13,760 Feet

My Personal Hole in the Sky

De: Mark L. Berry

Narrado por: Mark L. Berry

The 747 that went up whole and came down in 876 pieces invaded every part of my life. My only consolation is that, without being able to turn around, she never saw the giant hole where the rest of the aircraft should have been. It was an oblong oval opening to the tumbling sky, bordered by torn cables, shredded aluminum aircraft skin, sheared beams, and spars, and accented with sparking severed wires. And I hope she couldn't comprehend what was actually happening if she lived long enough to ride this nearly three-mile-high, free-falling hell-ivator all the way down to the ocean's surface, and then sink to 140 feet below, where her body would wait to be recovered.

This is a TWA Flight 800 memoir told by author Mark L. Berry, a former TWA pilot whose fiancé Susanne was one of the 230 passengers and crew who died when that flight exploded at 13,760 feet off Long Island's southern shore. While primarily read by the author, 94 voice actors help bring the numerous people to life through a full-cast production (including small guest appearances by podcasters Scott Sigler, Seth Harwood, and Mike Bennett). The print and e-book versions contain lyric snippets from 34 original songs infused into their respective chapters, which grew to 41 in the two years this 348-page book was recorded and mixed—giving this audiobook its own soundtrack. The full songs can be heard on the author’s website.

©2013 Mark L. Berry (P)2015 Mark L. Berry

Fantastic story!!

What did you love best about 13,760 Feet?

This story touched my heart, very special.

What about Mark L. Berry’s performance did you like?

I loved that the author narrated the book, couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

Amazing, tragic, sad and funny story all at once!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story line itself is very personal, and tragic, but the life experiences that the author puts into words are written with such detail that you can feel as if you were along side with him. It is a very honest from the heart memoir.

What did you like best about this story?

The pilot chapters were my favorite to like. The other chapters were liked for their geographical references. No one wants to admit liking the sad chapters, but they pull you along through the story and connect it all together.

What about Mark L. Berry’s performance did you like?

Mark L. Berry's performance is quirky, and he reads in a halting kind of way, but one can become addicted to him reading the Chapter # alone! I listened to the audio after reading the book, and was surprised at the depth of feeling and non-expression he put into the reading at the same time. The songs were an awesome addition.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My reaction to this book was that of hearing a journey through lives so connected. I was sad to not be reading/listening to it anymore when it was finished.

Engaging Autobiography with Global Consequences

What made the experience of listening to 13,760 Feet the most enjoyable?

Mark L. Berry does an interesting job presenting his autobiography. He weaves his personal experience with technical details of piloting, relating all of this to the controversial conclusions of the downing of TWA Flight 800. While I am not one who embraces conspiracy theories, his questioning of the official explanations of the Flight 800 crash are rational and reasonable, despite his clear emotional connection to the crash.

The alternating of his personal experiences, from childhood and courtship to his post-crash experiences, created a compelling narrative. While some of the narrative may not appeal to all audiences, his sketches provide great insight into the lifestyle of airline personnel and the challenges and realities they face. Berry presents these in a manner that is easy to follow, being transparent about motivations and obstacles. Berry also does a good job putting a human face on a headline disaster. Too often, it is easy to dismiss notorious events and focusing on a body count without considering that all of the people lost had a web of relationships and the disaster has real world ripples affecting many lives.

Which scene was your favorite?

The proposal scene is very poignant, because it reflects the "mostly planned" theme of the entire narrative. While Berry had the big pieces figured out, the essential details were undetermined and fell naturally into place.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to much of this book while doing a long drive. Unlike many audiobooks, that make me drowsy after extended listening and I need to turn them off from time to time, I kept this narrative going. Part of this was the interspersion of the music. While the music may not be for everyone, I found it entertaining.

Any additional comments?

The quality of the audio is variable. In some spots, there are abrupt changes in the mix. Similarly, some of the voice actors are difficult to understand.

Highly Impactful Memoir

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book. Memoirs should be impactful, and this one truly delivers. The depth of tragedy in Mark’s life is nearly bottomless—he loses his younger brother, his mother, and finally his fiancé. All in some of the worst ways imaginable. He captures the loss and solitude of this abyss with a bevvy of efficient and powerful lines, such as, “Just by existing, I drove darkness into the hearts of my friends through the simplest interactions.”

How do you escape from this? Well, he does. And it takes a full memoir to describe it. Like the planes he pilots, Mark has spent a good part of his life rising above turbulent skies. He captures you in the process of moving on. We see him cut his teeth as a pilot and human being in parallel, and in the process, we get a fascinating view behind locked doors.

13,760 Feet is a thought-provoking story about tragedy and triumph, but mostly about the space between. And it does a riveting job of capturing this battleground.

Quite a Presentation!

Mark Berry has provided an enormous amount of information, a great level of insight into many areas - both technical and human - in what is an incredibly poignant package.