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Wrong category

Reviewed: 08-17-22

Sorry but this should be listed in adult romance, not YA. Call me old fashioned but sex scenes like these should not be in YA. I get it, teens are interested in sex, experimenting, yeah yeah. I get it. But do we really need it shoved in our faces?

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Narration ruins the story

Reviewed: 08-09-22

It was hard to concentrate on the story as the narration was not very good. It was, in fact, a distraction from the story. We stopped about 30 minutes in. What we did hear of it was not compelling enough to keep listening.

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Almost Perfect

Reviewed: 04-03-22

It took nearly two months for me to hear the entire story as it puts me to sleep within minutes. By the time she's feeding her cat, I'm out. This is one way I incorporate Hygge into my life. Every single night I listen to this to finally get some decent sleep. I wish it was longer, as I usually wake up when it finishes. As to why I said "almost perfect" I think that this would be a fully Hygge experience if they had included considerably more of her nightly and morning rituals, more about her home, even more about her walk in the snow. Still, I highly recommend this is you are looking for something to help you relax and sleep. It's not boring, it is soothing. And if you like this also try Pumpkin Stew.

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A little too much for my kid

Reviewed: 11-11-19

So my daughter, who is blind, was listening to this story. I'd put it on for her as it was one she hadn't heard in a while. I'd never listened to it but now I wish I had. I was changing out her g-tube button and while doing so heard more than I cared to hear from this story. Aside from the frequent use of the word "h*#l" which shouldn't be in a kids book, the story of how the Tin Man became the Tin Man is more than gruesome. How is this a book for kids? Normally I encourage diversity in reading, but I also exercise a little caution and age appropriate guidelines. Now, I'll bend the age rules if the book is interesting, or challenges preconceived ideas and makes my kids think from another angle, because books can open the world for you, bring you to places you never imagined, introduce you to cultures and ideas new to you. But this book, no. Just . . . no. I don't normally like to leave negative comments on books, because books are very personal, and what I don't like someone else might but if I leave a bad review maybe they won't read it and that would be a shame. So really, this is just a warning. Take age into account with this book.

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2 people found this helpful

Nice series, performance is lacking

Reviewed: 04-26-18

I generally don't like to leave negative reviews for books or movies because books and movies are a rather personal choice and I'd hate to discourage someone from reading something simply because it didn't appeal to me. However, for this I will make an exception. I cannot fault the story, the story for the series is very good. However, the performance leaves something to be desired. The narrator, who also appears to be the author, gives an adequate performance. However, she rushes. Sometimes she speaks so quickly you have to play it back to know what happened. She also rarely varies from a nice pleasant phone voice monotone. There is the occasional emotional emote but mostly everything goes by at a quick and monotonous clip. I fear the narration by the author does not do the books justice, as they are very good, engaging books.

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1 person found this helpful

Fantastic Middle Grade Series

Reviewed: 06-24-17

This book was very imaginative! I purchased for my daughter, who is blind, and I heard a little bit of it while I was doing housework and had to listen to the whole book myself. I bought the print books of the others in the series but I wish the rest of the series was on audible as my daughter finds my reading much less entertaining than the narrators on audible.

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Excellent story that deserved better narration

Reviewed: 05-02-17

What did you love best about The Ables?

The story was clever and a unique take on superheroes.

What did you like best about this story?

Not a lot of people are comfortable with disabilities. My daughter is blind, which is why we have an audible account - she loves books. It was nice to find a book that had characters with disabilities that was positive and, if we are lucky, encourage other kids to be more open to peers with disabilities.

What didn’t you like about Jeremy Scott’s performance?

He read this book too fast! It was a really good story, one that should have been paced, with some expression of emotion.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was simply a very good book. My daughter enjoyed it as much as any of the books she listens to, though it was nice for her - being blind - to listen to a book that had characters she could relate to.

Any additional comments?

If there is another book after this, I would suggest a different narrator. Mr. Scott's performance wasn't awful (some are) but it didn't do his wonderful story justice. A narrator that slows down, puts a little expression into the reading, that would be very nice.

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1 person found this helpful

This will seem petty to some. . .

Reviewed: 12-30-16

Would you try another book from Kimberly Newton Fusco and/or Ariadne Meyers?

But, I was NOT happy with the use of the word "retard". Yes, sometimes we are just too PC but honestly, you can't go around saying "Oh, that's so gay!" anymore without backlash - so why can you use the word "retard" and everyone is fine with it? I purchased this book for my 21 year old blind, mentally retarded daughter. She loves listening to books and since her nickname is Bee, I thought she might like this book. Instead she is insulted within the first few minutes. She fully understands that people use the word "retard" to mean "stupid". She is not stupid, nor is anyone that is mentally retarded (some parents prefer mentally challenged, I suppose, but I'm not that PC). My point is, a writer can be authentic without perpetuating certain things and this is one of those things. Am I being petty? I honestly don't think so. I think relegating an entire medical condition to also mean stupid is insensitive and to use it in a book that teens are going to read, thinking this is acceptable, is simply irresponsible.

What could Kimberly Newton Fusco have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Made a bold effort to not perpetuate an issue for many people. Instead of leading young girls to think someone that has mental disabilities is stupid, she could have been a little more creative in her writing.

Which scene was your favorite?

None, we turned it off immediately. Sorry but in this case I'm a one-strike-you're-out person.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The narrator was, as always, very good. We like many of her books, which is how we came across this one.

Any additional comments?

Yes, a general comment to writers out there. You wouldn't make a racist comment lightly in your books, or one about the LGBTQ community, either. So why continue to use this word ad keep it alive and well in this form? Our lives are enough of a daily battle with insensitive, careless people, why add to that?

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1 person found this helpful

Another fantastic series by Brandon Mull

Reviewed: 06-01-12

Where does A World Without Heroes rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Brandon Mull won over many readers with his Fablehaven series and this new series is just as wonderful! With colorful, realistic characters and his fast paced, yet descriptive syle Brandon Mull has once again created a series that draws you in. One of the things I love about his books are the strong, capable young teen characters that always save the day. This series, like Fablehaven before it, is a wonderful read for boys or girls - and adults too!

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is Jason, the main character. He is a very normal teen boy that works hard to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is.

What about Jeremy Bobb’s performance did you like?

The performace was okay. It certianly wasn't bad but maybe a little less enthusiastic than the text deserves.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Stay away from the hippo tank!

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An excellent addition to the series!

Reviewed: 06-01-12

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book was just as hard to put down as Rot and Ruin! Once again Jonathan Maberry crafted a story that simply compelled you to continue reading. Dust and Decay introduced a few new characters while constantly evolving the original characters in realistic ways. The insight into human character is wonderful. This series is less about the dead and more about the way we approach living. I wept at the end, it was so unexpected and unwelcome! I can, however, clearly see how this book -and that ending - will flow beautifully into another book. This is a series not to be missed!

What other book might you compare Dust and Decay to and why?

As a post apocalyptic/zombie novel it falls into the same category as The Forest of Hands and Teeth series.

What does Brian Hutchison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

This story is performed wonderfully! He has a voice that seems very sympathetic to the characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Well I'd have to steal a line from the book: Remember, in the Rot & Ruin everything wants to kill you.

Any additional comments?

Fantastic book to read or listen to - or both!

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2 people found this helpful