Tag Archive: Adult


ReReview:


A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander, #6)A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading this the third time has felt a lot like the first time. I stick with the other two reviews below. What I noticed this time I didn’t take note of before was the story arcs for Jocasta’s slaves. I have to admit I like the stories in the television series more.

The other thing I noticed this time is Arch Bug and the part he has played from the beginning, and his sad ending.

I’m still in love with these stories and the magic of Diana Gabaldon and narrator now character on Bone of My Bone, Davina Porter.

***

Below is the review from the last time I read/listened to this book. I have re-rated this and given it five stars. I think this reading aligns with the latest episodes of the show. The last episode I watched was exactly what I had just listened to that day. I love following both the book and the show and seeing how they translate the written word, especially a long book like this, into an excellently done show.

Though I stay with the thought that the narrator, as excellent as she is, for the most part, had a hard time helping the listener to know whose point of view she was portraying. Still, I followed better this time than I did the last time I read.

I highly recommend these books. Like last time, I have already started book 7. Yay, William as a grown-up!

***

Wow! Am I finally finished with this book? It is the longest book I think I have ever read. I don’t think it needs to be that long, either.

Look. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the story, the characters, and the concept of time travel. I just found the length unbearable with the thousands of books on my TBR shelf.

It is fun to explore the early days in America with the characters. I have to admit that I loved the time in Scotland the most, so this book is missing that aspect.

The other problem with this book is that our magical narrator, Divina Porter, couldn’t handle all the characters. Now that Brea is an adult, she sounds like Clair. Now that Roger is an adult, he sounds like Jamie. All the children sound the same. Maybe if I could read simultaneously as listening, I could sort them out. But that is not possible for me and my eyes.

The last thing I need to point out, in case it counts for your reading the book, is that I am already reading book 7, so…

It is worth the read. Stay with it. There are rewards in the story. And in this crazy world, a sweet time-travel romance can calm the worries that like to strike at bedtime.

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My Next Breath: A MemoirMy Next Breath: A Memoir by Jeremy Renner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s always hard to rate memoirs. It is a life experience through another’s eyes. And for what Jeremy Renner went through to have so much gratitude and love and enjoyment of life is a miracle.

Jeremy Renner not only wrote of his experience but also narrates the book well.

I think my biggest issue is the repetition. Still, I think it is through enthusiasm and need to school his own spirit that these phrases and stories repeat.

I am grateful to have listened to this audiobook on Libby.

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The President's DaughterThe President’s Daughter by Bill Clinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Don’t read this if you expect to ease into sleep at night. At 4:30 in the morning, I had to force the audiobook off so I could sleep. And yet I couldn’t. This book was very suspenseful.

With a cast of narrators that includes Tony Goldwyn, Fajer Al-Kaisi, James Chen, Jeremy Davidson, Amanda Dolan, Peter Ganim, Dion Graham, January LaVoy, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Soneela Nankani, the story is lively. The characters are full, flawed, and human.

About halfway through, I thought it was just an epilogue from the end. Then I looked at the progress line and saw that there was still a lot more to read. I needed to sleep!

This book is the second installment in the series, and I find that the collaborative writing of James Patterson and Bill Clinton creates a believable story that is also somewhat scary. Let this serve as a warning to be read in the light of day. Maybe a car ride audio rather than bed.

I am grateful to have borrowed this Libby audiobook.

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OvergrowthOvergrowth by Mira Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is going to go down as one of my favorite books, ever. I am sad to have to let it go, but I’m promising myself to read it again soon.

I loved the whole story. I thought at first that it was another cozy mystery, just as it starts with the mother and family. But get ready, this is a roller coaster of fun, adventure, and, yes, nail-biting fear.

I listened to the Libby audio version, narrated by Caitlin Kelly, whose voice, acting, and enthusiasm make this so enticing to read that I picked it up at every chance. But I think this would hold up without a reader. The snark and love would show through, no matter how you decide to dive into it.

Thank you to whoever recommended it to me. I’m sorry, I don’t remember who it was.

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The Inheritance of Orquรญdea DivinaThe Inheritance of Orquรญdea Divina by Zoraida Cรณrdova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The thing about reading is how many places you get to go. In this case Ecuador. Experience language, history, culture, foods, family interactions in a magical-yet realistic.

Ana Navarro recommended this book and I’m glad she did.

Don’t you love it when you can practice little bits of the Spanish language as you read. Meanwhile, I so enjoyed the far fecthed family adventures and immersed in magic.

This was a fun ride. Frankie Corzo (Narrator) reads Zoraida Cรณrdova’s charactors so well you feel you are there with the characters going through some very crazy times.

I was so fortunate to pick this up from Libby.

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UncharmedUncharmed by Lucy Jane Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This makes a nice bedtime book. And in the fantasy world of witches, it was refreshingly from the older witch’s point of view rather than a Young Adult and flimsy story.

I picked this up from NetGalley and am grateful for that. However, I now realize that there are two books in this series, and this is the second one. And I wish I had read it in Audiobook form. So I may reread the book after listening to Book 1. I think it will be more fun in audio form rather than text-to-speech.

Audio, Kindle, or paper, I think this is a fun read that will keep you enchanted for hours.

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The President Is MissingThe President Is Missing by Bill Clinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Don’t read this at bedtime! Perhaps a great read for jogging or biking? It is one of those thrillers that keeps the adrenaline pumping. I don’t often read books as exciting as this. However, I thought the combination of authorship and team of narrators (Mozhan Marnรฒ, Jeremy Davidson, Peter Ganim, Dennis Quaid, January LaVoy) would make this feel like a radio show. Or a mental movie.

I wish there were an occasional random female voice. I find that a male voice imitating a female pulls me right out of the story. However, aside from that issue, this was quite the adventure. I’m eager to read the next book.

Libby had this book to lend. Yay!

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GoldilocksGoldilocks by L.R. Lam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Patricia Rodriguez (Narrator) told L.R. Lam’s story expertly. It was a fun ride from the very beginning. The reviews and blurbs seem to draw comparisons to other books of extremes. I think this is more of a cautionary tale proving fault can be found anywhere. True, the patriarchal society makes it seem the men were all wrong and the women were saints. However, what we ultimately see is a need for moderation, the scientific method, and a need to thoughtfully repair the planet, as well as a need to reconsider our rigid thinking.

Philosophy aside, this is fun science fiction with space travel and exploration as a possibility.

I didn’t like the ending. I wanted more exploration and experience elsewhere. That could have been a book two, or at least a nice second part, instead of rushing the ending like the author couldn’t wait to leave the book behind.

Still, it is an enjoyable ride. I found the audiobook on Libby. Thank you, Kay, for another great recommendation.

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Station ElevenStation Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want to thank my friend, Yvensong, and her book club for recommending this book. It was a fun adventure. And it is an adventure. It is nearly too hard to get a good night’s sleep after reading some chapters of this book. Well, I listened to Kirsten Potter, narrator. She did an excellent job. BUT I had times that I got confused. Whose point of view? What part of the history was this part of the story? Happened a lot at first. I think having the physical book would have helped me look it up at the moment.

I love the musical point of view and the performance elements. Yes, we will need to do more than survive if we end up in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world.

I will try to listen to the book again soon, as I will know who is who now. I do have the Audible version, so I can listen when I choose. Give it a try. You might like it, too.

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Leaving Everything Most Loved (Maisie Dobbs, #10)Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series is so good, I can hardly wait to read the next one. Then I get ahead of my reviews, and I have to read the blurb to remember which book was which. So if you need to, go to Amazon and read the blurb. My quick blurb: Maisie Dobbs must solve the mystery of Indian immigrants in this book. But she has other issues that creep up to take care of. But in her thoughtful way, Ms. Dobbs gracefully finds answers.

You can find this one on Libby. If I had more income, I would buy the whole series. Jacqueline Winspear’s writing and research put her books over the top! In addition to the great stories, Orlagh Cassidy’s narration makes them feel like reality.

I highly recommend this series and this book.

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