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Review: Recursion

By Jan

on January 19th, 2020

Recursion Author: Blake Crouch; Genre: Science Fiction; Format: Audiobook; Narrators: Jon Lindstrom and Abby Craden; Publisher: Random House Audio (2019); Rating: . This title has very mixed reviews, and there are good reasons for that. Overall, however, the clever plot and the good narration really saved it for me. This is mind-bending science-fiction dealing with memory and how dangerous it…

Repin_-_Reply_of_the_Zaporozhian_Cossacks_Yorck

Art I Love: Repin’s Reply of the Cossacks

By Jan

on January 19th, 2020

Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV of the Ottoman Empire (1891) by Russian realism artist Ilya Repin is actually my husband’s favorite painting, although I like it, too. It depicts the Cossacks supposedly drafting a vulgar reply to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1676, who demanded their allegiance, even though they’d won the recent battle….

Review: Days Without End

By Jan

on January 4th, 2020

Days Without End Author: Sebastian Barry; Genre: Historical fiction; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Aidan Kelly; Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.; Rating: . This is a fascinating story of a young Irish immigrant to America who joins the US Army in the 1850s. We follow Thomas and his friend—and lover—John through the Indian Wars and then the Civil War, surviving life-changing circumstances, and…

Review: The Night Circus

By Jan

on January 4th, 2020

The Night Circus Author: Erin Morgenstern; Genre: Fantasy; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Jim Dale; Publisher: Random House Audio (2011); Rating: . Regardless of the gushing reviews and hype about this book, I’m giving it two stars. This was a tough go for me. I almost quit a few times in the first half of the book, and this is the second…

Review: The Hoarder

By Jan

on January 4th, 2020

The Hoarder Author: Jess Kidd; Genre: Mystery; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Aoife McMahon; Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks (2018); Rating: . Another fun listen from Jess Kidd, this one narrated by Aoife McMahon. The story is contemporary, but uses flashbacks, and includes dysfunctional people, much like the author’s 2017 novel, Himself. The writing is lyrical, with absolutely wonderful descriptions and sharp, clever…

Review: The Seven Wonders

By Jan

on January 4th, 2020

The Seven Wonders: A Novel of the Ancient World (Novels of Ancient Rome Book 1) Author: Steven Saylor; Genre: Historical Mystery; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Stephen Plunkett; Publisher: Recorded Books (2012); Rating: . A very fun prequel to the Roma Sub Rosa historical mystery series, with a young Gordianus the Finder traveling the ancient world to see the seven wonders with…

Review: Wives and Daughters

By Jan

on November 23rd, 2019

Wives and Daughters Author: Elizabeth Gaskell; Genre: Victorian Novel; Format: Audiobook; Narrator: Nadia May; Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. (2005) Rating: . Absolutely stunning narration by Nadia May really kept this long listen alive for me. Her timing and accents were wonderful. It’s a character-driven Victorian novel about young woman named Molly, the daughter of a doctor in an English country…

Review: Artemis

By Jan

on November 17th, 2019

Artemis Author: Andy Weir; Genre: Science Fiction; Narrator: Rosario Dawson; Publisher: Audible Studios (2017); Rating: . Many readers want to compare this book (unfavorably) to Weir’s”The Martian,” but I actually enjoyed this one more. It’s different, but better in some ways. There were less of the technical jargon and scientific concepts, although there were still plenty for the geeks. The story…

Review: Recursion

Art I Love: Repin’s Reply of the Cossacks

Review: Days Without End

Review: The Night Circus

Review: The Hoarder

Review: The Seven Wonders

Review: Wives and Daughters

Review: Artemis

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