L. B.

A Huge Disappointment

Revisado: 08-02-19

If I had understood there was no music in this audible book, I would probably not have bought it. Far better, and one of my favorites from Audible is the Great Course, "Great American Music: Broadway Musicals." Ok, I liked the book, and I love Jon Meacham's Soul of America. If Tim McGraw had sung snippets of the early songs, and there could have been snippets of recordings of the later songs, I would have been much happier. Perhaps a Great Course built on the book is required. Jon Meacham is a Professor at Vanderbilt. If Tim McGraw now does an accompanying CD, i will buy it.

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Training a Goshawk, Death of a Father, E. B. White

Revisado: 03-29-16

Would you listen to H Is for Hawk again? Why?
I have listened to it several times, and I will again because I love beautiful writing and skilled storytelling. The author told her story with verve, as though we were two strangers that met on a bus, and I asked what she did and why she was going. As the bus rolled on through 11 hours of darkness she told me about her father, bird watching, fascination with hawks, a book she read as a child by E. B. White on training hawks, the death of her father, training a goshawk, the life of White, and what she learned in the last year. Then, as she got off the bus and we would never see each other again, I wished that I had asked her about losing her job, how she afforded living without her job, what she would do over the coming year.I watch birds a lot. but am not a Birdwatcher, know a lot about history, but little about Falcon training and only bought the book because it was in some kind of a sale. My daughters lost their father when young suddenly of a heart attack too, and probably suffered some of the author's loss, but never talked about it. I want to recommend the book to both, but one made it clear that she is not interested in a book about Hawks, and I don't know about the other one. I wonder.

Who was your favorite character and why?
The author of course.

What does Helen Macdonald bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Expression.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
She told a story about her father, a journalistic photographer at his funeral, and I could see that her father was a special--almost modern father, participating in the young life of his daughter.

Any additional comments?
Even if you wouldn't recognize a hawk from a chicken and care nothing about birds, read this book if you want to understand what it is to be human.

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Entertaining. A page turner, A mystery, Quirky.

Revisado: 02-05-15

What made the experience of listening to Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore the most enjoyable?
I liked his descriptions of people. He brought them to life. I liked the discussions of current technology. I'm an amateur tech person even though I'm nearer 80 than 70. Can Google really do all that stuff? AND driverless cars. It's a new world.

What did you like best about this story?
I was a journalism major a half century ago. I once worked in a newspaper with a flatbed press. I have hand set type. The author brings together the publishing world of the 16th century and the 21st century in a fun way,.

What about Ari Fliakos’s performance did you like?
There are different voices for different characters. Great fun.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There were lots of moments that I just had to hear the next chapter.

Any additional comments?
I rarely listen to fiction-except very old classics. I bumbled into this one--it was probably one of those two for one sales, And I loved it. I have recommended it to several people, I was so taken in that I Googled the name of a company that turned out to be part of the author's fantasy. Apparently a lot of the readers did just what I did. The author drew me into his created world and convinced me it was real.

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This book may be a fraud, I was looking for funny

Revisado: 03-07-13

If you could sum up Fraud in three words, what would they be?
Gay NYC Jewish Humor

What did you like best about this story?
I'm 75, female,straight, from a tiny. 2000 population, Southern town, The first adult book I ever read when in the third grade, (my poor little elementary school didn't have a library) was my mother's book club edition of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I learned that a book can carry you to another world, country, city--into another's mind. I loved it.

So here is a story by a Gay Jewish Man who hates dogs, knows nothing about the outdoors I have loved, doesn't enjoy Christmas or quaint B&Bs in New England, yet, the third time I heard it, we connected. I grew to like the book and him, although I'm sure that had we met in an elevator last December in Rockefeller Center, he would have ignored me as I managed a sideways peek at him. It would have been a longer peek had I known he was an author--but then this book--while a BOOK is still sort of a fraud, as he well knows.

Still he chose to climb a mountain in December for a magazine article. Was horribly out of comfort and place, But he did it, and shared the experience.


What does David Rakoff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Immediacy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No

Any additional comments?
This book was out of my comfort zone. I began feeling sorry for this sad man, and ended understanding that people are different, They have different life experiences. Different approaches to life. I found that he and I share many values, dreams, and goals. Hear the book.

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Outstsnding author reveals human Mind

Revisado: 02-19-13

What did you love best about How the Mind Works?

The author explors the subject in many unique ways. He opens the reader's mind to show how it works.

What did you like best about this story?

His quirkey humor

Which character – as performed by Mel Foster – was your favorite?

The reader is excellent. Every word is clear.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A ride through the brain to explore the mind.

Any additional comments?

This is our second Pinker book. A gifted researcher, a brilliant mind, and an interesting writer.

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Sorry Dave. You have overdone boogers.

Revisado: 08-25-12

Would you try another book from the authors and/or the narrators?

Maybe. I'm looking for funny and laughter. Can't find much to laugh about doing cancer.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Am still looking.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

No real problem with narrator. Material just not that funny.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment.

Any additional comments?

Actually, I liked "1000 Years of Laughter" better, and it started with monk's riddles.

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Great book for an election year

Revisado: 08-15-12

Would you listen to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House again? Why?
I have already listened to it several times, and will listen several more times. I use these book to give my brain something happy or funny to think about as I go to sleep. I use soft earphones, and it doesn't disturb husband. This one works fine.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House?
Who ever thought Gerald Ford could be so funny?

Which scene was your favorite?
Ronald Reagan's quick retorts. I didn't vote for him, and didn't like a lot of his policies, but he was quick to polk fun at an opponent--or himself: not in the angry hateful way of too many current politicians.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I play all the books from Audible all night long. Eventually, I manage to hear them all awake.

Any additional comments?
I'm looking for happy, funny books. This is certainly one.

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Entertaining, Educational, Enjoyable

Revisado: 07-30-12

Where does 1,000 Years of Laughter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by far Number 1. A delightful experience for those with quirky tastes.

OK, it's my first, but i am hungry for more.

What other book might you compare 1,000 Years of Laughter to and why?

It is one of a kind.

Which scene was your favorite?

Am torn between Dickens and P. G. Wodehouse.

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

Well actiually, I bought it to keep my brain from worrying about my very recent cancer diagnosis. I need something to occupy my brain when going to sleep and yet not keep my husband awake, so I put on earphones and turn on my iphone and try to occupy my brain with something happy until I doze off. This book worked wonders. I figure I heard all of it the whole way through four times before I was awake more than the dark ages.

Then, yesterday, I had a 430 mile solitary drive in the car and had to stay awake through the whole time and heard the whole book. Thoroughly delightful. Just what the doctor ordered.
The short musical interludes are great, the selections entertaining. I loved the readers with their mild British Accents and dramatic flair. Dickens, Hardy, P. G. Wodehouse, Dorothy Parker. Not gut wrenching laughter like Jeanne Robertson, or the best of Garrison Keillor, but mild, lip lifting smiles--and restful, no nightmares, sleep.

Now I have to find another

Any additional comments?

Wish I hadn't already read Shoot Low Boys, They're Riding Shetland Ponies. It would be great on Audible

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