"Fascinating, true tale of triumph"
This was a riveting story of triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances. The Salisburies tell a great story. I read this because Elaine Salisbury's "Provenance" was such a compelling, well-written, true-life tale that read like a thriller. I will never look at art the same way again. I highly recommend both books.
"Rob Inglis was born to narrate Tolkien"
Rob Inglis does voices so well and consistently, sings the songs convincingly and has a pace and manner that completely immerses the listener in this story. I cannot imagine a better narrator. I'm listening to this with my 8 year old daughter and it is a wonderful way to unwind our day (without my inept attempt to do dwarf and wizard voices). Great for long drives too. And Tolkien is, of course, the most adept story teller. We started with "The Hobbit" and are working our way though the trilogy.
"I recommend this to EVERY parent"
Payne and Ross have created a thorough and well researched guideline for a stronger family life and happier kids. I wish I had read this book when my daughter was younger, but have started the simplicity steps they recommend and have already seen a big difference. It is so easy to overlook the small steps that P&R outline, but when presented with such convincing evidence, initiating them becomes easy. For example, my 8 year-old daughter's closet was stuffed with clothing I wasn't willing to part with due to its label or association, but my daughter didn't wear. Once I cleared away those clothes and narrowed down her choices, dressing herself became much easier. Also, we have decided to eliminate extra-curricular sports that hi-jack our weekends--one year of Mother's AND Father's day sacrificed to the soccer-league is enough. There are many points that P&R have so clearly made about over-stimulating and hyper-scheduling our children that I am happily listening this one through a second time.
"Whiney"
Memior is my favorite form of literature, but I felt this was more of a list of complaints journal. Overton had a series of unfortunate experiences and regails us in detail and not particularly convincing detail of it. Cruddy choices of dates through internet sites and the dressing down of each cruddy choice without humor or irony made this a difficult listen. I kept expecting something enlightening or at least even-handed treatment of of the ickyness of her experiences and yet, no... just a rolling, humorless list of gross and sad.
No.
Her voice was appropriate.
Not so much.