I listened to this after my first car radio was stolen and before the second car radio was stolen. I can't remember if it was the last audiobook I gotI listened to this after my first car radio was stolen and before the second car radio was stolen. I can't remember if it was the last audiobook I got to listen to, but if it was, I'm glad the second thief waited until I listened to the whole thing.
This tale has just the right balance of fantasy, humor, action, and romance and seems much more polished and cohesive than its fellow novel, "American Gods." It might be sacrilege to Neil Gaiman fans, but I would recommend Anansi Boys over American Gods.
Also, the narrator for this particular audiobook was brilliant. That might've biased my opinion too. ...more
The literary Bond is far darker than the cinematic Bond. In his debut book this is no more apparent than when he roughly seduces a fellow agent and enThe literary Bond is far darker than the cinematic Bond. In his debut book this is no more apparent than when he roughly seduces a fellow agent and enjoys the fling for the "sweet tang of rape" that he gets out of her.
Despite and maybe because of the blatant misogyny, James Bond comes off as much more human and interesting than what is seen on the big screen, and it makes you wonder where Ian Fleming might have taken his creation if it hadn't become such a huge commercial success. Still, a good read for those who enjoy old school Cold War espionage. ...more
After a series of disappointing audiobooks, this was a godsend. Dame DuMaurier's poetic language is equally natural, visual and evocative. It's no wonAfter a series of disappointing audiobooks, this was a godsend. Dame DuMaurier's poetic language is equally natural, visual and evocative. It's no wonder Hitchcock made so many of her works into movies. This tale is tautly paced and the emotions are raw and unabashedly complex. It gets a little overwrought with dialogue towards the end, but nevertheless, a supremely satisfying experience lacking any burdens of hidden meanings or symbolism. ...more
This is the longest audiobook I've listened to yet. The problem is, nothing happens. I can't imagine actually reading this. The characters (in all thrThis is the longest audiobook I've listened to yet. The problem is, nothing happens. I can't imagine actually reading this. The characters (in all three storylines!) travel to obscure places and read obscure documents, and repeat ad nauseum. You read about people reading, for pete's sake.
This could have been a short story and have an equally powerful effect.
The book itself felt like an unorganized lump of "let's throw in everything I can dig up about orchids and their crazy admirers" No wonder why that scThe book itself felt like an unorganized lump of "let's throw in everything I can dig up about orchids and their crazy admirers" No wonder why that screenwriter went nuts trying to make a screenplay out of it and instead wrote Adaptation.
The title subject seemed to be a duplicate of my last roommate: endlessly fascinating, full of let's-get-rich schemes, but ruthlessly put down by a cold, indifferent world. Read this for the crazy but apparently true people that the author documents....more
I will preface this by saying I read the other three Hannibal books, one after the other. I don't know which one I like better: "Red Dragon" or "SilenI will preface this by saying I read the other three Hannibal books, one after the other. I don't know which one I like better: "Red Dragon" or "Silence of the Lambs." This particular book relies too much on a fascination with the the sick and disgusting, and too little on the character development so strong in the first two books.
The two things that annoyed me more than anything was Thomas Harris dependence on sentence fragments and using Shikibu Murasaki as the name of Hannibal's unlikely love interest. It's sacrilege of some sort, I bet. The author himself narrated this audiobook, and it didn't help that his voice has more than a passing resemblence to G. W. Bush. ...more
This is the first audiobook I listened to. It made me realize I could use my awful commute for something interesting. The book and dialogue is dated, This is the first audiobook I listened to. It made me realize I could use my awful commute for something interesting. The book and dialogue is dated, but the slapstick humor is not. It made me long for the days when "motoring" was an adventure. This is worth it for the not-so-subtle commentary on how to live life, or if you're dead, the after-life: with gusto! ...more
Some books are potboilers, which a person either likes or dislikes. I could have liked this one, but the narrator was so annoyingly pretentious I begaSome books are potboilers, which a person either likes or dislikes. I could have liked this one, but the narrator was so annoyingly pretentious I began to dread putting in the next CD. I only listened to the whole thing because I hated it less than what I could find on the car radio. I gotta learn to program that radio....more
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