Even better as an audio book
354798
The story is utterly charming and the character of Lady Gwendolyn Muir is welcome after her appearance in several previous books. She and Lord Hugo Trentham are a wonderful couple.  The narrator, Rebecca deLeuw, is wonderful!  Her voice makes this story even more enchanting.  I wish she read for all of Mary Balogh's books.
3647025
(Dear reader, please note: this is a review for the audiobook, not the printed version :))

I bought this audiobook yesterday, motivated by my unadulterated admiration for the inimitable Michael Emerson, who narrates the story.  The reviews for the book itself were a mixed bag but I figured "12 straight hours of Emerson's voice? Yes, please!" and went ahead and bought it.

As it was late in the evening when I got around to starting it, I initially intended to listen to it an hour or two before going to sleep.  Six hours later I was still wide awake, unable to tear myself away from the intoxicating world I had walked into.

Passionate though I am about the past, the history of the United States was never a topic that interested me much, and thus 'The Amalgamation Polka' is not the sort of book I would normally go for; but from the beginning I found myself genuinely absorbed by the author's ability to create such a thoroughly believable and interesting world of yesteryear's Haves and Have Nots; characters so realistic, so un-contrived, that one instantly forgets they are fictional.

The brilliant narrator's extensive range of accents-- perfectly breathing life into each and every one, from the aging slave to the Cockney pirate to the posh English rose-- contributed enormously to the experience and had me thoroughly hooked throughout.  The heavy scenes are read with solemn gravity, making you feel like an invisible witness to the goings on.  But there is plenty of humour to be found throughout, and if you're as tickled by cantankerous curmudgeons drawling old-timey expressions as I am, you will no doubt find yourself laughing out loud in parts.

The attention to detail, both on the part of the author and the narrator, are what make this audiobook such a gem.  The use of language and the dialogues are just delicious and make this work so effortlessly captivating to the listener.  This is without a doubt a fascinating slice of the past I will be enjoying again and again.
2105069
This series is, of course, great! This is the second time I have read them and, this time around, I decided to download the audiobook as well as the ebook.  Sometimes I would simply listen to the story while others I would follow along with the recording. I HIGHLY recommend this, as I felt I comprehended more by doing so.  Beyond that, the gentleman who read it, Jim Dale, has amazing storytelling abilities represented by his multiple voices and calm tone. Great story, even better to listen to.  I will be downloading both the ebook and audiobook for the 6th and 7th books in the series.
2652548
There was never a finer use of audio to enhance the experience of a book.  The book itself is indisputably a masterwork; enough has been written about that.  I just want to emphasize that for this book in particular -- an epic autobiography told almost entirely in the first person present-tense -- Frank McCourt's own voice is indispensable.  Reading the words on the page cannot convey the difference between the southern and northern Ireland accents that he renders intuitively, adding a deep layer of characterization and color.  His rendition of other people's voices -- neighbors, teachers, relatives, classmates -- enhances our understanding of those relationships.  And most importantly, his *inflection* of each line of his own thoughts and dialogue conveys his actual experience of a situation in a way the written words could not: resignation where a reader might mistakenly infer desperation, the true intensity of the shame and guilt that pervaded so much of his childhood -- and yes, occasional wonderment, pride, even joy.

Angela's Ashes is my single favorite book, which I own on CD and listen to every year (when it starts to rain in northern California -- fans will know why).  For anyone who wants one unforgettable experience: LISTEN.
1364108
I'm not a good writer myself, so I'm not able to produce a review that would do this book justice.  Just do yourself a favor and read it.  Set aside some blocks of uninterrupted time though; you truly will NOT want to put this book down.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book via Audible.com.  The two narrators were wonderful, and the production quality was excellent.  Don't be afraid that the narrator(s) will ruin the book; if you enjoy audiobooks, you won't be disappointed.
2333578
For starters, this is the first audio book I have ever read. It was quite a different and unique experience. (PS: The narrator was awesome!) I do, however, feel like I missed some things and would love to get my hands on the actual book to read so I can see what parts I missed (I am a very visual learner.)

Now for the actual book

The foreword had my attention immediately which really set the books tone. (You must read the forward!)

We are warned from the get go that this story could very well be realistic and frankly, my anxiety spiked. It would not be so far fetched to believe that something like that has occurred already or is currently occurring or going to occur.

The story line definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat.

If you enjoy audio books, the audio book is great. If audio books aren't for you, pick up the ebook or physical copy of the book. You aren't going to want to miss this one!
998027
I adore the BBCs production of Hamish Macbeth, and was hoping that I would enjoy this audiobook as much, if not more. And it far outweighed my expectations.  Hamish Macbeth is a police officer in Scotland, and with his little dog, he has settled into a comfortable and somewhat lazy life in Lochdubh.  Pressed by his superiors to take position covering a colleagues vacation in Cnothan, Macbeth and his dog relocate to the dreary town, where outsiders are often treated with less than open arms.  He soon finds that he is not the first, nor only, new resident; in fact one new arrival made it his business to make life miserable for the other residents.

While Macbeth is a policeman, his success rate is due more to luck and time spent mulling over the facts he knows, rather than a diligent attention to boots on the ground detection.  Even with that, his point of view is always well presented, the stories are engaging and the secondary characters bring personality and life to the story as they add up red herrings to keep readers on their toes.

Narration was provided by Shaun Grindell, and he is the first male narrator that I have heard for a book from this author.  I enjoyed his narration: he didn't struggle over pronunciation, nor did he deliver the story with any huge swings in pitch or tone, yet each character was clearly delineated in a smooth and non-jarring way.  I thought his accent was delicious, and not distracting, nor was it difficult for a listener to grasp the flow of words.

While I am familiar with the Macbeth stories, I was not confused or missing parts in the book, however this is the third in the series and you would be best served for the romantic connections and to get a full sense of Hamish in his home space, by reading, or listening to these in order.

I received an MP3 download via AudioBook Jukebox for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
2035847
Wow. I listened to this as an audiobook, and the narrator did a terrific job bringing the characters to life. From the first chapter, I was gripped by this story that peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect marriage. Nothing and no one is quite as they seem. This would be a terrific book club pick, because there is much to discuss.
2212844
This book was written in the 1930's and there are already MANY fabulous reviews, essays, and all kinds of literature analyzing the story. All I'm going to say is - it's a great look at a possible alternative future. A bit harsh at times, and a bit ridiculous, but all to stress a point. Also, I feel like even though the book was written a long time ago, it still relates to the world today. I can see the world that the author was envisioning.

About the audiobook format... I LOVED IT!  I think this book lends itself VERY well to audiobook. The reader's creation of character voices was REALLY great. For example "John" was weird, cause he really isn't from civilization. Eastern Europe director was more regal, because he IS more regal, etc etc. Even Linda, Lenina, and Fanny - I could picture them all.

I definitely recommend this book, and completely support this audiobook version :-)
372630
Really enjoyed this audio book. I saw the movie first, so I already had a mental picture of all the characters. The book, as usual, far exceeds the movie. My only critique is for Michael Beck to work on his Boston accent. He nails the southern Mississippi drawl, but the northerners come across as snooty British-ish
1181601
AudioBook Review:  Stars: Overall 5 Narration  5 Story 5

Fiona Wood is one of those authors who simply gets it. Her ability to present the mistakes, social awkwardness, concerns, fears and even joys that everyone can relate to from growing up. Not that everyones story is the same, but the ability to present characters that are understandable and compelling, whether or not you agree with their choices, makes this book very readable (or an easy listen). Using a male perspective and narrator for this story just increase the intrigue and unique quality of this story.

Dan has had a fairly easy go of life until this year, and then everything went pear shaped. His father has up and declared himself gay, just before the bankruptcy of his business. Creditors have taken over the family home, turfing Dan, his mother and Howard the dog, Hes got to leave his private school and friends, and of course, the humiliation.  Fortunately for Dan and his mother, her aunt Adelaide has left them her very large, very strange museum of a house.

Quite a bit to deal with, either as an adult or a teen, but Dan manages to muddle through after a few very rough chapters. Hes smart, hes caring and has a sense of humor that is both age appropriate and quite advanced for his tender years.  Oh and did I mention the girl next door who is the focus of his very simple affections? Yeah, Dan was adorable and compelling, wonderfully complex character who is desperately trying to pull himself together and adjust his behavior to fit the new circumstances.

Narration for this story is provided by David Atlas, and the use of a male narrator for the young teenaged Daniel works beautifully, without sounding too mature or disintegrating into the juvenile.  He uses tone and delivery to present Dans words, his keen observations and moments to great effect, the story is a pleasure to listen to.

All of the characters are wonderfully drawn, from Dans mother who is also trying to find her way along a path so very different from the one she envisioned.  Then there is Howard the dog: like most dogs hes pretty malleable, but it is his psychotherapists demeanor that is intriguing, and the recipient of Dans innermost thoughts as he works through his world. Using a list of Six Impossible Things that need immediate action to set his world to rights, the story builds to present a wonderful tale of overcoming the obstacles that life tosses at you with humor, support and a perspective that is far more adult than a boy of 14 is expected to have.  A wonderful read or listen.

I received an audiobook copy of the title from Hachette Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility
2549846
I received a copy of this audio book in exchange for my honest review.

The Audio: First, I think that Ms. Carlson did a great job voicing the characters and making the story come to life. I was, however, aware of and occasionally irritated by some small glitches in the production values--what sounded to me like points where the track was edited and the edits were not seamless. It is just tiny little hitches, but they often made my listening stumble, as it were. It would be just a quick sense that I'd missed something, or that the transition from one sentence to the next was too fast--really a trivial thing, but it did begin to bother me a bit.

The Story:
Wow, what an adventure! It is well-paced, exciting, and kept me listening. I think that the author developed the characters (at least the main characters) very well. Zoe and Zak have easily distinguished voices and characters. Zoe seems much older than Zak, but that's probably right--they are both 12, but he is a boy and decidedly ADHD, two things that would tend to make him seem younger.

The story might best be classified as magical realism--it is set in a real-world setting, and then things get, well, magical. Nobody is transported to a new land, they just find that India is a place where the impossible might be happening. I don't know enough about Indian mythology to know how much of what the author presents is accurate, but it feels right.

I was a  little put off by the way the children's parents left them in the big hotel with just a rent-a-nanny they had just met. I'm not at all a protective parent, but I would not do that with a pair of 12-year-olds. I didn't think it was necessary, either--they could have gotten into the same situation even if their parents were at the hotel, though it would have forced the kids to tell the adults about their adventure. Once that dubious plot device was accepted, however, the story worked very well, and by the end I'd nearly forgotten about it.

Recommendation:
This seems suitable for readers from maybe 8 or 9 up. There is nothing too frightening in it, and not a whisper of sex.  The violence is not graphic. I enjoyed the story a great deal, and I think that readers of most ages would do so.
320466
First off, I want to say that this review covers both parts one & two.  One other disclaimer, I have read the original source material.  This is the first audiobook I have bought in quite a while.  In days gone by(the audio cassette days) I had a fairly extensive collection of them (actually I still have all stuffed away in a box).  I enjoyed Infinate Crisis quite a bit.  It claims to be a movie in my mind and I would say it is not quite that but it is more than a standard audio book.  a cast of actors, sound effects and score elevate it.  It does truly drag you into the story, I was fully engrossed.
2663901
I listened to the Audible version of The Lake House, written by Kate Morton and narrated by Caroline Lee.  This is not to be mistaken for the other Lake House that was made into a movie.  Its an excellent audiobook, and Lees narration is perfect for the story.  As in other Morton books, the story is told in flashback format, moving between Cornwall, England in the early 1900s and London in 2003.  The transitions are smooth and make sense.  The themes of family, marriage and sisters are woven into a compelling mystery.  The book had all of the elements of a very good read and a very entertaining listen.
1359513
"Flexible Wings" was a very well-written and well-performed audiobook. It was such a good listen that it was hard to put down for a YA (Young Adult) audiobook. I'm not sure about the specified age of 8-10.  I sincerely feel that the topics are too much drama for this age group. As an adult, I liked it. This story has great world-building with Summer, the protagonist being a military brat and the metaphoric hummingbird.

Why I would be cautious for pre-teens: The mom in the story who, along with the dad has chosen a military career but the mom is somehow portrayed as being a "bad parent" and is treated disrespectful by Summer for being deployed. This does however resolve itself at the end which made me happy. All in all this was great writing by Veda Stamps.

Natalie Hoyt did an amazing job narrating this audiobook. Her performance was enthralling as well as engaging. She hit it out of the park. She was the epitomy of Summer with her highs and lows. I was impressed by her talent and I love it when author and reader are a perfect match.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.
1214524
Get the audio book! It's narrated by Bronson Pinchot, who recently won an "Audie" award for book narration ("A Hero's Guide To Being An Outlaw," Christopher Healy)  I happen to think Bronson Pinchot is one of Hollywood's underrated character actors. As a voice actor, he's enchanting! The characters come to life in a way they wouldn't have if I'd just read this book. Pinchot's "Bea Elsa Bub" is... to die for. I probably wouldn't have read this book since I'm far from the target audience, but as an audio book, it's beyond delightful. I agree with other reviewers that this might be too advanced (per references and jokes) for pre-teens - but never inappropriate. Bayes is funny, Bronson makes him *sound* funny. Highly recommend.
2910268
I highly recommend the audio book format, read by the author.  Chabon's voicing of the dialogue provides further texture to the story that would be absent in print alone.

I have two boys 7 and 8 who enjoyed this book.  The audio book made some long car trips pass quickly.