Mark

A mystery within the machinations of the media.

Reviewed: 09-09-2020

Scrublands has enough plot twists and turns to keep most intelligent readers engaged and asking questions, weaving numerous plots, sub plots and side stories together with dramatic tension to function as a successful example of crime writing.

However, I found Scrublands a more interesting foray into the world of mass media and journalism in Australia. Hammer raises several questions on complexities of the truth, on the labelling who are heroes and villains, and on the old journalistic cliche of only serving the public’s right to know.

I’m glad I read and listened to it but I’m more thankful that it’s now over!

Reviewed: 29-12-2019

Whilst I appreciate that Simon Armitage has translated this classic old English poem into a contemporary voice and I enjoyed his playful alliterations and poetic reading, I found part 3 - by far the longest section at 51 minutes - so tiresome, repetitive and predictable that it counter balanced any other charm to the point where finishing the poem was as much a trial as Gawain’s own quest.

I question whether it has any value for me beyond a museum curiosity.

Steinbeck - a writer of his time but also of ours.

Reviewed: 10-09-2019

Cannery Row is full of such heart, empathy and nuisanced characterisation, that slowly builds an evocative sense of a time and place, whilst still suggesting universal sensitivity and understanding that we should bring with us.

The narrator Trevor White, is also a master at bringing these classic novels with horde of characters to life. After Catch 22, this is my second audio of his I’ve listened to and both brilliant books were made all the better by his performance.

This modern classic is still so relevant to these times!

Reviewed: 29-07-2019

Wow! What a fantastic epic ride into the modern dilemma, full of absurdist humour, the ridiculous, and the terrifying. That will stay with me a long time.

As other reviewers suggest, Trevor White’s performance to bring Catch 22 and Heller’s horde of characters alive is absolute incredible too. The best audio narration I’ve ever listened too. It is worth going with flow just to enjoy his reading.

Walking Home - A listener's response.

Reviewed: 04-05-2019

Rather than a cheerful recount of his walk through the pennine way - designed to entertain an audience with humorous anecdotes of his rip roaring adventures, Walking Home - A Poet's Journey - represents Armitage's range of emotional highs and lows, celebrating both the potential sublime and banal that he encounters on his way- whilst still frequently finding humour throughout.

However, the reality is that this walk is a hard slog and it is Armitage's honest personal reflections on the walk, on his companions and on his varying moods and fears that is most engaging aspect. This book is not a recount of a journey but a mediation on one person's personal response to that journey.

Listening to Simon Armitage narrate is just an additional pleasure!

A stimulating and accessible time!

Reviewed: 20-04-2019

I found 'The order of time' a fascinating, stimulating and accessible exploration into the physics and philosophy of time. I've already listened and re-listened to most chapters twice in an attempt to take on board most of the ideas Carlo Rovelli presents.

However, I'm sure there's so much more and this is one audio book that I'll return to again - regularly - for the pleasure of the narration and the depth of the ideas under discussion. A great exercise in mental stimulation and awareness. Really enjoyable!

Glad to revisit this Merry-Go-Round!

Reviewed: 12-01-2019

Whilst I was made to read this novel for my HSC in the 1980's, I loved it and must of really connected to it. I've reread it several times and was great to revisit it as audiobook.

Through the characters of the young boy Rob and his older cousin Rick, the novel presents philosophical questions of traditional institutions like family and national identity whilst representing a view of Australian society and values at a pivot moment of change after ww2.

October may be better read than heard?

Reviewed: 12-12-2018

October definitely communicates the complexity of the Russian Revolution as a process evolving through the months leading up to the big events of History. Mieville uses the voices of thousands - beyond the big names - all struggling, opposing, arguing, voting and killing each other in the name of hordes of political factions and splitter groups championing their 'right way'. I was really intrigued and interested in the theatre of it all

However, I unfortunstely found this audiobook hard to listen to, hard to follow all the characters, who was who, and who they were exactly with or against, I ended up just listening , letting it wash over me- zoning in and out - getting a sense of the revolution but drowning in all the details and names. This narrator tries to do a great job to bring it all alive but I struggled to listen all the way to the end. Maybe this book would be better to read rather then listen to?

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