Kathy Claus

I would recommend any of Nevil Shute's books.

Shute brings air travel and distant places in the 1940's-50's to life and makes it interesting!

This was the first. He was well suited to the book. I'd listen to him again.

I'd say the narrator, which may seem odd to some. Yet it was Shute himself in many ways, exploring his beliefs through the guy telling the story.

I find Shute to be one of the best writers and much overlooked. His blending of engineering, flying, fascination with many places and his ability to tell a story are superb. He champions the "little guy or girl" who just gets on with life, not complaining or seekking glory, but just living decently, if not always wisely. He is self deprecating when writing about himself, and his characters come through with true likeableness even if you wouldn't believe as they do. Shute considered this his best novel. Though I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my husband, and will read it again, I don't agree with the author. Trustee From the Toolroom and A Town Like Alice are his best. This is why I gave it 4 stars.

Our pastor spoke about this book in one of his sermons, and suggested we read it, so we did. My husband and I listened to it separately, and he found it more interesting than I. I did enjoy it, but wish he had written more.

It was instructive that Alexander was pretty much a skeptic, and that his life truly changed after his experience. Of most importance to us was his incredible recovery from an illness which should have been fatal. The fact that brain function was so minimal for such a long time, 7 days, and the memories Alexander had from that week are incredible! His appeal is to the skeptic and the person needed scientific proof. For me, that is not necessary, and so I guess I wanted more details about his time and what he learned.

There is a realization Alexander has which is near the end of the book which is really awesome. If you want a book full of Scripture and specific discussions about how to better one's life here on earth, or a list of Christian only terms, it is not there. The author deepened his Christian faith as a result of his amazing week, but I think the desire was to reach many who are not of a particular belief. We are buying a copy for an agnostic brother for Christmas.

This is worth the read, and the author does an excellent job. I would have given this a 4.4 if possible.

Call the Midwife was a truly gripping book for me. I am interested in birth and so reading about how births were conducted 60 years ago was so fascinating.

Yet, Jennifer Worth's story went far beyond that of the stories of the births she attended. It was the story of her maturing as a nurse and midwife, and of her strongly held notions about what was right and acceptable being challenged. She began her midwifery training at an Anglican convent in the dockland area of London's East End with not much more than disdain for people who were strongly motivated by love of God and called to service because of it. She grew to understand the women who mentored her, and to respect the ones whom she wrote off as just nasty or odd in the beginning. Seeing her dawning understanding of faith was lovely.


She also learned so much from the families of the poor and down trodden of an area so different from what she knew before.

Some of the stories she tells in this book are hilariously funny, and others are completely heartbreaking and painful to read. Worth certainly was a gifted storyteller, reminiscent of James Herriott. I hope the other books she wrote will be released on Audible soon.

Nicola Barber is a competent narrator, and not one who will put me off a book, so I was okay at first. But, I was very surprised; she seemed to really enjoy doing this book, and the characters came alive through her excellent narration. I was very pleased!

I don't think guys should be put of by a book about birthing babies, just as Herriott's books are more about the people than the animals. Give it a go.

I have read all of the Irish Country series, and have enjoyed each one. No, they are not great literature, but each one makes you feel like you are right there in this little Northern Ireland town in the 1960's.

As I have spent several weeks right in that area, and know how beautiful and delightful a place it is, I feel like I've gone back for a visit each time I read another installment. Taylor makes the characters believable and it is also interesting to see where medicine was at that time, compared to now. Sometimes I wish there were still more doctors who used common sense and could know their patients as the two doctors in these books did.

John Keating is a fave of mine. I gave these 4 stars, but would really give them more of a 4.3 or so. I needed a chill out book last week, and this was perfect. Keating brings the characters to life, and that makes this and all the series more fun than just reading them conventionally.

I have neveer been good at praying the rosary. This version keeps me focused, and my mind doesn't wander. Martin is very British, and that may bug some people. But, for me, his very matter of fact and rather commanding voice work. I use this most days.

If you are looking for reflections with the rosary, then this is not for you. But I stop the player at the beginning of each decade and pray for what I am led to pray. The prayers at the end of each rosary are a slightly different translation, which I am growing to like.

I wouldn't say this was an outstanding book, but it was very sweet. The author obviously knows something of a NICU, which made it more interesting. The mistaken identity used was interesting.

The book was not very expensive, and it was a much needed light read during a very stressful time. Not all reading can be totally intense or even engrossing. This will fill a nice rainy afternoon. The narrator was very good.

Terry Trueman totally gets having a kid with really severe cerebral palsy, and does an awesome job of trying to get inside the mind of such a kid. I had a nephew much like Sean, who touched so many lives.

Sean, because it is his story, but Debbie was really important, too.

I listened to Stuck in Neutral by him, so I was glad he read this one, too. He was perfect for it. His voice sounds young, though he can't be all that young. He made Sean come alive!

Absolutely! It's short, so give yourself the time to do so. But, read the first book first, so you can see how the author brought everything so much more powerful.

This should be required reading for high school students, who often think their lives are so tough! I think anyone who doubts whether the life of a severely disabled person is worth something should read this. I read that Trueman is the dad of a severe CP son.

Pass it on!

I liked the gentleness, and the way the judge hearing the case became more involved and aware of the gifts in his life.

The Forgiveness near the end.

The judge, because he truly loved his wife after many years, and yet knew there was room to still grow, love and give.

I'd give this a 4.5 overall if possible in the ratings. I know Stovall keeps his stories brief and too the point, which I think is good for the most part. Read the first book before this one. The narrator was very good, also.

This book was so beautifully written, with every strand neatly wrapped up by the end. I was constantly surprised by the turns it made. Often I would expect Joyce to go in a particular direction, and groan, only to be surprised that she never was trite. She never took the lazy way out near the end, which many good authors do.

The end was absolutely perfect! I truly wasn't expecting it, and I am still smiling about it.

I've never listened to anything by him, but will look for more. He was compassionate and sometimes funny. He never made the women sound silly by making his voice high or simpering. I think he really loved reading this book aloud. I felt like I was curled up at his feet, waiting him to turn another page.

I would take the shadow character David. I don't understand young men like him, and would like to do so.

This book was so compelling. It was in turn funny, poignant, painful and wonderful. Having been to most everywhere Harold walks on his pilgrimage made it even better for my husband and I. This book is introspective at times, and will make you examine where your life is and has been. I was afraid I would be let down in the end, and was totally not! I'm waiting for the next one by this incredibly talented writer.

This is one of the best I've read in a long while, and as good as Tatlock's I'll Watch the Moon or All the Way Home.

The last few chapters were great, but could only have been so because Tatlock wove such a gripping story with such great characters.

Tilly to the rescue! I'll not give it away.

Too many to mention.

I love the warmth of Barbara Caruso, and often buy a book because of her reading. She obviously pays close attention to the characters in the books she narrates, which is a bonus for the listener.

Yes, I would recommend this to friends, expecially if they are struggling to eat healthier. I am gluten intolerant, and after three years of this lifestyle, this book gave me some good scientific information I lacked.

I don't know, as this is not the kind of thing I read as a rule.

He is a very good narrator. I've read other things by him, and he can read both fiction and fact very well.

Wy'd You Lie to Me, or: I Thought I Was Doing Things the Healthy Way!

Many people have told me that I am gluten free because it is a fad or that I want attention. Oh, how I wish I could just gnaw on a sourdough roll! I tried eating all the whole wheat products, and lots of veggies and lean protein, and sticking to a low cal diet. But, I gained weight, and got sicker and sicker! My doctor was frustrated and threw up her hands. She never once considered any testing for wheat. I came to the knowledge on my own, and without telling him of my conclusions, sought the advice of a very reputable naturpathic physician. He pinpointed wheat. I tried a full serving in the form of my former fave cereal after six weeks. The reaction left me with no doubts! I don't say that everyone should ditch all wheat, but perhaps most people need fare less of this stuff. I didn't choose this lifestyle because of celebrities, as we have no TV, and don't care what movie or TV stars do or say.