Ear read 2024 (9.8hrs) 5.799/10 the start of this book was ok for the first few pages and then it nosed dived into telling instead of showing. Months oEar read 2024 (9.8hrs) 5.799/10 the start of this book was ok for the first few pages and then it nosed dived into telling instead of showing. Months of crucial exploration are just skipped over. The actual discovery of an alien looking race is brief and then finally alex and chase go out to save the story … oh and the day. I was a third of the way through before i realised this was a series book. It has enough legs to stand on its own. But being the 9th book in the series with such mediocre prose i’m not sure if i’d want to try some of the earlier books in the series (just listened to 'prayer for owen meany' and it had great prose compared to this). The narrator she had a great voice in timbre, but she spoke stiltedly and half the time i couldn’t tell who the characters were (i thought chase was male and alex was female until i really concentrated on the dialogue and realised i was wrong. I loved the pull up your sleeves mentality of alex and crew to do the right thing and help out. Twas refreshing (especially after the blunder with the satellite souvenir). Oh and the title i found misleading and the story never really living up to it....more
**spoiler alert** Ear read 2024 (27.3hrs) 8.5/10 a meandering story that chops back and forth while the usa narrator describes his medium-rich youth (1**spoiler alert** Ear read 2024 (27.3hrs) 8.5/10 a meandering story that chops back and forth while the usa narrator describes his medium-rich youth (1950s-1960s) and present canandianing (1980s). Striking scenes are told and then talked about as the narrator and his best friend try to get by. The ending came together well, and all the obvious explanation of the tragedy that would take place made it feel less like oh this isn’t right - to just simple grief and acceptance. It had a lot of funny bits too that made me laugh aloud, so some humour and sad bits and drama as well....more
Ear read 2024 (7hrs) 6.5/10 a ww2 allied fighter gets knocked out and awakens in a magical land with references to other legendary tales. A short storyEar read 2024 (7hrs) 6.5/10 a ww2 allied fighter gets knocked out and awakens in a magical land with references to other legendary tales. A short story from 1953 expanded into a novel in the 1960s. I liked most of the characters. The lead up to and including the ending i didn’t like. The epilogue was ok enough for closure. Rest of the story was great as the hero and companions travel from place to place challenge to challenge. The descriptions of the places and sensory writing put you right in the scenes. The americanisms were a bit jarring at times for this european hero, but i guess the book was made for that audience....more
Ear read 2024 (10hrs) 6.791/10 i listened to 2 book reviews after to see if i was missing crucial parts as i was working while listening to this one, nEar read 2024 (10hrs) 6.791/10 i listened to 2 book reviews after to see if i was missing crucial parts as i was working while listening to this one, nope its plot does just has a lot of ideas thrown at the wall and hopes they all stick. Technical jargon in your profession is fine and i could follow along mostly but it was similar to too poetic prose where the sentence meaning gets lost in the expressionism. Ok for a free book and the exploration into conscience, going on autopilot, and how the human brain perceives reality and how it can be tricked due to its shortcuts. I felt the main character was complex in confusing what he thought he was and that the cold approach to first contact was a bit silly. But i guess that is what trying to make a horror story is all about, putting people into unnerving and entrapped situations with likely dislikable outcomes. The alien/s group and ship felt alien which was interesting....more
Ear read 2024 (7.5hrs) 9/10 I know it is worth a 9 for kids but i honestly missed bits as doing work at the same time. I couldn’t be bothered to go bacEar read 2024 (7.5hrs) 9/10 I know it is worth a 9 for kids but i honestly missed bits as doing work at the same time. I couldn’t be bothered to go back and listen to the bits i missed, but the writing was good and funny throughout. I liked the leveling up part, but wished it was for both of them. Really felt like hurray for the rich kids and boohoo for those that have to serve them. I’m guessing Nesbit came from a well to do family. Especially when at the start of the 20th century (written before 1910) uk with talk of pineapples, coconut milk and motor cars seemed normal for them all. I’d recommend this book to read to any still with a inner child alive....more
Ear read 2024 (9.33hrs) 8.7/10 i didnt like the ending, it was ok but took it down for me as was thinking of giving this maybe 9 or 9.5 or 10. Eric valEar read 2024 (9.33hrs) 8.7/10 i didnt like the ending, it was ok but took it down for me as was thinking of giving this maybe 9 or 9.5 or 10. Eric vale did a wonderful narration. Story is about medical procedure that can give you 10-12 extra years of life but once you are on the program that is it (rapid death after unless you manage to pay for another 10-12yr procedure). The drug that distorts time in the later half of the story was interesting. Makes you think about if you are trapped in your mind that races way faster than reality could we cope, kinda like coma patients i suppose. The traveling around up high and from country to country was interesting too. The prose at times was marvelously vivid, and i am looking forward to reading another book by joe haldeman in the future :) Not sure if this has been made into a movie, but it should (enough meat in it to make 2 films actually)....more
Ear read 2024 (8.5hrs) 7.5/10 i liked all the narrators except ella’s. Story kept me guessing throughout. Some silly mistakes took me out of the story Ear read 2024 (8.5hrs) 7.5/10 i liked all the narrators except ella’s. Story kept me guessing throughout. Some silly mistakes took me out of the story from time to time (characters acting stupid when they otherwise seem very switched on, like the writer wanted certain dramatic points to be covered.) otherwise i found i could picture all the scenes and the pace was good. i’d recommend a listen if you like murder mysteries :)...more
Ear Read 2024 (10.5hrs) DNF, got to 40% 2/10. 1 Star for the wonderful narrator and the other star for the great prose. A story of entrapment and the prEar Read 2024 (10.5hrs) DNF, got to 40% 2/10. 1 Star for the wonderful narrator and the other star for the great prose. A story of entrapment and the protagonist not following through on her morale thoughts but instead enabling the sickos around her. Maybe the overall story improves in the broad scheme of things but such stories of living in dread i don't find entertaining....more
Ear read 2024 (2.3hrs) 6.5/10 charming, though a little short. Some of the last few chapters felt like they were sponsored by the tobacco industry withEar read 2024 (2.3hrs) 6.5/10 charming, though a little short. Some of the last few chapters felt like they were sponsored by the tobacco industry with the sniffing and snorting of snuff. I’m not sure which is my favourite character Polynesia the parrot or Dub Dub the duck i guess. :) The ending was nice, i wish i could do that with cash flow, just have a hoard of it and never have to worry again....more
Ear read 66% and eye read the rest (12ish hrs) 7.89/10 the writing was … competent at the start but became better as it went along. Lots of gun fights Ear read 66% and eye read the rest (12ish hrs) 7.89/10 the writing was … competent at the start but became better as it went along. Lots of gun fights and roaming and an interesting setting (the seas have receded and a lot of the atlantic ocean is now the low fertile lands after the apocalypse. The damsel in distress was a bit of a let down, but i guess in harsh times you gotta do what you gotta do to get by. Noy sure if i’ll read the next book as the ending was pretty well rounded out....more
Ear read 2024 (14.5hrs) 9/10 Mai’s thought that it would ruin outside groups views that the council would be seen as weak was batsheeet crazy, just kilEar read 2024 (14.5hrs) 9/10 Mai’s thought that it would ruin outside groups views that the council would be seen as weak was batsheeet crazy, just killing off a powerful wizard for here-say, and everyone going along with it. I know maybe the later explanation could somewhat cover it. But it didn’t feel like it with McCoy (you gotta keep always learning but I can keep ignoring rationality in the excuse of old age wisdom). Dumdumdum. Other than that great! The familiar gang, the action, the cheesy jokes, the keep you guessing plot. Still looking forward to the next dresden book....more
Ear read 2024 (13% and dnf’d 1/10 A horribly boring book about a whining rich kid who has been able to get by from his rich aunt’s cheques. He has the Ear read 2024 (13% and dnf’d 1/10 A horribly boring book about a whining rich kid who has been able to get by from his rich aunt’s cheques. He has the task to go off and get a richer kid back to his parents before his mum dies. But ripley is a giant D and cares only for himself and others are just for being abused. If you like p g wodehouse then this might be up your alley, albeit with narcissistic twist. 1 star because the narrator was good....more
Ear read 2024 (11.3hrs) 7/10 There was a fair bit of recounting things that were said and done which almost became as repetitive as half the charactersEar read 2024 (11.3hrs) 7/10 There was a fair bit of recounting things that were said and done which almost became as repetitive as half the characters talking about ww2. The sleuthing was nice and most of the twists. Narrator was good and made the town of Poker come alive. Give me a few years and i might try another Archer book....more
Ear read 2024 (3hrs) 6/10 the 13th warrior movie i think i liked a little bit more. Written as an account of an arab on his trip north to help bring islEar read 2024 (3hrs) 6/10 the 13th warrior movie i think i liked a little bit more. Written as an account of an arab on his trip north to help bring islam to a northern kingdom at the request of their king, and the viking hero quest that forms the core of the story. I didn’t like the main character he seemed like he was painting a picture of how humbly great he was in these extraordinary circumstances, and how just he was while doing some pretty horrible things throughout....more
Ear read 2024 (3hrs) 5.5/10 Well written overview account of a bisexual man and his hard drug addiction. Characters were spoken mostly of in passing reEar read 2024 (3hrs) 5.5/10 Well written overview account of a bisexual man and his hard drug addiction. Characters were spoken mostly of in passing remembrances. I cared not for anything in the story, just interesting to understand slightly the perspective of someone going through drug addiction....more
Ear read 2024 (almost 3hrs) 6.66/10 I don’t like horror, this is sorta horror. Like the predator movie but no aliens. Narration was nice. Pacing was fiEar read 2024 (almost 3hrs) 6.66/10 I don’t like horror, this is sorta horror. Like the predator movie but no aliens. Narration was nice. Pacing was fine mostly throughout until the ending that felt a bit quick, epilogue seems made to try and make up for it....more
Ear read 2024 (6.75hrs) Written by Frederick Pohl & C. M. Kornbluth. Narrated by Phil Chenevert for Libravox 7/10 A classic science fiction planet hoppEar read 2024 (6.75hrs) Written by Frederick Pohl & C. M. Kornbluth. Narrated by Phil Chenevert for Libravox 7/10 A classic science fiction planet hopping tale. Of a traveller going from place to place like Gulliver on his travels, but with science gizmos and societal differences explored too. Like the Wizard of Oz companions were collected along the way to find that question they need answered. When I realised this was happening the story went from quizzical to quaint, and I liked the simple ending I think more because of this realisation....more
Ear read 2024 (22hrs) 6.7/10 two boring main characters and one good one for over half the book (but i made it through, im still alive), then the storiEar read 2024 (22hrs) 6.7/10 two boring main characters and one good one for over half the book (but i made it through, im still alive), then the stories started to entwine and become more entertaining. The ending left open for the following sequel so look elsewhere if you want an enclosed story. The narrator (Steven Pacey) was fantastic bringing each characters to life. Not sure if i want to go on to the 2nd book in the series. I heard the forth book was great, so i might um and ar it for a while, maybe come back to it later....more
Ear read 2024 (12.25hrs) 7/10 Such a dum ending. He was the one who had a shadow of a doubt and yet miraculously the sane thing happened as earlier in Ear read 2024 (12.25hrs) 7/10 Such a dum ending. He was the one who had a shadow of a doubt and yet miraculously the sane thing happened as earlier in the book. The rest of the story was ok. I didn’t like how much time was spent from the psychopath’s perspective. Cross is a good character, old-school type that can do everything except beat the writer’s twists for the sake of adding more conflict to stretch out the plot....more
Ear read 2024 (7hrs) 7.5/10 Collection of short stories about humans going to mars and relations with those that are already there. Spans several decadEar read 2024 (7hrs) 7.5/10 Collection of short stories about humans going to mars and relations with those that are already there. Spans several decades. Ray writes well in this, worth a listen to. Kind of reminds me of those goosebump books with slightly sad twists, but i guess bradbury wrote a bit of horror so a little rubbed off here (i don't like horro but this collection of short stories was ok)....more
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