Dr Zhivago
by Boris Paternak
narrated by Phillip Madoc
"The epic story of the life and loves of a poet-physician during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. Taking his family from Moscow to shelter in the Ural Mountains, Yuri Zhivago finds himself embroiled in a battle between the Whites and the Reds, and in love with the beautiful nurse Lara."I just keep trying with these Russian authors but I don't get on with them (with the notable exception of Tolstoy). Maybe it's because I get confused with the names, maybe it's the unfamiliar context, maybe the Russian style of writing or the quality of the translation. The narration was not great either; none of the characters was distinguishable by their voice beyond 'male' or 'female'. The book seemed to go on and on, without me sympathising, liking or even disliking any of the characters; I couldn't tell you who lived and who died or any of the key points of the story, and it's only been a few days since I finished it.
Stone Blind
by Natalie Haynes
narrated by The Author
"When the sea god Poseidon commits an unforgivable act in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can – and Medusa is changed forever. Writhing snakes replace her hair, and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone."What a contrast to the previous book! Obviously the context of Ancient Greece and its mythic inhabitants, both divine and corporeal, is not familiar to me, but this author and her narration were stunning. I knew about as much about the story of Medusa as I did about the Russian revolution, but despite the Greek names I could tell you what was done by whom, to whom and why. I adore Natalie Haynes comedy on BBC Sounds (11 series so far, go and listen to a few episodes why don't you) and it seems her books are just as good. Makes me want to learn more about Ancient Greece, and there's no higher praise than that.
Breathing Lessons
by Anne Tyler
narrated by Suzanne Toren
"Maggie and her husband Ira drive from Baltimore to Deer Lick to attend the funeral of the husband of Serena, Maggie's childhood friend. During the course of the journey we are shown all there is to know about a marriage: the expectations; the disappointments; the way children can create storms in a family."This whole book covers just one day in the life of a married couple, with context added via flashbacks. I enjoyed it despite the main female character being incredibly annoying, but I got a sense of how her husband loved her anyway. The narration was good and the whole experience very satisfying.
The Prince
by Niccolò Machiavelli
"The Prince shocked Europe on publication with its advocacy of ruthless tactics for gaining absolute power and its abandonment of conventional morality."A very interesting read of a really good translation that brings alive the scale and reality of warfare, the cheapness of lives, and the price of power in Machiavelli's world. He draws on historical accounts of Greeks and Romans as well as more recent history of Italy to illustrate why particular leaders succeeded or failed in taking power and holding on to it. "Is it better to be feared or loved?" he asks, and the answer is argued with evidence for and against. "The answer is that one would like to be both the one and the other; but because it is difficult to combine them both, it is far better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both."