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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
The Good Neighbor is quite a difficult book for me to rate. The subject deserves five stars, but I'm struggling to give the writing one star. Maxwell King seemed to think that if it was worth writing that Fred Rogers spent the summer in a room with an air conditioner due to his asthma once, then saying it three times was even better. The endless repetition and details that the reader doesn't need or want (like the history of puppetry) just detract from the subject. A further detraction for me was LeVar Burton's narration of the audio version. He was great on Reading Rainbow, but in The Good Neighbor he narrated with a breathiness and odd emphasis that just drew attention to the repetitive nature of the writing.
I did learn a few things about Fred Rogers, but I wish I had learned more than just dry facts, repeated ad nauseum. Did I mention this book was repetitious? Mr. Rogers deserves better.
I did learn a few things about Fred Rogers, but I wish I had learned more than just dry facts, repeated ad nauseum. Did I mention this book was repetitious? Mr. Rogers deserves better.
It sure took a long time to get through this as an audiobook, felt like parts really drug along, but it all in all—extremely interesting.
What an awesome book about one of my childhood idols. I found myself crying in so many parts because it brought back so many happy memories.
I agree with the reviewers who thought it was boring and repetitive. It's oddly alluring. I'm listening to the book and somehow it seems to be a solace to all the news of the day.
I am fascinated by the complexity of Fred Rogers and the efforts he made to shape children's television into an educational medium. I was a bit too old when The Neighborhood came out, so I have seen it, but it did not shape my childhood.
I am left wondering: could someone do this today? could someone without the wealth that he had, be able to do this and make those life choices?
It's in desperate need of an editor, but as read by LeVar Burton is a soothing balm to the state of the world. Not sure if I would have made it through if I'd been reading the book.
I am fascinated by the complexity of Fred Rogers and the efforts he made to shape children's television into an educational medium. I was a bit too old when The Neighborhood came out, so I have seen it, but it did not shape my childhood.
I am left wondering: could someone do this today? could someone without the wealth that he had, be able to do this and make those life choices?
It's in desperate need of an editor, but as read by LeVar Burton is a soothing balm to the state of the world. Not sure if I would have made it through if I'd been reading the book.
This took SUCH a long time to get interesting, which is unfortunate because Fred Rogers really had a cool heart for children. It's the personhood of Fred that made my rating go up. If you can get past the repetitive and semi-boring writing, you will learn a lot about Fred's research, craft, and creativity.
informative
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
LeVar Burton was my childhood, and to have him narrate a biography of a man whom so many others childhoods was shaped was absolutely incredible. One thing I look for in biographies is the full truth - do they tell the good and the bad- and I believe King has done this and Mr. Rogers would have been proud
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Almost perfect, but this book needed better editing. Audio is definitely the way to go with Levar Burton narrating!