I enjoyed listening to this, even if it was all so predictable.
I would have liked a more emotional depiction of the night that the Titanic sank, but I enjoyed listening to this, even if it was all so predictable.
I would have liked a more emotional depiction of the night that the Titanic sank, but there was not much there. Elinor referred to the drama of that night throughout the later parts of the book, but not when it was actually happening. Her time in the lifeboat got skimmed right over, and quite frankly left me with an emotional disconnect to the future trauma she experienced.
(view spoiler)[I also felt that the moral dilemma could have been more nuanced. Yes, yes, yes... I understand WHY Elinor did what she did, but let's face it... she DID steal Teddy's birthright from him. (hide spoiler)]
Audiobook NPL Narrated by Heather Long Duration: 09:38:40...more
I suppose if you have an interest in classical music, you might enjoy this book. I do not... and did not.
This was my book club's choice... and I was nI suppose if you have an interest in classical music, you might enjoy this book. I do not... and did not.
This was my book club's choice... and I was not alone in my sentiments. Nobody had anything good to say about it. Reading it was akin to being back in school and doing one's homework.
Read with CCCC book club.
Audiobook BRK Narrated by David de Vries Approx 8 hours...more
I'm starting a new category this year! If audiobooks now have their own category in the GoodRead Choice Awards (did t[image]
FAVORITE AUDIOBOOK OF 2024
I'm starting a new category this year! If audiobooks now have their own category in the GoodRead Choice Awards (did they see my suggestion?), I figure I could have one too. More and more of the books I "read" are audiobooks, and they frequently can make or break a book for me.
Original Review
[image] I was really worried that I was in the midst of a reading slump, but then I started listening to this novel and ahhhhhhh� problem solved. It wasn’t me after all, I had just been reading some really dull books lately. I can’t tell you what a relief it was to have picked a winner.
This story was really marvelous. I immediately became invested in the lives of the ladies of the Briar Club, and all of the secondary characters too. I savored my time with them, and was sad when the book ended. This is my second 5* book by Kate Quinn (The Rose Code - thank you Sarah), and I will definitely seek out more novels by her.
For those of you tired of "dual timeline" stories, not to worry. Yes, this was a dual timeline, but not really much of one. The timespan was no more than a few years, and the shift only happened seven times. Each flashback was as little as a page or two in length, so did not really interrupt the story.
The Epilogue was really interesting, as it told you how each of the main characters was based on an actual person. However, you are cautioned NOT to flip to the end and read this prior to reading the story. The audiobook contained a conversation between the author and the narrator, which was quite a nice bonus.
If this novel does not get nominated for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction in the 2024 GoodReads Choice Awards I will eat my hat!
Both read and listened to, and each was a pleasure. It was a bonus that the audiobook was narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Saskia Maarleveld. Wouldn't it be nice if GoodReads created a Favorite Audiobook category in their Choice Awards?
Wow... you can tell that this author did a LOT of research for this book... because he seems to share most of it with you. There are numero2 1/2 stars
Wow... you can tell that this author did a LOT of research for this book... because he seems to share most of it with you. There are numerous characters to keep track of, along with all of the profuse details that pertain to them. Whether or not those details add anything to the story is a whole other question.
It was a good decision to listen to the audio version. It allowed most of the unimportant minutia to wash right over me.
This story did not illicit much meaningful discussion by my book club. Comments mostly consisted of 'how terrible", "what a disgrace" and "how could this have happened". The discussion rapidly ground to a halt.
The story was an important one, but I did not care for the execution of it. It DOES however make me want to watch the movie or the documentary.
Read with CCCC book club.
Audiobook Kyla Garcia - Narrator Jon Lindstrom - Narrator Joe Ochman - Narrator Duration: 07:04:55...more
This was a delight to listen to, and bumps my four star rating up to a full 5 stars. It was an excellent choice for my book club, and I look forward tThis was a delight to listen to, and bumps my four star rating up to a full 5 stars. It was an excellent choice for my book club, and I look forward to a lively discussion.
NOTE: So glad I did not read the book blurb before starting the book.
The story was very slow paced, and did not pack the emotional punch that I would have expected.
My favorite part of the book was the Historical Note seThe story was very slow paced, and did not pack the emotional punch that I would have expected.
My favorite part of the book was the Historical Note section at the end. ”The events set out in this novel, while a work of fiction, are closely based on the sinking of British evacuee ship, SS City of Benares, in the mid-Atlantic on 17 September 1940.�
Both read and listened to, and preferred the hard copy as I wanted to be able to skim through some of it.
Audiobook Narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown Duration: 10:27:55 ...more
Even though this was a story that centered on misery, heartache and betrayal, there was something compulsively readable about it. I would be 3 ½ stars
Even though this was a story that centered on misery, heartache and betrayal, there was something compulsively readable about it. I would be shocked if this does not get nominated for a GoodReads Choice Award next fall.
I have to say that I WAS disappointed that the story was so completely predictable, and not really nuanced.
I loved all of the historical info, but the middle of the book really slowed down (nothing was happening!) until the action picked up for the last 100I loved all of the historical info, but the middle of the book really slowed down (nothing was happening!) until the action picked up for the last 100 pages.
While I can appreciate the authenticity of the language the author employed, all of the metaphors, similies, analagies and euphemisms really started to get to me... I am not a fan of flowery language....more
I enjoyed this historical fiction novel in spite of the narrator. I did not like the cadence of her speech, nor her affected accent.
There was a bit moI enjoyed this historical fiction novel in spite of the narrator. I did not like the cadence of her speech, nor her affected accent.
There was a bit more about veterinary science than I really needed/wanted to know, but this was obviously a well researched book, and I greatly appreciated that.
Both read and listened to, and enjoyed reading the hard copy much more.
I went into this novel cold (and I HIGHLY recommend that you do the same). I had put it on hold at the library several months ago, and consequently haI went into this novel cold (and I HIGHLY recommend that you do the same). I had put it on hold at the library several months ago, and consequently had no memory of what it was about. When it showed up in my email, I downloaded it and began.
What a pleasant surprise the opening chapter was! The story started out in a completely original way, and just blew me away. I was delighted with it, and my delight continued right to the end.
This was one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. Kudos to the author, and to all of the narrators that brought her novel so vividly to life.
NOTE TO MATURE ADULTS: Do not be put off by the many YA awards
YALSA Teens Top Ten Title Winner, 2020 Golden Kite Award for Young Adult Fiction Winner, 2020 Amelia Walden Prize Winner, 2020 Whitney Award A New York Times Bestseller Wall Street Journal Best Children's Books of 2019 Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 2019 Blue Ribbon Kirkus Best YA Romances of 2019 Booklist Editors� Choice Books for Youth 2019 Horn Book Fanfare Title 2019 BookPage Best Books of 2019 (#3 out of 10 books) Shelf Awareness 2019 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year BuzzFeed Best Young Adult Books of 2019 (#7 out of 31 books) The Young Folks Best Historical YA Fiction of 2019 2019 ŷ Choice Awards Semifinalist 2020 YALSA Amazing Audiobooks Booklist Editors� Choice Youth Audiobooks 2019
Audiobook Narrated by - Allan Corduner � the Narrator Jayne Entwistle - Aphrodite Dion Graham - Apollo Fiona Hardingham � Hazel’s letters John Lee - Hades Nathaniel Parker - Ares Steve West � Jame’s letters Julie Berry � Colette and Author’s Notes Duration: 12:57:47
UPDATE 5-1-24 Purchased as a gift for 15 year old granddaughter Meredith...more
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