Starfish

Interesting Behind-The-Scenes

Revisado: 11-02-23 El oyente recibió este título gratis

In his second book of the series, Mr. Azzole gives us a look at the behind-the-scenes intelligence playing out during WWII. Capt. Romella skillfully navigates the world of spy vs spy, with a bit of romance thrown in. Mr. Azzole’s obvious deep research into the events occurring during this time help us to see what didn’t make it into the history books, but was instrumental in the Allied victory.

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Inspiring story, but…

Revisado: 06-01-22

Between the technical specs and the narrator’s voice, especially during the use of what was most likely the many, many quotations in the earlier chapters, I found it quite difficult to get through the first two-thirds of this book. LTJG Dengler was most certainly a brave and determined man; traits which must have been necessary during his captivity and escape. The description of horrible conditions in the POW camp and treatment by his captors makes his escape snd survival even more amazing. I can’t imagine surviving such an experience and then being deposited back into the “real world” could be anything but traumatic, yet those psychological issues seem to have not been addressed.

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A look into the meaning of White Privilege

Revisado: 06-12-21

Anyone looking to understand the meaning of White Privilege needs to read this book objectively. I grew up in the 60's and 70's when the n-word was still a fairly common descriptor of African Americans. As a child, I can remember the "colored maid" that my neighbor had briefly while recuperating from illness. I'm sure she rode the transit bus in her nicely starched uniform to our neighborhood of very middle class people. And I remember the "nice colored boy" that my father hired to help him on his delivery route, and how good my father felt about bringing him home for lunch, although my mother would only serve him on paper plates with paper cups.

Fast forward to present day, and here am I, the mother-in-law of an African American man and the proud grandmother of biracial boys. This has changed my perspective. A lot. Some of my Caucasian friends complain about the BLM movement, and shout the rallying cry: "All Lives Matter!!" Umm, well yes they do. And they mattered back when the KKK were burning crosses and lynching young black men for daring to stand up to white folk. In a conversation with a peer in recent months, I was challenged on using the term White Privilege. "Well, I don't know what you're talking about. I grew up poor. I didn't have privilege." To which I responded, "Your skin color was your privilege. You weren't turned away from jobs, or renting a home, or shopping at a store BECAUSE you are white." He just didn't get it, and many don't. I don't completely understand because I didn't live that experience. But one thing I know is that I want better for my beautiful grandchildren. The world will not see them as biracial; they will see them as black. So fighting for what is right for my fellow human beings whose skin color is different, is actually fighting for what I want the world to be for my grandsons.

While at times this book was a little tedious, due to discussion of background characters and timelines (and admittedly, I like a "page-turner"), it was eye-opening in regard to the racial justice system in North Carolina in the 1970's! Not the 1870's, or 1940's, but just less than 50 years ago. What happened to Henry Marrow and the subsequent lack of justice handed out to his killers, made me cry, made me so angry, and made me question why there can't be exclusions to double-jeopardy. This is when one has to rely on Mr. Teal and his family having to answer to their Maker.

Lastly, I think the world needs more people like Rev. Tyson and Timothy Tyson. People who are willing to withstand the backlash because they know that they have to follow their conscience. That's the kind of person I hope to be.

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A definite must for your library!

Revisado: 03-31-21

I am a huge fan of both Kristin Hannah and Julia Whelan, so as soon as this book became available on Audible, it went to the top of my listening list.

I loved the relationship that grew between Rose and Elsa. The relationships between mothers and daughters is complex, but beautiful; a woman can blossom or wither because of what is reflected back to her by a mother. If not for Rose and Tony’s love, I wonder what women Elsa and Loreda would have become.

I found myself, as I’m sure other readers or listeners did, thinking deeply about how people are treated when they’re different or poor. It was sickening to think that people could stand by and watch children die of sickness or starvation because of those differences.

On a personal note, I am a child of parents who lived through the depression. Although they weren't as devastated as the characters in this book, I have heard many stories about "learning to make-do" and sharing what you could when you could. Both of my mother's parents died before they reached 40, leaving her an orphan at the age of 11. They died because of poor conditions, lack of access to medical care, and lack of money. My mom, who is almost 94, has an indomitable spirit and I'm sure it is due to witnessing as a child, the survival of the fittest.

Lastly, have tissues available as you listen. You’ll probably find yourself needing them.

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Enjoyable, but...

Revisado: 12-18-19

Easy, enjoyable, feel-good story for listening during the Christmas season. I didn’t care for the narration, however. While narrating for the female main character, I found the narrator’s style to be somewhat whiny. A small distraction, I suppose, in the overall scheme.

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Captures the Heart

Revisado: 05-01-18

Ernt and Cora have a love that is deeply and dangerously passionate. His experiences as a Vietnam POW has left him more broken inside than perhaps he started out to be. But Cora stands by her man, and so she packs up daughter Leni and travels off to a remote part of Alaska to homestead a parcel of land given to Ernt by a war buddy. This is how the story begins, and one can't help but to get pulled in to the adventures of the Allbright family, in an unforgiving wilderness. Leni learns much about love, life, and survival in this "can't stop listening" audiobook. Characters like Large Marge provide a safe landing for Cora and Leni, as they learn what it means to be Alaskan and how to survive the dangers the wilderness offers, and the dangers that come from loving someone too much.

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Meh...

Revisado: 02-02-16

I wasn't overly impressed by this book. I like Tina Fey, and have enjoyed her work, but I didn't find this book to be all that funny. Some parts of it were very good, others not so much. Since it has received great reviews, I can only assume that I'm just not cool enough to "get it."

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Glad I chose this one!

Revisado: 10-13-15

This has probably been the best book (of many) that I've listened to since subscribing to Audible, which is why I'm writing this review. Based in a time when being Jewish was worse than any other crime one could have committed, young Jacob's future has been determined by a series of events, rather than a conscious choice. The narrator of this book has an amazing ability to switch between various accents, giving depth to each character. This was a terrifying time in history, and even though this book illustrates the intensity of the dehumanization of the Jews and political prisoners, it also portrays the importance of hope and compassion.

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Kept me guessing...

Revisado: 06-22-15

This book kept me interested from beginning to end. I loved the characters of Alex and Mallory! I like to guess the "whodunnit" part, but this one took a twist that I didn't see coming. A word of caution, however - this book contains adult situations and language.

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