Donald

Stein slams you with example after example of good writing. The book holds you because it's interesting. All of a sudden you realize, 'I got this as a handbook to help with my writing,' and you go back to what he has presented so entertainingly to dissect nugget after valuable nugget of writing advice. This is an author who has written successful novels, plays and non-fiction. To top it off he has authored software for writing fiction, edited books of well known authors such as Jack Higgins and led a successful publishing firm. Beginning with the first paragraphs until you finish the book you encounter a unique situation of a successful critic, editor, writer and observer employing all his skills in the writing of this book.

Immacul?e Ilibagiza's "Left to Tell" is required reading for any of us suffering from bitterness, self-pity, PTSD or any other wallowing disorder. The book moves quickly feeding one with food for thought. The first person, non-fiction narrative makes me wonder how much immunity I have to the infection that inspired the killing spree in Rwanda. It makes me ponder as to whether I would have the strength and virtue of Pastor Murinzi the "local pastor" who harbored Immacul?e Ilibagiza.

A great read for anyone desirous of breaking stereotypes. Immacul?e's story lacks the taint of bitterness that most of us would be incapable of eliminating in the recounting of such a horrific tale.

Anyone who thinks such things couldn't happen in "their" town needs to fall on their knees and pray that it doesn't.

This is a scholarly book with many quotes from medieval texts to stupify the listener. The book's pace picks up a little with the research on the Prioress, Madame Eglentyne, of Chaucer fame and then ends with dreary minutes passed in listening to the letters of wool merchants. It would have much more interesting to hear the story with the long quotes placed out of reach of the ear and into the marginalia. Hopefully the reader understands French and archaic English(read untranslated Chaucer to get an idea)as there are long quotes in French and archaic English.

Most of the unabridged titles worthwhile listening to on Audible are broken up into managable, mobile device-friendly segments. You will find Joan of Arc is 14 hours and 34 minutes nonstop....A pain for mobile devices.

Caveat....The work is historioid.

I highly recommend this "audiobook" which is in reality a series of relaxation exercises. It starts with "Moving Band" describing a band moving down the body carrying with it tension. It ends with the "Pencil Drop" exercise. The exercises are easy to follow and unlikely to offend fundamentalist Christians.

This is a read that would be best relegated to the reference section of the National Library of Congress.