My first and last Baldacci book - bad narration.

What did you like best about Memory Man? What did you like least?

There is much to like about the start of Memory Man - it's an interesting premise, but surely we've seen 'damaged ex-policeman' about a million times. Yes, Baldacci puts a neat twist on things and the kick off for the story keeps you interested but it's like a crime thriller for idiots - everything is explained and re-explained over and over.
You know those bad US tv shows/movies where everything is verbalised so no-one misunderstands anything? It's like that and it's infuriating.

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

Story was ok - really conveluted though and utterly propsterous.

How could the performance have been better?

Performance/narration was very annoying. Firstly, the main guy reading was far too old. Some of the speech even sounds a little slurred at times. Secondly and inexplicably, every now and then a different guy says a line or two. Not speech or anything, just a random line. It's almost like the first guy missed out some lines and the second guy was filling in. It could be they made an abridged version and just added the missed out lines with a new guy. Terrible. Finally, I liked the fact that the women's parts were played by a woman, but the recording sounds like it took place at a different time and place with unrealistic gaps during talking scenes. Just bad.

Could you see Memory Man being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

This should not be a tv series, if it is it'll be one of those bad crime shows like NCIS or Criminal Minds where everything is spelled out for you.

Any additional comments?

I'm usually pretty forgiving with books i read and I like to read a lot of different genres, but this is not a good book, made worse by poor narration choices. I felt like giving a good crime thriller a go, but this is not good.
On the plus side, I did sit through the entire thing as I had to know what happened, but I doubt I'll be getting another Baldacci novel.

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24 people found this helpful

Love the story but not the acting

Awesome story, as always, by David B.... It doesn't need the music, the "acting" etc... It felt as if the woman reading has done her bit in one place and the guy in another. Therefore it had a disjointed feel. Got better towards the end, but only cos I persevered. I'd rather hear a man or woman reading all the voices. Or they need to be in the same room when reading so it doesn't sound spliced. Otherwise a terrific story.

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Memory man

Repetitive on the one person which could have been left out and makers better story

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A brilliant concept, excellently narrated

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

Memorable and enthralling

What other book might you compare Memory Man to, and why?

The Scarecrow - Michael Connelly. Never knowing who the perpetrator is until the later part of the story, then the tracking down of the villain

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The School tunnels

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

Thought provoking

Any additional comments?

Brilliantly narrated - started me looking for other books that Ron McLarty has an involvement in.

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No dvds or music on train for a few weeks!

Marginally repetitive for the first 1/3 but it kept me gripped. Couple of voices weren't different enough but they were only bit part players.
Definitely recommend

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Couldn't put it down

Great audio book although some of the readers voices were odd. And music every now and then. But as s story great makes me want to see if the author as other books with Amos in them

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Just another Baldacci

Got rather bored listening to this - I now know why I prefer to read his books - because I can skip so much.

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I just love this new David Baldacci character

Would you consider the audio edition of Memory Man to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version. I love the narrators of David Baldacci's audiobooks - the quality is excellent.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Amos is such an enigma, I'm looking forward to the next one

What does Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

They make listening a pleasure

Any additional comments?

Buy this book!

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Solid Writing

The flow of the story is of exceptional quality.
The build of the characters could use a bit of polishing perhaps but what do I know, after all, I'm always on the sidelines, enjoying the dance from a distance. Despite my shortcomings as an author, I'd like to throw in another minor criticism, directed at the narrator this time. Although the quality of his reading was far above the bench of merely decent, I personally believe, that it could have been phenomenal, if he only added some personality to it. I think that may be one of the main reasons for having two narrators carry it through. Since if it was narrated solo by Mr McLarty, it may have turned the experience IN-audible. Other than the aforementioned hiccups, it scores pretty high on the rest of my book judging standards.

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started off on book 4 now catching up

gripping story with relatable characters, some good twists that you couldn't see coming. on to book 2 now

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