James

Thank you Jane Mayer for a chilling and detailed account of Cheney, David Addington and John Yoo's reign of terror. This is an important book that tells the story of how we became torturers and how a few courageous republican lawyers -- Jack Goldsmith and James Comey -- spoke truth to power and put in motion the eventual outing of this outrageous criminality. This is not a democrat v. republican book. THis is a book about principled v. unprincipled people -- courage v. cowardice and sanity v. insanity. It is a must read ("listen").

This is a great book made even more great by listening to Tina Fey read it to us. She is a unique spirit and creature and the book is full to the brim with funny, interesting, witty and wise insights. Her life (so far) is inspiring and great fun to listen to. I HIGHLY recommend.

First, the reader is excellent. But he is reading a masterpiece. American Pastoral brilliant. Through the eyes of one family and the narrator, Roth captures the essence of the changes and turmoil that shook the country in the 60s and 70s. The narrative technique, the narrative itself, the dialogue, so many turns of phrase, really deliver a powerful emotional message. I don't know whether i would have enjoyed it as much without the wonderful narrator. Even though I had already listened to it, I chose it as a book for a long car trip and my husband loved it too. I liked it even more the second time. So much nuance.

Simon Winchester is delightful and engaging, intelligent and insightful. This is a wonderful read (listen). I loved his understated irony and his many flashes of brilliant insight into human nature and history, not to mention attention to detail without being pedantic at all. Winchester brings a surprisingly spiritual point of view to this surprising and touching story. The only disappointment is the interview with the current editor of the OED who shows himself a bore- far outclassed by Winchester's nuance.

After reading Snow Crash on a lark (I'm not a science fiction buff), I wanted to read everything Neal Stephenson has done. Althought he could have done more with the world he created in Snow Crash, here he creates and new and different world, equally fascinating and an equally brilliant and possible projection of the future based on current sociological realities and trends. And again, the story is fantiastic -- running atop this fascinating world. Also loved the narrator. She's very good. Highly recommend. Now I only wish his others were available in unabridged form!

I'm not a huge science fiction buff, but tried this on the recommendation of one of the staff picks. I was blown away. It's not only well written with a great plot, it's inventive and savy -- both techologically and socially. Stephenson projects the very real state of the world today into the future with a steady eye. The result is both terribly funny and terribly horifying. On top of this extraordinary projection of the future, runs a great story. The reader is also excellent.