Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
I read the first few Mrs Pollifax book back in my pre-audiobook days. My wife had several of them. I thought they were cute. I was considering retrying the first one in audio. Was there something particular you found terrible about them? Or just the premise?
|
Two issues, one specific to the audiobooks.
I agree that the first few Mrs. Ps were fun; the cold war environment gave them some point. But as with all series, this one tailed off and once she's in imaginary countries with imaginary issues....
As for the audiobooks, a post in another thread could not be more germane:
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverraven
The one that gets me is when they make old(er) women sound like they are feeble and on death's door. I'm talking about the strong matriarch that rule the village, can toss bales of hay all day, digs their own outhouse hole, and no one messes with them because they know better. And then they make them sound like they have a cane, barely shuffle around and a stiff wind would knock them over! Never the older men, just the women. Ugh!
|
When the series starts, Mrs P is in her early 60s (and doesn't age, but that's fine) and this is exactly the issue. She's got a quavery old-lady voice that puts her 90ish at a minimum, and the 90-year old women I've known haven't talked like that, either.
So, terrible but engaging enough to kill a swim with. Just barely.