Great story... dreadful narration!

Would you try another book written by Deborah Harkness or narrated by Jennifer Ikeda?

There's no question that Harkness can spin a yarn... even if she gets tedious at times and the historical inaccuracies make me wince. When she writes a new book though I'll probably give it a try.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She murders every *single* accent that isn't her native American. English, French, Spanish... and her idea of Scottish nearly took my skin off. And considering huge swathes of the trilogy are set in Europe IT HURTS. Why on earth don't publishers actually get these people an accent coach? Consider carefully whether to buy these audiobooks if you're British (and don't say I didn't warn you).A further bugbear are all the mispronunciations. Laboratory rhymes with lavatory apparently. If you're narrating and aren't sure how to pronounce an unusual word, surely you should CHECK rather than just having a wild stab?

17 people found this helpful

Poor narration

Bad accents really spoil the pleasure of this third instalment, for example we are clearly told that a character is Scottish, he then displays an Irish accent whose lack of authenticity hasn't been matched since Dick van Dyke's Cockney accent in `Mary Poppins' !

16 people found this helpful

OK, but not as good as the first two books.

Would you listen to The Book of Life again? Why?

I keep trying to, to see if I missed something the first time round. So far I haven't managed it.The story just seems to be an awful lot longer than it has to be. The birth of the twins goes on forever, and all the prissy angst about swearing during labour just made me yawn.

The narration is also hard going at times. The Scottish accents are absolutely dreadful. No Scottish person ever sounded anything like Gallowglass or Hamish. These characters appear more in this book than the first two, so the voices need to be listenable or it's hard to focus on what they're saying, not how it's being said.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like Sarah for her refusal to be anything other than herself. Down to earth and feisty. Diana seems to spend a portion of this book being cowed by Matthew which is annoying after her earlier determined independence.
We get to know Gallowglass much better and he's a more integral part to the story, had he sounded 'right' I think he'd have been my favourite.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Not really.

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

No

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the first two books, I am disappointed that The Book of Life is slower, and less gripping. It's not a bad book, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
I'm left wondering what happened to Hancock too, no mention of him at all.

6 people found this helpful

Unfortunately disappointing

I was so disappointed with this book. Having loved the first two in the series, this one just left me frustrated. There were even times when I threatened to give up.
Whilst I am usually forgiving of the odd weak point in a story line (and for my favourite books and characters, I can turn almost blind to weak points), I found myself picking gaping holes in this plot line from the start, and it left me extremely frustrated

(I had listened to the first two books in the series again, immediately before starting this third book - so I was all wound up for a great conclusion, with the characters and plot and problems fresh in my mind).

I'm trying not to risk any spoilers here, but I feel the need to rant a little.....1) what happened to all the secrecy and avoiding the Congregation of the first two books - in book three, there seems to be a tendancy to share the problem /issue with all and sundry? 2) The blood rage thing just goes on and on, and there's just no consistency in its manifestations?? 3) How many houses are they going to flee to - and is it all just to display the family's enormous wealth, portrait and porcelein collections? Boring! 4) The whole Baldwin thing - yawn again - no consistency, again..... 5) Gallowglass - from being such a central character in this book - what happens to him??? And as for Matthew walking into a trap - come on!!!! The man is ancient - he should be a little more cunning!

Nope, I'm afraid this book failed outright for me. I think the author had a handful of good, exciting scenes, and a sound enough conclusion to the whole thing......but the meandering, waffly route she took through those scenes, just weakened the whole book. Individually, there were a whole host of good ideas they were just all strung together badly. The only two characters who held it together consistently, and who I felt were true to their characters throughout the series, were Sarah and Isabo.

If you're a fan of this series....maybe you'll be less critical than I am, and will enjoy it. And maybe if you aren't expecting too much, you won't be disappointed.....Good luck.

30 people found this helpful

True to the book and presented beautifully

Would you consider the audio edition of The Book of Life to be better than the print version?

The atmosphere I thought could only come of the page while reading and yet here the sight and sounds filled my time and brought this adventure to a fitting conclusion.
The tone of the narrator carried the emotion and timing as much as the words adding even more to what I considered a perfect book to begin with.
Thank you for the experience made whole.

What other book might you compare The Book of Life to, and why?

The grave minder these books are more than just " get on the supernatural bandwagon" they have flesh and substance, sorry about the pun but they are individual gems in their own right not just let's churn out similar themes and make cash until the vampire ghost trend moves on

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

Beautiful

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

I always wanted to be a fly on the wall when Chris learnt there were other things than students and tutor at university
Reading the book I laughed a lot
Hearing the same section I gasped laughed and cried

4 people found this helpful

Want another book in this series!

Any additional comments?

I have thoroughly enjoyed this 3 book series. I am really going to miss the whole lot of extended family characters of vampires, demons and witches, along with the humans of course!

The story has kept me interested from Book 1 and unusually, I enjoyed the historical detail that was incorporated as it was not overdone and did not getting boring.

My only disappointment is that it has finished - hoping there will be a Book 4!

4 people found this helpful

great book

one of the best book that I have read a pitty that there isn't anymore of this story caring on

3 people found this helpful

the narrator is truly awful

i really wanted to read this because the story of the preceeding books were ok but i struggled to cope with the awful pronunciations and dreadful accents of the narrator. in the end i quit having spent most of my time correcting her speech. it was torture. a real shame.

3 people found this helpful

Loved it!

After watching the first and second series on tv of the discovery of witches I just could not wait for the third series to come out next year. I downloaded the book straight away and within 2/3 days have finished listening. Completely had me hooked. Going to download the fourth book and after that, the rest of them. I will start again.

2 people found this helpful

wonderful long listen!

last in the trilogy! I will a few empty days to mulled over before I can start a new book. Great characters & well read.

1 person found this helpful