Sarah

A Lyrical and Thought Provoking Classic

Revisado: 03-26-24

This is a classic story that I missed reading in school: I thought I’d give it a try and I’m so glad I did. The story moves along and has a great sense of the life and death stakes. Great performance by Capaldi, too. He gives each character depth and distinctive voices. Highly recommend!

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A Great Conclusion

Revisado: 10-23-23

My daughter and I have listened to all the Vanderbeeker books and enjoyed each one. This last installment has everything that makes the series great: a great performance from the narrator, excellent storytelling that engages listeners and prompts conversation and connections. Highly recommend!

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Best to Let the Stories Wash Over You

Revisado: 10-22-23

I have mostly enjoyed the experience of listening to this book. It’s the first time I’ve listened to this kind of book: 62 hours of nonfiction encompassing so much time and so many people and places. As such, I can’t really judge it as history or even really understand how the approach of through the lens of the family would apply compared to another history of similar scope. At any rate I did enjoy letting thestories wash over me and I do feel more well-rounded in my general understanding of world history and some important interconnections. I liked the cast of various readers, though there was one whose cadence and rhythm was distractingly bad. Multiple times in any of their sections it seems as though a sentence is over only to be a poorly timed pause. Another narrator did well except for attempts at characterization of others which came off silly at times.

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Fun for readers of all ages

Revisado: 02-21-23

This is a fun story, picking up from the end of the last book. It’s got enough depth and unexpected moments depicted warmly and with humor to engage older listeners and is humorous and relatable for younger audiences too. My 7 yr old and I have really enjoyed it.

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An Intense Concise

Revisado: 12-21-22

Jennette tells her story with clear, direct language, and no small amount of wry, rueful humor. I found the way she talked about her childhood especially intense as she relates her experiences in an approachable way. There’s reflection and change later on but at the start readers get the sense of how totally vulnerable she was as a child in a way that most people would have trouble showing so simply.

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Powerful Storytelling and Intriguing Characters

Revisado: 09-18-22

What an amazing read! I haven’t felt so connected to characters like this in a long time. Though they are living in different place and time, their internal struggles and doubts suffuse the story with immediacy. I also became more interested in the specifics of 1300’s China from a historical perspective. I’m definitely excited for the sequel whenever it comes!

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Thought Provoking and Lyrical

Revisado: 07-12-21

This is one of my favorite books, in particular this format as it is read by Doctorow. The mix of fictional and historical characters is intriguing. It is both a story and a bit of a fable of the USA around the turn of the 20th century. There are themes which present themselves which are still relevant today & the language is beautiful as well. Highly recommend!

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Fascinating Book!

Revisado: 06-14-21

I loved this book, from the topic to the performance, and the way its written. Cassidy does a great job of communicating complex ideas in science about human development and making connections to the modern day. This is an approachable read with humor and a wealth of fascinating information. It's a great way to further understand all the ways that we've benefited from the contributions of generations before us.

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Nicholas Benedict's Great Lessons

Revisado: 06-14-21

I cannot say enough good things about this book. If you are a fan of Stewart's other books about the Mysterious Benedict Society, you will certainly like this one as well. The story is a change from the other MBS books as the stakes are different; more personal and less about a group's dynamic. It's a satisfying read where the characters go through meaningful changes while on their journeys. There are still Stewart's signature clever connections and close calls, too. Del Roy's performance is thoughtful and nuanced as well. Highly recommend!

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Excellent Dino Info

Revisado: 06-14-21

I really enjoyed this title overall because I'm interested in the topic. The life and times of the dinosaurs through the Mesozoic was well presented with lots of modern day connections and interesting facts without being overly technical. It was approachable for the layperson. Where the book becomes grating at times is Brusatte's efforts at describing other paleontologists and the way he talks about his own work and professional connections. The descriptions fall flat and the more personal commentary comes off as pretentious or just awkward. I respect the work and the book but I think Brusatte could have benefited from an editor around the non-scientific elements.

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