Beginner's
Greek ,
by James Collins (Read by Jerry O'Connell)
We all experience the fickle finger of fate at
some point in our lives, but Peter Russell's universe seems
to be ruled by a god with both hands comprised entirely of
fickle fingers. The wistfully romantic Peter imagines that
one day he'll encounter the love of his life on an airplane,
and when bright and beautiful Holly sits next to him on a
cross-country flight, that is exactly what happens. So far,
so good. But wait, here comes the first obstacle. Peter's
only link to Holly is the phone number she writes on a paper
and which he loses before he can call her. Decent, sweet,
clever Peter conquers his grief over losing Holly and builds
a successful career in finance. When Holly reappears in his
life, she is committed to his best friend, and Peter is about
to marry Charlotte, the girl he has settled on since he can't
have his true love. Coincidence and fate dominate the events
of the delightful tale of Peter's quest for love and honor.
Peter is just so likeable, but I found myself
wanting to shake him and tell him to speak up and take action.
I used to make fun of my mother-in-law for berating her soap
opera characters, but I found myself doing the same thing
with Peter. James Collins is such a skillful writer that the
characters in this book not only live, but they reach out
and draw the listener into their world. The intricately woven
events in the plot evolve into a conclusion that is satisfactory,
but not obvious. There are enough surprises to keep it the
outcome from being predictable. Jerry O'Connell's narration
is excellent, making Peter both powerful and bumbling and
insecure.
Listening to this book is excruciatingly delightful.
It's truly like riding a roller coaster with the anticipation
of peril, the thrill of plunging into danger and the relief
in the recovery from disaster, only to want to experience
it again and again. Clever plot twists and amusing characters
make this a book to be enjoyed by a wide range of listeners.
Anyone who's ever pondered life's choices will find something
to love about this exceptionally well-written book.
Ruth
Mormon
1/18/08
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