OYENTE

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Nicely woven storyline, interesting characters, unique story

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-29-24

This is an engaging and interesting story, not another formulaic read. It’s the first fiction in a long time that has held my interest.

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Charming unaffected memoir of a Jewish family in early 20th century southern US

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 12-22-23

I’m somewhat tired of memoirs as a genre, but I found this one different and very interesting. It’s an engaging story of a remarkable man — the author’s father, Aaron Bronson — and how he seized opportunity and used his powers of charm and enterprise to start a business and make a life for his family in a rural Tennessee town.

I came away from the book admiring Aaron Bronson and *loving* Miss Brookie — perhaps the greatest hero of the story — but not so fond of Reba Bronson (the author’s mother) and particularly her her sister Sophie. Mom sounds like a drag and her clinging to religious insularity would be prejudice in a mainstream character.

I appreciate the way Stella Ruth (the author) depicts the small town’s prejudices but also its warmth and generosity, which in the end defined her family’s experience far more than did the negatives. Despite standing out as the only Jewish family in town, the Bronsons quickly became a part of town business and social life. One particularly horrible and unredeemed person, and even the lurking presence and influence of the Ku Klux Klan, are felt, but are not the focus of the family’s experiences, giving a much more nuanced picture of life in the south in that era for Jews than we might expect. (The depiction of life for the black residents seems much more bleak.)

All in all, for a look at both an interesting family and life in an unusual situation and distant time, I highly recommend “The Jew Store.”

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An antidote to Hollywood horror stories

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 06-08-23

I was disappointed when I heard the word “Epilogue,” because I wanted to hear more of Ron’s and Clint’s stories. What a wonderful, uplifting (and rare) tale of growing up as child performers with responsible and supportive parents in a loving and secure family atmosphere.

Kudos not only to “the boys,” but also to the creative team they mention at their publisher. I rarely come across a personal memoir that couldn’t use some pruning and shaping. This was the rare exception. A great story well told.

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Very enjoyable “read”

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-03-23

Possible minor spoilers, though they are not specific to the story details.





This is actually my favorite kind of book for casual reading. It has a fun and engaging story, is complex enough to be interesting, has pretty good characters who remain consistent, doesn’t contain anything graphic, doesn’t preach, and has a happy ending (that’s the level of spoilers you will find in my review).

Like most reviewers, I loved the reader who voiced Marcellus, the octopus. I thought the second reader was very good, too. Unlike the male reader, she had to do a variety of voices and did a fine job with most of them.

One thing that detracted slightly from my enjoyment was that there was an important character I did not warm up to; I can’t say too much more without venturing into spoilers. Let’s say this person threw away *way* too many favors and second chances for me to feel as I was intended to feel about the eventual outcome.

Similarly, although the story was very cleverly woven and I stayed interested, there were too many coincidences (one unresolved event has me thinking the author has left space for a sequel), and too many spots in the story where I said, “Why isn’t he/she/they thinking of or doing this very obvious thing?” For a small town where everyone is on everyone’s business, people were sure conveniently obtuse sometimes.

Despite those quibbles, it all adds up to an enjoyable and undemanding “read,” the kind that hits me where I like. Some may say the worldly octopus is too silly a premise, but I’m happy to accept an author’s world as long as the characters and their behavior are consistent within it. So if you are looking for a fun and non-demanding story, I highly recommend this book.

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Just gentle water sounds Just gentle water sounds

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 11-01-22

This is simply gentle flowing water sounds, no voice, no music. Regular with minor variations but not white noise. Just what I want.

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Fun story from an amazingly bygone era

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-08-22

First of all, I chose to listen to the reading by Hugh Bonneville, of Downton Abbey fame, rather than the other reading that had far more listeners. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Bonneville’s performance and can’t really imagine liking another better.

As I listened to this story of an apparently upper class British widow who moved with her four children to the Greek isle of Corfu in the late 1930s, what struck me again and again was how thoroughly just about everything on this family’s way of life has disappeared. The relationship of the family to the people of the island, the freedom of the mother to control how her child is educated, the carrying of random animals across national borders, the attitude towards guns, and most of all, the complete license of the young Gerri, the narrator (about 11 when they move, if I recall correctly) to wander around unsupervised, interact with adults, have a say in family matters, take himself alone by boat (handmade by his inexpert brother) to wherever he wanted, bring animal specimens both dead and living to incorporate into the household … it’s a way of life that was so recent yet is inconceivable to most western minds.

This was my biggest takeaway from the book. The story is light listening of a sort that one can tire of — the quirky family memoir. But it’s a good example of the type and quite entertaining.

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Good and then improves with re-reading

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 07-04-21

If you haven’t first read “Master and Commander,” the first book in this 20 (!) volume series, I highly recommend you read or listen to that first, as it will familiarize you with the characters and setting.

This second volume may be the most important one in terms of understanding the w tire rest of the series. Characters and storylines introduced here are returned to again and again.

Finally, in my opinion Patrick Tull’s are the only worthwhile readings of these books that are widely available. The emotion and skill he brings to the story (including singing and pronunciation in multiple languages) and the individual character voices he provides bring the books to life in the most satisfying way.

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An enjoyable short “character study” novel

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-14-21

This story of a woman with an unusual way of relating to the world was undemanding and a pleasure to listen to. What Keiko needs to belong in the world may not be what the average person needs, but she is clear-eyed and fascinating if not always relatable. If you don’t need action or intrigue but enjoy following the unfolding of a unique character, this book may be for you.

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