Audiobook Reviews from Audiobook-Heaven
Title: The Moon Is Down
Author: John Steinbeck
Narrator: George Guidall
Copyright: 2011, Penguin Audio
Duration: 3 hours, 42 minutes
Genres: classic fiction, commentary, military
Filed in: Audiobook Reviews
Review copy provided by Penguin Audio.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: "Free men cannot start a war, but once it is started, they can fight on in defeat." This compelling, dignified and moving novel was inspired by and based upon the Nazi invasion of neutral Norway. Set in an imaginary European mining town, it shows what happens when a ruthless totalitarian power is up against an occupied democracy with an overwhelming desire to be free.
©1942; 1970 John Steinbeck; Elaine A Steinbeck, Thom Steinbeck, John Steinbeck IV (P)2011 Penguin
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: A small, coastal town in northern Europe is occupied by an invading army that is at war with England and Russia. The town is peaceful, but its coal mining operation makes it a desireable target. The poor people of the town never really had a chance to resist, but being betrayed by one of their own sealed the deal. The people reluctantly begin to settle into their new lives as the snows come early that year and a harsh winter begins to clamp down. The fragile peace is shattered however, when one of the town’s aldermen goes before a firing squad.
Alexander Morden was a peaceful man, and well respected among his fellow townsfolk. But when two of the occupying soldiers order him to work in the coal mine, he snaps and kills one of them with his pick-axe. Alexander firmly believes that free men should not be ordered about. Alexander is placed before a firing squad and summarily executed, ending the peace between citizen and soldier.
The people of the town show no open hostility, obeying orders and doing their work, but the resistance has begun. The workers grow suddenly clumsy, equipment mysteriously malfunctions, sections of railroad track are damaged regularly. Bombing raids from England fly over, and blackouts are ordered in the town so that no target will be visible, but lights always seem to be left on at the coal mine. Guards become tempted by women or drink, and disappear one by one.
Eventually, two men are able to sneak away in a fishing boat, and head for England. Not long after, airplanes begin parachuting in small packages of dynamite over the town. The message to the occupying force is clear: people can be held against their will and forced to obey, but the human spirit can never be diminished.
John Steinbeck wrote The Moon Is Down in 1942, during the height of World War II. He doesn’t actually say so, but it’s safe to say that the invading army in the story represents Germany. The novel was sponsored by the United States government as a bit of propaganda, in hopes that it would inspire resistance among the territories that Germany occupied. The book was translated into many languages and distributed widely across Europe, often illegally, making it the most popular piece of propaganda to be circulated. Steinbeck was awarded the Medal of Honor for his work.
As I have said before, George Guidall is the finest audiobook narrator in the business. It is difficult, however, to say exactly what I like so much about his narrations. His character voices are not great, although I’ve often thought that he does women’s voices better than most men. He just reads so naturally. When he reads dialogue, it sounds the way people really sound when they talk. I’m guessing this is a skill that can’t be learned, George Guidall was born to narrate the way Beethoven was born to write music.
John Steinbeck has a very clear understanding of the human spirit, and this shows in his various works. He has a knack for capturing people’s thoughts and feelings in his words. The Moon Is Down is a good example of his story-telling ability.
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (Audiobook Review)
All Quiet On the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (Audiobook Review)
1984 by George Orwell (Audiobook Review)
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If you like this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get “The Moon Is Down” by John Steinbeck (Unabridged Audiobook) from Penguin Audio.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from AudioBook-Heaven.
Showing posts with label george guidall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label george guidall. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Everyman by Philip Roth (Audiobook Review)
Audiobook Reviews from Audiobook-Heaven
Title: Everyman
Author: Philip Roth
Narrator: George Guidall
Duration: 4 hours, 7 minutes
Copyright: 2006, Recorded Books
Genres: general fiction,
Filed in: Audiobook Reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Library.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: There is no more decorated American writer living today than Philip Roth, the New York Times best-selling author of American Pastoral, The Human Stain, and The Plot Against America. He has won a Pulitzer Prize, two National Book Awards, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, two PEN/Faulkner Awards, and numerous other distinctions.
The hero of Everyman is obsessed with mortality. As he reminds himself at one point, "I'm 34! Worry about oblivion when you're 75." But he cannot help himself. He is the ex-husband in three marriages gone wrong. He is the father of two sons who detest him, despite a daughter who adores him. And as his health worsens, he is the envious brother of a much fitter man. A masterful portrait of one man's inner struggles, Everyman is a brilliant showcase for one of the world's most distinguished novelists.
©2006 Philip Roth; (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC.
MY TAKE ON IT: I wouldn’t go so far as to say this audiobook was brilliant, I don’t get paid to do this so I can be more honest than that, but Everyman did make me stop and think. In that respect, I have to admit that this novel was a success.
Everyman is the story of one man’s life. The protagonist remains nameless throughout the audiobook. According to author Philip Roth, this is to emphasize the fact that he is identified more through his relationships with others, than through any identity of his own. The character spends his whole life trying to figure out who he is, and after three failed marriages, and two sons that despise him, he comes to his end never having succeeded.
Philip Roth touches briefly on the subject of religion in Everyman, mainly to note that the nameless character never had any faith during his life. It seems clear to me that his lack of faith corresponds with the lack of meaning in his life, although I don’t think that’s what the author intended. I listened to an interview Roth did on NPR’s Fresh Air, and it’s clear that, while raised in a Jewish family, Roth subscribes to no religion at all. During the interview, he used the words “irrational” and “delusional” interchangeably with the word religion. Overall, the author comes across as an arrogant man who belittles things he does not understand.
At any rate, it remains unclear to me what Roth was trying to say in this novel, but I know what it says to me. A life without God is an empty life indeed.
NARRATOR: It was George Guidall that really drew me to this audiobook. I love his narrations, and he did a fantastic job on Everyman, as he does on every other book he narrates. His readings are so natural that they hardly sound like readings at all, more like he is just telling a story.
FINAL WORD: Everyman is an okay audiobook, but honestly, if someone other than George Guidall had narrated it, I probably would have gotten bored with it.
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb (Audiobook Review)
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (Audiobook Review)
For One More Day by Mitch Albom (Audiobook Review)
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If you like this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get "Everyman" by Philip Roth (Unabridged Audiobook) from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from AudioBook-Heaven.
Title: Everyman
Author: Philip Roth
Narrator: George Guidall
Duration: 4 hours, 7 minutes
Copyright: 2006, Recorded Books
Genres: general fiction,
Filed in: Audiobook Reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Library.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: There is no more decorated American writer living today than Philip Roth, the New York Times best-selling author of American Pastoral, The Human Stain, and The Plot Against America. He has won a Pulitzer Prize, two National Book Awards, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, two PEN/Faulkner Awards, and numerous other distinctions.
The hero of Everyman is obsessed with mortality. As he reminds himself at one point, "I'm 34! Worry about oblivion when you're 75." But he cannot help himself. He is the ex-husband in three marriages gone wrong. He is the father of two sons who detest him, despite a daughter who adores him. And as his health worsens, he is the envious brother of a much fitter man. A masterful portrait of one man's inner struggles, Everyman is a brilliant showcase for one of the world's most distinguished novelists.
©2006 Philip Roth; (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC.
MY TAKE ON IT: I wouldn’t go so far as to say this audiobook was brilliant, I don’t get paid to do this so I can be more honest than that, but Everyman did make me stop and think. In that respect, I have to admit that this novel was a success.
Everyman is the story of one man’s life. The protagonist remains nameless throughout the audiobook. According to author Philip Roth, this is to emphasize the fact that he is identified more through his relationships with others, than through any identity of his own. The character spends his whole life trying to figure out who he is, and after three failed marriages, and two sons that despise him, he comes to his end never having succeeded.
Philip Roth touches briefly on the subject of religion in Everyman, mainly to note that the nameless character never had any faith during his life. It seems clear to me that his lack of faith corresponds with the lack of meaning in his life, although I don’t think that’s what the author intended. I listened to an interview Roth did on NPR’s Fresh Air, and it’s clear that, while raised in a Jewish family, Roth subscribes to no religion at all. During the interview, he used the words “irrational” and “delusional” interchangeably with the word religion. Overall, the author comes across as an arrogant man who belittles things he does not understand.
At any rate, it remains unclear to me what Roth was trying to say in this novel, but I know what it says to me. A life without God is an empty life indeed.
NARRATOR: It was George Guidall that really drew me to this audiobook. I love his narrations, and he did a fantastic job on Everyman, as he does on every other book he narrates. His readings are so natural that they hardly sound like readings at all, more like he is just telling a story.
FINAL WORD: Everyman is an okay audiobook, but honestly, if someone other than George Guidall had narrated it, I probably would have gotten bored with it.
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb (Audiobook Review)
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (Audiobook Review)
For One More Day by Mitch Albom (Audiobook Review)
----------dotted line----------
If you like this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get "Everyman" by Philip Roth (Unabridged Audiobook) from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from AudioBook-Heaven.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (Audiobook Review)
Audiobook Reviews from Audiobook Heaven
special Halloween Edition!
Terrifying Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Wicked Writer: Washington Irving
Nightmarish Narrator: George Guidall
Petrifying Publisher: Recorded Books
Dreadful Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Creepy Copyright: 1993
Genres of Doom: horror, paranormal, classic fiction
Filed in: Abnormal Audiobook reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Torture Chamber, er, I mean Library.
SPOOKY SUMMARY: In the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, New York, in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane arrives to educate the children of the region. This lanky schoolmaster from Connecticut fancies the idea of marrying the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel, the 18-year-old daughter of a wealthy farmer, but there is a problem with his plan. Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt, the town rowdy, has already set his heart on marrying her.
This romantic rivalry climaxes one autumn night with the appearance of the legendary Headless Horseman, allegedly the ghost of a Hessian trooper who lost his head to a cannonball during the Revolutionary War. Every night he rides through the woods to the scene of the battle in search of his head.
Since this story’s first appearance in 1820, generations of readers, young and old, have thrilled to the headless horseman galloping through the haunted woods of Sleepy Hollow. The rollicking tale of Ichabod Crane and his ill-fated courtship of Katrina Van Tassel has become a classic ghost story.
Public Domain (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
THOROUGHLY DISTURBING THOUGHTS: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is, without a doubt, the most famous ghost story in the world. Mention the name of Ichabod Crane to just about anyone, and you will most likely get a tale of the headless horseman, in one form or another. I think this is the first time I’ve heard the story in its original form, and I am very glad to have heard it. Washington Irving has a beautiful writing style that reminds me a lot of Mark Twain. Maybe that should be the other way around since “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was written almost 60 years before “Tom Sawyer.”
In this Recorded Books edition, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is packaged together with another Washington Irving tale, “Rip Van Winkle”, in a 3 CD set. Both stories were written in 1819, and both have become timeless classics of American folk-lore.
REMORSEFUL READER: In my own humble opinion, George Guidall is the finest audiobook narrator there is. He really has a way of bringing a story to life, and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, and “Rip Van Winkle” were no exceptions. I particularly enjoyed his voice for the elderly Rip Van Winkle.
FREAKISH FINAL WORD: If you’re looking for a creepy little audiobook to listen to this Halloween, you’ve just found it. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is sure to tingle your spine, and chill your bones, and “Rip Van Winkle” is a nice bonus.
MACABRE MOVIE ADAPTATION: What name comes to mind when I say the phrase, “weird and creepy movies?” Tim Burton, of course! Tim Burton, who directed such other freakish films as “Beetlejuice”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, and “Edward Scissorhands”, put his own unique stamp on the Sleepy Hollow legend in 1999. The film starred Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, and featured an original score by Danny Elfman, who provided scores for all but four of Burton’s films. “Sleepy Hollow” was budgeted at a ghoulish $70 million, but grossed over $200 million at the box office. Grotesque!
OTHER HAUNTED AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (Audiobook Review)
Bag of Bones by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson (Audiobook Review)
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If you liked this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here
Get "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow" & "Rip Van Winkle" (Unabridged Classics in Audio) by Washington Irving, from Amazon.com.
Interested in the fiendish film?
Get "Sleepy Hollow" on DVD from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from AudioBook Heaven.
special Halloween Edition!
Terrifying Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Wicked Writer: Washington Irving
Nightmarish Narrator: George Guidall
Petrifying Publisher: Recorded Books
Dreadful Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Creepy Copyright: 1993
Genres of Doom: horror, paranormal, classic fiction
Filed in: Abnormal Audiobook reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Torture Chamber, er, I mean Library.
SPOOKY SUMMARY: In the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, New York, in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane arrives to educate the children of the region. This lanky schoolmaster from Connecticut fancies the idea of marrying the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel, the 18-year-old daughter of a wealthy farmer, but there is a problem with his plan. Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt, the town rowdy, has already set his heart on marrying her.
This romantic rivalry climaxes one autumn night with the appearance of the legendary Headless Horseman, allegedly the ghost of a Hessian trooper who lost his head to a cannonball during the Revolutionary War. Every night he rides through the woods to the scene of the battle in search of his head.
Since this story’s first appearance in 1820, generations of readers, young and old, have thrilled to the headless horseman galloping through the haunted woods of Sleepy Hollow. The rollicking tale of Ichabod Crane and his ill-fated courtship of Katrina Van Tassel has become a classic ghost story.
Public Domain (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
THOROUGHLY DISTURBING THOUGHTS: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is, without a doubt, the most famous ghost story in the world. Mention the name of Ichabod Crane to just about anyone, and you will most likely get a tale of the headless horseman, in one form or another. I think this is the first time I’ve heard the story in its original form, and I am very glad to have heard it. Washington Irving has a beautiful writing style that reminds me a lot of Mark Twain. Maybe that should be the other way around since “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was written almost 60 years before “Tom Sawyer.”
In this Recorded Books edition, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is packaged together with another Washington Irving tale, “Rip Van Winkle”, in a 3 CD set. Both stories were written in 1819, and both have become timeless classics of American folk-lore.
REMORSEFUL READER: In my own humble opinion, George Guidall is the finest audiobook narrator there is. He really has a way of bringing a story to life, and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, and “Rip Van Winkle” were no exceptions. I particularly enjoyed his voice for the elderly Rip Van Winkle.
FREAKISH FINAL WORD: If you’re looking for a creepy little audiobook to listen to this Halloween, you’ve just found it. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is sure to tingle your spine, and chill your bones, and “Rip Van Winkle” is a nice bonus.
MACABRE MOVIE ADAPTATION: What name comes to mind when I say the phrase, “weird and creepy movies?” Tim Burton, of course! Tim Burton, who directed such other freakish films as “Beetlejuice”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, and “Edward Scissorhands”, put his own unique stamp on the Sleepy Hollow legend in 1999. The film starred Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci, and featured an original score by Danny Elfman, who provided scores for all but four of Burton’s films. “Sleepy Hollow” was budgeted at a ghoulish $70 million, but grossed over $200 million at the box office. Grotesque!
OTHER HAUNTED AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (Audiobook Review)
Bag of Bones by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson (Audiobook Review)
----------o----------
If you liked this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here
Get "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow" & "Rip Van Winkle" (Unabridged Classics in Audio) by Washington Irving, from Amazon.com.
Interested in the fiendish film?
Get "Sleepy Hollow" on DVD from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from AudioBook Heaven.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Things They Left Behind by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
Audiobook Reviews from Audiobook-Heaven
Title: The Things They Left Behind
Author: Stephen King
Narrator: Ben Shenkman
Publisher: Recorded Books
Duration: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Copyright: 2008
Genres: horror, paranormal
Filed in: Audiobook reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Library.
THE GIST: On September 11, 2001, a little voice inside Scott Staley’s head told him it would be a good idea to call in sick at his job at Light and Bell Insurance on the 110th floor of the World Trade Center, and enjoy a day in Central Park. A few hours later, all of Scott’s coworkers were dead. For the next several months, Scott cannot escape his feelings of survivor’s guilt, and is disturbed to find that every shrink in town is booked solid.
Almost a year after the terrible event, the objects begin to show up in Scott’s apartment: a conk shell, a whoopee cushion, a cheap pair of joke sunglasses, a baseball bat, and a steel penny encased in a cube of Lucite. The items do not belong in his apartment, but Scott recognizes them immediately. They are trinkets that belonged to his now-dead coworkers, mementos that they displayed on their desks, things that were important to them. They are the things they left behind.
Plagued once again by memories of the people he will never see again, Scott tries to get rid of the objects by putting them in a trash dumpster. By the time he gets back up to his apartment, all of the items have returned. Scott finally confides in one of his neighbors, Paula Robeson. Paula does not believe his story, but she offers to take one of the items and lock it in her safe, to ease his mind. After three long days and nights, during which Paula witnesses the horrors of the 110th floor, Paula brings the item back and says she never wants to see Scott again.
But Paula has given him an idea. Maybe he does need to give the items to someone, it just has to be the right someone.
MY THOUGHTS:”The Things They Left Behind” has become one of my very favorite Stephen King short stories. Stephen King handled a delicate subject with a grace and compassion that is very unlike his usual style.
“The Things They Left Behind” was originally published in 2003 in an anthology called “Terror’s Echo.” It is also now available in Stephen King’s most recent collection of short stories, titled “Just After Sunset”, published in 2008.
On the whole, “Just After Sunset” is, in my opinion, Stephen King’s worst collection of short fiction, Nevertheless, there are two stories in the collection that shine out, like diamonds in the rough. “The Things They Left Behind” is one of these; the other is a story called “Willa”, which is a truly haunting tale about some cross-country train passengers who have been waiting a very long time to reach their destination.
Although I did not care for most of the stories in “Just After Sunset”, the audiobook showcases some exceptional narrating talent. The full list of stories and narrators can be found below.
NARRATOR: I had never heard of Ben Shenkman before listening to “The Things They Left Behind”, but I quickly began to appreciate his conversational style.
Ben Shenkman has had roles in movies such as “Eraser”, and “The Seige”, and more recently in the films “Must Love dogs”, and “Just Like Heaven.” He has also had roles in the television series “Law and Order”, and “Grey’s Anatomy”, and will be co-starring in the upcoming sitcom “The Paul Reiser Show”, which is expected to be a late season replacement for the 2010-2011 fall season on NBC.
FINAL WORD: “The Things They Left Behind” is really a beautifully written story. It is about remembering and honoring those who have gone before us, and preserving their memories in a respectful fashion. Highly recommended.
COMPLETE LISTING FROM “JUST AFTER SUNSET”:
Willa, narrated by Holter Graham
The Gingerbread Girl, narrated by Mare Winningham
Harvey’s Dream, narrated by Stephen King
Rest Stop, narrated by Dennis O’Hare
Stationary Bike, narrated by Ron McLarty
Graduation Afternoon, narrated by Jill Eikenberry
The Things They Left Behind, narrated by Ben Shenkman
N, narrated by Holter Graham, Denis O’Hare, Ben Shenkman, and Karen Ziemba
The New York Times at Special Discount Rates, narrated by Jill Eikenberry
Mute, narrated by Skipp Sudduth
The Cat From Hell, narrated by Holter Graham
Ayana, narrated by George Guidall
A Very Tight Place, narrated by Ron McLarty
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
Lisey’s Story by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
Under the Dome by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
If you liked this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get "Just After Sunset", by Stephen King (Unabridged Audiobook) Audio CD from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from AudioBook Heaven.
Title: The Things They Left Behind
Author: Stephen King
Narrator: Ben Shenkman
Publisher: Recorded Books
Duration: 1 hour, 6 minutes
Copyright: 2008
Genres: horror, paranormal
Filed in: Audiobook reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Library.
THE GIST: On September 11, 2001, a little voice inside Scott Staley’s head told him it would be a good idea to call in sick at his job at Light and Bell Insurance on the 110th floor of the World Trade Center, and enjoy a day in Central Park. A few hours later, all of Scott’s coworkers were dead. For the next several months, Scott cannot escape his feelings of survivor’s guilt, and is disturbed to find that every shrink in town is booked solid.
Almost a year after the terrible event, the objects begin to show up in Scott’s apartment: a conk shell, a whoopee cushion, a cheap pair of joke sunglasses, a baseball bat, and a steel penny encased in a cube of Lucite. The items do not belong in his apartment, but Scott recognizes them immediately. They are trinkets that belonged to his now-dead coworkers, mementos that they displayed on their desks, things that were important to them. They are the things they left behind.
Plagued once again by memories of the people he will never see again, Scott tries to get rid of the objects by putting them in a trash dumpster. By the time he gets back up to his apartment, all of the items have returned. Scott finally confides in one of his neighbors, Paula Robeson. Paula does not believe his story, but she offers to take one of the items and lock it in her safe, to ease his mind. After three long days and nights, during which Paula witnesses the horrors of the 110th floor, Paula brings the item back and says she never wants to see Scott again.
But Paula has given him an idea. Maybe he does need to give the items to someone, it just has to be the right someone.
MY THOUGHTS:”The Things They Left Behind” has become one of my very favorite Stephen King short stories. Stephen King handled a delicate subject with a grace and compassion that is very unlike his usual style.
“The Things They Left Behind” was originally published in 2003 in an anthology called “Terror’s Echo.” It is also now available in Stephen King’s most recent collection of short stories, titled “Just After Sunset”, published in 2008.
On the whole, “Just After Sunset” is, in my opinion, Stephen King’s worst collection of short fiction, Nevertheless, there are two stories in the collection that shine out, like diamonds in the rough. “The Things They Left Behind” is one of these; the other is a story called “Willa”, which is a truly haunting tale about some cross-country train passengers who have been waiting a very long time to reach their destination.
Although I did not care for most of the stories in “Just After Sunset”, the audiobook showcases some exceptional narrating talent. The full list of stories and narrators can be found below.
NARRATOR: I had never heard of Ben Shenkman before listening to “The Things They Left Behind”, but I quickly began to appreciate his conversational style.
Ben Shenkman has had roles in movies such as “Eraser”, and “The Seige”, and more recently in the films “Must Love dogs”, and “Just Like Heaven.” He has also had roles in the television series “Law and Order”, and “Grey’s Anatomy”, and will be co-starring in the upcoming sitcom “The Paul Reiser Show”, which is expected to be a late season replacement for the 2010-2011 fall season on NBC.
FINAL WORD: “The Things They Left Behind” is really a beautifully written story. It is about remembering and honoring those who have gone before us, and preserving their memories in a respectful fashion. Highly recommended.
COMPLETE LISTING FROM “JUST AFTER SUNSET”:
Willa, narrated by Holter Graham
The Gingerbread Girl, narrated by Mare Winningham
Harvey’s Dream, narrated by Stephen King
Rest Stop, narrated by Dennis O’Hare
Stationary Bike, narrated by Ron McLarty
Graduation Afternoon, narrated by Jill Eikenberry
The Things They Left Behind, narrated by Ben Shenkman
N, narrated by Holter Graham, Denis O’Hare, Ben Shenkman, and Karen Ziemba
The New York Times at Special Discount Rates, narrated by Jill Eikenberry
Mute, narrated by Skipp Sudduth
The Cat From Hell, narrated by Holter Graham
Ayana, narrated by George Guidall
A Very Tight Place, narrated by Ron McLarty
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
Lisey’s Story by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
Under the Dome by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
Full Dark No Stars by Stephen King (Audiobook Review)
If you liked this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get "Just After Sunset", by Stephen King (Unabridged Audiobook) Audio CD from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from AudioBook Heaven.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb (Audiobook review)
Audiobook Reviews from Audiobook-Heaven
Title: The Hour I First Believed
Author: Wally Lamb
Publisher: Recorded Books
Narrator: George Guidall
Duration: 25 hours, 14 minutes
Copyright: 2008
Genres: general fiction, inspirational, trauma
Filed in: Audiobook reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Library.
THE GIST: Caelum Quirk doesn’t believe in much. He doesn’t believe in marriage; he's on his third. He doesn't believe in family either; no children of his own, and the weekly calls from his nearest relative, an aging aunt who still lives on the family farm back in Connecticut, bore him to tears. He usually ends up handing the phone off to his current wife, Maureen. When Aunt Lolly’s life partner died a few years ago, Caelum didn't even go home for the funeral, he sent Maureen instead.
But Caelum is about to get a serious wake-up call to what’s important in life. It’s April, 1999, and Caelum is the American Lit teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Maureen is the school nurse.
In that fateful April, Caelum receives a call from back home informing him that Aunt Lolly has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Being Lolly’s next of kin, Caelum feels obligated to return home although he does not really want to. Caelum barely arrives before Aunt Lolly suffers another stroke, this one fatal. Maureen agrees to tie up their affairs in Littleton and then join him in Connecticut a few days later. On the afternoon before Maureen's flight east, Caelum decides to take a break from the funeral arrangements to watch a little tv. His remote stops on CNN. The screen tells him that he is seeing live footage from Columbine High School, his school. There is a man dropping from a second story window into the arms of rescuers below. There are crying students exiting the front doors. The reporter is talking about shootings, and death.
Caelum is completely dumbfounded. Is this really happening? Unable to reach Maureen on the phone, he rushes to the airport to catch the next flight back to Colorado. Not knowing if he will find his wife dead or alive, Caelum begins to realize for the first time how much Maureen really means to him, and how much he took for granted.
*Note, this part of the story was incredibly tense so I am not going to spoil it by revealing whether Maureen lives or dies.
In the aftermath of the devastation at Columbine, Caelum’s entire existence is turned upside-down. He tries to escape by selling his house in Littleton and moving back to his family farm in Connecticut, vacant now after the death of Aunt Lolly. To his dismay, Caelum finds that the nightmare visions of that terrible day remain with him no matter where he goes. To make matters worse, sifting through generations of documents and memorabilia reveals that his parents, both long dead now, were not the people he thought they were. The ordeal at Columbine and the family secrets he uncovers will leave him changed forever,but how much tragedy can a man endure before reaching the breaking point?
MY THOUGHTS: I had never heard of Wally Lamb before "The Hour I First Believed" caught my eye. Frankly, I was a little skeptical about this audio book, but I'm so glad I decided to try it. Lam is a fantastic writer. His engaging style grabbed my attention right from the beginning and never let go. The scene where Caelum is rushing home to discover the fate of his wife was incredibly tense and had me literally on the edge of my seat.
Wally Lamb likes to use layered flashback scenes. There were times when I felt like I had missed something, but it always made sense in the end. He uses the scenes well, delivering a wealth of background on a character or a situation.
The final chapters of “The Hour I First Believed” are among some of the most beautiful I have ever read. I actually laughed and cried, sometimes simultaneously, as Lam tied up the loose ends. In his moving finale, Lamb reminds us that there is always hope, and that sometimes, when you go looking for what you want, you runright into what you need.
NARRATOR: George Guidall is one of the finest audio book readers I have listened to. His voice is very rich and mellow and pleasant to listen to, but more importantly, he reads with passion. Not just passion, but COMpassion. He captures the emotion of the characters so well that you can't help but feel their pain. There are times when Guidall sounds like he is actually on the verge of tears. His soulful reading of "The Hour I First Believed" really put the icing on the cake.
FINAL WORD: “The Hour I First Believed” is simply beautiful. This is a story of the ways people reach out to others for help, and the ways we respond when others reach out to us. It is a story of devastating tragedy, and hope reborn. Most importantly, it is a story of how we carry on when it seems that all is lost.
The combination of Wally Lamb and George Guidall is a match made in audio book heaven. Sorry, couldn’t resist. You should definitely read “The Hour I First Believed", you won't regret it.
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes (Audiobook review)
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (Audiobook Review)
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle (Audiobook review)
If you liked this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get "The Hour I First Believed" by Wally Lamb (Unabridged Audiobook) from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from Audiobook Heaven.
Title: The Hour I First Believed
Author: Wally Lamb
Publisher: Recorded Books
Narrator: George Guidall
Duration: 25 hours, 14 minutes
Copyright: 2008
Genres: general fiction, inspirational, trauma
Filed in: Audiobook reviews
Review copy provided by Kearney Public Library.
THE GIST: Caelum Quirk doesn’t believe in much. He doesn’t believe in marriage; he's on his third. He doesn't believe in family either; no children of his own, and the weekly calls from his nearest relative, an aging aunt who still lives on the family farm back in Connecticut, bore him to tears. He usually ends up handing the phone off to his current wife, Maureen. When Aunt Lolly’s life partner died a few years ago, Caelum didn't even go home for the funeral, he sent Maureen instead.
But Caelum is about to get a serious wake-up call to what’s important in life. It’s April, 1999, and Caelum is the American Lit teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Maureen is the school nurse.
In that fateful April, Caelum receives a call from back home informing him that Aunt Lolly has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Being Lolly’s next of kin, Caelum feels obligated to return home although he does not really want to. Caelum barely arrives before Aunt Lolly suffers another stroke, this one fatal. Maureen agrees to tie up their affairs in Littleton and then join him in Connecticut a few days later. On the afternoon before Maureen's flight east, Caelum decides to take a break from the funeral arrangements to watch a little tv. His remote stops on CNN. The screen tells him that he is seeing live footage from Columbine High School, his school. There is a man dropping from a second story window into the arms of rescuers below. There are crying students exiting the front doors. The reporter is talking about shootings, and death.
Caelum is completely dumbfounded. Is this really happening? Unable to reach Maureen on the phone, he rushes to the airport to catch the next flight back to Colorado. Not knowing if he will find his wife dead or alive, Caelum begins to realize for the first time how much Maureen really means to him, and how much he took for granted.
*Note, this part of the story was incredibly tense so I am not going to spoil it by revealing whether Maureen lives or dies.
In the aftermath of the devastation at Columbine, Caelum’s entire existence is turned upside-down. He tries to escape by selling his house in Littleton and moving back to his family farm in Connecticut, vacant now after the death of Aunt Lolly. To his dismay, Caelum finds that the nightmare visions of that terrible day remain with him no matter where he goes. To make matters worse, sifting through generations of documents and memorabilia reveals that his parents, both long dead now, were not the people he thought they were. The ordeal at Columbine and the family secrets he uncovers will leave him changed forever,but how much tragedy can a man endure before reaching the breaking point?
MY THOUGHTS: I had never heard of Wally Lamb before "The Hour I First Believed" caught my eye. Frankly, I was a little skeptical about this audio book, but I'm so glad I decided to try it. Lam is a fantastic writer. His engaging style grabbed my attention right from the beginning and never let go. The scene where Caelum is rushing home to discover the fate of his wife was incredibly tense and had me literally on the edge of my seat.
Wally Lamb likes to use layered flashback scenes. There were times when I felt like I had missed something, but it always made sense in the end. He uses the scenes well, delivering a wealth of background on a character or a situation.
The final chapters of “The Hour I First Believed” are among some of the most beautiful I have ever read. I actually laughed and cried, sometimes simultaneously, as Lam tied up the loose ends. In his moving finale, Lamb reminds us that there is always hope, and that sometimes, when you go looking for what you want, you runright into what you need.
NARRATOR: George Guidall is one of the finest audio book readers I have listened to. His voice is very rich and mellow and pleasant to listen to, but more importantly, he reads with passion. Not just passion, but COMpassion. He captures the emotion of the characters so well that you can't help but feel their pain. There are times when Guidall sounds like he is actually on the verge of tears. His soulful reading of "The Hour I First Believed" really put the icing on the cake.
FINAL WORD: “The Hour I First Believed” is simply beautiful. This is a story of the ways people reach out to others for help, and the ways we respond when others reach out to us. It is a story of devastating tragedy, and hope reborn. Most importantly, it is a story of how we carry on when it seems that all is lost.
The combination of Wally Lamb and George Guidall is a match made in audio book heaven. Sorry, couldn’t resist. You should definitely read “The Hour I First Believed", you won't regret it.
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER AUDIOBOOK REVIEWS:
Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes (Audiobook review)
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (Audiobook Review)
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle (Audiobook review)
If you liked this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get "The Hour I First Believed" by Wally Lamb (Unabridged Audiobook) from Amazon.com.
This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
Come back soon for more audiobook reviews from Audiobook Heaven.
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