The demise of a great, fun author

I used to LOVE Jeffrey Archer's books. Sure, not literature, but FUN, FUN, FUN. Surprising twists that MADE SENSE. Interesting characters. Could not wait for his next novel...

That author is simply gone. Replaced by one who must be writing as fast as he can to make a quick million bucks. (I think I am done contributing to this particular fund.)

The previous one in this series was mediocre. This one is even worse. Absolutely meaningless plot twists (not just hard-to-believe...MEANINGLESS. The story doesn't go anywhere.) The reviewer who said, "Where is this series going?" is totally right.

There is also an annoying "love fest" with the upper class (save a handful of stereotypical Cruella Deville female characters that even the "upper class" knows to disdain). The narrator MIGHT be contributing to make their conversations DEADLY boring with his nasal inflections, but I don't think so--I think it is just ghaaastly writing.

Avoid.

23 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Jeffrey Archer's Shameless

The Clinton Chronicles are addictive and as formula driven as a PBS/BBC costume-drama epic. They sprawl over decades of the Clinton family’s astonishing ability to survive the wiles of bad… bad… bad… villains who are unspeakably evil.. evil… EVIL…

Each volume carefully (some might quibble and say.. “tediously”) creates a new peril sure to destroy this loving, plucky, and noble tribe only to end in… in… a cliff hanger that demands the next book in the series to reveal. &^&%#!!

Yep, Jeffery Archer’s shameless. His characters have the depth and complexity of a Marvel Comic Book, and his plots seem driven by Snidely Whiplash menacing poor Nell who he’s lashed to the tracks.

And yet, I’ve listened to five of them now… Only Time Will Tell, The Sins of the Fathers, Best Kept Secret, Be Careful What You Wish For, and Mightier than the Sword. Each of these were already available on Audible so they could be purchased and enjoyed as one long tale. I recall giggling smugly when I understood his cliff hanger stunts, realizing that I’d not have to wait a year until the next one arrived: Unlike the poor addicted fools who discovered them one at a time as they were originally published.

And then I cursed at the end of Mightier than the Sword to realize that now I was in the cue of addled Archer addicts waiting to see how the family’d escape this latest threat. I HATE IT!

My advice, don’t start this series until you are sure Archer’s written the end to it. BEWARE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE! Archer will shamelessly diddle with you.

BTW, Alex Jennings creates the ensemble with a wily power that compliments Archer's.

6 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Boring!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Better story line and writing.

What was most disappointing about Jeffrey Archer’s story?

This book was not of the same quality of the first three Clifton Chronicles. It almost reads as if it were written by someone else. This story needs an ending.

4 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

mediocre at best!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

very few...

Would you ever listen to anything by Jeffrey Archer again?

Yes, but it needs to be much better then this book was. What has happened to a very talented writer? This is more like a daytime soap, then an intelligently written book. This dribble seems to be a money grab by the author using his past successes to entice his readers to purchase more of his books.

What does Alex Jennings bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Jennings is a wonderful narrator. There should better material for him to narrate! He tries very hard to give life to these wooden character.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Be Careful What You Wish For?

I would not have cut, but instead added a recap of The Clifton Chronicles to refresh the reader. It's a year between each book. Does the author really believe one remembers who is who, details, character motivation or what transpired in the last books? I certainly did not. I think most readers do not. There should have been some refresher information included. For example, Mr. Archer never recounts why Martinez hates the Clifton family so vehemently. Thus, I never knew what motivated the villain in this book.

Any additional comments?

The ending is terrible.....one has to wait a year for the next installment, to find out what happens. I think I shall not bother!!!! It's just down hill dribble!!

4 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Once it got going...

It was an interesting story, with plenty of subplots and intrigue. However, the abrupt ending very much leaves one hanging. Obviously the author wants to lead us to the next book in the series, but abandoning the audience at sea was downright rude!

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Horrible Ending. Everybody dies.

im so sorry I wasted my time and money on this series. Don't purchase.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

The ending was a disapointment!.

Would you consider the audio edition of Be Careful What You Wish For to be better than the print version?

I always enjoy Jeffery archer's books and liked this series very much but not the ending of
The third book shocking!

What about Alex Jennings’s performance did you like?

I thought he did a very good job I would like to hear him again

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Very disappointed

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I'm a big Jeffery Archer fan, but I must say that I don't like books with no ending! This one had no ending. If Mr. Archer wanted to set up a sequel, he should have given us some kind of closure. He did nothing of the sort this time.

Any additional comments?

I did like the storyline and the narrator.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Huh?

What would have made Be Careful What You Wish For better?

Very long winded, without an ending? Very strange. It's as if the author decided to write every detail that ever existed in the world, but then suddenly got tired and ended the story.

What was most disappointing about Jeffrey Archer’s story?

ending

Have you listened to any of Alex Jennings’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Be Careful What You Wish For?

many were very long winded with way too much detail

Any additional comments?

huh? shaggy dog tail.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Wont be purchasing anymore of Mr. Archer's junk!!

Would you try another book from Jeffrey Archer and/or Alex Jennings?

NO!!

What was most disappointing about Jeffrey Archer’s story?

His inability to finish a story without making it a dreadful serial.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Alex Jennings?

Yes narration was good.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

somewhat interesting

Any additional comments?

Unfortunate that Mr. Archer has fallen into what appears to be a common trait with writers these days of putting monetary values over literary ones. A cheap trick to lure others to continue paying for his horrid work.

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile