Tony DiBiasio

The Last Chance for a Better America

Revisado: 06-19-23

Jack, Martin, Bobby, and Malcom. They were the last campaign for a more diverse, equitable and inclusive America. This review of Bobby’s campaign for the presidency reveals how forces worked endlessly to silence these views by any means necessary. Assassination in the 60’s, Nixon and Reagan’s Southern Strategy in 1968 and 1980, culminating in Trump and the MAGA Republican Party from 2016 thru today. The irony is that Bobby held appeal for the poor, people of color, progressives, and blue color White voters in 1968. How long that could have lasted is pure speculation. But his appeal was real! Character Matters.

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Entertaining and Informative

Revisado: 06-23-22

Bill Walton confirmed why he was a 3-Time All-American and a 3-Time Academic All-American back in the 1970s and is still a very large presence today. He is passionate, honest (to a point), and writes as beautifully as he played the game of basketball (when he was healthy). His hyperbole can be overbearing, but it becomes humorous because it is exactly who he is! Being the same age as Bill and a long-time fan of his play and his politics, his mixing of basketball in college and the pros, with his love of music, and then his revelation of his many surgeries, recoveries, and more surgeries weaves an amazing personal story of grit, persistence, and cooperative friendships. It was a wonderful listen!

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Entertaining

Revisado: 06-08-22

This is Pearlman's homage to Magic, Jerry Buss, and Pat Riley. He Did not need to dis Kareem to elevate Magic. It came across as petulant and petty. The narrator's attempts at Black pathos for many characters were more distraction than good theatre. Otherwise, this was an entertaining sports story.

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Square Peg . . . .

Revisado: 07-19-14

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

Yes. It is fascinating history that reads like an engaging novel

What other book might you compare In the Garden of Beasts to and why?

Larson writes in a similar fashion as Ross King and Thomas Cahill, telling history with a focus on the psychological dimensions of the personalities involved. In this case William Dodd, FDR's first Ambassador to Berlin during the rise of Hitler and Fascism, and his fascinating daughter, Martha.

Which scene was your favorite?

Many scenes were crafted perfectly to show how far ahead of other State Department officials Dodd was in recognizing the true evil in Hitler, Goebbels and his Nazi followers. Perhaps the scene that fits the title the best is when Martha is introduced to Adolf Hitler in 1934 or so, with the intention, of being his female companion, or at least to place the American Ambassador in a compromising position though his daughter. Nothing came of the encounter, but Hitler's beastly pathology is clearly intimated and Martha's discomfort was evident.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The sadness that an intellectual like Dodd, who was paradoxically so naive and brilliant, was treated with such disrespect by Sec. of State Hull, and the other diplomats in the Old Gentlemen's Club. Hitler's mistreatment of Americans, and his maniacal obsession and oppression of German Jews was know to our leaders, and little was done in those early years form 1933 to 1938.

Any additional comments?

An excellent telling of both a personal history and a very significant time in American and World history. Larson is both historian and novelist. All politics may be local, but Larson makes history personal -- well done!

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Breath of Fresh Air

Revisado: 09-19-13

If you could sum up Blood & Beauty in three words, what would they be?

Excellent Historical Fiction

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lucretia --- because Dunant gives her a modern feminist strength, within the restraints of the patriarchal culture of 15th Century Europe and within the Roman Catholic Church.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed his narration of Beautiful Ruins, and he didn't disappoint here, except I had to get the image of Carlo Tursi out of my head and replace it with Rodrigo and Cesare Borgia! He is terrific with Italian themed stories. His use of the language gives it all its beauty and charm.

If you could take any character from Blood & Beauty out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Tough choice --- only one, probably Lucretia because of her natural resilience and depth. Other wise it would be fascinating to have dinner with Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI and Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the soon to be Pope Julius II. That would be a dinner of first rate minds and devious temperaments ---- their nonverbal communication would be more fascinating than the words they would share.

Any additional comments?

Dunant brings a fresh view of the Borgias to the over-saturated media versions on Showtime and the BBC. Her history seeks authenticity not sensationalism though rumor and innuendo. The Borgias were plenty corrupt without the titillation of incest, suspected not proven.

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A Great Baseball Story

Revisado: 03-18-13

What made the experience of listening to Francona the most enjoyable?

Francona is a family story, about the Francona family, and his baseball family the Boston Red Sox.

What did you like best about this story?

The warmth, honesty and intensity expressed by Terry Francona.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Gurner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A Bronx Tale in Fenway Park.

Like the DeNiro Film, Francona is a baseball purist who has to function in a world run by CEO's, GM's and statistical gurus who try to compromise his belief in the players and the sport.

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A Deal You Shouldn't Refuse

Revisado: 12-19-12

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

Yes. It is very entertaining.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Each character has his or her strengths and flaws, and they are developed effectively

Which character – as performed by Joe Mantegna – was your favorite?

Mantegna's attempts to channel Brando for the voice of Don Corleone was a treat.

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

No, too long. But it worked very well in multiple sittings.

Any additional comments?

I had forgotten how closely the movie script followed the book. The dialogue from the book is almost used word for word in the movie ---- both were exceptional in editing and implementation.

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A Personal History

Revisado: 08-20-12

Where does The Lives of the Artists rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As an educational read it ranks near the top.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Lives of the Artists?

The very human tendencies of some of the most brilliant artists of all time. Like the fact that Donatello, I believe, eschewed money to the extent that he hung from the ceiling of his studio a basket where he placed all his commissioned earnings. The money was there for anyone working for him to take as needed, for personal or artistic needs.

What about Neville Jason’s performance did you like?

A nice voice that gives a very continental flavor to the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It affirmed for me the great glory of the genius of the Renaissance artists from Cimabue to Giotto, to Donatello through to DaVinci and Michelangelo.

Any additional comments?

It was a step back in time. However, comments at the end may have been helpful to identify where many of these masterpieces are today. Vasari was giving a contemporary account. Now the works of art he describes are now housed in some of the most famous museums in the world.

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A Disappointment

Revisado: 08-25-11

I was not familiar with Conn Iggulden and his Emperor series. But as an aficionado of Ancient Roman History, and a former history teacher, I was disappointed this work of historical fiction. It is a compelling story. Rome's civil war pitting Caesar and Pompey, and the inexorable push by Caesar to gain absolute power, yet Iggulden relayed too heavily on the fiction, and not so much on historical accuracy, in ways that were too obviously out of context. A few examples, the story lines involving Julia, Caesar's daughter were completely fabricated, especially with references to a relationship she had with Brutus. Equally, the character of Brutus is mostly exaggerated, especially his being portrayed as an exceptional general, who helped subdue the Ptolemaic attacks on the legions in Alexandria after Pharsalus. The biggest disappointed in this work, however, is the pronunciations of names by the narrator. His pronunciations of famous figures too some getting used to. Cicero is Kickero, Octavian is Octawian, to name just a few. Finally, he covers the decline of Republic with little mention of Cato, whom the narrator calls Kato. Over all, it is an entertaining listen, just not a very accurate historical representation of these dramatic events.

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