Mystery!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

In print, Yes. But as a sound recording definitely NOT

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the way in which the characters were interwoven.

What didn’t you like about Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker ’s performance?

Verbal presentation skills were woefully lacking.

Did The Olive Tree inspire you to do anything?

Yes, it inspired me to not listen to anything else that Ms Riley reads.

Any additional comments?

I have just finished listening to The Olive Tree, by Lucinda Riley.

This is a excellent, stirring story, well written, but spoiled by the author. It is read by the author in such a pedestrian and toe curlingly awful manner as to make it bordering on the boring. That is a great shame. Whoever, at Audible, thought it would be a good idea to have Ms Riley read her own book made a grave mistake. She has skills as a writer but her ability to present her work vocally is non-existent. The book is read appallingly. It is a mystery how she could put so little emotion and intelligence into recording her own work.

Frequently, stress is laid upon the wrong word in a sentence causing it to lack any depth or emotion. Sometimes, stress is placed on the wrong syllable in a word, making it sound ridiculous; an example being 'BEEquest'. No, it's not a hunt for bees, it's the money left to a woman in her mother's will. She reads in such a disinterested manner, without appropriate inflection, that it strips all emotion from the narrative.

Effort at characterisation is minimal. The exception is when she has a go at a foreign accent, but all she achieves is to make the character sound bored or ridiculous. It takes more than adding a vowel to the end of a English word to make somebody sound Italian. Necessary pauses are missing and surrounding text blended into speech in a confusing way.

All-in-all this was a very disappointing purchase. I only persisted in listening as I liked the story and and wanted to hear the end, but even so, it was difficult to dispel my constant irritation with Ms Riley.

The male reader, the author's son, was a little better, but not much.

8 people found this helpful

Poor narration

Harry was a very good narrator unfortunately Lucinda's narratives I found very irritating and wooden

4 people found this helpful

Could have been much better

It was difficult to get into this book but once I did it was a good story with interesting characters. The one thing I hated was the constant use of blasphemy. I have read many books with great stories, gripping plots, and interesting characters without the constant use of bad language and blasphemy in particular. To me this was a good read spoiled and if this is the style of writing that Lucinda Riley is going to use in her future books, I for one will not be buying them.

4 people found this helpful

how I loved this book.

This book for me was a slow burn, but after a few chapters, I was hooked. The bit at the end with Lucinda & Harry are also really interesting

3 people found this helpful

slow burner

at the beginning of the book I felt I could have easily not finished it....but by the end I was hooked and didnt want it to end and I miss the characters and what is happening in their lives

3 people found this helpful

Not her best and I normally love Lucinda's books

Would you try another book written by Lucinda Riley or narrated by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker ?

Ideally not. I found Lucinda's narration very irritating. And lots of words mispronounced which was unexpected for someone speaking in RP English.

What was most disappointing about Lucinda Riley’s story?

It was predictable and slow and I felt that when the secret was revealed the characters reacted in an unbelievable way.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not really

6 people found this helpful

fantastic page turner

mystery secrets lies etc and love lost and found. I loved it. written in past and present.

2 people found this helpful

Could have been so much better

The accents are all 'frightfully posh darling' and it is grating to listen to, I only I suffered on as the story seemed intriguing. But for the greatest part of the book nothing happens! What I found amazing is that what is imagined in the characters thoughts is more exciting than what actually happens in the story. The suggested truth to the big puzzle of the story could have been so much more exciting than the eventual far fetched explanation. I've about 3hrs to go but I don't think I'll make it.

3 people found this helpful

Good book

Lucinda Riley is my all time favourite author. This book was very good with characters you felt you had met in real life. I laughed out loud at observations in his teenage diary very fun especially with Harry's voice added to them. However I don't think it was as good as Lucinda's historical more classical books such as 'Hothouse' etc....
Lucinda and Harry's narration was fantastic.
This is definitely worth a read as I enjoyed it, however I think you have spoilt me Lucinda. Please more of your historical magical books.

1 person found this helpful

Evocative and beautiful story

What did you like most about The Olive Tree?

Lucinda Riley describes Cyprus beautifully and one can just imagine being there. The story is about seemingly perfect people but who in fact have flaws and secrets just like the rest of us!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alex because he told his part of the story from his point of view in a witty and amusing way

What does Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Although Lucinda's reading was lovely in her very melodious voice and she had a good try at the other voices too, I thought Harry Whittaker's way of reading the story was spot on for a love struck teenaged boy and he put a lot of humour into his reading which made it very enjoyable.

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

It did make me laugh quite a few times, mainly Alex's part and I felt emotional and very happy when he and Viola got together at the end.

Any additional comments?

I just love all Lucinda Riley's books and this was on a par with all her others I have read, or listened to although I still think the audio version of Midnight Rose is her very best. I can't wait to read or listen to her third book in the Seven Sisters series.

1 person found this helpful