Audible Book Review: Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennet

I really liked this - it is a bit of a surprise.
Jacob T. Marley
Narrated by: Simon Vance
By: R. William Bennett

Length: 4 hrs and 10 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-30-13
Language: English
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Ghost, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall, 4.5 Story and 5.0 Narration

Publisher's Summary
"Marley was dead to begin with...."
These chillingly familiar words begin the classic Christmas tale of remorse and redemption in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Now R. William Bennett rewinds the story and focuses the spotlight on Scrooge’s miserly business partner, Jacob T. Marley, who was allowed to return as a ghost to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Why was Marley allowed to return? And why hadn't he been given the same chance as Ebenezer Scrooge?
Or had he?
Written with a voice reminiscent of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is a masterfully crafted story of remorse and redemption, sure to become a Christmas favorite.
©2011 Burgess Adams Inc. (P)2011 Shadow Mountain

Review:
Most of us are familiar with Dickens story of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Now we have the story of Scrooge’s mentor and partner, Jacob T. Marley. Of course, Marley appears as a ghost in A Christmas Carol. In this story the author shares the background that creates the character of Marley. He develops the history of Marley meeting and becoming partners with Scrooge. And he presents Marley as a ghost/spirit seeking to help Scrooge before it's too late.

I wasn’t quite sure on this but I really enjoyed it. The style is consistent with Dickens, including issues of the human condition, so it carries along well from Scrooge’s story. Themes of remorse and redemption are well presented. I recommend this to those who enjoy the original classic.

Audio Notes: This was superbly narrated by the veteran narrator, Simon Vance. His expert voicing and narration adds extra richness to the story. This is wonderful listening entertainment and a real bargain at the deal price!

Source: 2017 Audible Daily Deal $1.95. This qualifies for 2018TBR and Audiobook Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Island by Aldous Huxley

UGH - This one was not for me.
Island
By: Aldous Huxley
Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 09-13-16
Language: English
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Classic, Vintage Sci Fi
My Rating: 2.0 of 5.0
Narrator Rating: 4.0

Publisher's Summary
In his final novel - which he considered his most important - Aldous Huxley transports us to the remote Pacific island of Pala, where an ideal society has flourished for 120 years.
Inevitably, this island of bliss attracts the envy and enmity of the surrounding world. A conspiracy is underway to take over Pala, and events are set in motion when an agent of the conspirators, a newspaperman named Faranby, is shipwrecked there. What Faranby doesn't expect is how his time with the people of Pala will revolutionize all his values and - to his amazement - give him hope.
©1962 Aldous Huxley (P)2016 Tantor

Review:
Will Faranby is a journalist who awakens on the shores of Pala, a remote Pacific island. He is found and cared for by native people. As he recovers he learns of the peaceful nature of the people from a young widow and the doctor who treats him.

Faranby also meets the 17-year-old prince and his worldly, controlling mother. The prince will be crowned ruler when he reaches 18. Faranby recognizes the boy who he met recently with a military official on a nearby island. It seems the boy and his mother are making plans with the dictatorial Colonel to bring social and economic modernism to Pala. Faranby spends a short time with the prince who explains his goals and reasonings.

Faranby then gets an explanation regarding the benefits of “yoga love” and Moksha meditation from the widow and the doctor takes Faranby on a tour of Pala. He is shown the schools, which include dance that helps stamp out anger, and art that helps to open creativity. He is also shown the research facilities which involve artificial insemination for genealogical selection.

These elements could have been interesting except they are presented by monologue lectures which advance a platform of Buddhist training, practices, beliefs and precepts often compared to Faranby’s wicked nature and inadequate Calvin principles. Huxley also presents a few brief ‘discussions’ of politics (communism versus capitalism) and there was a morality lecture including adaptations of Aesop’s Fables and principles of ecology and conservation. 80% of the book is lecture although some brief periods of dialogue included Faranby’s irreverent, ironic, quotes of scripture and even some recited poetry.

I found three items I liked: the beginning “attention” and “here and now boys” screeches of the mynah; the description of a landscape painting in the meditation room; and the description of “chewing grace” where, with first bite, they focus attention to the food, tastes and textures. The last hour consisted of a description of a drug induced experience – first with joy and beauty then with fear and ugliness.

I struggled through the first half hoping to get to some plot. Then, having committed six hours already, I forced myself to finish. If I wanted a lecture on Buddhism I could take a class. That is not what I want in a fiction book. The overall experience: UGH!

Audio Notes: Thank goodness for Simon Vance! I always like his voice so it was really the saving grace of pushing through this listen. He gives the characters suitable accents and manages not to drift off during the lectures.

Source: Audible Daily Deal 2018 Purchase for Vintage Sci Fi. This qualifies for 2018 Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.