Linda

There seems to be a new trend to examine the potential of different paths taken with potential parallel lives and butterfly effect of such. This one by Stephen King is interesting even though the entry and exit are less believable. The story line is still holds ones attention especially for those who remember 1963. The reader is good except when doing the "female" voice. Rather than a young attractive woman the voice sounds more like an odd female impersonator. Overall it is still entertaining and worth the time.

As Harold Fry begins his pilgramage, I assumed that the main point of this book would be the self-refection that Fry begins and his opportunity to "smell the roses" as he walks. The story becomes even more interesting as Fry figures out the past and why things turned out as they did. This is an interesting, unusual story that becomes more thought-provoking as it unfolds.

For someone who thinks they are an introvert or an extrovert, this book explains alot about the behavior and thought of either. Although the first few chapters appear superficial, the author delves deeper as the book progresses and makes this a fascinating listen. The explanation of studies are interesting to those who have already studied some psychology and naive individuals.

I'm not a baseball fan but after reading Lewis' Blind Side I wanted to hear Moneyball. This is a fascinating story about Billy Beane and baseball. The analysis of baseball and money is captivating. I saw the film after listening to the book and was disappointed. The film is a good story and I'm sure I would have enjoyed the film even more except I got so much more from the book. As with many good books the story of Billy Beane is only part of the book and the portion left out of the film would be hard to visualize. This does for baseball what Blind Side did for football.

I'm writing this review almost 2 years after listening to this book. I have recommended to it many who don't want to read or listen because they say "I'm not religious." This is far from a religious story and has nothing to do with it. This story of the childhood and growing up of a young man in the South with the background of a serial killer is unusual. After finishing this listen I wanted to read something about the author and his story was quite a jolt. It is probably best not to read about the author until after listening to the book because you'll be amazed at his own story and wonder how and why he wrote this.

The title of this book does it an injustice. I thought it must have a self-help or religious message, but it is the story of a boy growing up in South Africa as a boxer. The details of this boy's encounters and the wonderful characters could be from someone's biography or autobiography. I haven't read that this is autobiographical but it a wonderful narrative and one might think it could be. It is an uplifting story of a boy thriving amidst difficulties. The descriptions of South Africa during these years are worth hearing.

I was drawn into the South and the emotional complications, frustrations, and struggles of Tom Wingo and his sister in this epic story covering most of their adult lives. The narration was totally captivating. This was a listening experience that was hard to put down and I was sorry to have end.

I listened to Marriage Plot soon after it became available on audible as I had enjoyed reading Middlesex so much. The Marriage Plot is interesting and worth reading, but was not "fascinating" as Middlesex was. The characters of this book were not particularly sympathetic and I didn't care about what happened to them. While well written, I wasn't particularly interested in any underlying messages that the characters portrayed. If one is unfamiliar with the vicissitudes of mental illness and its management, this could be interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed Perfect Storm and Death in Belmont as captivating narratives. I listened to War soon after listening to the book Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes. While I was totally immersed in Matterhorn--of course a novel of war so shouldn't really compare this to nonfiction, I have become immersed in Junger's other 2 books. I listened to War a second time because I thought I hadn't appreciated the commentary/documentary style compared with a novel. The narration was somewhat monotonic to me, so this may contribute to my lesser enthusiasm.

Without fighting a war, I'm sure I can't understand. Matterhorn gave me a new partial understanding of the camaraderie, honor, heroism, despair, and bizarre wartime behaviors involved in war. The dedication of the individuals in "getting their assignment--taking Matterhorn" while realizing the meaning or lack thereof of this goal is overwhelming. The book gives one increased and renewed sympathies for our veterans and all those lost in the Vietnam war and all wars. The narration was outstanding and I was transported into the war jungle.