enjoyable

A very entertaining story as always from Emma but volumes made it difficult to listen to at times. Sometimes unbearably blaring and virtually inaudible in places.

4 people found this helpful

Less camping but still fun

Went straight on to this having (with all the family listening in the car on the way to France!) devoured 'The Tent, the Bucket and Me'. It's no match but still great fun (at the expense of Emma's gap year suffering) and made me move on quickly to her first novel.

1 person found this helpful

POORLY WRITTEN - ANNOYINGLY READ

What would have made I Left My Tent in San Francisco better?

Another more competent narrator

Has I Left My Tent in San Francisco put you off other books in this genre?

No

How could the performance have been better?

To use alternative verbs to grin; grins; grinned; grinning which were very much overused

What character would you cut from I Left My Tent in San Francisco?

Emma Kennedy

Any additional comments?

For an Oxford English graduate Ms Kennedy has a limited and poor choice of words. An example being the overuse of the verb GRIN and its variations. Using grin; grinned; grinning over and over again became cringingly tedious to listen to. Using "she grinned" instead of "she said" is to state something that is not possible. For example: "I like that" she grinned. Surely stating: she said, would have been the correct method. The author compounded my dislike of this book by narrating it herself. The variety in the volume of her speaking voice varied from barely audible whispering to screaming so loudly that I had to stop listening

1 person found this helpful

Hugely enjoyable

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The book is consistently funny and Emma Kennedy is a great storyteller as she relates her adventures across America. Bad luck seems to follow her and her friend like a curse but even so they battle through with an unflagging joy and optimism that is actually inspiring.

What other book might you compare I Left My Tent in San Francisco to, and why?

I listened to this as a fan of Emma Kennedy rather than any real interest in travelogues. This is a great follow up to “The Tent, The Bucket and Me” which is the obvious thing to compare it to. Personally I prefer this one, though others might disagree (and do looking at other reviews. Each to their own). If she writes a third instalment then I’ll buy that too.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Hard to narrow it down. She tells a series of funny and touching anecdotes. Her writing style can be poetic when it’s required but is generally clear and insightful. Her personality shines throughout, which is complemented well by having her narrate.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I probably could have done given the chance. As it was I finished it in less than a week which is pretty fast for me.

Any additional comments?

Not sure of her pronunciation of “adobe” but I’m only basing that on the Pee-Wee Herman movie.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent flow up to The Ten, The Bucket and Me.

If you've ever travelled outside your comfort zone, this book will make you feel truly proud of your achievements and, more than likely, give you some wonderful memories. Out-loud guffaws throughout, you are almost guaranteed to love this book of you have ever backpacked or even packed a rucksack for a week of adventure! Highly recommended! Wonderfully narrated by the author too. Makes you want to be her companion on the trip (well, almost!!!).

1 person found this helpful

narration volume is a problem

enjoyed the story but did really struggle with the narration as Emma sometimes mumbles quietly then switches to shouting, so it's hard to get the volume at a comfortable level

just brilliant

loved everything about this. it reminded me off being young and foolish, getting into scraps and the kindness of strangers. cannot recomend enough.

AMAZING

One of the funniest, most heart warming book ever! Absolutely loved it, from start to finish, just as much as I loved A ten a bucket and me.

A laugh from beginning to end

I laughed all the way through. So many paralles with my wife's US experiences. Beautifully written and narrated.

Very, very disappointing and bordering on unbelievable !

I loved ‘The Tent The Bucket and Me’ so was really looking forward to this.
What a let down!
If this really is autobiographical, then it’s almost unbelievable, along with levels of crass stupidity that are off the chart.
Plus, it’s also downright boring.