Michael Murdock

This Thing of... His???

Revisado: 02-26-25

I usually root for the bad guy, I do (it's entertaining), but even knowing everything that was going to happen, I still found myself exited for Galante to be hit and grew anxious as I waited for it to happen. What does this have to do with anything? Well, the story was great enough to pull me all the way in to the point where I was actively looking forward to its subject matter to be murdered. But, there are some pretty interesting tidbits you may have not heard about yet, and some of the more popular Galante stories you have heard contain new or unheard information by a guy who lived in Brooklyn, and actually met and had coffee with Carmine Galante. Along the way I felt as if I were there in the car as Galante was arrested for speeding. I was hiding with him at the Apalachin Summit. Playing handball in prison in upstate Connecticut.

The author isn't your run of the mill gangster turned author and mob historian. Frank DiMatteo is no rat. He has never cooperated with the law and cares about the people he writes about, and it comes through on the page. He has a real gift for story telling. It flows from his keyboard with ease, and there's no exaggeration or revisionist history to make himself or thise around him look better. He tells it as-is, and allows you (the reader) to make the call on feelings towards the characters. I almost skipped this book after reading some of the reviews, but I've read some of his other work, and based on my experience reading Frank's stories, I purchased this title. I'm glad I did, and you will be too.

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Overall, kinda what ib expected it to be

Revisado: 05-16-22

Miki was an enigmatic guy. He just wanted to surf, and from all I've read this hits the truth the hardest. The man just wanted to surf and not work. I've no qualms over the material. I actually came to appreciate and like the man as he realized he had apologies to make toward the end.

All in all, I'd give it a go. It's a great peek into surfing at its infancy, and I was blown away by his many connections. After all he did he was still deeply respected and loved and if that doesn't tell you something then I'm not sure what can. He was a flawed. affable, and charming man whose zest for the ocean is inspiring.

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Excellent Story, Tolerable Narration

Revisado: 09-07-21

I started this book many times. Ultimately, I loved the story and tolerated the narration. The way the author speaks at first grinded on me, but I ultimately grew to accept the style and even appreciate him by the end. This is his story, his life on waves, and I appreciated every description and found myself a little saddened when it ended.

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Ana eye rolling cliché Christmas

Revisado: 12-12-20

It was a free selection and I'd been wanting a nice Christmas listen. I can do cheesy and I can do romantic. I can even handle poor narration. This was none of those aside from heavy fake accents and a mother and child having the same choice albeit a slightly different pitch. No, this was.... I don't know. I'm still shaking my head. here are my major complaints that killed it for me an ultimately caused me to kill the listening party:

- The voices and acting were..... eh, I've had better but I've also had worse.
- The story *shrug* the story is what would happen if Bueller's Day Off & Trains, Planes, & Automobiles had a tryst with a Hallmark Christmas movie.
- The story is forced and rushed
- As I mentioned before, this was a free selection and only an hour long. I returned the book after 20 minutes in. I didn't even care to know what happened to the characters. I only know that what happened in my mind is better, and I'm half to report that John McClane saves Christmas again.

Don't get me wrong. My wife would probably enjoy the story. It just ain't for me, babe. I'm not he one.It ain't me.

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From a Push Start to 6th Gear

Revisado: 05-03-20

I'll start by saying I enjoyed this book, especially Ray Porter's performance (yet again). I had times during the book where some of the technical jargon caused my mind to drift from the story, but overall it's definitely a keeper and as the story grows I came to appreciate the jargon more than I'd imagined.

One piece I rather enjoyed was the protagonist's development throughout the story - I found myself silently rooting for the completion of his mission despite any laws or ethics tied to its origin. Through the darkness that is James Reece's post combat existence I was able to notice the gray that exists between the black and white, and ended up with a little more understanding and empathy for the path he's chosen to see to the end, his end.

A personal insight I didn't know I needed: I've gained a greater appreciation for the heroes who selflessly serve in the armed forces, and also for the writer's almost reverential treatment of that service and the bond that is forged in combat and all who have seen it. In the beginning I found it a bit overkill, but as the story progressed it was simple to see that they're not just empty words on a page because it sounds neat or patriotic. Jack Carr truly feels that way and it bleeds through on each page. This respect inevitably transfers to the reader/listener as well.

My final thought on the story is that James Reece is just a solid, good man, and I wish there were more like him in life and literature. I mentioned the gray between the black and white earlier, yet by the end I realized he doesn't see it that way at all. Reece sees black and white and did what was required of him to do right by God, family, and country.

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Where's Mitch

Revisado: 10-24-19

I have no issues with Scott Brick, but his voice in no way matches the character of Mitch Rapp. Where Mitch is aggressive and like a bull in a China shop, Scott Brick almost makes him sound more like a pouty teenager about to slam his door and blare some Bon Jovi because he's grounded.

I'd love to have this redone by George Guidall so I can repurchase and give it another go. Do yourself a favor and buy the actual book so you can hear Mitch's voice in your head while you read.

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The Golden Days Were Never Golden

Revisado: 10-24-19

The story and material in this memoir are amazing - almost too much to be real at times - but it mostly rings too plausible to not be when taking all things into consideration.

I'll echo the thoughts of another reviewer and say it didn't sound like there is much regret from the author, other than the way a few situations turned out. It has more of a "remember when?!" pleasurable feel too it as the author regales in tales of yesteryear. That, however, is one of the things I thoroughly enjoyed as I devoured the book. Sal isn't looking for redemption in the telling of his dark past. He's simply sharing his life with the listener and how he came to slowly realize it he no longer wanted what he'd at one time idolized.

The stories you experience are rich with details and names, and you feel at times as though you're sitting across from him in his livingroom while he talks. I think a large part of this is tied into the vocal talents of the narrator. He doesn't have range, but having never heard Sal Polisi speak in my life, I couldn't have pegged a better voice to share his stories and life than that of the narrator. If I ever happen to meet Sal Polisi I'll probably end up being disappointed that he doesn't sound like Pete Simonelli, and ask him to shut up before he can ruin the magic the narrator gave to this performance.

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Hit the ball where it wants to go...

Revisado: 08-09-19

This was an excellent short story and I found myself wanting it to continue after it ended. It's the perfect combination of writing, imagination, and acting, and I wondered more than once why we don't have more stories like this about baseball legends, and laughed out loud multiple times. Fiction or not it sure was entertaining!

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Needs a Narration Overhaul

Revisado: 07-08-19

The plot is great, the story and characters are amazing, but the narrator seems as though he's reading the classified ads outloud to himself while eating a breakfast of egg whites with dry toast and drinking stale coffee.

His pronunciation of every. single. word. is fantastically clear, but I don't buy an audiobook so I can hear text-to-speech. I buy an audiobook to hear a story and have the scene play out in my mind. This isn't that by a longshot, but the story and characters are strong enough to carry the dry toast and keep me unexpectedly engaged despite the shortcomings. The writing is THAT good.

If you're like me and find yourself annoyed that Mitch Rapp is being read by some guy rather than being preformed by George Guidall, you need to either a) buy the actual book and experience the book with his voice in your mind, or b) listen to a minimum of two books unrelated to the Rapp series before trying this one. Option B is how I gutted it out past the first chapter before the story grabbed my complete attention and muted the white noise.

Either way you should experience this story if your a fan of the series. I'm glad I did.

Story gets 5 stars. Narration gets 2. Overall I'd rate it a 4 and worth your credit.

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It's THAT Good

Revisado: 05-01-19

I seldom write reviews for books because I'm lazy - plain and simple. Out of the hundreds in my library, however, this is the first to make my manly eyes wet with tears, and I'm compelled to say buy it now. Listen to it tonight. Mark my words, you'll be glad you did. The story & narration are both superb. But it's the story that will stick with me for awhile. It's truly THAT good.

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