Linda Martin

I learned so much!

Revisado: 11-30-24

I didn't know that Auckland Island exists but after listening to this I know a lot about the geography and history of this remote atoll. I learned a lot about what it is like to be shipwrecked on an inhospitable island and how difficult it is to survive. For me this was a book I didn't want to stop listening to, so I went through it very quickly. The narration was flawless.

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The Treacherous Life of a Texan Soldier

Revisado: 07-03-24

A few years after the disastrous Battle of the Alamo (1836) a small Texan army attacked a few towns along the Mexican border in what came to be known as The Mier Expedition (1842). This book tells a fictionalized version of the 1842-1843 events starting in Laredo and Ciudad Mier.

The Texans involved were mostly teenagers, but they managed to do a lot of damage before they decided to surrender since they were greatly outnumbered by the Mexican army. They thought they could then return home to San Antonio, but no, the Mexicans had other plans for them and they were marched south toward Mexico City.

This is a great novel for learning about the Mier Expedition. The novel is well-written and easily kept my attention. Although some events were fiction, there's a lot of history here too and some of the characters were taken from history including a young artist whose drawings can be found on the Internet. Listen to this one with a map nearby.

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Loved this memoir!

Revisado: 04-04-24

I love memoirs, in general. This one stands out because of the excellent writing style. I enjoyed learning about Annie's childhood memories, her unique family, her sibling rivalry, and her emotional ups and downs. Great story!

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I appreciate this book

Revisado: 02-27-24

I'm a Christian who has met a few other Christians who use marijuana as a way to keep themselves from relapsing into alcoholism. I've had some doubts about that being a good use of the plant and wonder if the benefits outweigh the risks. We live in a state where marijuana has been legalized.

I do believe marijuana is a medicinal plant and has some good uses such as for cancer patients, people in the final days of their lives, or the use of CBD to alleviate pain or to help lessen the effects of epilepsy. So when I found this book here on Audible I wanted to listen to give myself more information and clarity on this topic.

This book is a good overview of the topic and covers both scripture and scientific/medical information. I thought the author was fair, compassionate and well-balanced in reporting on the subject.

I have lived with chronic marijuana smokers in the distant past and found them to be grumpy, overly paranoid and suspicious, and sometimes verbally abusive. It is my intention to stay away from people who have these kinds of problems as much as I am able. Of course when they show up in my church that isn't possible.

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Two Young Women During the Civil War

Revisado: 04-19-22

I love how this book starts with two stories, not just one. Julia comes from a wealthy Philadelphia socialite family and Phoebe, from a backwoods impoverished clan with no mother or father, only three brothers, and they all leave to serve in the Civil War. She has nothing and no one.

This book gives a lot to think about in terms of what we would do in a crisis like the Civil War. How can we serve others in the worst of circumstances?

It is an excellent 2nd novel in a series. Later in the novel a few characters from the first novel are mentioned as Julia is related to Caroline, who was the main character of the first novel. However, this novel has it's own story line and characters so it would be just as good as a stand alone novel.

The story never lags. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.

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Living Through a War

Revisado: 04-12-22

You never know what you will do and how you will react unless you live through an event. In this novel the Civil War tests the hearts, motivations and intentions of the characters and changes them.

At the beginning of the novel Caroline is very young. She is only beginning to become aware of the injustices inflicted on the slaves her father owns. The story shows how a young girl in a slave-owning family can care more about loving her father's slaves than wielding power over them. And then the Civil War happens.

The novel has a wise Christian character, one of the slaves, who shares Biblical truths and helps to train Caroline for her life of service to God. I appreciated how that gave the novel greater depth.

This is the first time I've read or listened to a Lynn Austin novel and I will definitely be reading more. I've already purchased the second novel in this series.

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Deep thoughts about life and the choices we make

Revisado: 06-15-21

This is a story that's likely to stay with me for a long time to come. It makes me want to read more novels by Wallace Stegner!

Joe and Ruth are retired in the SF Bay Area but when a postcard arrives from their old friend, Astrid, in Europe, their thoughts go back twenty years to the time they met Astrid while visiting Denmark. The story is told from Joe's point of view. There's a dual timeline. First we hear his present day thoughts in 1974 while interacting with Ruth and musing about the past. Then he reads his journals from their visit to Denmark in 1954.

Kudos to the reader, Edward Herrmann! This is a masterful performance that makes Joe Allston much more than just a character in a novel. He brought Joe to life and made me feel like he was right here with me telling me his deepest thoughts.

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Diet inspiration

Revisado: 11-26-18

This is a brief introduction to Geneen's work helping people overcome emotional eating. It is easy listening and I liked her voice. You get to know about her life and her relationship with food. You might end up feeling like the lucky one. The 50 minute recording makes me want to listen to her other books so I can try to figure out what my own emotional eating stems from.

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Eye-opening

Revisado: 08-27-10

I appreciated the opportunity to see the world from the eyes and heart of a child raised in a severely confused and poverty stricken family. The author's mother was a dysfunctional artist who clung to her mate, a dreamer prone to alcoholism. Both parents had affection for their children without being capable of giving them the comfort of a stable lifestyle. The resilience of the children is heart warming.

I thank the author's mother for advising her daughter to tell the truth about her childhood. Thanks to the spirit of honesty, this autobiography stands as a monument to parenting in very difficult circumstances.

The author wrote her story in a very nonjudgmental way; I was sorry to hear judgment in the voice of the reader. Perhaps it was impossible not to let that slip in. This was easy to listen to - sweet and believable.

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I confess, I'm a little disappointed...

Revisado: 08-26-10

I thought I was buying an audio version of the book. Instead I discovered this is a series of lectures he gave after writing the book. I have no idea how much of the book is covered in his lectures, but I'm very disappointed that this wasn't explained on this page before I made the purchase. I much prefer listening to books being read to me. Every time he says "er" or "um" as he grapples with what to say next, it grates on my nerves.

I looked at the book on Amazon - even "looked inside" the print version to see what it was like. This audio version is not the same thing.

This is my first experience reading or listening to Dr. Dyer. I realize he's a very popular speaker and his stories really are great - very touching and meaningful - but now I feel like not only did I pay for this audio, if I ever really want to read the book I'll have to pay again.

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