Danelle Kenny

Why are women always portrayed this way?

Reviewed: 05-10-2014

What did you like best about Madame Bovary? What did you like least?

The best part is the lovers falling out of love with each other
The lowlight of the book is definitely the ending. It simply ends and the poor child, the only innocent party, is the one most hard done by. Tragic.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Give the kid a chance.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No, too laborious and not very action packed.

Any additional comments?

Honestly, what is with these literary geniuses who don't get women at all. Firstly, she's unlikely to run off with a fellow just because he happens to be good looking, there's usually a deeper emotional attraction or intrigue. Secondly, if she's fallen, it's highly unlikely she'll be so undone as to kill herself over it. There are far worse things in life than falling in and out of love with someone. Really, the husband was such a pushover all she had to do was tell him and they'd have figured it out. Why on earth do they always kill themselves? It makes such a pathetic finale.

Did he really understand the women?

Reviewed: 05-10-2014

What did you like most about Anna Karenina?

The character development; for the most part they were all incredibly believable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Anna Karenina?

The train, when Anna returns from Moscow to Karenin with Vronsky in the background.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

When Anna finally gives in to Vronsky

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely not. Too many characters, too many parts. It works better if you listen to a piece at a time.

Any additional comments?

I was hooked on this book until the end. Anna's final actions are incongruous with the rest of the book and destroy the strength of female 'sensibility.' There were so many more things she would have done and Tolstoy's choice tainted the rest of the book.

1 person found this helpful

Keep it under your hat

Reviewed: 05-10-2014

If you could sum up Birdsong in three words, what would they be?

Depressing, Confronting, Life affirming

Have you listened to any of Peter Firth’s other performances? How does this one compare?

This was my first experience with Peter Firth, it was a perfectly adequate performance and I wanted to keep listening.

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

I had a very visceral reaction to several parts of the book and, having had experience with soldiers, can relate to many of the occurrences in the book. I was a little disappointed with the ending though.

Any additional comments?

This is well worth keeping on the shelf for the centenary anniversary of the end of that god awful war. Lest we forget.

A meander through the ages and stages

Reviewed: 05-10-2014

[{ "answer" : "delightful, poignant, unpredictable", "type" : "Overall", "question" : "If you could sum up Love in the Time of Cholera in three words, what would they be?", "id" : 44, "typeString" : "overall" }, { "answer" : "To date there is nothing quite like it that I've read, the movie 'as good as it gets' deals with similar themes. ", "type" : "Story", "question" : "What other book might you compare Love in the Time of Cholera to, and why?", "id" : 2, "typeString" : "story" }, { "answer" : "His accent lent itself very nicely to the blend of Spanish in the text ", "type" : "Performance", "question" : "What about Armando Durán’s performance did you like?", "id" : 27, "typeString" : "performance" }, { "answer" : "No, this book is definitely designed for Sunday afternoons sipping a good drink or taking a long bath. It is quite a slow book, though very well written. It deserves the time to soak it in.", "type" : "Genre", "question" : "Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?", "id" : 55, "typeString" : "genre" }, { "answer" : "", "type" : "Misc", "question" : "Any additional comments?", "id" : -1, "typeString" : "misc" } ]

2 people found this helpful

A masterclass in story-telling

Reviewed: 05-10-2014

Would you listen to Of Mice and Men again? Why?

Yes, one of the few I couldn't turn off.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Of Mice and Men?

The opening scene is one of the best pieces of descriptive writing I have ever read (/heard?)

What about Clarke Peters’s performance did you like?

He was easy to listen to, stayed in character very well and didn't have any speech impediments to detract from the story. An admirable job on a classic.

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

I cried, even though I could predict the ending. Overall emotion would be enchantment, I was spellbound from the opening and it didn't let go til it wrapped up.

Any additional comments?

An absolute masterclass in writing as well as a very enjoyable ride. It's incredibly short and well worth the time to listen several times over.

8 people found this helpful