Hard to understand

There were times that the narration was hard to understand. I appreciate the narrator trying to make each character authentic and different but there were huge sections that were just incomprehensible.

50 people found this helpful

A story that draws you in

Any additional comments?

I have to state up front that I had trouble understanding the narrator for this book. She had such a whispering, emotionally filled voice that at times I could not decipher what she was saying. I kept stopping and thinking that I would give up and return the book but the story just kept drawing me back. The message was positive, the characters well developed and believable and in the end I was won over. The themes of rebuilding and self discovery were strong. I'm glad I stuck with it and finished the book--the story was worth it and to me that's what really matters.

92 people found this helpful

Great story, But...

I had heard so much about the story. I just couldn't wait to hear it. It really is a wonderful story of redemption, but for me personally, the narration was so difficult to listen to several times I almost gave up listening to it.

The narrator reads at a certain cadence and she never deviates from it so even when she's using her voice to be different people, her pattern is the exact same where she's a little breathy at the end of every sentence and goes up at the same point in every sentence in the book. Again, I loved the story but I will be careful not to purchase anything narrated by Xe Sands.

28 people found this helpful

Narrator did a poor job with most Characters

Other than the main character and her children it was very hard to understand the characters that had accents. She did not do a convincing job with the male characters. She detracted from an otherwise interesting story.

17 people found this helpful

Tough sticking with this one

I barely made it past the first two chapters of this book, but I kept thinking it might have some potential, so I pushed on to the end. The basic story concept is good, but it was terribly difficult to like the protagonist until the very end of the story. She abandons her children for hours on end without so much as a note, then she goes off the deep end when she thinks they might’ve been taken by children’s services. She gets her nerve up to escape an abusive relationship, and from all appearances is back in another one within days. She models numerous bad behaviors to her children, then she gets really upset when they do the same things. There is a deep feud with her sister, but we never really know why. The expected “redemption” arrives near the end of the book, but for me, the misery of the rest of the story just wasn’t worth it. The biggest redeeming value was the pearls of wisdom from Iola. The stars are all for her.

The thing that made it the most difficult to stay with for me was the reader. Nearly every word of the book and everything every character said was pronounced as if the person was on the verge of tears. That really started to grate on my nerves after a while. I could forgive the time she erred and made the cat one-eyed, but making all the characters sound so constantly pathetic was a really poor choice. I strongly recommend listening to the sample before buying the book.

11 people found this helpful

Felt like home!

Lisa Wingate describes Hatteras Island with such wonder that I felt like I could reach out and touch it. I felt like I was home in her words and the story was amazing. The narrator did the story such justice!! I'm going to listen again!!

19 people found this helpful

Beautiful!

What made the experience of listening to The Prayer Box the most enjoyable?

It just kept unfolding with hope. I also thought the narrator was the perfect voice for all the characters, other reviewers had difficulty understanding her but I did not. I actually don't think anyone could have done it more justice.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the whole thing, it was so interesting with so much depth, and so many layers yet it had a gentleness to it. I loved how the family of Tandi went from utter brokenness and hopelessness to hope and later actually healed as a unit and loving and believing in themselves and each other...and of course, the thread of God running throughout.

Which scene was your favorite?

The ending! I never saw that coming!

If you could rename The Prayer Box, what would you call it?

No other title would do.

Any additional comments?

I will definitely be reading more by this author and listening to this narrator. Well done to you both!

13 people found this helpful

A book for guys? For me it is.

This is a book about a woman who has been weak and used for most of her life - but not all. She had a baby when young and kept it. She tried to be the country club wife to a Texas jerk and when she fled him ... but she didn't have the sense to bring along enough money to support her two children. She left her kids home alone way too often seeking pleasure / the good life. Not my favorite back story. [I say this as a guy who stayed home with 2 kids for 5 years. It isn't easy. But, looking back, those were 5 wonderful years.]

She flees to Cape Hatteras. She finds the gumption do get work as a handywoman. What she discovers is what all of us - guys and gals -- want to find. The power of a few strong grandmother-age women. Her boss and friends, her "landlady." They help her find some pride in herself.

Neither man in the story (the bad boy surfer boyfriend and the good boy school teacher) are fully developed. We never do learn what motivates them Without the power of a central idea I would not have kept listening.

What is that idea? Well, I would not buy this book looking for a love story; it isn't. If you want one, see almost any of the books by Charles Martin.

So, what is the idea for which I give this book 5 stars? I won't spoil it except to say that I am in awe of the woman who grew the prayer box(es) over a lifetime well spent. Her story is intriguing, moving and Ms. Wingate makes it feel real. I wish I knew her.

PS
I agree with most of the negative things said about the narrator's inability to speak clearly except ... I do like her voice. If she can learn to convey soft sentences without whispering inaudibly ... she could be better than average. Not Amanda Roconi but worth listening to.

17 people found this helpful

What did you say?!

I wish I could have understood what she was saying. I am a southern woman, so the problem wasn't one of accent. Between the cracking voice, sudden drops into near silence, and overwrought emoting, I was able to catch about 70% of the story. I'm afraid that missing 30% might have been important. It occurred at emotional high points in the narrative., which made it especially frustrating.

3 people found this helpful

I wanted to like this but...

the narrator mumbled when she was speaking in the voice of a child. it was so annoying and I could not understand. had to give up on the book. might get from library and read because I suspect this was a compelling story.

2 people found this helpful