Laurie

If it weren't the fact that it was Carol Burnett, I would have given the book less stars. I am genuinely interested in her life, but would have enjoyed a biography more than an autobiography.

The stories were short, sometimes too abrupt. I think I would have enjoyed more continuity. Some of the stories seemed out of place and disjointed. Perhaps some could have been blended for lengthier vignettes.

I love Carol Burnett. She is the queen of physical musical comedy. She has no equal. However, her age has left her speech less than clear in places. The reading was too lengthy for her voice and left her sounding quaky in some places and slurred in others. This isn't the audio memory of her that I'm inclined to keep, so I'll go find some old clips to watch to erase the "fading star" impression this book left me with.

I would try another book from the authors and would avoid the narrator.

It was a bit forced. I couldn't connect with him. I felt at times that he was unsuccessfully trying to do impressions of some of the presidents.

I loved the history I learned. As we got to the more current presidents, I could recall many of the events mentioned in the book. It was great to hear some background. I reinforced some opinions I held and changed others. That's a good book. A book that can make you reconsider your previously held beliefs is a powerful tool.

I've been a huge Lisa Gardner fans for years, but this was my first "listen" to one of her books. It won't be the last. Kirsten Potter used exactly the tone and inflections that I hear in my head when I read Gardner's books.

Yes, the books are formulaic, but the individual characters in them are leads I've gotten to know and love, and subjects that I can care about. Their stories find a way to blend current issues (Internet predators this time), sympathetic victims, and a touch of warped criminal mind that keeps me turning pages and wondering whodunnit. I kept going back and forth between 3 different outcomes from the third chapter!

The characters were well thought out, and the dialogue engaging. The main theme of the story certainly was serious, but the book didn't have any graphic content that I wouldn't allow a 4th grader or up to hear. I was pleasantly surprised because I don't usually enjoy futuristic, fantastical stories.