Amazon Customer

Bored voice

Reviewed: 12-20-24

I recognize that this is what passes for good writing these days but I don't find it interesting. The author narrated her own book which was a mistake. She sounds very bored . I don't blame her. I have to respect that she writes for the New Yorker but I feel abundantly fortunate not to live her life even though I enjoy reading about all kinds of people via Audible. I think the author needs to get out of her head, go live in the Yukon , kayak glacial lakes , raise feral cats....her writing is too much New York Review of Books. A little mountain-climbing would be equally mind-blowing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great book

Reviewed: 10-05-24

After reading this, I decided to stop buying anything online especially Amazon and just buy locally.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Comprehensive overview of AIDS crisis

Reviewed: 07-31-22

After 29 hours of this book I feel like there is little more to say. Excellent history, well written, and well-read. Left wondering if so many people had to die except for somewhat uncaring politicians and drug companies and Fauci....love to read a book on him. And this book resonates after the speed with which vaccines were developed for Covid. no holdups there.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Best book last year

Reviewed: 08-30-21

this is the best performed book of 2021...how did not win a prize? Please revote and award this reader. At times I fell off my chair laughing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful book

Reviewed: 08-22-21

I listened to this entire book in 2 days. It was a wonderful experience of coming to understand someone else's journey through grief which we will all go through. Her description of the prairie was lyrical and inspired me to plan to go to southwest Saskatchewan and the Butala ranch (or whatever it is called now). There was a lot of wisdom in this book as well as acceptance. I learned about my home the prairies but also about respect for history including the First Nations history all around us in Alberta and how land and weather really shape identify on the prairies. I had to laugh when she said that winters on the prairies are to be feared (especially highway driving) as this is true and people from elsewhere in Canada do not understand this. Thank you Sharon Butala for your eloquent writing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Very entertaining

Reviewed: 08-07-21

Loved this book. Almost didnt read due to previous reviews. The person who narrated was perfect for the dry wit. Must find everything by this author and read.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Gossipy mess

Reviewed: 08-02-21

This is a poor effort at investigative reporting. Author is gossipy and her story is mediocre. She doesn't seem to know her subject or have authoritative knowledge of finance or Epstein's connections and business. Worst of all, whatever her role as a Vanity Fair reporter was, she blames everybody else for her shortcomings. It was Epstein's fault, it was her editor's fault; blame it on her twins because she was pregnant and stressed....really?...and also she is so so so so sorry....blah blah blah. It's surprising that Audible put their brand on this...as it concerns me that they would record such a mediocre product. Most times, books on Audible are great; sometimes they are unpublishable stinkers. How do these get past editors?

This is cringe-worthy....especially when Epstein (in a so-called "recreated" dialogue) calls her "Sweetie" and she doesn't so much as react. What journalist on earth would accept that?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Not worth reading

Reviewed: 06-08-21

This book is soooooooo boring.

I enjoyed her first book but this one is unbearable. I gave it a good hour but that's all I could take of the vacuous prose.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent book

Reviewed: 05-15-21

This was a sad but uplifting story of a father's search for his son. What impressed me the most was the tenacity and determination of this father not to rest until he found out what happened to his son. The book feels like a memorial to a wonderful son who died way too young as often happens in a seemingly random universe. However, what I respect in this story is the parents' unstoppable will to find the answer to their son's disappearance and the immense love they felt for their son. Although the author is clearly a scientist and non-believer in anything after death, one has to wonder whether a world with so much love and will can really be meaningless.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Interesting Memoir

Reviewed: 05-17-20

Sometimes in the past once or twice I have found that Audible has included some poorly written memoirs in their collection and the consumer has to watch out for the duds (however, Audible has a great book exchange program to make up for this). However, this is a great memoir and I finished the engaging story of Phuc Tran in just a few days....of course it's the pandemic and nobody has much to do. This book was very well -written. It is a "coming-of-age" memoir and deals with the experience of a 1st generation child of immigrants to the United States (in this case, a family of Vietnamese "boat people") and gives insight into the struggle of Phuc Tran to navigate American life. The book was frequently funny. It compelled me to buy another book about the Vietnam war since I don't know much about that conflict (not being American). Phuc Tran's experience will stay with me like that of another Audible memoir, Annie Dodd's memoir titled A Woman's Walk Off-Grid. wow! Tran went on a bit too much about racism and feeling like an "outsider" without realizing that everyone feels alienated in high-school, even the white privileged students. This memoir reinforced that we all connect through art. I hope this author keeps writing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful