Agatha Webb

Disappointed Yet Again

(0.5 stars)

Reader

There are some really wonderful readers in Libravox recordings, and I fully appreciate the time and effort donated by these readers!!!! THANK YOU FOR MANY ENJOYABLE HOURS OF LISTENING TO FINE LITERATURE! However, I have to disagree with lainey and say that we do NOT have to tiptoe around readers who are difficult to understand. We tiptoe by saying they gave up their time so we should appreciate their poor efforts!! I completely disagree! If I moved to another country and people had a difficult time understanding me, I would certainly NOT record readings in THEIR language that they could not understand. My inability to be understood would be simply a result of not having mastered their language yet. I am not slamming people who haven't mastered English, I am saying that it is a result of being a beginner. As anything in life, when we are beginners, we have to keep practicing to get better and, eventually, we can master it. HOWEVER, Libravox is not the proper forum to practice speaking English!!!! Please, future readers, "Know thyself"! I am sure that it would be obvious to me if people in another country have to carefully listen to understand me! If this is so, then why would I choose to read for Libravox in the first place? All of the pleasure in the literature itself is lost because our brains have to concentrate on understanding the reader versus the text itself!!! The beauty of the literature is lost, and irritation replaces it!! Further, I give thanks to everyone who freely critique the readers' abilities!!!! You save me so much time because I can automatically discard those readings!!This time I didn't. I am so disappointed that I am unable to listen to this book! I guess this is an excellent example of "You get what you pay for"!

Great story with lots of surprises.

(4.5 stars)

amlaskis

(4.5 stars)

ItsLoriK

What "Reader" wrote is true. Just because you want to volunteer to read it doesn't mean you should. Only people with no or slight accents (whether foreign or domestic) who can read well, properly, & at an appropriate pace & volume should read for Librivox. Most of this book was read by Gabriella who has a thicker accent making it very hard to understand through a regular speaker. When this happens I use one or both earbuds instead, turn the volume up a smidge, & make sure to not get distracted so I can focus solely on the reading. I'm glad I did as the book was worth it. I wouldn't call this a feminist story at all. Miss Page rudely buts into the investigation in the beginning then becomes a bitch who thinks she has the upper hand by using blackmail against Mr. Frederick. The story also goes into various forms of love & how strong love can be but isn't mushy by any means. Give this a try.

(3.5 stars)

hanmar

wow...hard to believe so many could not be bothered to accustom themselves to the reader’s accent. i had difficulty for the first few minutes and decided to pretend i was in conversation with this reader, and then the listening smoothed right out. as mentioned by someone else, consistency in her volume and pacing, as well as the inflections, are something i much appreciate. english is not my first language, nor is my first language GC’s, and yet i managed fine. the intolerance shown in the remarks, as well as insulting and condescending putdowns about “beginner” in english, makes me wonder if there is a rather large element of bad old racism. i appreciate the inclusion of “non-native” speakers and the contribution of all readers.

I really enjoyed this story

(4 stars)

mikezane

The summary covers the plot. I was able to guess the twist in this story, and I found the murder to be a bit contrived in how it occurred, but it was also a sad and sweet story about how easy it is to do injury when people jump to the wrong conclusions about things. It ends happily, so no complaints there. No issues that I could see with the reading, just still grouching about the lopped off chapter names.

Ultimately Disappointing

(3 stars)

Alonzo Church

There is a nifty plot twist behind the murder investigation that takes up the bulk of this book. But the spectacularly outrageous back story is a little hard to take, and some of the plot digressions add nothing to the tale. It's OK for a long trip, but the last chapters had me yelling back at my car mp3 player. Readers do well. My problem, here, is with Ms. Green, and the thing she has Ms. Webb do.

agatha Webb

(5 stars)

lainey

heartbreaking story and beautiful in an old fashioned way. the main reader has a strong accent and has been harshly criticised by a previous reviewer. i found her voice beautiful and had no difficulty in understanding her. librivox readers give up their own time to record these books and it is very disrespectful to complain about their efforts! thank you for taking the time to read this book so that i, and many others, can enjoy it.

Once again I am

(5 stars)

Vicki

thoroughly embarrassed by my fellow Americans. I have found that the wonderful people who read for us with their beautiful accents need only to be sped up a bit. Use the little rabbit icon at the top of the page