tale. It certainly requires a fair bit of suspension of disbelief but it was all tied together nicely with enough twists to keep the mystery going. Enjoyable listen....more
This was a good production of a fairly short story. It clocks in like a longer movie. The actors/vo did a good job. The story itself is fairly mediocrThis was a good production of a fairly short story. It clocks in like a longer movie. The actors/vo did a good job. The story itself is fairly mediocre. Kind of like a blockbuster movie, entertaining to fill the time....more
Fantastic grimdark semi-fantasy! I say semi-fantasy because there are elements, but it's also grounded in some reality with mention of Bruges and BoscFantastic grimdark semi-fantasy! I say semi-fantasy because there are elements, but it's also grounded in some reality with mention of Bruges and Bosch paintings, as well as the inquisition era church in some aspects. The plot moves along quickly, there is a slew of interesting characters, the action is great, and there is enough mystique to keep one wondering about what's really going on. There are some things that never really get explained well, or at least I wish sequences that could have gone on longer. At the same time, I'm glad things weren't overexplained. I'll have to check out Catling's other books, although they have pretty mixed reviews. The narrator on audible was great, too. He really brought the characters to life with a myriad of different, well done voices. I am curious how this would read in print in comparison, as a result. ...more
A mystery that develops at a good pace where three adult children learn what happened with their parents 20ish years ago. It's told from their individA mystery that develops at a good pace where three adult children learn what happened with their parents 20ish years ago. It's told from their individual perspective with each chapter and occasionally a chapter from the mothers I perspective from the era of the events. It developed well and there was enough red herrings and small but believable twists. Enjoyable front to back....more
DNF at 13% Great premise and very early initially a fun writing style. But all of that went right out the window to be about a guy moping that he told DNF at 13% Great premise and very early initially a fun writing style. But all of that went right out the window to be about a guy moping that he told his best friend that he's in love with him but now the straight friend doesn't talk to him. Mope mope mope. Visits this mysterious tiny island with no people but it still has a gay bar with hundreds of patrons and gasp a wild drag queen appears, guy feels drugged and then had his first gay sexual experience with said drag queen. The whole thing starts to feel like a nonsensical fever dream....more
A humorous book from Scalzi is usually a fun time. This was no different. I wish it delved into more weird complaints from resident aliens and less abA humorous book from Scalzi is usually a fun time. This was no different. I wish it delved into more weird complaints from resident aliens and less about the sewer and spider dog things than it did. Pretty short, well narrated audio. ...more
It definitely reads like Ransom Riggs books, having read most of the Peculiar series. This has a lot less characters, though. And a fair bit less magiIt definitely reads like Ransom Riggs books, having read most of the Peculiar series. This has a lot less characters, though. And a fair bit less magic, I suppose, even though that's pretty central to the story.
Averagely average 17 year old sees past the veil to the magic boroughs of LA and thinks just maybe he's the chosen one. Too bad he's just so astoundingly average. Until he realizes his dead mom left him one last [magic] puzzle to solve.
Some interesting characters and pretty neat magic. The ending feels like it's just getting started. I suppose it'll be another long series....more
Audio drama from audible. Poor acting and poor writing. It would be DNF if it wasn't so abruptly short. There were hints at parts that could have been Audio drama from audible. Poor acting and poor writing. It would be DNF if it wasn't so abruptly short. There were hints at parts that could have been interesting but it never developed and then it was over. I assumed it was a first episode but it didn't seem to have any indication of that. I almost think the download/playback failed somehow....more
This was an audiodrama from audible. Well done with good voice actors, music, sfx, etc. It's naturally an abridged version of the story as a result ofThis was an audiodrama from audible. Well done with good voice actors, music, sfx, etc. It's naturally an abridged version of the story as a result of removing virtually all narration and just being dialogue, which is a bit of a different experience. Peter Dinklage plays Poirot. As a few other reviews stated, Hastings was more annoying than anything. It was his idiocy to help prop up Poirot more, though I don't think it was necessary. This is the first Poirot book, (and my first Poirot book) so Christie presumably improved on the formula after this. I'd like to give more a try, even though mysteries aren't my typical choice. ...more
If the art wasn't as [mostly] good as it was, this would have been a DNF. The writing was nonsensical and choppy. It felt like there was a series befoIf the art wasn't as [mostly] good as it was, this would have been a DNF. The writing was nonsensical and choppy. It felt like there was a series before this one that developed things, but this is v1 so I don't think so. The art particularly shined in the colors. Some of the posing and stuff was kind of cheesy and normally I like chunky simplified robots but not in the case of the fighting bots in this one. I was going to move into v2 when I started because usually that's needed to really get into it but I'm not even going to bother in this case....more
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