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A wonderful memoir, beautifully done!

Revisado: 12-04-15

Maternal Threads is a memoir, a personal reminiscence of the author's life from her childhood to the present day, and as such it could easily have become tedious and the opposite of a "page turner." But it's neither. Frances Susanne Brown is a gifted writer who vividly describes the key moments of her formative years so skillfully that I not only felt I was there on the scene witnessing it all firsthand, I was completely caught up in the story she is telling. The people in her life, especially her mother and her aunt, both so different in their own ways and in the impact they had on her, are fully realized and I felt if I knew them. The experiences, from such simple things as school attire, to a job at the mall, to a strange and bad date that could have ended horribly wrong, to her adventures as a fashion designer and the ongoing search to solve a family mystery, are totally engaging and delightfully told. There are moments that are touching, even heart-wrenching, as well as those that made me laugh.

The narrator, Jane Oppenheimer, is a perfect match for this writer and this book. Far from being just a flat reading of the material, Oppenheimer truly becomes the voice of the author, totally real and convincing, a wonderful "story teller" with just the right touch and the right balance of drama and humor, always compelling and never out of character or over the top. I doubt anyone else would be better suited to narrating this book or could even have done it as well. She is a pleasure to listen to.

This is an audio book that I will want to listen to again, and that I do not hesitate to recommend. I think it's excellent.

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An utterly delightful paranormal romance!

Revisado: 06-23-15

I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but I have only high praise for this wonderful novel about a young woman who takes a job in a small town running a library that is caught up in a battle for its own continued existence. A library with history, and a ghost! Abigail Stryker has her work cut out for her, dealing with those who seem determined to destroy the library…and her…and coping with the attention of an ally, Prof. Jack Wood, who awakens emotions in her that are both exciting and frightening. Abby has a ghost of a different sort from her own past to deal with. So does Jack. The writing throughout is extraordinarily good, evocatively creating the settings and characters in a way that makes them totally real and believable. Abby and Jack will tug at your heart and get under your skin. There are layers of mystery about everything in this story, revealed one by one, that surprise and delight and make complete sense. Lovers of romance, whether human or ghostly, will not be disappointed. I highly recommend this book.

The narrator is the perfect choice for this book, moving the story forward in a solid and compelling manner, voicing the different characters each in their own distinctive way, clearly in touch with the author’s words and intent, and so skillfully that I forgot I was listening to someone “reading” the book and was completely caught up in the story.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review, but I now consider myself a serious fan of both the author and narrator.

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This is an excellent way to learn about meditation

Revisado: 06-15-15

If you could sum up A Beginner's Guide to Meditation in three words, what would they be?

Effective, smart and compelling.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Since this is a non-fiction audio book there are no "characters", but of the three types of meditation described, martial arts, mantra and visualization, the visualization is my favorite because it is so goal oriented and seems so perfect for my needs.

What about Karen-Eileen Gordon’s performance did you like?

The narrator's performance is a perfect match for the content, the message, of this audio book in that it literally helps set the stage for meditation. Her voice and delivery is calm, steady and reassuring, making the straightforward lessons in the book accessible and compelling.

What did you learn from A Beginner's Guide to Meditation that you would use in your daily life?

I have been thinking about meditation, but not yet gotten around to trying it. This audio book has convinced me of the importance of meditation as a part of my life and that it is something I can achieve. In today's high-stress world, with so many pressures pulling at me and perhaps preventing me from being my best, meditation offers a way to be more centered and relaxed.

Any additional comments?

Anyone, like me, who knows little about meditation and wants to learn more should find A Beginner's Guide to Meditation very helpful.

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