Karla Huntsman

A memoir that is like a suspense novel

Revisado: 09-26-18

This is one of those incredible books that makes you wish your commute was longer so you can keep listening. Tara Westover's story is so incredible, it seems more improbable than fiction. Her story takes you with her on both the outer journey from working in her father's junkyard (rather than attending school) to Cambridge as well as an inner journey of self discovery.
Don't think that the summary and reviews give everything away. There are plot twists along the way that you would never be able to guess. Educated proves that real life is far stranger...and ultimately more satisfying...than fiction.

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A Top Model fan finds this better than expected

Revisado: 07-23-18

I was afraid this would be a book with a lot of cliche sayings and advice but not much substance. Fortunately, this was not the case. Tyra Banks and her mom give good advice woven into real, interesting stories from both of them. As a longtime Top Model fan, I had heard a little bit of Tyra's story, but hearing the account of her career in full was absolutely fascinating. I only have three minor complaints. First, Tyra's narrative style can be a bit hyper and over-the-top. Calm down, girl! Second, the story sometimes jumps around. Finally, I would have loved a lot more insight into the behind the scenes of Top Model. Other than that, I loved the book and absolutely adore Tyra's mama! Well worth a listen!

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Honest and balanced Diana account

Revisado: 06-09-18

Have you ever read a book that makes you want to just sit down with the author and really talk? This account makes me want to spend a long evening with Patrick Jephson and philosophize about what might have been, had his boss made different choices.

Do not expect a gushy recounting of the lurid details of Diana's private life. Rather, this is a firsthand look of what she was like as a working member of the royal family in the turbulent years surrounding her separation and divorce. As her equerry and later private secretary, Jephson gives a tantalizing look at what it is like to run the day to day details of the life of the most famous woman in the world.

His occasional tendency to wander into mind numbing detail and drawn out reflection is the book's only fault. However he receives all forgiveness in my eyes for his ability to be perfectly candid about the Princess. Here is complete honesty about her strengths and weaknesses in equal measure from first hand observation, not supposition or armchair psychology.

After listening, one feels like they understand Diana...and those close to her...in a new way. Jephson offers no excuse for her often bewildering behavior, but he also accurately portrays the unique and extreme challenges that she faced so that her actions are placed in context. This is probably the most balanced account out there of the complex Princess.

I enjoyed reading the book, and listening to it read by the author was even better. A new chapter at the end is a pleasant surprise and welcome addition as the original edition ended far too abruptly. If you want to draw your own conclusions about what the princess was really like, without having an author cast her in a premade role of angel or devil, this is the book for you!

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

not the best Diana book

Revisado: 04-29-18

This book is just okay, not great
Fans who have read a number of these Diana books won't find a new or interesting perspective here.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

One of my favorite Audible titles ever!

Revisado: 03-16-17

There was one problem listening to this book. Actually, two problems. First, I couldn't stop listening. I purposely took long, traffic congested routes home to have more time to listen. Second problem was that I kept laughing like a crazed hyena while listening and got some pretty weird looks. Her evisceration of Tom Cruise was particularly satisfying. I always thought he was a shallow jerk, and she confirms it.

The church of Scientology should have spent more time catering to Leah Remini and trying to make her happy. Instead, they drove away a loyal parishioner. Big mistake. Huge. Now she will expose them for the greedy idiots that they are. Bravo for a no-holds-barred book that is well written, well read, and gives the reader something to think anout, no matter what their faith.

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Great listen!

Revisado: 02-24-17

One of the most compelling stories to come from a former Scientologist. This story gives a unique perspective into the psyche of the leader of the church of Scientology. Well wrten with excellent narration.

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A bit over the top, but still enjoyable

Revisado: 01-11-17

Detailed, interesting, and in good historical context, this is not an unbiased biography. If it were a painting, the queen would wear white and have a giant halo. The author doesn't even try to demonstrate an impartial view of Elizabeth, Phillip, or Charles, glossing over controversies such as the royal (lack of) reaction to Diana's death and rocky times in the marriage of Phillip and Elizabeth. All that said, however, the story is still worth listening to and the narrator does a superb job. As long as you are a fan of the Windsor family, you should enjoy the listen!

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

A fun and informative listen

Revisado: 05-21-16

This is the kind of book you can listen to in short segments or all at once with equal enjoyment. The beginning was a bit slow but it gets very interesting fairly quickly. The author has a wry sense of humor that adds entertainment to a plethora of information, some of which is actually quite useful. A must for trivia fans as well as anyone who is fascinated by the world of commercial aviation.

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Better than I remembered

Revisado: 04-05-16

Listening to this book brought back so many memories. My momwasn't thrilled with my reading Jody Blume books, and now I do think some of the content about masturbation is somewhat unnecessary. However, Blume captures teen angst perfectly. Back then, reading Deenie brought on new meaning when a friend had to wear a brace for scoliosis. The experience made me realize that knowledge about a disease can help me be more compassionate to the afflicted...an understanding that has carried over into a nursing career.

Re-listening to Deenie now, I still found the book entertaining. The narrator does a superb job. There is a timeless quality to Blume's writing that keeps her books relevant even 40 years later. A relaxing listen for all ages.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Not the best or the worst of the Princess Di genre

Revisado: 02-02-15

There are interesting moments in this book, and the speculated comparison between two royal marriages keeps it interesting. The narrator gives some real life to the story with a rather good reading and accurate (though nasal) voice of Queen Elizabeth. Aficionados will appreciate the opportunity to compare the pro-Charles view against similar pro-Diana writings from other sources. Seward attempts to demonstrate a neutral attitude through occasional expressions of sympathy toward Diana, but ends up with the recognizably patronizing tone adapted by many of Prince Charles' biographical apologists. Her empathy for the Queen is more heartfelt and easier to understand, except for the tired assumptions about Prince Philip's supposed infidelities. She is far harder on the Duke of Edinburgh than on the Prince of Wales, offering justifications for confessed infidelity on the part of the Prince versus cold contempt for unproven behavior of the Duke. Still a pleasant listen, though if you indulge in only reading one book on the late Princess, this one is not sufficiently neutral to recommend.

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas