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Jan

ratings
7
REVIEWS
5
FOLLOWING
0
FOLLOWERS
1
HELPFUL VOTES
41

  • Speaker for the Dead

    • UNABRIDGED (14 hrs and 9 mins)
    • By Orson Scott Card
    • Narrated By David Birney, Stefan Rudnicki
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (9153)
    Performance
    (5515)
    Story
    (5575)

    In the aftermath of his terrible war, Ender Wiggin disappeared, and a powerful voice arose: the Speaker for the Dead, who told the true story of the Bugger War. Now, long years later, a second alien race has been discovered by Portuguese colonists on the planet Lusitania. But again the aliens' ways are strange and frightening...again, humans die. And it is only the Speaker for the Dead, who is also Ender Wiggin the Xenocide, who has the courage to confront the mystery...and the truth.

    Joe says: "The Enderverse"
    "The Anti-Ender's Game"
    Overall

    I picked this book because I had very much enjoyed Ender's Game and "Speaker" is the continuation of the story. However, it is also completely different in speed and style. While "Ender's Game" is mostly science fiction of the technical kind (spaceships, battles, etc.) and moves along well most of the time, "Speaker" is a tedious, slow-as-molasses study of religion, family relationships, childhood neuroses, and endlessly repeated sermons on tolerance. The passages in Portuguese, on the Catholic teachings, and others are tedious and boring.
    You may end up liking "Speaker", but it won't be for the same reasons you may like "Ender's Game". Be forewarned.

    40 of 46 people found this review helpful
  • How the Crusades Changed History

    • ORIGINAL (11 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By The Great Courses
    • Narrated By Professor Philip Daileader
    Overall
    (35)
    Performance
    (33)
    Story
    (33)

    Centuries have passed since the last crusader knight laid down his sword, but the Crusades continue to hold sway over our world. Because the Crusades have been so consequential to history, it's essential to understand the context, motivations, and preconditions of these dramatic military campaigns. In doing so, you'll not only get a fresher understanding of the Crusades, you'll discover surprising truths about why (and how) they were fought.

    D. Littman says: "I am so pleased that Teaching Co is now on Audible"
    "Amazing history! Entertaining and eye-opening"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I've long wanted to know more about the crusades and this book delivers. From the WHY to the HOW and WHO, it's all explained here. From the famous crusades to the Middle East to the more obscure ones into central Europe, why men of all ages and social ranks joined, etc. Fascinating! (Didn't give 5 stars for story because some of the latter chapters tend to run long, but maybe I just wasn't as much into the topics.)

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants

    • UNABRIDGED (14 hrs and 5 mins)
    • By Jane Goodall, Gail Hudson (contributor)
    • Narrated By Edita Brychta, Rick Zieff, Jane Goodall
    Overall
    (11)
    Performance
    (9)
    Story
    (9)

    In her wise and elegant new audiobook, Jane Goodall blends her experience in nature with her enthusiasm for botany to give listeners a deeper understanding of the world around us. Long before her work with chimpanzees, Goodall's passion for the natural world sprouted in the backyard of her childhood home in England, where she climbed her beech tree and made elderberry wine with her grandmother. The garden her family began then, she continues to enjoy today. Seeds of Hope takes us from England to Goodall's home-away-from-home in Africa.

    Jan says: "Excellent information, inspiring but also worrying"
    "Excellent information, inspiring but also worrying"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    An amazing book, full of great information and both hopeful and scary news. Some of the descriptions of gardens and such are a bit long, but that's to expect with Jane Goodall's enthusiasm and love for the plants and animals of this world. Strongly recommended for anyone who cares about our planet--especially the plants.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  • Spanish for Travel and Eating Out: 5 Hours of Audio Instruction (English and Spanish Edition)

    • ORIGINAL (5 hrs and 27 mins)
    • By Mark Frobose
    • Narrated By Mark Frobose
    Overall
    (2)
    Performance
    (2)
    Story
    (2)

    Finally! An audio language program that quickly and easily teaches you to speak and understand the practical Spanish you need to successfully travel and eat out with ease. Within minutes, Spanish for Travel and Eating Out will quickly teach you how to identify and order a variety of food in any Spanish speaking restaurant, and even express your likes and dislikes to native Spanish speakers.

    Joseph says: "Eat, drink, and be merry in Español"
    "Endless pointless repetition"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    The premise is good, but I need to know more than offered here when I'm in a restaurant. Maddeningly, a small collection of words and phrases (such as "cold water" or "American beer") are repeated over and over again. I know repetition is key to learning, but this was mind-numbing. I got through half of the book--and that was a masochistic achievement. Sorry, but looking elsewhere for something that offers a broader vocabulary. Oh, and the "travel" part? "Airport" and "bus" are mentioned, I think, but little else. How about "turn left" or "straight through three traffic lights"? No, not there.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  • Cyteen

    • UNABRIDGED (36 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By C. J. Cherryh
    • Narrated By Gabra Zackman, Jonathan Davis
    Overall
    (466)
    Performance
    (416)
    Story
    (424)

    The saga of two young friends trapped in an endless nightmare of suspicion and surveillance, of cyber-programmed servants and a ruling class with century-long lives – and the enigmatic woman who dominates them all.

    troy says: "This is a Heavy Book (lovely too)"
    "Not SciFi at all"
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    Any additional comments?

    Let me first say that I gave this story a full SIX HOURS before I gave up. The narration is very good, so I would not hesitate to listen to the readers again. However, the story drags on with endless descriptions of country politics as well as corporate politics which I found extremely boring. It adds very little to the plot and nothing to the interest. The technology in this so-called SciFi novel is firmly planted in the 1980's: micro-fiches! briefcases full of papers! noisy boat engines! etc. etc., the genetic human models notwithstanding (Alphas? Betas? "Brave New World" called and wants its creations back).Sorry, but this story is just not what I expected, wanted, or was willing to spend even more time on. I gave it far more time than I should have, hoping it would actually get better. It did not.

    0 of 1 people found this review helpful

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