The cliche that big things come in small packages is most certainly true in the case of this wireless Bluetooth speaker/mic combination. First, I love the size of this unit. It's small enough to tuck into my bag for use at the beach or in the break room at work. The portability was a huge factor in my decision to purchase. It's also lightweight, so no burdensome paperweight to lug. The fact that this is also a microphone is the third bonus here--I've used it to Skype AND to conference call and in both cases, the sound transmitted and received was equally incredible. It has button controls for volume and track choosing, and it has an on/off button to conserve the battery. It is completely plug and play and paired easily with my iPad Air 2.
The aesthetic of this speaker/mic is sleek and modern. The contrast between the copper casing and the black trim is at once elegant and sophisticated. It's perfect for more professional use, where neons and plastic of other brands can be a distraction.
Five big gold stars for a first rate speaker that goes everywhere with me! Highly recommended.
Please let me begin with a disclaimer. I'm a fairly easy going gal. I don't throw temper tantrums, I seldom raise my voice and it takes a whole lot to make me angry. It is at this point that I would like to congratulate Linwood Barclay for raising my ire AND my blood pressure.
Let's start with the premise--well, the center stage premise. David Harwood is an out of work journalist, as well as a single father. Through a series of ill-fated circumstances, he finds himself living with his parents. When his mother asks him to deliver some food she's prepared to a grieving cousin, David reluctantly agrees. Marla, the in-mourning cousin, recently lost s baby in child birth. She also lost a bit of her cognitive awareness and lives in the fringes of society, writing bogus reviews for a paycheck. When David arrives, he finds Marla feeding a baby--a baby she swears was delivered to her by an angel. When the baby's parents are discovered, the mother has been brutally murdered. The rest of the novel follows Marla, David and the police as they try to untangle the identity of the murderer.
I will concede that Barclay is one of those rare writers who excels in character development, and this book is no exception. Every single player here, from Marla, the broken woman with more than a few issues, to David, is believable. What I most appreciate about Barclay's work is his ability to keep each character's actions/dialogue and reactions true to the persona he creates. Nothing is arbitrary, but rather each character interaction furthers that brilliant development and encourages empathy or enmity--occasionally, as in the case of Agnes, simultaneously.
I will also offer props to Barclay for his ability to weave a plot and be able to follow it. He must have a very large storyboard somewhere, as that would have been the ONLY way I could have kept up, as beyond the Marla storyline there are myriad others that meander through this novel like a lost child who never finds his way home. It's a sad commentary when the lack of a graphic interface prevents the reader from being able to fully enjoy the story. Ok, major spoilers are to come, so reader, beware! You've been warned.
Barclay, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? From the very start, I made a conscious effort to follow the Marla thread. I appreciated how it had woven into its tapestry the threads of Dr. Strauss, the doctor who delivered the still born child, and the Gaynors, the baby's parents. No, really, that was awesome. But there were other threads...loose threads. Threads that kept me page turning to find out how they were to be related. So why am I angry? BECAUSE THEY NEVER CAME TOGETHER. There were vague suggestions of personal issues never resolved, overt declaration of issues that were never explained, and characters who had agendas that in no way related to the main plot. Instead of bringing it all to some related conclusion, Barclay strings us along for a wild ride that ends in the middle of a damn desert--barren and thirsting for the hours it took to read this novel to be returned in some time-travel scenario. What? It's about as ridiculous as assuming the reader would in any way be content. So, Mr. Barclay, if by chance you're reading, I have a few suggestions and questions.
1. If this was a sequel piece of which understanding and appreciation came with a prereading prerequisite, TELL THE READERS BEFORE THEY BUY THE BOOK. 2. What the hell was up with David's father, Don? Why was he so sullen? What did Walden say to upset him? 3. What the hell was up with Trevor's father, Barry? What did Finley have on him? 4. Why add Arlene's leg injury? What purpose did it serve? 5. Who killed the squirrels? 6. Who put the mannequins on the ferris wheel? 7. Who killed Rosemary? 8. Who killed Olivia?
There's a start. I've left out questions about the banality of including the extramarital affair of Marla's father (Carol/Gill nonsense); about Fenwick's phone conversation that appeared to be leading to gratuitous phone sex; about the quick lay at Sam's; the number 23: the Thackery College asshats. My GOD, the list is endless.
For me, this read like an installment of a serial story, like those that used to appear, one chapter at a time, in various publications. The difference here is that folks waited impatiently, prognosticating and predicting, full of great anticipation for those serial pieces. With this book, I've abandoned all hope on this bait and switch and will be seeking my closure in a stand alone novel that actually comes to a conclusion.
This incredible multi-function Bluetooth speaker is, truly, a jack of all trades--and masters them all. I actually ordered two separate Captain speakers for two different places. This one I purchased for my bedside table, as it has a front facing built in alarm clock to rouse me from my sleep (no easy task!).
First, the sound from this speaker is on par with my stereo speakers, a fact that really surprised me from a bar unit. The bass is really rich, thumping and deep. High end frequencies are also captured with amazing clarity.
I've already mentioned the clock/alarm functionality, but this device also has an integrated FM radio with fantastic range and reception. We live fairly far out in the country, and I was easily able to tune in dozens of station broadcasts. Beyond that, however, this speaker allows the user hands free calling and answering when it's paired with a mobile phone. The built in microphone transmits clear speech that is free of static or interference.
Accessible top-mounted buttons make it simple to skip and repeat tracks, change the volume, set the alarm and answer the phone. The overall design is sleek, professional and sophisticated and would be perfect in any office.
Overall, I love this speaker and the sound it produces, not to mention the many functions it offers. Five gold stars.
Note: I received a discount on this speaker in exchange for an honest review.
