Audio Review – Page 4

Did You Ever Have A Family by Bill Clegg

Published on September 7, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

The title drew me in… and yes, the synopsis while it worried me that it may be a little too close to home – connected with me over the fact that this book is about in the wake of tragedy… how a community can react. ~Sheila

On the night before June’s daughters wedding an unbelievable tragedy happens that takes the lives of her daughter, her daughter’s fiance, her ex husband and her boyfriend.

Her entire family wiped out in the blink of an eye.

June, now has lost all direction and drives away from the destruction of her life… looking for meaning… looking for anything.

Left behind, is a community with connections to the tragedy, with their own version of the heartbreak of loss… connecting in ways one would never have guessed. There is the wedding caterer who never is payed. The couple who run the motel where June stays. The mother to June’s boyfriend. And so much more.

Did You Ever Have A Family was a semi dangerous undertaking for me at this time in my life. I was pulled in by the story line – mainly the mention of how a community is effected by loss. I understand this. I am living it.

I enjoyed the story line very much. Our protagonist’s June’s tragedy was very unlike mine which was good, and I found I could listen to this without worry about hitting my own personal land mines. Her relationship’s were very different then my own and therefore was able to be what I needed it to be – a book of loss and compassion and indeed – fiction.

While I can not say I loved the story, I did appreciate it. It is an interesting take on a tragedy that I have not read before. In this case, I listened to the audio version with Bill Clegg (the author) narrating. While the narration was good, I did struggle with Bill Clegg’s reading of the female parts of the book. I caught myself often having to remind myself that this was a girl speaking, which unfortunately for me took away from the enjoyment of the overall listen.

One thing I did love is there is some beautiful writing here…

Rough as life can be… I know in my bones we are supposed to stick around and play our part. Even if that part is coughing to death from cigarettes. Or even if it is to be blown up young in a house with your mother watching. Even if it is to be that mother. Someone down the line might need to know you got through it. Or maybe someone you wont see coming will need you. And it might be you never know the part you played. What it meant to someone to watch you make your way each day.

~Bill Clegg (Did You Ever Have A Family)

This gave me pause. So beautiful So true. This is a fairly short book, and one I would suggest giving a try if you enjoy a slower paced, thoughtful read that may give you pause on how we are all somehow connected.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 6 hours and 54 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Audible.com Release Date: September 1, 2015

WILD by Cheryl Strayed

Published on August 27, 2015August 27, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

After Cheryl’s mother was diagnosed with cancer at a young age and lost her life to it, Cheryl could not seem to escape the spiraling downward pull of her own life. Her marriage was a loss, her father non-existent…

Four years later with nothing really changing Cheryl makes a decision. With no prior training; just a stubbornness to succeed at something, she decides to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State. And do it alone.

What happens… well that is the story of WILD.

This is a book that I would say for me has been a bucket list book. I have always been fascinated by those who go out on a pilgrimage to find themselves. For myself, my own hard life, I have felt the pull to do something like this… now, that pull is even stronger.

I am not sure what took me so long to get to this book. I have had it on the shelf for years. When the movie was released I put it on my radar to read soon and then, more recently, downloaded the audio book with narration by Bernadette Dunne.

From this book I received many things I had hoped to…. I found out that it is possible to do such a hike without years of training (maybe not recommended – but certainly doable). I learned from Cheryl’s own mistakes of what one should pack, what is a necessity and what is not. I enjoyed how the other hikers she met along the way (well.. most of them), were like kindred spirits and they bonded together, helping one another – building friendships.

What I didn’t need to know….

As in pretty much any non fiction I read, memoirs, etc… I do not care to know about ones sexual escapades. I am truly 100% not interested and am still a little baffled why these details are included in such reads. Occasionally in some books there is a point to such discussion.. this was not one of those books. I have to wonder if it is a draw for some readers and maybe I am the minority – but really… I am a believer in TMI. Yay for Cheryl for being prepared? Yay for her willingness to be open and ready for anything? I don’t get the appeal.

Overall – yes I am glad I read the book. I enjoyed the narration very much and thought that it was the perfect voice for Cheryl. Other than what I mentioned above, I really enjoyed Cheryl’s story and still am searching in my own way for such a pilgrimage for myself… maybe not the time commitment that she put in, but I would love to some day dedicate a month to six weeks for something like this. Thank you to Cheryl for showing that a woman can go out and succeed in such an adventure and for sharing the realities of how this changed her life.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 13 hours and 6 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Random House Audio
Audible.com Release Date: March 20, 2012

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens

Published on July 30, 2015July 30, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

The Campbell sisters never had what you would call an easy life. Living with a mostly absent and when present, abusive father, the girls did their best to stay out of his way. Teenagers Jess, Courtney, and Danny worked on a ranch to earn enough to keep their home and purchase a little food, wondering (and dreading) when their father would next make his appearance and what kind of mood he would be in.

One night, when their father returns – things go too far and the girls find themselves on the run. As things go from bad to worse, the girls live through a nightmare that haunts them for the next 18 years.

The sisters try to make lives for themselves and for the most part they do… but one sister… one can not forget that night. And her choices affect all of them.

Chevy Stevens is one of those authors that I pretty much drop any reading plan for and grab their latest works. I have raved about Chevy’s books in the past and when Those Girls was coming out I was soooooo excited. A spooky sinister synopsis, amazing cover – I was all in.

The story starts out strong and very “Chevy Stevens like”… right away I fell into the story, and for the first two thirds of the book I was really involved with what was happening even if a few things seemed to come together a little easy….

It was the final third that I found I could no longer suspend belief… the happenings in this part of the book that take place 18 years later undid me. It was too believable the way it plays out. I am being careful to avoid spoilers here, but for me this book did not live up to the Chevy Stevens quality I have experienced in the past.

I wanted to be blown away…

I wasn’t.

Please look at other reviews for this one to develop a better opinion of the book. I see that many have enjoyed this one, as did I, I just did not love love it.

That’s What She Reads found it to be a good summer thriller

Booking Mama highly recommended it

debbishdotcom found this Stevens read to be back to her better work

I did listen to this one on audio and enjoyed the narration by Jorjeana Marie (Narrator), Emily Woo Zeller (Narrator), Nicol Zanzarella (Narrator). Not always a fan of multiple narrators, this one worked.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 11 hours and 29 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Audible.com Release Date: July 7, 2015

Fever by Mary Beth Keane

Published on July 28, 2015July 28, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

The amazing story behind “Typhoid Mary”, truly had no idea. ~Sheila

Mary Mallon was 15 years old when she left Ireland to come to New York. Mary ha a stubborn streak and she knew what she wanted and how to get it. She worked hard laboring in kitchens learning skills as a cook until she became quite good. Soon she found her sought after by New York’s elite families wanting the hard-working Mary with the skills of a chef to be theirs exclusively.

Then the families of those Mary cooked for began to get sick. Some even died. A particular keen-eyed Medical Engineer zoned in on Mary as being the common denominator. He called this out openly, saying Mary was a “asymptomatic carrier” of Typhoid Fever.

For three years Mary was kept in isolation, away from those she loved and from anything to do with other people.

This is her story.

We have probably all heard at one point or another about “Typhoid Mary”. At least in name. For myself, that is all I knew. When I discovered this book Fever on audio I felt this would be an opportunity to learn more of this woman. I am glad I did. Narrated by Candace Thaxton, Fever was an interesting listen about Mary Mallon’s life. I enjoyed learning of her tough exterior. She was a strong woman who carried herself well even through the hard years.

Learning more of her story was very interesting. I would recommend this one in either book or audio format, I feel both will come off well.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 9 hours and 53 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Audible.com Release Date: March 12, 2013

Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eicher

Published on July 2, 2015July 2, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

1959. Nine excited college students planned to hike the Russian Ural Mountains and reach Ortorten, a challenging trek. All 9 in the party (7 boys and two girls) were experienced hikers and used to mountain expeditions. They had trained, and planned, and envisioned victory. The group left on January 27 with plans to communicate once they reached Vizhai which they believed would be around February 12th, but perhaps a little longer.When February 12th came and went, there was no panic. however when February 20th came around a rescue team was sent out to look for the nine hikers.

On February 26th the rescue team found the camp site of the hikers where the tents had been partially torn down and cut open with knives from the inside. Inside the tent were also the shoes of the hikers. Tracks could be seen of stocking feet as well as bare feet around the site and the rescue team followed. As they searched the area all nine of the hikers bodies were found in different states of dress, looking as though they had abandoned the tents in a hurry. But why? What would cause this experienced group to venture out into the cold snow without their shoes or jackets? What would cause them to destroy their tents from the inside? What were they trying to escape?

While it was believed they died of hypothermia, some of the hikers had extreme injuries, blows to the skull, chest fractures and one was even missing his tongue.

Photo footage and journals found left by the hikers showed that the communication ended on February 2nd. Yet all of these years later, a solid answer to what happened has never been found.

Once again I embark on a read that I have no idea about. I admittedly had never heard about the Dyalov Pass or about this extreme tragedy. When browsing the audible.com audio sale this one caught my eye as I seem to be drawn to unsolved mysteries. At around 6 1/2 hours of audio listening this was a doable listen. I tend to like my audio to be around that 6-9 hour mark if I have no relationship with the author or narrator to cause me to invest more time.

Donnie Eichar plays many roles in this audio. Not only is he the author and narrator, he is also telling the story not as a third person observer – but as first person, as Donnie was part of a team that followed in the tracks of the hikers in 2012, trying to bring in new answers to an old mystery.

I did enjoy this listen. It was very interesting to learn about the hiking group, listen to parts of their journal and discoveries, and try to piece together what may have happened.

While this book will not give you a full out positive answer as to what did happen, it does go over many theories which Donnie Eichar will tell you why some theories hold merit and others do not. In the end, Donnie will also give you his thoughts on the mystery that surrounds the Dyalov Pass tragedy.

Other stuff: A movie is 2013 called Devil’s Pass is about 5 filmmakers who retrace the steps of the 1959 hikers.

You Tube has an Unsolved Mysteries video with good insight and pictures of the hikers:

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 6 hours and 23 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Audible Studios
Audible.com Release Date: March 18, 2014

Notes To Boys: And Other Things I Shouldn’t Share In Public by Pamela Ribon

Published on July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Notes To Boys is a memoir of the awkward (occasionally cringe worthy) letters that best-selling author and screen writer Pam Ribon wrote to boys when she was growing up…. some sent (she had a tendency to always make a copy), some not sent… and some she hopes she didn’t send but has a weird feeling that she probably did.

Growing up in a small town in Texas and the internet and cell phones still a long way off, Pam spent time writing letters, LONG deep, and teen angst letters that now – years later she share. Pam laughs at herself, filling in the gaps behind the letters, and adds laugh out loud commentary as she questions this younger version of herself’s motives.

Now married with a child, Pam finds “Young Pam” to be at times a little sad, but mostly a strong boy crazy gal struggling to find who she is and who she will be.

To give my thoughts on this particular audio book I think I need to break it down.

Why I listened to this audiobook: I enjoy memoirs that are read by the author. While I admit I had not heard of Pam Ribon (remember at times I do feel like I live under a rock), I thought the synopsis of this one sounded interesting. After listening to the audible sample, I enjoyed Pam’s fast talking fun way of narrating and her occasional cracking herself up.

What I liked: Pam is a fast talking funny gal. Impressively so… how she doesn’t stumble on her words sometimes is a wonder. Her stories in most cases are pretty funny. Tiny warning: occasionally a bit raunchy. I enjoyed that to “protect the innocent” each of the boys she wrote about had an alias such as “Holly Hunter Boy” (the boy she watched Broadcast News with) and “Super Mario Brothers Boy.” She has a quick wit and I liked how she would rabbit trail while reading but never to the point that I was lost.

What I didn’t like: While there are a couple of moments in the book/audio where Pam shares some deeply personal and painful past happenings, it almost doesn’t fit with this style of book. Her funny moments are so over the top funny that when she switches gears to share something serious it is like a record scratching. In most cases this works in memoirs and would have if the letters were not so funny and her narration is so over the top fun that the sad parts were a bit “oh… OH… she is serious here.” I also have to mention the volume of her narration. At times Pam becomes very loud even shouting and for me, at one point I was listening in the living room after Hubby had gone to bed and I had to keep adjusting the volume lower for when she became loud and turn it up when she spoke softly. The same thing happened when I was mowing the lawn and had ear buds in – the volume had to be adjusted so I didn’t hurt my ears when she shouted (and she really shouts!)

Overall: Pam does do a great job at narration and most of the letters are quite funny. I had to imagine what kind of girl writes long letters to boys and makes copies? Then I reminded myself that I am the girl who wrote poetry about EVERYTHING (boys included and one about socks too..and placed my poems in photo albums. (Remember old school photo albums with that sticky top layer? Yes – those.) I recommend giving the audio sample a listen. I think in book format this would come off well, however if this sounds like your kind of listen, even with the volume adjustments, this is a unique listen that reminded me a bit of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 6 hours and 17 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Rare Bird Books
Audible.com Release Date: June 18, 2015

The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell

Published on June 29, 2015June 29, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

At nineteen, Greg Sestero knew he wanted to be an actor. Against his mothers better wishes he participated in an acting school in San Fransisco and this is where Greg met the quirky Tommy Wiseau. Tom had a strange accent, and had a very unique way of doing things and thinking. He was a huge frustration to all who had to act with him. Greg however, was memorized by Tommy’s uninhibited ways.. not caring or even acknowledging others opinions.

A friendship developed between Greg and Tommy. Greg was curious about Tommy’s belief that he would be a famous actor, his avoidance of anything about his past, and apparently a bank account that had no bottom. As Greg’s career goals start to take off, Tommy still struggles not understanding why his photos he sends out to acting agencies go unanswered.

Then Tommy starts writing his own screen play. A screen play that eventually Tommy put in over 6 million of his own money into creating throughout a time where many were fired for not agreeing with Tommy’s bizarre vision. The movie,The Room eventually is finished with crazy plots introduced and not finished, and becomes known as “the Citizen Kane of bad movies” (Entertainment Weekly), which is now an international phenomenon, with Wiseau himself beloved as an oddball celebrity.

Why this audio? I found this one in an Audible $4.95 sale and thought it sounded interesting. I had never heard of the movie and after listening to the audio sample (of you must listen to the audio sample and hear how Tommy talks) I was really interested. Greg Sestero who flawlessly narrates this book, is also the Greg who was with Tommy through all of this so is giving his first hand account.

The craziness of Tommy’s ideas, refusal to change a thing, and how the movie is made and Greg explaining what to watch for in the movie – honestly makes me want to try and watch this movie that sounds painfully ridiculous. It looks like their are many sites on line that you can stream the full length movie. (I just watched a think on You Tube called Everything Wrong with the movie The Room in 8 minutes…. I think that is enough of seeing the movie for me). While the movie looks horrible – the audio was pretty good.

I enjoyed the crazy truth of this non fiction audio. I found that when I wasn’t listening to the audio, I couldn’t wait to get back to see what Tommy would do next. This is an excellent example of how the truth really is greater than fiction.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 11 hours and 38 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Audible.com Release Date: May 19, 2014

Down The Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison

Published on June 26, 2015June 26, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Ok ok…. if you recently read my review of Suddenly One Summer and I said it was a bit racy for my taste this audio choice may surprise you – but let me say… this audio surprised me in a good way. Narrated by Holly Madison herself about her time in the Playboy Mansion and beyond, this is actually way less graphic (in fact pretty much graphic free!) . Recommended – Interesting! ~Sheila

Holly Madison was eventually known as the “#1 girlfriend” of Hugh Hefner after trying hard for quite a while to be asked to live at the Playboy Mansion. This book is Holly’s story as told by herself, on working her way into the Playboy Mansion, the years of living with many other girls all hoping for their shot in the magazine or on TV, and her career after. Holly shares what living in the Playboy Mansion is really like, Hef’s very strict rules for the Bunny’s (like only two nights out a week and they had to be back by 9 pm and no boyfriends other than him- either of these two indiscretions would get you kicked out of the mansion. Let’s just say – all is not as it seems. Each girl had an allowance and a leased car that they paid for our of their allowance and was revoked if they decided to leave the mansion. Plastic surgery and salon needs were unlimited. The girls were never allowed to go out on their own or stay anywhere else but the mansion.

Holly shares what is was like living at the mansion for ten years, the girls that came and went, and the remaining three (including herself) that were the stars of the TV show, The Girls Next Door. Down The Rabbit Hole, with fun references to Alice In Wonderland between chapters, is a tell all of one girls dreams to hit it big, what it cost her, and what she learned about herself along the way.

This choice of a read may shock you but I hope it doesn’t. I chose to listen to this one from Audible.com and Audible has a policy that is you don’t like it, you can return it and get your credit back.

What drew me to this audio? 1. Cover. I have to admit I like the cover. 2. I like true stories and I especially like them when they are narrated by the author. 3. As long as it wasn’t crude and rude, I was curious about Hef’s amazing way to lure in these poor young girls… was it money he offered? Was it just the prestige of being a Bunny that was the draw? What did they all do day to day? 4. I listened to a sample of the audio and was sold. The few reviews that were up on the audio all raved about Holly’s tell all and I thought why not?

Honestly, I really enjoyed this audio book. I knew next to nothing about the Playboy mansion other than what it was and of course the magazine. I didn’t know that Hugh paid rent on each of the rooms he used for himself and each of the girls bedrooms as well as the Magazine owns the mansion, not Hef. It was also really interesting to hear about all of Hef’s odd rules and angry blow ups including stomping is feet, screaming, and faking tears when he didn’t get his way.

When you hear all of this (including how old the items in the mansion were, that money was not invested in upgrades or new carpet which was stained with dog well you know… ), and a crotchety old man who is truly full of himself, you (I) have to wonder why Holly stayed as long as she did. Holly covers that topic well and you start to get a real picture of these young girls wanting nothing more than attention and affection and living to be a Playboy Bunny.

The audio goes on to what Holly did after she left the mansion as well including her time with The Girls Next Door (and awkward scenes after she had left Hef), and Dancing With The Stars.

I realize that this is one person’s story – but if even half of what she says is accurate… wow. Very good listen and thankfully, a clean listen. There is only one mention of what Hef expected from the girls (not as mush as one would think or probably have heard) and it is brief and thankfully not graphic.

Memoir lovers? Like to learn new things? Add this one to your To Be Read (listened to) list.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 51 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harper Audio
Audible.com Release Date: June 23, 2015

Suddenly One Summer by Julie James

Published on June 25, 2015June 25, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Victoria Slade prides herself on her “take care of herself attitude”. As a divorce lawyer, she has seen her share of relationships gone wrong and has interest in adding her name to the list of relationship casualties. When circumstances shake her stable world and cause her to move into a new apartment she finds her new neighbor Ford’s conquests to be unsettling. Sure he is easy on the eyes but apparently she is not the only one who thinks so.

When Victoria winds up helping Ford’s sister with a case she finds herself teaming up with Ford who turns out to be an Investigative Journalist. As Victoria and Ford try to keep a professional distance, they find a growing attraction for each other. Yet Victoria still carries with her some remains of her past shake up that she is working through, and she wonders if Ford is the right person to put her trust in… and her heart.

Suddenly One Summer is a summer read with a few occasions of “hot writing”. The story line is simple, predictable, and done before, with a few new twists added to change it up just a bit. I personally could have lived without the frequent sexual happenings that were described in great detail. Things seemed to move awfully fast for the neighbors who in the matter of days seem to go from avoidance to a hot passionate relationship.

I think I accidentally stepped into an author that now as I read more about her is known for her steamy romance writing. I chose this one on the synopsis and the title (love that word Summer!) and probably read this one not realizing it was out of my comfort zone.

I listened to this on audio and the narration by Karen White was fun. She narrated with a fast paced jaunty tone that I enjoyed giving a “fun feel” to the happenings in Victoria’s life. I did enjoy that.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 9 hours and 43 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Audible.com Release Date: June 2, 2015

The Girls Of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery

Published on June 19, 2015June 19, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Do you just love this cover? It says so much… warm sunny days, beachy moments, and friendship… all things I value in my heart. ~Sheila

Nicole Lord does her best to be a good wife but when her husband up and quits his job with no warning because he feels he wants to write a screen play, Nicole is floored. Now juggling the children and her full-time job at her Pilates Studio as well as managing the household and the bills, Nicole knows something has to give and she feels she has given quite enough.

Shannon Rig prides herself on her accomplishments. Now Vice President of her company she is a force to be reckoned with, yet now she wonders if the cost for this success was too much. When Shannon has a change to connect with a great guy gives her hope – she discovers that the perfect “have it all” package may look different from what she has planned.

Pam Eiland has the perfect home, the perfect loving husband, and wonderful grown children. Now, as she looks around her perfect life she wonders what becomes of her now that all she had to do as a stay at home mom is over. Looking for ways to keep her marriage spicy may be the answer, but life as we all know… is full of surprises we do not see coming.

These three women who meet for Pilate classes and share their hopes and dreams find that friends can truly be like family when life takes you where you never thought you would be.

Author Susan Mallory is one of those authors that you can count on for a pretty smooth experience. You will meet characters you wish you were friends with and neighborhoods that you wish you lived in. That is exactly what I found in The Girls of Mischief Bay. I wanted to grab my mat and join them at the Pilates studio sharing trials and heartaches and knowing they were safe to share.

When I think of Susan Mallory I think “beach read”. My definition of a beach read is a good solid read that is not over the top with hard topics or twists and turns that cause frown lines in the sun. A beach read is a book that is kind to your soul and you usually meet characters you would like to be friends with.

The Girls of Mischief Bay turned out to be just an ok read for me. While I liked the characters well enough and enjoyed the story line it never really wowed me in any way. Problems arose, and then they were solved. No more really than a bump in the road. It is a good book on the power of friendships and much the same plots that you tend to find… guy troubles.

Narrated by Tanya Ebby, I did enjoy the flow of the words. While I found the audio “listen worthy”, this is the start of a new series by Susan Mallery and I do not feel I connected enough with the book to continue on with whatever comes next. (not to say it could not happen… I have done stranger things).