andrew

I thought I knew history but not this well

Revisado: 03-11-13

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

As a conservative who dislikes most of what FDR did, I doubted I would appreciate Truman as much as I did. He was a man who worked hard stuck to his beliefs and understood the obligations his political associations meant.

Though he was a party man, as he got to the role he is most famous for he had learned how to stick to his stand and do it with a wonderful sense of his place in history.

No matter what level of public service Truman never took privileges he could have easily claimed. He showed a work ethic that forced him to be well informed before committing to a legislation effecting the country. So he traveled the width and breath of the nation to learn of the impact before deciding.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Truman himself

What about Nelson Runger’s performance did you like?

The narrator was able to switch voices well so you could picture the different characters and how they must have seemed to Truman at the time.

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

Yes and nearly did!

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Very detailed yet not boring in the least

Revisado: 01-24-13

Where does The Great Influenza rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among my top ten books out of hundreds.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the author shared the shear horror of the speed and deadliness of this disease. Also I was thrilled by the courage of the health workers specifically those from the newly formed Johns Hopkins Medical School.

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

He is a great narrator, he has the ability to read a non fiction book and add drama and tension where others would probably miss the opportunity. This ability makes the books he reads so much more engaging.

Any additional comments?

If you have any doubts about this book but enjoy history I encourage you to listen to this one.

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More please, Allan Eckert is a treasure

Revisado: 09-10-12

If you could sum up The Frontiersmen in three words, what would they be?

In three words! Seriously! Simon Kenton Astounding! I thought I knew most American history and the characters who made it. How could it be that I never even heard of Simon Kenton? He was a man who was braver, more honorable, compassionate, less greedy and bolder, in fact adjectives fail me in describing the amazing man who I never heard of before this book.

Allan Eckert clearly researched and knew his subject well before writing about it. This true story is riveting and exciting. It reads like a novel but has the truth as it's author. I listened twice and will likely listen many more times. It is so awe inspiring. I wish we could have more of Mr. Eckert's work on audio.

What did you like best about this story?

The way a man could be both heroic to the degree that he becomes legendary and at the same time be very real. Simon Kenton could have easily been a man who would take advantage of his skill and knowledge in a time and place where both were needed. He stayed the same humble and helpful man throughout his life.

Which character – as performed by Kevin Foley – was your favorite?

Simon Kenton is the obvious choice, but there were many others along the way who were impressive as well.

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

The point where Simon met with the preacher and realize he could still be accepted by the Lord. I love the fact that the author didn't let that essential part of his story slip away. It is part of why he is so believable.

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Stunningly dramatic portrait of American history

Revisado: 09-10-12

Would you listen to The Warmth of Other Suns again? Why?

I would and will listen again because the first three times I listened I realized how much I missed the time before. I am a student of history and love it when an author can tell a story that sounds like fiction but is in reality the truth. In "Warmth of Other Suns" I found myself repeatedly asking myself why don't I know about this? I've spent nearly 40 years studying history as an avocation. Over those years I've read numerous authors of both hard core history and fictionalized history. In all of that, I have not read anything so compelling as this book. What is so amazing is the way Ms. Wilkerson managed to draw me into a history of her ancestors when my family history is so different.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Warmth of Other Suns?

It is hard to pick just one, there were so many. Between the drive through the western states with nowhere to sleep or the being shipped up north in a box either during slavery or in the modern times when a man was supposed to be free. Or the courage of a woman facing the fear of leaving her family to go to a world she has no idea about. If I have to pick one it would be when George was forced to flee central Florida. I have hunted throughout that area of the state and I can picture the way it looked back then. I can also am familiar with the distances he had to travel so I can imagine how scary it must have been to do it at a time when your life could end horribly just for being caught traveling. Any white man would never think twice about traveling safely just because of his skin color.

Which character – as performed by Robin Miles – was your favorite?

Robert carried a chip on his shoulder his whole life and tried to prove his worth rather than accept it as valuable as it was. George seemed to struggle sharing the love and care in his heart with the people closest to him. Like Robert he was blessed with an advanced education but always seemed to need more from the world either because of it or because it wasn't enough. Yet Ida Mae who had the least seemed to define herself as having value beyond what others would see and recognize. She saw her value as being inside her. That is why she has to be my favorite. Though she had been given very little she refused to let it harm her spirit and love for her neighbor.

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

Several times I wept. I was struck by both the courage and by the bitter shameful behavior of people. I am glad that my people were dirt poor immigrants during the period this book covers. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to bear the burden of knowing your ancestors willingly treated other people so horribly. My ancestors and my wife's have a history of being persecuted so I am familiar with the sadness of the history. I am Irish and Greek. My grandmother was so poor she had to get to Canada as a domestic servant and work her way to New York and freedom at the age of 14! On the Greek side my grandmother was an actual slave. Her village was near the border of Turkey, when she was a little girl her family was killed in a dispute and she was taken into slavery. My grandfather paid for her and had her shipped to America where he had gone to make his fortune. My wife's family escaped Europe before the horrors of the holocaust but she still has family that didn't make it out before Hitler did his worst.

The thing is all those tragedies took place in lands people fled to come here and live free from such horrors. Now I read how people who were born here were forced to flee in fear for their lives. Worse how horrors that were only supposed to occur in foreign lands were going on right here. What shame!

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Fun, different but recognizable Connelly story

Revisado: 09-10-12

Would you consider the audio edition of The Poet to be better than the print version?

I love Michael Connelly's writing. I particularly liked this book because it is different from the Harry Bosch books in that it has a different set of characters. We do bump into some of some characters he has introduced in other books but the perspective is new. In addition since the angle is from that of a journalist instead of a cop or a lawyer, you can tell it is familiar ground. Connelly was a journalist prior to becoming a famous author. In fact my son who is studying journalism at the University of Florida is quick to point out that Connelly is a graduate of the same J school. In this book it shows. His main character is a writer for the Rocky Mountain News. He chases down his brother's killer and uncovers a serial killer.

What about Buck Schirner’s performance did you like?

The way he can change his voice to play so many different roles.

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

No, I like to stretch out the fun.

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Entertaining and informative

Revisado: 03-10-11

Kurt really hit the nail on the head with this story that routes you through the mid 1800s from Europe to New York through the Midwest on to Gold Rush California. In many scenes readers meet real people like Darwin and Walt Whitman. The story uses characters you will be able to recognize and who do amazing and ordinary things. I wish it wasn't over.

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Worst book I have listened to in years

Revisado: 06-09-10

I am a huge fan of this era and I know a lot about the characters. If I hadn't, I would have been completely lost. The author and narrator combine to deliver a complete disaster. Unlike Edward Rutherfurd or Ildefonso Falcones this author was unable to pull off the necessary threading that ties together a story like this.

Don't bother.

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Great story telling and awesome mix of voices

Revisado: 08-25-09

I loved the way the author spun this tale of rural Southern America as told from the perspective both men and women, white and black in a post World War II Mississippi delta farm area. I loved it more than John Grisham's "A Painted House" and that is high praise.

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Vulgarity is a sure sign of a dim imagination

Revisado: 11-04-08

Mr Kellerman proves the point very well that "People with a limited imagination often find themselves resorting to vulgarity". I can't tell you whether the plot ever got anywhere because the first 20 minutes was a combination of confused plot jumps and language that would make a sailor blush. Having grown up in New York and spending three years in the Army, I am no prude. I have heard and used my fair share of salty language. But the way the author used it in this book only served to ruin the content. It was so bad I simply quit listening altogether. Too bad because I have heard he does decent stuff but I won't waste my time on him again.

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