I enjoyed learning more about Kamala's family, values, career and life as she narrated her own book. I enjoyed learning more about Kamala's family, values, career and life as she narrated her own book. ...more
I read Kamala Harris's The Truths We Hold to get to know her a little better. I wanted to learn about her family, her growing up, her educational and I read Kamala Harris's The Truths We Hold to get to know her a little better. I wanted to learn about her family, her growing up, her educational and career journey, etc. I read J.D. Vance's book for the same purpose.
In Hillbilly Elegy, Vance describes his upbringing in Kentucky and Ohio, areas of Appalachia and the Rust Belt. He credits his mamaw and papaw as the pair who raised him, making a profound difference in how he could climb out from his oppressed circumstances and reach for success via the Marine Corps, education, a career, a lovely wife, and to establish boundaries with his mother for a healthy relationship....more
4.5: Mark Watney was left by accident on Mars and the next ship from Earth is not arriving for another four years. Mark is an engineer and botanist. W4.5: Mark Watney was left by accident on Mars and the next ship from Earth is not arriving for another four years. Mark is an engineer and botanist. We as the reader through his log entries find out what he’s doing to survive. His food sources are due to run out. His equipment is damaged. He’s all alone. We are permitted to see his resourcefulness and ingenuity as he constantly problem solves his predicament.
I really liked this story but not as much as Project Hail Mary. Ryland Grace and Rocky have Mark Watney beat imho. Both male characters are similar in my mind as they have self-deprecating humor and shared knowledge sets.
I watched the 2015 film several years back and was ‘meh’ about it. I’m going to watch again now that I finished the novel. ...more
I read this because I'm always interested in being a better friend to those I'm blessed to interact with. When I was a younger person I mistakenly movI read this because I'm always interested in being a better friend to those I'm blessed to interact with. When I was a younger person I mistakenly moved persons into a friend category due to mere association (going to school, church, or work together). I forced myself upon these persons instead of allowing friendships to naturally occur and develop. In all cases save one, it was not harmful but relationships did not continue after the commonalities of working together or going to school together were severed. After a tragic failed friendship I desired to not make friends but instead to learn how to be a friend. Brooks' advice was straight-forward. What I took away for myself was the reminder to actively listen and also that we can always do better than how we think we're doing. This is a life-long process and I'm grateful for the opportunities to continually learn and grow....more
I’ve overheard and read praises for years about historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s writing. On my 30th birthday my husband downloaded Team of Rivals to I’ve overheard and read praises for years about historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s writing. On my 30th birthday my husband downloaded Team of Rivals to a small MP3 player for me and after a few listening attempts I gave up. I was not ready as a reader for that large tome. I’ve thought about trying the book again this fall or winter right before An Unfinished Love Story was published. I decided to read An Unfinished… as my first Kearns Goodwin and I’m so grateful that I did.
An Unfinished Love Story details much of the history of the 1960s decade from the perspectives of Kearns Goodwin and her husband, Dick. They both worked for “Lyndon,” under the Johnson administration. Mr. Goodwin left his administrative position in 1965 and Ms. Kearns Goodwin began hers in 1968. Mr. Goodwin saved scads boxes of memorabilia and documents from his career. Together, they unpacked those boxes and spent precious evenings and weekends going back over poignant events that affected them personally over that historical decade of America’s history.
Richard Goodwin was JFK’s speechwriter. He worked very closely with President Kennedy and formed a lifelong friendship with Mrs. Jackie Kennedy Onassis. He worked for Eugene McCarthy’s political campaign, RFK’s campaign, President Johnson, and many other aspects of political life. Doris Kearns Goodwin worked for Lyndon Johnson and wrote his biography. She earned her doctorate in government from Harvard University in 1968 and had a teaching career as well as being a great biographer.
For someone who was not born until 1980, I very much appreciated this more personal approach to sharing what happened during that tumultuous and poignant decade in American history. I felt a tender sense of awe and respect in the way that Kearns Goodwin shared her marriage, her love story.
Highly recommended for readers interested in this important decade of American history or for those who enjoy social historical accounts....more
I've appreciated reading the various reviews here and of the points made regarding Penny's book. I liked that the mystery was in the background while I've appreciated reading the various reviews here and of the points made regarding Penny's book. I liked that the mystery was in the background while the Three Pines characters were in the foreground. The literary and artsy references were enjoyable to me and I laughed a lot at the rejoinders between characters. This in only my second in the series and as I have not read them in order that may taint my opinion. (view spoiler)[I'm grumpy about Peter's death but I was not surprised (hide spoiler)]...more
I first learned of Father Emil J. Kapaun while watching a documentary about Medal of Honor recipients some years ago. His sacrifices made as a chaplaiI first learned of Father Emil J. Kapaun while watching a documentary about Medal of Honor recipients some years ago. His sacrifices made as a chaplain with the Army Chaplain Corps during the Korean war in 1950-51 affected me greatly. Apart from his normal chaplain duties, he rescued wounded soldiers under fire and would negotiate with the enemy for the safety of the men. He would often stay behind to care for the wounded and to help identify and bury the dead (enemy dead, too).
In early November 1950 at the Battle of Unsan the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army captured the 3d Battalion of the 8th Cavalry Regiment and marched Father Kapaun and the men 140 km to a temporary prison camp at Sombakol. As a POW he continued to tend to the needs of the men as best as possible until the Lord took him home on May 23, 1951.
In Stansifer’s book I appreciated learning more about the Catholic faith and practices, especially during warfare. I found comfort and increased faith in God after reading this book.
I’m thrilled that Mr. Stansifer wrote No Bullet Got Me Yet. Father Kapaun’s life and legacy should never be forgotten. However, Stansifer pairs the narrative text with many excerpts of letters. It was confusing at times whose ‘voice’ I was reading but maybe that was just me. I found that reading some parts of the hardcover copy after listening to the whole audio book helpful.
I will follow the cause of beautification and canonization....more
I felt that I had a more immersive experience listening to this book as I was reading simultaneously Mr. Michael Twitty's The Cooking Gene and Ms. JoyI felt that I had a more immersive experience listening to this book as I was reading simultaneously Mr. Michael Twitty's The Cooking Gene and Ms. Joy-Ann Reid's Medgar & Myrlie. Mr. Smith in this book attempts to answer the question of how African Black enslavement history is taught or passed or spread. Mr. Smith visited historical sites, monument sites, museums, and educational centers to interpret how the historical details are presented (or not mentioned as it were).
I took the most interest in the question or debate even of Black Americans interpreting or reenacting enslavement. My husband and I came across an interview a couple of years ago of a woman who was explaining (and defending) her role in reenacting a plow woman/housemaid at Mount Vernon. As a white woman I cannot contribute to the conversation other to say that I appreciate those who do the important work of historical interpreting and reenacting.
Another issue that I cannot add to but that I have mulled over in the past ten or so years are the monuments that are causing hurt and pain for so many and then conversely for some pride.
Mr. Smith is a wonderful narrator. I listened to 8 of 9 discs twice through because I wanted to ensure I did not miss too much while I was driving. I have the text hardcover book in hand too that I plan to dip into in the coming days.
This is my first Louise Penny mystery and I liked it very much. Her rich descriptions of each character and of Three Pines drew me in to the story andThis is my first Louise Penny mystery and I liked it very much. Her rich descriptions of each character and of Three Pines drew me in to the story and to getting myself involved with trying to solve the mystery. I was WRONG in my guess of whodunit but nevertheless I had fun trying to look ahead and to figure out what Penny had in mind.
We meet in Still Life Chief Inspector Armand Gamache with the Sûreté du Québec. An older woman in the village, Ms. Jane Neal, was killed in the woods. Was it a hunting accident or was it murder?
This book includes some funny lines as well as references to the ways of life of what is generally thought of as upper middle class and middle class living.
I'm determined to try to find a licorice pipe and to sample it. ...more
I knew nothing of the history of the Astor family before listening to Cooper's book. He begins with how Mr. John Jacob earned wealth in the fur trade I knew nothing of the history of the Astor family before listening to Cooper's book. He begins with how Mr. John Jacob earned wealth in the fur trade and in New York real estate investments. Nearing the end of the book I learned of Mrs. Brooke Astor and of her son Tony Marshall, defrauding her and her estate.
I must admit that I took a keen interest in Mrs. Brooke Astor's life. She was married in to the family. In her first marriage she suffered abuse from her husband, John Dryden Kuser. Her second marriage with Charles Henry "Buddy" Marshall was a better and more successful match. When he passed Mr. Vincent Astor solicited her for marriage as he and his wife wanted to divorce. Ms. Mary Benedict "Minnie" Cushing picked Mrs. Brooke as the replacement spouse for Mr. Vincent.
Tony Marshall, her son by Kuser (he took his stepfather's name although Marshall never formally adopted him), wasn't well liked by his mother and nearing the end of her life charges were brought against him by his son Philip Cryan Marshall of elder abuse of Mrs. Brooke and of her financial affairs. Mrs. Astor passed in 2007 at the age of 105. Marshall was eventually sentenced to 1-3 years in prison and died in 2014.
I was saddened that Mrs. Astor was taken advantage of in her declining years (she suffered from Alzheimer's too). Her grandson Philip C. Marshall left his career in 2017 to become a full-time advocate for elder justice.
Mr. Cooper I felt was even-handed in his approach and not gossipy when describing the events and lives of the Astors....more
The future of humanity is under attack! Ryland Grace must travel into space to find a solution to save planet earth. He wakes up from a deep coma to dThe future of humanity is under attack! Ryland Grace must travel into space to find a solution to save planet earth. He wakes up from a deep coma to discover that his two crew mates did not survive the journey into deep space. He is all alone and is Earth’s last hope to find a solution to the threat that is killing the planet.
Science fiction is not my usual genre. My GR friends posted great reviews and I could not resist sampling Andy Weir’s work.
I listened to Ray Porter’s narration, and I’m convinced that Weir’s great story, coupled with Porter’s stunning performance, made this a 5-star read. As I was listening I thought, “Joe (my husband) would LOVE this book.” Grace’s way of thinking—his scientific approach to problem solving would appeal to my hubby. AND—I was right. Joe downloaded the story unto our pc and stuck that MP3 disc into the vehicle he drives and did not relinquish that disc until he was finished. He listened on his work commutes. We listened together on the weekends (re-listens for him) as we drove to visit family members. We listened as we drove to the state park to see the osprey at the lake. I listened in the early morning hours while I was near the computer. We turned off the TV one evening and just enjoyed the book while we loafed on the sofa after dinner. We listened as I drove us home at 2AM from the emergency room. The two of us had some wonderful, deep conversations about the characters, the plotline, and the scientific elements of the story.
I really liked Ryland Grace as he reminded me of my husband and the things I love about his mind but then when I (view spoiler)[“met” Rocky I fell hard for that alien. I loved his characteristics and I how he and Ryland were able to communicate. Their friendship and bond caused me to ugly cry a lot. I liked the way they argued too. (hide spoiler)]
Weir did a fantastic job with this story and I’ll be looking to listen to The Martian next.
I will recommend this to my book club. I've already started to talk it up--to whet the appetite of my club friends....more
I was mainly interested in listening to the L.M. Montgomery stories but all were good. This was a nice selection and the narrators did a good job. TheI was mainly interested in listening to the L.M. Montgomery stories but all were good. This was a nice selection and the narrators did a good job. Their voices seemed to fit with these classic stories....more
Mr. Shin Dong-hyuk is the first if not one of the first to have given an account of escaping from Camp 14, a North Korean internment camp. WashingtonMr. Shin Dong-hyuk is the first if not one of the first to have given an account of escaping from Camp 14, a North Korean internment camp. Washington Post journalist Blaine Harden interviews Dong-hyuk and shares with the reader the harrowing details of life in the camp and how the escape happened. What Shin witnessed, felt, and endured was sometimes to me incomprehensible. I was an emotional mess at times while listening to the book. I want to listen to a talk Mr. Harden gave in 2012 to C-SPAN's Q & A program.
I opted to read this book after the October 7th 2023 attack by Hamas against Israel. Tishby is an Israeli and she narrates the history of Israel into I opted to read this book after the October 7th 2023 attack by Hamas against Israel. Tishby is an Israeli and she narrates the history of Israel into 8 audio discs worth of content. Her perspective favors the country and her arguments may not contain all the nuances and complexities that are involved with the compounded history of the Middle East and its peoples. I did enjoy her sharing of her personal and family history. She seems very bright and uses sprinklings of humor to help explain her points....more
I don’t normally talk to the authors of my audiobooks and I don’t say ‘honey’ or ‘sweetie’ to many people. But in listening “Oh, honey.”
“Oh, sweetie.”
I don’t normally talk to the authors of my audiobooks and I don’t say ‘honey’ or ‘sweetie’ to many people. But in listening to Britney’s The Woman in Me I spoke in this manner several times.
I read this book based on my Goodreads friends’ great reviews.
I am not a Britney fan or a hater. I was pretty ignorant of her career until the media started talking about her conservatorship case and the #FreeBritney movement.
I realize that I’ve only at this time heard one side of the story but I’m ever so grateful that Britney shared her story and that I received it. She’s a year younger than me and I cannot imagine this poor grown-up woman having to endure the control and manipulation by her father and his appointed members of their management team. When she wanted to venture an opinion of her own or disagree with the plans and operations of the live shows, she was threatened with being allotted less time with her sons and another trip to a rehab facility where her freedoms were even more reduced.
Fortune, fame, and no freedom. At the end of her book she speaks about the worst loss being a loss of her faith. I feel that the woman in her knows what’s truly valuable in life and I thank God that she can experience and practice it....more
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