Helpful Score: 2
This book was beautiful. Which sounds like a weird way to describe a book, especially one with a few murders in the plot... But beautiful is such a great word for it.
The characters were all great. I loved Tommy and Diane. Cal was another great character. The story follows Tommy through his life growing up in England, moving to Hollywood, and eventually "settling down" in Montana. The whole way through I was so captivated by what he was going through. The opening scene with Tommy and his mother is so captivating that I couldn't help but care what happens to Tommy through the rest of the story.
The writing was beautiful in this story. Since it was an audiobook that I read I can imagine some of the imagery was as much from the writing as it was from the narrator's voice. But either way I could see everything that was going on. The descriptions weren't long and drawn out, but everything I saw in my head was on a large scale. I didn't just see where the action was happening, if they were in a room I saw the whole room, if they were outside I could see the whole scaling landscape around the area. I think the writing and the narration were such a perfect fit for each other that this book really was able to take on a life of it's own for me.
The story itself was great also. The story jumps around in Tommy's life. Each part of the story answers one question and then raises another. Even when the story jumps forward it somehow is able to answer the questions from the past... The story wasn't always fast-paced, but it wasn't boring either. Everything about this story just hit that perfect balance.
The narrator for this one was amazing. I don't like to see who narrates before I start and audiobook because then as I'm listening to the book all the characters take on the narrator (especially if it is someone famous). While I was listening I kept thinking to myself this voice is so familiar, and when I finished and looked to see who it was I realized why I liked the narration so much. Michael Emerson has such a great voice. I loved Lost, and even though I didn't so much like Ben I do like the guy who plays Ben. He was able to give each of the characters their own voice, without making them sound fake or "put on". I loved the narration as much as I loved the story.
A review copy of this title was provided by Hachette Book Group.
The characters were all great. I loved Tommy and Diane. Cal was another great character. The story follows Tommy through his life growing up in England, moving to Hollywood, and eventually "settling down" in Montana. The whole way through I was so captivated by what he was going through. The opening scene with Tommy and his mother is so captivating that I couldn't help but care what happens to Tommy through the rest of the story.
The writing was beautiful in this story. Since it was an audiobook that I read I can imagine some of the imagery was as much from the writing as it was from the narrator's voice. But either way I could see everything that was going on. The descriptions weren't long and drawn out, but everything I saw in my head was on a large scale. I didn't just see where the action was happening, if they were in a room I saw the whole room, if they were outside I could see the whole scaling landscape around the area. I think the writing and the narration were such a perfect fit for each other that this book really was able to take on a life of it's own for me.
The story itself was great also. The story jumps around in Tommy's life. Each part of the story answers one question and then raises another. Even when the story jumps forward it somehow is able to answer the questions from the past... The story wasn't always fast-paced, but it wasn't boring either. Everything about this story just hit that perfect balance.
The narrator for this one was amazing. I don't like to see who narrates before I start and audiobook because then as I'm listening to the book all the characters take on the narrator (especially if it is someone famous). While I was listening I kept thinking to myself this voice is so familiar, and when I finished and looked to see who it was I realized why I liked the narration so much. Michael Emerson has such a great voice. I loved Lost, and even though I didn't so much like Ben I do like the guy who plays Ben. He was able to give each of the characters their own voice, without making them sound fake or "put on". I loved the narration as much as I loved the story.
A review copy of this title was provided by Hachette Book Group.
I listened to this, and almost wanted to give up after cd 1. It was very sad and depressing in the beginning of the story. Not only does Tommy visit his mother in jail on death row, but we learn about Bedwetting Tommy away at boarding school in England, and the poor treatment by the other boys and the staff.
I am glad I kept listening. The story goes back and forth between Tommy as a child, his sister, his parents, to his life as an adult. Then you add a storyline about Tommy's son Danny who is accused of murder while in Iraq, murder of civilians.
Chapter by chapter, story by story we go back and forth. We hear about Tommys life in Hollywood with his mother, and her marriage to Tommy's cowboy hero. I wonder if I was reading it, if would be harder with the back and forth stories, but the narrator did well.
The title Brave is actually a good title. It is about being brave, as a person, as a bedwetter, as soldier, as movie star, being brave in all walks of life.
I am glad I didnt give up after cd 1. Give it a try. I cant say I have ever read or listened to a book by this author, but I was aware of who he was.
I am glad I kept listening. The story goes back and forth between Tommy as a child, his sister, his parents, to his life as an adult. Then you add a storyline about Tommy's son Danny who is accused of murder while in Iraq, murder of civilians.
Chapter by chapter, story by story we go back and forth. We hear about Tommys life in Hollywood with his mother, and her marriage to Tommy's cowboy hero. I wonder if I was reading it, if would be harder with the back and forth stories, but the narrator did well.
The title Brave is actually a good title. It is about being brave, as a person, as a bedwetter, as soldier, as movie star, being brave in all walks of life.
I am glad I didnt give up after cd 1. Give it a try. I cant say I have ever read or listened to a book by this author, but I was aware of who he was.
Really good. I love everything written by Nicholas Evans. Well read, good story.
