Bruce C.
- 7
- reviews
- 152
- helpful votes
- 92
- ratings
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Unorthodox
- The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
- By: Deborah Feldman
- Narrated by: Rachel Botchan, Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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As a member of the strictly religious Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism, Deborah Feldman grew up under a code of relentlessly enforced customs governing everything from what she could wear and to whom she could speak to what she was allowed to read. Yet in spite of her repressive upbringing, Deborah grew into an independent-minded young woman whose stolen moments reading about the empowered literary characters of Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott helped her to imagine an alternative way of life among the skyscrapers of Manhattan.
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Narrator Problem
- By Phyllis on 04-24-20
- Unorthodox
- The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
- By: Deborah Feldman
- Narrated by: Rachel Botchan, Cassandra Campbell
Similarities Leaving High-Demand Religions
Reviewed: 11-27-24
I help run a Book Club for those who are Post/Ex-Mormons. We read a lot of non-fiction about science and history. We also read biographies of those who have made it out of high-demand religions.
I loved this book. We have in common the limiting of outside information and what is allowed to be read and even think. Sexual control and purity requirements. There is an “in group” and an “out group”.
Anyone who has been Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Amish, Mennonite, Seventh-day Adventist, Scientologist will find this book describing similar experiences.
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Troubled
- A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class
- By: Rob Henderson
- Narrated by: Rob Henderson
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Rob Henderson was born to a drug-addicted mother and a father he never met, ultimately shuttling between ten different foster homes in California. When he was adopted into a loving family, he hoped that life would finally be stable and safe. But divorce, tragedy, poverty, and violence marked his adolescent and teen years, propelling Henderson to join the military upon completing high school.
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a terrifying threat to progressive world view b.s.
- By Anonymous User on 04-04-24
- Troubled
- A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class
- By: Rob Henderson
- Narrated by: Rob Henderson
Gaining insight into someone’s life helps me understand my own.
Reviewed: 04-03-24
I grew up in a high demand conservative religion. As a gay kid, I had loving involved parents. But their view of me and those like me were that we were fundamentally broken.
I went from very conservative, political and religious beliefs to then much more liberal beliefs.
I am working on trying to understand how the world actually works, what my place is in that world and how I participate with everyone to be more happy and healthy.
This book gave me some new insights into some of the things that I started to believe once I left conservative religious belief.
It was a good read!
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Leg
- The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It
- By: Greg Marshall
- Narrated by: Greg Marshall
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Greg Marshall's early years were pretty bizarre. Rewind the VHS tapes and you'll see a lopsided teenager limping across a high school stage, or in a wheelchair after leg surgeries, pondering why he's crushing on half of the Utah Jazz. Add to this home video footage a mom clacking away at her newspaper column between chemos, a dad with ALS, and a cast of foulmouthed siblings. Fast forward the tape and you'll find Marshall happily settled into his life as a gay man only to discover he's been living in another closet his whole life.
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Funny and sweet
- By Anonymous User on 06-27-24
- Leg
- The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It
- By: Greg Marshall
- Narrated by: Greg Marshall
Enjoyed the book!
Reviewed: 06-16-23
I enjoyed listening. A book that talks about growing up gay in a conservative area, family challenges, sexual discovery all hit home. The added physical challenges and family health challenges added to a remarkable life experience. I share being gay, living for a time as a closeted gay Mormon, spending my college time in Utah. We share some experiences and others were a new view into someone else’s life.
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Episode 8
- By: Dov Fox
- Narrated by: Dov Fox
- Length: 36 mins
- Original Recording
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Dov Fox finally sits down with the man at the center of it all.
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Excellent story, good narration, but...
- By PerfectStorm on 09-02-20
I loved the longer form reporting of an interesting story
Reviewed: 11-22-20
Such an interesting story. With the developments in DNA and a glimpse into the Sperm Donation business it gives you a lot to think about.
How does due diligence play into many parts of our lives?
I would love to hear more of these long-form stories.
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1 person found this helpful
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Arroyo
- By: Chip Jacobs
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
- Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Wrought with warmth and wit, Jacobs's debut novel digs into Pasadena's most infamous structure and the city itself. In their journey to discover the source of the bridge's macabre alter ego, Nick Chance and his impish mutt interact with some of the big personalities from the Progressive Age, including Teddy Roosevelt, Upton Sinclair, Charles Fletcher Lummis, and Lilly and Adolphus Busch. They cavort and often sow chaos at Cawston Ostrich Farm, the Mount Lowe Railway, the Hotel Green, and even the Doo Dah Parade.
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Charming Tale of Pasadena
- By Bruce C. on 10-18-20
- Arroyo
- By: Chip Jacobs
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
Charming Tale of Pasadena
Reviewed: 10-18-20
Many people know of Pasadena from watching the Rose Parade. There is a rich interesting history of this city with characters and events that are fascinating. I have lived in the area for many years. This book makes me want to read more of the local history. As I was finishing the book, I got into my car and drove across the Colorado Street Bridge for the final sentences. I enjoyed the story.
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Mama's Boy
- A Story from Our Americas
- By: Dustin Lance Black
- Narrated by: Dustin Lance Black
- Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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From the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Milk and political activist, a heartfelt, deeply personal memoir about growing up as a gay Mormon in Texas that is also a moving tribute to the mother who taught him about surviving against all odds. Mama's Boy is a stirring celebration of the connections between mother and son, red states and blue, and the spirit of optimism and perseverance that can create positive change in the world.
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Consider reading instead of listening to this book
- By Robin W. on 05-15-19
- Mama's Boy
- A Story from Our Americas
- By: Dustin Lance Black
- Narrated by: Dustin Lance Black
As an older gay former Mormon this book had me in tears.
Reviewed: 05-09-19
The message of reconnecting with family even if there are profound differences really hit home. I am inspired to do more to connect with biological family that is quite different from me. I still hold and cherish my Logical Family (See Armistead Maupin).
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2 people found this helpful
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Educated
- A Memoir
- By: Tara Westover
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University.
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The Other Side of Idaho's Mountains
- By Darwin8u on 03-28-18
- Educated
- A Memoir
- By: Tara Westover
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
I highly recommend this book!
Reviewed: 02-24-18
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I just finished listening to Educated. Parts of the book left my crying. I grew up in the same high-demand religion. While my family was not as fundamentalist, isolated or controlling, the similarities were there. As a gay man, I didn’t fit in and had to make my break from the culture and set up appropriate boundaries with family. I also had to develop my family and friends of choice.
Any additional comments?
Tara tells the story of fundamentalism, patriarchy and an apocalyptic view of the world intertwined with bi-polar mental illness. The story is inspiring but shows how hard it is to separate yourself from the world view of your childhood and family. She overcame some very limiting views of how the world works.
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131 people found this helpful