firstimpressionsreviews's reviews
609 reviews

I listened to Themes and Variations during the 2020 lockdown. This grouping of short stories was just the ticket to get me out of whatever anxiety I was feeling that day. Like all of David Sedaris’ books, I was laughing out loud and the time passed quickly without me noticing it. I’ll also note that David Sedaris narrates all his own works and therefore should always be listened to as I feel it enhances the experience. As always, David Sedaris’ unique wit and humor shine on the page and do not disappoint.

 I read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood as a teenager and was impressed.  It was well-written and disturbing.  Although to be honest, I think some of it was over my head.  Because of the hype from the Hulu series, (which I now need to see), I listened to the dystopian novel.  The Handmaid’s Tale is engrossing and even more disturbing now given our current political dynamics.  Claire Danes was an excellent choice as a narrator.  Her pacing was perfect and her tone was easy to listen to.  The only issue I could find with the novel is that one loses all track of time as they are too entranced by the story to pay attention to anything else.  I feel that this is a book everyone should read regardless of the format.

Towards the end of 2018 I “discovered” romances. I know I didn’t technically discover them, they had been sitting on the shelf all along.  However, I had previously grouped them into the “Outlander Category” (clearly not a fan} and I left them there to gather dust. I cannot recall what novel it was that opened my eyes but I became addicted. Tempted by Audible’s Romance Package I signed up for their free trial and can listen to my heart’s content. 

The first book I listened to was Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility narrated by Rosamund Pike. I had heard great things about her narration of Pride and Prejudice and thought I would give another Austen Classic a try. 

It was music to my ears. Pike’s narration was quick witty and matched the tone of Austen’s novels perfectly. Her change in voice for different characters were distinct and could easily differentiate each individual. 

Rosamund Pike does not disappoint and look forward to listening to her read Pride and Prejudice in the near future. 

As a person with cerebral palsy, I was looking forward to listening to a book about cp written by someone who also has cerebral palsy. 

At first, I had some difficulty getting into Find  Another Dream as it felt more like a stand-up comedy rather than a memoir.  However, I really enjoyed Maysoon Zayid’s narration and outlook on life.  Find Another Dream is authentic and refreshing and I will never watch You Don’t Mess with the Zohan the same way again.

Molly is an endearing character, with her OCD for cleanliness and decency, her love for The Olive Garden, and despite better judgment, Molly trusts everyone. However, like Ted Mosby’s former girlfriend, I consistently heard myself saying “Oh honey” to the schemes she unknowingly got involved in. 

I got the impression that Molly was slightly on the spectrum. Therefore, there was some reading between the lines when it came to the investigation. Because of this, there was a lot of focus on character development which I enjoyed. 

The plot was clever, and fun, and had a Cluesque twist at the end that was far from Colonel Mustard in the library with the revolver. 

Overall, it was a unique quick read and, I am so very happy that Nita Prose has decided to continue Molly’s story by making Molly the Maid a series. I think there is so much more to uncover with this original, amateur sleuth

I was a little nervous to read The Chosen and the Beautiful as I dnf’d Nghi Vo’s other book Siren Queen.  I need not have worried.  The Chosen and the Beautiful was an eloquent magical read.  The author took the familiar of The Great Gatsby and spun it on its head creating a new story from the sometimes lost character Jordan Baker. What I enjoyed most was that besides the magical elements of paper the author focused on Jordan being different from everyone else in her peer group and how she combated that throughout the years.  Like The Great Gatsby, I was left wanting a little more, The Chosen and the Beautiful was too short and ended somewhat abruptly but like a decadent dessert was still satisfying.

Readers may come for the Sarah Palin impression but they’ll stay for the clever, witty, and insightful memoir that is Bossypants. Tina Fey’s narration enhanced the reading experience and, in my opinion, is the only way to read Bossypants. Also, despite being written 13 years ago Tina Fey’s comments on politics and women being just as funny as men are still just as relevant today. Overall, Bossypants was a fun easy listen leaving an impression after having finished reading.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing had been on my radar for a while but, I didn’t pick up the audiobook until Matthew Perry’s death. It did feel like a friend had passed, and I wanted to learn more about him. 

I have mixed feelings about this memoir. Matthew Perry is brutally honest regarding his struggles with addiction. I appreciated that he didn’t hold back and it was very eye-opening. Unfortunately, it was his treatment of women that bothered me. I almost felt like he viewed women as conquests or pushing away when someone became too attached. At one point, talking about a girl he was in a longish-term relationship with he said “I would have fucked mud.” Matthew Perry came off as egotistical, to say the least. 

Matthew Perry really needed an editor. The book pivoted from one place to another and at times felt repetitive making me question whether I had already listened to this part. 

I did like that Matthew Perry flip-flopped between his time on Friends and what at the time was the present day. There were parts of the book that were hard to stomach and having the familiarity of Friends was a welcome pallet-cleansor. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing ends on a high note on Matthew Perry’s road to sobriety and his willingness to reach out, be there and, help others with addiction. It was nice to learn that he had found a semblance of peace and contentment in his life. Friends will always be there for me but sadly, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing was one big disappointment

Not every author can (or should) narrate their books but, I can’t imagine anyone but Mindy Kaling reading Mindy Kaling’s books. She is engaging and her witty insights are only enhanced by her reading them. I was disappointed that Nothing Like I Imagined was on the shorter side as it felt like the audiobook had barely gotten started. However, despite its length, Mindy Kaling never lets me down. I was laughing throughout most of the novel. Lastly, as a person with a husband, I envy Mindy Kaling’s extra bedside table.