The Violent Years

De: BB Wood

Narrado por: Angela DiPrima, Michael McDade

Captured and imprisoned by the Germans three months after landing in the second wave at Normandy during World War II, William (Bill) Bonsall later escaped to Poland and ultimately competed on the 1948 U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Olympic Team. Forty years later, he recorded his life experiences in a series of audio tapes that cover the decade between 1940 and 1950, a period he called “violent” because of the tumultuous upheavals of the times.

THE VIOLENT YEARS, a nonfiction novel, is a creative account of Bill Bonsall’s transition from an impoverished urban neighborhood “hoodlum” during the Depression to a scrappy 20-year-old dodging German bullets, to a passionate poet wooing, yet losing and re-winning the love of his life, and finally to the epitome of athleticism and elegance as an Olympic gymnast—all in that decade.

©2023 BB Wood (P)2024 BB Wood

Amazing narration

Angela DiPrima’s reading of this story was a delight. Her unique vocals were both engaging and entertaining as she brought each character to life. Oftentimes, when I listen to a book in the car, I struggle with hearing clearly over the car noises; There’s either too much base or too much treble in the tone of the speaker. But I was able to easily hear all the nuances of her narration thru the road noise. Yay.