Beautiful writing full of such meaning reminded me of the writing found in the two novels I have read so far by Richard Wagamese. This is not a novel,Beautiful writing full of such meaning reminded me of the writing found in the two novels I have read so far by Richard Wagamese. This is not a novel, though, but a collection of meditations that emanated from his morning exercise of “ Ojibway ceremony, ritual and protocol “ Embers - “heart songs, spirit songs “ which become “honor songs “ as he shares them with us . How beautiful is that?
In multiple sections , he writes of “Stillness“ and the beauty of silence . The quiet when shoveling snow , “making a clear path to your home where your dreams reside. “Harmony” reminding us to “walk gently on the earth and do each other no harm “ And my heart was so touched by “On my own, in the country of my people… where stories are nurtured within me among the cliff and stone and bush and water. And “I don’t want to touch you skin to skin, I want to touch you deeply beneath the surface where our real stories lie…” So much wisdom and food for thought in these chapters as well as those on Trust, Reverence, Persistence, Gratitude, and Joy.
I listened to the audiobook which was wonderfully narrated by Christian Baskous....more
This is a powerful book. It’s many things - a letter of sorts, an essay, a memoir, written by a black man to his fifteen year old son. I listened to t This is a powerful book. It’s many things - a letter of sorts, an essay, a memoir, written by a black man to his fifteen year old son. I listened to the audiobook read by the author and I’m glad I did because it was so impactful to hear the emotion in his voice . It’s lyrical in places, beautifully expressed even the parts that depict his anger and fear. What does a black parent say to his black son in this day and age with so many young black men are stopped for no good reason and are killed by the police? He tells of his experience of being pulled over by the police and how he was lucky to be let go, while a friend from Howard University wasn’t so lucky. He’ll tell him that he was “not killed by a single officer so much as he was murdered by his country and all the fears that have marked it from birth.” “ The killer was a direct expression of this country’s beliefs.”
He’ll tell him of his time growing up in Baltimore, about school. “The world had no time for the childhood of black boys and girls. How could the schools ? “ He’ll tell how he found his Mecca at Howard University which was for him “a port in the American storm”. He’ll tell him how he discovered himself here through reading everything he could by and about black people, their history, the importance of it. He describes the Dream of white man, a world excluding the black man while believing there is no racism and everyone has opportunities. The Dream, evading the reality.
This was eye opening, and at times difficult to read, but I highly recommend that you do. I’m not in the author’s shoes, but I’m grateful for a glimpse of it and for giving me much to think about. ...more
I’ve seen Diana Nyad a number of times in the news and each time I wondered how she managed to do what she did - swim fro4+ Stars An Audible Original
I’ve seen Diana Nyad a number of times in the news and each time I wondered how she managed to do what she did - swim from Cuba to Florida at age 64. I found this dramatization written and performed by Nyad herself as well as performed by her coach and friend, Bonnie Stoll to be both entertaining and inspiring. I wish I could have been in a theater watching them. She’s funny, committed and determined to say the least - 4 tries to make this swim and finally making it on the 5th try. The pain of Box jellyfish bites that could have been life threatening wouldn’t stop her and I’m amazed at how she remained calm and continued with sharks nearby, and during storms. All of this strength and stamina shines through this short audio presentation of a little over an hour. What a personality ! And that shines through as well. I laughed out loud at her impersonation of her father with his Greek accent and the bantering between her and Stoll.
Thanks to Cathrine whose review brought this to my attention. It was a perfect listen for today just having finished a horrific Holocaust book. Also, I’m one of those readers who can only read or listen to one book at a time. I’ll be doing a buddy read this weekend so I needed something short to listen to today. This worked perfectly, all the way around. If you have an Audible subscription, this is included....more
This Audible Original, perfectly narrated by John Lithgow, is both entertaining and touching. Lithgow gives us a fabulous performance as the characterThis Audible Original, perfectly narrated by John Lithgow, is both entertaining and touching. Lithgow gives us a fabulous performance as the character of Percival Skinner, a retired art appraiser trying to make a profit once again as his retirement funds are diminishing. It isn’t just his character who comes alive. He wonderfully voices the conversations with the people he interacts with. Whether it’s New York City as in this short work and in Rules of Civility or to Moscow in A Gentleman in Moscow, Towles always takes me to the place he writes about . In this one he takes us on a quick journey to the art world, to an old school French restaurant, to the Metropolitan Museum. He takes us on the journey of a good man, who finds his way into the heart of his 10 year old nephew Lucas, who found a way into my heart. Highly recommended for fans of Towles’ wonderful story telling and writing. It’s less than two hours and a great way to spend part of a rainy afternoon. I also very much enjoyed this interview where Towles talks about how this story came about. https://www.audible.com/blog/intervie.... His new novel The Lincoln Highway is to be published in October, 2021. I can’t wait !
Thanks to Phrynne for bringing this to my attention....more
My first experience with this book was listening to the audiobook and it was lovely, but I didn’t want to miss the beautiful illustrations so I boughtMy first experience with this book was listening to the audiobook and it was lovely, but I didn’t want to miss the beautiful illustrations so I bought a copy. The illustrations are indeed gorgeous and the story even more lovely the second time. Giving it as a gift to a little girl in my life. *********** Review of the audio book version. Maggie O’Farrell, one of my favorite writers of contemporary novels, last year published a magnificent piece of historical fiction . To illustrate her versatility once again, she has written this beautiful little fairy tale for young children or for those who are young at heart.
This is not just about “where snow angels go”, but where they come from - perhaps from the magic and innocence and love in a little girl’s heart. A little over a half hour to listen, it’s a lovely story.
I received a copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media through NetGalley....more
Our expectations for elected officials aren’t always very realistic, and none more than for those elected to the highest office in our country. We’ve Our expectations for elected officials aren’t always very realistic, and none more than for those elected to the highest office in our country. We’ve never had a perfect President and never will, but there are certain qualities that I believe are essential. Intelligence, a respect for the office and more importantly a reverence for our democracy, a strong sense of responsibility for protecting our nation and its citizens, leadership skills that bring together qualified people in the government, a recognition that we have a role to play as citizens of the world, to name a few. Former President Barack Obama was not a perfect President, but I believe that he embodied all of these things that I expect in a President and I believe that even more now, after listening to this book.
No matter what you think about Barack Obama, the man can write! It’s illustrated in this first volume of his memoir, as well as the other books he’s written. There are beautiful descriptions of walking along the promenade from the White House residence to the West Wing, the Rose Garden, the Oval Office, intimate descriptions of his family life, his love for his wife and daughters, his love for his deceased mother and grandparents. My favorite introspective passage is the following quote which I played over and over to be sure I got the words right, but also because they represent in such a meaningful way how he viewed his enormous responsibility. “ I would never fully rid myself of the sense of reverence I felt when ever I walked Into the Oval Office, the feeling that I entered not an office, but a sanctum of democracy. Day after day it like comforted and fortified me reminding me of the privilege of my burdens and my duties. “
My favorite parts of the book were early on when he talked about making the decision to run and the stories of the campaign were just so fascinating, funny at times and so informative. Michelle asked him just before he announced that he would run , “Why you?” Obama responded that if he became President, “the world would look at America differently, that kids , Black and Hispanic or kids who don’t fit in will see themselves differently, their horizons lifted, their possibilities expanded .” I enjoyed so much hearing about the grass roots campaign, using the internet, how the field organizers in Iowa worked was just fascinating. With love and respect, he tells of his relationships with David Axelrod, Robert Gibbs, the young Reggie Love and David Pfluffe, who Obama thought was so brilliant that he became his Campaign Manager and so many others. I loved hearing the origins of “Fired up ! Ready to Go ! “ Always prepared, he wrote both a concession and acceptance speech.”
The book is also laden with dense discussions on the economic crisis the country was facing when he took office, his first G20 conference, foreign policy, health care and the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the war in Afghanistan. I have to admit that there were some chapters where I sped up the audio, but for anyone who is a policy wonk, these might be more interesting. These chapters, though, reflect the complexity of the issues before him and the country at this time. They also reflect the intelligent, pragmatic yet caring ways he approached things.
Barack Obama always felt the weight of the office and the responsibility to protect the nation, the huge responsibility of being Commander in Chief, the casualties of troops in Afghanistan, writing letters to their families. He read security briefings every morning, and then had meetings with security staff right after - imagine that ! (Couldn’t help myself.) This narrative reflects part of his first term and I can’t wait for the second volume. I love this man . I cried when he won in 2008, a good, heartfelt cry and I cried when his second term was over, a sad and horrified cry. ( Again , I couldn’t help myself.) I have missed him every single day since January 20, 2017. Clearly, I’m biased so you might want to read it yourself, and I do highly recommend it ....more
This is a dramatic presentation, less than an hour and twenty minutes in length, but filled with so much more than I expected in this short listening This is a dramatic presentation, less than an hour and twenty minutes in length, but filled with so much more than I expected in this short listening time. It’s a tribute to two brilliant women, their intellect, their humanity and a friendship one can only hope for in a lifetime. It spoke to me in so many ways. Of course I knew of Marie Curie and her work on radioactivity, but I had never heard of Hertha Aryton. I learned she was a scientist, a mathematician, another brilliant mind of the time. Most of this short play, depicts a period in Marie Curie’s life after Pierre is gone. She has just won a second Nobel prize, but the joy and celebration of its acceptance are marred by the scandal of an affair. Marie and Hertha are women who excel in the world of science, dominated by men and there are some absolutely fabulous lines that tell us so much about these admirable women, mothers, wives, friends, scientists. I have to mention a few.
Hertha Aryton: “God - the shit we put up with to have a thought.”
“I don’t like the idea of science being heartless. It takes heart to question the nature of things.”
Marie: “It’s an affair, Gentleman. It’s not contagious.”
“Our life’s passion is proof. Knowing what’s true and proving it.”
Then beyond their private conversations - they speak in lines of their letters of what happened during WWI and their careers afterwards, their children, their continued friendship. So much packed in this sad at times, but lovely, uplifting and inspiring piece. And the voices of Francesca Faridany and Kate Mulgrew - I can still hear them. Kudos to Lauren Gunderson, the playwright. I loved this.
(An Audible Original free with an audible membership, otherwise $7.95)
Thanks to Elyse’s enthusiasm and love for this which told me I had to listen. ...more
Years after her breast cancer diagnosis, beloved author Alice Hoffman started out this beautiful little book as a letter to herself, reflecting on somYears after her breast cancer diagnosis, beloved author Alice Hoffman started out this beautiful little book as a letter to herself, reflecting on some of the things she wished she had guidance on about how to survive that trauma, “to remind myself of the beauty of life.” Fortunately for us, she shares these thoughts, beautiful words of wisdom that are meaningful for all of us who may be in need of healing from illness or loss, for any of us really. When life feels uncontrollable, as it often does, she reminds us that there are choices we can make . At times it seems she offers common sense advice that I thought I already knew, but then I realized how much more meaningful it would be to actually be more mindful and do some of these things for myself. She chooses her heroes. Anne Frank, who had the “ability to see beauty in a cruel world”, Hoffman’s mother who had “the ability to enjoy herself” are two of her personal heroes. She tells us to “choose our friends wisely” and connect with young people for their openness and the way they “dream out loud” and older people for their stories. This is a short book, so I won’t give away all of the lovely things she reminds us of, so you can experience this yourself. I can’t help, though, mentioning my favorite “Choose to Dream” where she recounts returning to Venice her “dream destination”. Listening to this was a lovely way to spend less than an hour. I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t read by Hoffman, but the narrator does a wonderful job. I’m a huge Hoffman fan and I’ve enjoyed a number of her novels. She’s such a prolific writer and I’m so glad I have many more to read. Thanks so much to Elyse for bringing this to my attention....more
I don’t read very many nonfiction books and I haven’t listened to many audiobooks, but I’m sure that this one will remain one of my favorites in both I don’t read very many nonfiction books and I haven’t listened to many audiobooks, but I’m sure that this one will remain one of my favorites in both categories. Before I listened to this book, when I thought of space missions and the moon, I thought of the moon landing and Apollo 11 - the planting of the American flag, Neil Armstrong’s comment “....one giant step for mankind.” While I remember Apollo 8, I had no idea of it’s importance in laying the groundwork for future missions. While I always thought that astronauts as a group were brave, I never really thought about their individual stories, their personalities, the affect on their families, especially their spouses, the intense training or what went into preparing for their mission. Even though I knew the efforts of NASA to prepare, plan, build, test and manage from mission control had to be enormous, I never gave it a lot of thought. I didn’t think a lot about the historical context of these space missions. All of that changed in such an impactful way for me while listening to this absolutely amazing account.
I was captivated by the intimate look that I got of the crew - Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, how they grew up and became astronauts, how they met and fell in love with their wives, how their wives were impacted by what their husbands were doing, the sacrifice of family time. The wives of these men deserve a lot of credit and are heroes in their own right. Their personal stories are moving. I was on the edge of my seat as Kurson so skillfully gave me “a sense of being there”. I was surprised that some of the technical and scientific parts were made understandable and interesting and amazed at the scope of things that went into making decisions.
The way the mission is brought into historical context is simply stunning. I hung on every word as the picture is painted of a fractured time in American history with events that I remember- the race to space with Russia, John Kennedy’s dream of landing on the moon, the Vietnam war, civil rights protests, race riots , demonstrations in Chicago, unrest in the country, the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. This book doesn’t just tell us about Apollo 8, it tells the story of our nation in 1968.
I loved the Epilogue finding out what the crew did afterwards and where they were in their lives at the time of the 50th anniversary of the mission. I very much appreciated the author’s note in his own voice, how he was inspired to write this book. Kurson’s research is extensive including time spent with Borman, Lovell, Anders , people from NASA, reading a multitude of documents, watching videos and so much more. This is a story of extraordinary men and their families, an extraordinary event in history. The narration by Ray Porter is absolutely wonderful.
Thanks to my Goodreads friend and book buddy, Diane S, whose terrific review led me to this book....more
If only I could give more than 5 stars ! A life in letters from a wise and wonderful character named Ivy Rowe. Through her eyes we come to know her lifIf only I could give more than 5 stars ! A life in letters from a wise and wonderful character named Ivy Rowe. Through her eyes we come to know her life, more than her life alone, but anyone who was a part of it . It’s a family saga, a story of a place, a history of events. The letters are not written to us, the readers, but to friends and family and even to her father after he died. Yet, I felt like a confidant, a friend who one can bare their heart and soul to because Ivy gives of her heart and soul in every letter we read. It is with courage and strength that she lives this life, with its struggles, acknowledging and accepting her mistakes, but living her life as it is with joy and hope, and love for those in her life.
“ I decided that I had made my bed and would lie in it as before. I’m getting to be an expert at makin’ beds”.
Ivy took me to Sugar Fork, VA and right from the beginning, I was everywhere with her as she moved from a mountain cabin to a town in Majestic, VA, to Diamond ,VA and then back to her roots in Sugar Fork.
“ ...daddy I’m like you , I need the pure high air and a mountain to lay my eyes against.”
Emanating from these letters is a history, as her words take us through changes in the country as the lumbering work turns to coal mining, the danger and misery that the mines brought, the railroad, electricity coming to the mountains, the wars, the flu, the deaths, the hard times and all of the changes in Ivy’s life. She takes us along with her as she experiences the people coming and going from her life, leaving or dying.
“It seemed to me life is nothin’ but people leavin’”
The older she gets, the more outspoken she becomes, the more wise she becomes, and the more aware she becomes of herself, her life, her past, where she hopes to go from each point in time. I can’t remember a character who was as genuine. Like so many others who loved this story, I wholeheartedly agree that Ivy is a character for the ages, a character who won’t be easy to forget. Ultimately, it isn’t the places she moves to and from, but the journey of her heart that moved me. It was a privilege to know Ivy.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the narrator Kate Forbes. The narration is perfect in tone, inflection and dialect. This is 2nd fiction book on audio read by Kate Forbes that I have listened to, actually the second fiction book I’ve listened to ever. It wasn’t an accident that I chose this one because of how much I loved her narration of A Parchment of Leaves . I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the beautiful review by my friend Candi which just so perfectly captures the essence of Ivy Rowe, now one of my all time favorite characters. Candi’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......more
An ongoing e-mail conversation between a mother and her son to get to know each other better when she’s in her early 90’s, is the basis for this book An ongoing e-mail conversation between a mother and her son to get to know each other better when she’s in her early 90’s, is the basis for this book and as you might suspect it’s an intimate look, and certainly interesting. In this case made much more interesting because the mother is the famed Gloria Vanderbilt and the son, Anderson Cooper, a recognized anchor and reporter for CNN. It’s mostly Gloria’s story, and as I listened to the audiobook, it many times felt like Anderson was interviewing her, yet there were so many poignant moments when they each talked about how they felt about each other, their regrets and so much more. I have to admit I wanted to know more about Anderson. I’m an avid viewer of his nightly hour on CNN. He's a skilled interviewer and I’m always touched by the sensitivity he shows to families of survivors of mass shootings and those affected by natural disasters when he is reporting on the scene. I especially remember when he reported from Sandy Hook and from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
I’m of the age when I was a young girl, I just had to have those Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. I knew the Vanderbilts were a family of prestige and wealth, but I really knew nothing about her life. What a sad mixed up life she had as a child, moving around and then a public custody battle for her when she was ten years old between her mother and her aunt. She talks about her bad first marriage, her multiple marriages, the famous people in her life, the varied things she does - actress, designer, artist. Her privileged, well to do life wasn’t always a happy one. I was moved to hear them speak of the effect on both of them of the loss of Gloria’s husband and Anderson’s father and then her son and Anderson’s brother to suicide.
Their exchanges felt so honest when he talks about when he came out to her, about their religious beliefs and how they feel about each other. What a gift these correspondences were to each other. Gloria Vanderbilt passed away this year and I still remember the loving tribute that Anderson Cooper gave about his mother when he returned to the air after her funeral. Definitely recommended and the audio is the way to go with this one. Hearing them read their own parts of the book make its so much more meaningful.
When I think of Audrey Hepburn I picture the beautiful, iconic movie star who always appeared so regal, no matter what role she played. I love many of When I think of Audrey Hepburn I picture the beautiful, iconic movie star who always appeared so regal, no matter what role she played. I love many of her movies - Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, My Fair Lady, to name a few. I also knew about her work with UNICEF later in her life, but I didn’t know much more about her than that. If you’re looking for the story of her Hollywood years, this is not it. This book details her earlier life in the Netherlands when it was occupied by the Nazis. From the age of eleven through sixteen, she experienced hunger and bombings, the pain of loss, watching trains filled with Jews being transported. While both of her parents were Nazi sympathizers, Hepburn helped care for wounded, courageously played an active part in the resistance, dancing ballet to raise money for the resistance. Two things that impacted her life forever were abandonment by her father and the war. Perhaps it was the war that influenced her work with UNICEF, traveling the world to bring attention to poor children. “The war made me resilient and terribly appreciative of everything for everything that came afterward. I felt enormous respect for food, freedom, for good health and family.”
I listened to the audio book of this and I still have to get used to that feeling of being read to rather than reading and the narration here seemed a little dramatic to me. However, the book appears to be well researched and the author has done a great job of depicting the war years that Audrey Hepburn lived through. Before I listened to this book, I certainly admired Audrey Hepburn, the actress. After finishing it, I gained a respect for Audrey Hepburn as a human being. ...more
I listened to this in October, 2019. Today I’ve changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars . Rest In peace RBG . ************************************ I knew beI listened to this in October, 2019. Today I’ve changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars . Rest In peace RBG . ************************************ I knew before I started to listen to My Own Words that it was not going to be the same as “in my own words”, that it was not going to be read in total by Ruth Bader Ginsburg . I wish it had been. It’s not that actress Linda Lavin didn’t do a great job of reading some of RBG’s speeches and writings, in providing biographical information and a run down of her achievements. It was that when I heard Ginsburg’s voice, I genuinely got a sense of her amazing intellect and wit and will and I just wanted to hear more from her. Having said that, the book provides an informative look at the this woman, called notorious, but I could add, fearless, tenacious, and she’s pretty funny, too. When Lavin reads RBG’s eighth grade editorial piece where she highlighted writings she considered important such as the Ten Commandments, the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the UN Charter, we get a glimpse of how she was such an achiever and a thinker at such an early age. She was a pioneer for women in the legal profession and became the the first tenured female law professor at Columbia Law School. Her ground breaking cases before the Supreme Court on gender equality and other sex discrimination cases are highlighted mostly by Lavin . I have to admit these selections of readings and discussion of them were a little dry, but nonetheless, they are so important and I managed to get through them.
The most enjoyable segments were those read by Ginsburg herself. I loved her nomination acceptance speech and her opening statement at the Senate Confirmation Hearing. She pays tribute to women in speeches honoring Sandra Day O’Conner, the first woman Supreme Court Judge, pays tribute in another to the wives of the male justices. It’s a mix of her professional achievements as well as a personal depiction which I thoroughly enjoyed. Some of the most humorous and poignant readings were by RBG’s husband, Marty Ginsburg, whose introduction of her at a couple of events reflect their love for each other. Women, actually men, as well, owe her great debt of gratitude. When asked when there would be enough women on the Supreme Court ; she answers “Nine “. How can I not love this woman ? We need to pray for her health every day....more
This memoir is a must read for fans of Richard Russo. I have read all of his novels and his two story collections and I’m always moved by his keen obsThis memoir is a must read for fans of Richard Russo. I have read all of his novels and his two story collections and I’m always moved by his keen observations of the human condition and his brilliant writing. Born and raised in Gloversville, NY, a small town in upstate NY, Russo tells of his early life there and gradually how that place and his family history shaped him as a writer, became the seed, the inspiration for all of the small towns that he writes about. In the beginning, he says that this is his mother’s story, but also his story. A good part of the narrative is focused on his mother, who raised him with the help of her parents, as his gambling father was not a part of his life until his late teens. He depicts a complicated, but loving relationship with his mother who suffered for most of her life from anxiety and panic attacks, her “nervous” condition that wasn’t more specifically diagnosed until much later in her life. It was a complicated, but loving relationship over the years and I felt her anxiety each and every time he moved his mother with his family on his nomadic academic career. It’s funny at times and poignant at other times and like the prose in his novels. Russo allows us to peer into personal life telling of his writing obsession and how he has created his own Gloversvilles in the small towns of his novels, places liked Empire Falls and Mohawk. I love how he took me full circle from his beginnings in Gloversville and ended the book with telling of his love - hate relationship with this town. In the end I came away with the respect and admiration for a writer whose books I already loved. I listened to the audio and it was wonderful to hear his story directly from him.
(An aside: while I was listening to this, my husband and I were driving to visit family and while on the NYS thruway we passed The Leatherstocking District area, where Gloversville is. A lovely coincidence.)...more
When I started listening to this audiobook, my friend Catherine commented “Hard on the heart but…” I couldn’t agree more. It is definitely hard on theWhen I started listening to this audiobook, my friend Catherine commented “Hard on the heart but…” I couldn’t agree more. It is definitely hard on the heart, and there are certainly a number of buts that make it so very worth reading. There are many moments in this story that hurt my heart, that made my stomach turn, and there are also moments of love, of caring, of the depth of friendship that did my heart good. There are moments of joy when Saul Indian Horse discovers hockey and many moments of sadness and rage as he faces losses and prejudice. When the novel opens, he tells us that he’s a “hard core drunk “ in rehab, encouraged to tell his story because his counselor believes that “Many hearts beating together makes us stronger “.
This is so beautifully written and although fiction, it has such an intimate feel, I thought I was listening to a memoir. The narrator is fabulous. I wanted to read it now because Canadian residential schools have been in the news recently with hundreds of unmarked graves discovered at some of the locations where the schools stood. This story is so relevant and depicts what that experience may have been like for so many children stolen from their families. Their stories deserve to be told. We should read them.
“It was the school they hid us from “
“I grew up afraid of the white man . As it turns out I had reason to be.”
“I read once that there are holes in the universe that swallow all light , all bodies . St Jerome’s took all the light from my world .”
These children lived under the threats of beatings, fear and the horrible reality of predator priests and nuns visiting in the night, suicides and “row on row of unmarked graves. It’s not for me to tell any of the story except to say that hockey and then drink helped Saul forget until he remembered. I highly recommend reading this, because we also must remember....more
I’ve always admired and respected Joe Biden. I’ve always connected with him - a good man, a regular Joe if you will, a man who has had his share of so I’ve always admired and respected Joe Biden. I’ve always connected with him - a good man, a regular Joe if you will, a man who has had his share of sorrow and yet managed to live a life of service as a senator for 36 years and then 8 years as Vice President. I’ve been wanting to read this, but so glad I chose to listen to the audiobook read by him. The love for his family is so beautifully depicted and his grief over losing his son Beau to brain cancer and all of his emotions are conveyed in his voice. I found it so touching to hear him. It’s such a genuine, intimate and moving look at the personal grief and also a telling of some of the things that that he was involved in as Vice President during the time of his son’s illness and after his death. I have to admit that I didn’t enjoy hearing about this side of his life as much as I was in the details of his relationship with his loving family, their times together, especially the annual vacations on “Nanatucket” for Thanksgiving. Having to bury your child is probably the most deeply painful thing that could happen to any parent. Unimaginable to have it happen twice in one’s life as it did to Biden. In some ways, this is a tribute to his son, Beau, who was a good man, a good father, a man of duty and service, actually a lot like his father. I’ve never met Joe Biden, but I feel as though I know him. I respect and admire him even more after listening to this memoir. ...more
This is my first FICTION audiobook ! I’ve avoided audiobooks for a long time after trying one a number of years ago and I just wasn’t able to get pastThis is my first FICTION audiobook ! I’ve avoided audiobooks for a long time after trying one a number of years ago and I just wasn’t able to get past the feeling that I was being read to. I felt that I had to read the pages myself to experience a book. This past year I decided to give them a try again and I listened to a half dozen books, all non fiction. For some reason non fiction worked for me. Since I prefer to read fiction, I finally decided to try a fiction book. I was still hesitant, worried that I wouldn’t like the narrator. I started out following with the print version for a couple of chapters then I was just so taken with the narration that I just listened for the rest of it. I was fortunate to have chosen this book. Not only is it a stunningly beautiful story, beautifully written, but I was mesmerized by the narration by Kate Forbes. I will be looking for others that she has narrated.
It was more than the narration that kept me connected to this book, though. Silas House is an amazing storyteller. Vine, a young Cherokee woman, born and raised in Redbud Camp in Kentucky, leaves her family and her people for God’s Creek after she falls in love with and marries Saul, from an Irish family. The story is mostly told by Vine and it seems simply told, but yet the descriptions of the place, the surrounding natural environment are so perfect and beautiful . Vine is so perceptive, not just of the place, but the people around her. These characters are so well developed, we come to know them as well as we do her, as she tries to make a home and a family here in a place where as the only Cherokee she is considered an outsider. She’s strikingly beautiful and men notice her and Saul’s brother Aaron is not an exception. Saul leaves Vine and their baby girl Birdie for a time to work. While he’s gone Vine forges a loving relationship with his mother Esme, develops a wonderful friendship with Serena, but she finds herself in circumstances, which turn violent, and in a situation she never could have imagined. House weaves a fabulous story around these characters and this place in rural Kentucky about family, friendship, forgiveness, love. This will be on my list of favorites. I will most definitely read or maybe I’ll listen to House’s other novels. ...more
I honestly didn’t think I would be interested in a book about rowing, but I just couldn’t ignore the fact that so many people loved this book. I added I honestly didn’t think I would be interested in a book about rowing, but I just couldn’t ignore the fact that so many people loved this book. I added it to my list of books to read about three years ago and I’m so glad that I finally got to it because it was about so much more than the sport. Nine young men making up the USA Rowing Team in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin weren’t just rowing for a medal, they “were rowing for a set of values, a way of life”. They were the USA Olympics Rowing Team competing during a time when Hitler and the Nazis were making laws against Jews, burning books and planning the horrors that we now know occurred. It’s about how this team of young men from working class families who worked hard, endured hardships, and achieved greatness in the eyes of the world, and most certainly in the eyes of their fellow Americans. It’s a reflection of the time in the US just after the stock market crash and the Great Depression. While it’s the story of this team and this country, we also experience the story on a more personal level through Joe Rantz’s life.
The narrative alternates between the time that Joe Rantz is a student at the University of Washington and to his sad childhood. Joe seemed to live an ideal life, happy with his mother and father and brother until his mother dies when he was four. It was heartbreaking to see how he was abandoned time and time again when his father remarries and his stepmother just doesn’t want him around. At ten he lives a “life in exile” and at fifteen ends up on his own, digging ditches, building barns, doing whatever it took to support himself and eat . With such stamina and dedication, working as a janitor at the Y for a room, practicing, and studying, I couldn’t help but love Joe and his teammates and pull for them with each race. Highly recommended, even if you’re not interested in crewing because this is just so much more.
This was my first audio book. I tried previously and couldn’t get used to the feeling that someone was reading to me, but I thought I’d try again. It turned out to be a great experience, no doubt because of the inspiring story . ...more
Even before I started listening to this audio book, I could hear Angelou’s voice, deep and distinctive. I remember seeing her on tv at some point in t Even before I started listening to this audio book, I could hear Angelou’s voice, deep and distinctive. I remember seeing her on tv at some point in the past and notably, even though a while ago, when she read a poem she had written for President Clinton’s inauguration. This autobiography of her early years from age four through sixteen makes for a tough story at times, but an amazing telling of it. At four years old, she and her brother Bailey are sent to Stamps, Arkansas to live with their paternal grandmother, a staunchly religious and savvy store owner and their disabled Uncle Willy. They help at the store , go to school and live through times of ugly racism. Four years later they go to live with their mother and at eight years old Maya is raped by her mother’s boyfriend. The children return to live with their grandmother, but Maya is so scarred by the attack that she stops speaking for several years.
Yet, amid the bad times in this depiction of the Jim Crow south, there are times of happiness and revelation of what life has to offer. It is back in Stamps that she develops a love of reading and she calls Shakespeare her first white love. She shares the joy of making her first friend and her unconditional love for her brother Bailey. The descriptions of the revival meeting and the church picnic and the days at her grandmother’s store are poetic and she took me there with her wonderful story telling. A few years later, they move back with their mother and it is here in California that we see the impact of the past on her and also see her come of age at sixteen, on her journey to becoming the renown activist, writer, poet. Angelou does nothing short of bare her heart and soul in this deeply personal and affecting narrative.
Angela M is taking a break.
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