MaryPat

The honesty

Reviewed: 12-30-23

This book should be required reading for anyone who plans on voting in the 2024 elections or any election ever. It opens your eyes to the fact that elections are not only about the candidates or even the issues but every single name on that ballot can have huge consequences for our nation.
This man needs to be stopped and it needs to happen NOW!
Great job Liz Cheney, this book is excellent !

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Great story but the narration .

Reviewed: 01-05-23

Great story but the voice was hard listening. I know the author narrated it herself, but tone and timber just didn't mesh. I struggled through the first 4 chapters.

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Laughable

Reviewed: 08-12-21

Nothing we don’t already strongly suspect but when you realize it actually happened exactly as we feared it’s bone chilling. There were many laugh out loud moments and just as many you can’t make this shit up moments. I think the scariest things I now know is that very often Jared Kushner was considered the adult in the room and letting that family into the White House is similar to an infestation of bed bugs, impossible to get rid of and you’ll never really trust that they aren’t going to suddenly and secretly reappear!

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Lacy Crawford you are amazing!!

Reviewed: 01-30-21

This book is absolutely captivating, everything about it is excellent. It's a story that grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let go. Perhaps that's because we hear truth and pain and sincere emotion. Perhaps because Lacy Crawford has laid her heart out open and raw for all of us to see. I hope with all that I am that she has brought St Paul's and all abusive clergy right to their knees, both in shame and in asking for forgiveness. More than anything I hope they learn from it and never allow this to happen or go un addressed again.
Lacy Crawford, you are amazing. I believe you, I see your pain and I honor you. Telling this story is going to resonate for a long long time and I hope you come to really know how much good you are doing for abused, both boys and girls, by the telling.
And... write us another book! And narrate it yourself. You are one talented broad!! lol.

PS: I'd love to hear the story of your mother and what brought her to her faith and life choices.

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give it a shot !

Reviewed: 12-27-20

I downloaded this book fully expecting to not like it and return it. I thought I should at lease see what all the hype was about and speak honestly when I said "OMG NO, I did not read McConaughey's book!" (and it's not that I'm some great literary highbrow who would never consider reading an actors memoir, it's just that I have an aversion to entertainers with huge egos who believe we need to know everything there is to know about them!) Well, was I surprised! Is it overacted at times? Maybe, but he's an actor! Did we expect it to be a straight out narration? To me, it could have been a Broadway show ( watch out Springsteen!) and he does a fabulous job. The story is engaging and insightful and it certainly rings with truth and honesty. There is also quite a bit of humor, rarely do I laugh out loud during a book (I'm a tough audience!) but this took me by complete surprise and I loved it!!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Give it a shot!

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Thank you Mr Hanks!

Reviewed: 12-08-19

I don't know what surprises me more, how much I loved this book or how much others did not! I read the reviews after finishing, (in one weekend mind you!) and I'm blown away by how strong people feel about this story and the narration. It seems either you Love it or Hate it, no middle of the road here, Well.. I'm in the Love It camp. I LOVE everything about it, the story , the characters, the narration, the plot. The Dutch House! I often find it necessary to comment on how I've listened to more than 200 audio books, not that that makes me a professional book critic but it does make me know what I like. And while I've loved a lot of audio books this one was just exceptional.
Thank you Mr Hanks, your narration was absolutely spot on. It was perfect. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read us another story!!!

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Why'd you wait so long?

Reviewed: 10-23-19

I have listened to well over 200 books and have read scores more, with that I say without hesitation that this is a winner on all fronts. The story is just plain really good, the characters absolutely despicable but for some reason impossible to hate. Having spent many many years on the Cape, in Orleans no less, I loved that I had that connection.
Adrienne Brodeur has great writing style ( I'm stealing the term "Chemical Lullaby"). It's not that her writing style is similar to Kelly Corrigan but I came away with similar feelings that I came away with after reading Corrigan, like I just made a new friend and she's accessible. Like someone poured their heart out to me and I want more. Like the storyteller is a real person that I can relate to. Like the story is believable and storyteller is honest, she bared her heart and soul and warts and wrinkles and embarassments and made no excuses.
Thank you Adrienne Brodeur for giving me exactly what I look for in a good book. Interesting characters, a little tension ( a bit of an understatement here, huh?) good dialog, some real emotion (I was so sad when your step-father died and then when Lilly found out) resolution, a happy ending. It makes me very happy that you pulled it all together and built such a great family.
Congratulations on a really really good book. I will be recommending Wild Game, actually already have... twice! I will also be waiting to hear more from you!

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Just SO good!

Reviewed: 09-14-19

I’ve listened to more than seventy memoirs many narrated by the author, I’m a confirmed junkie of the genre!
Prior to this book Michele Obama held the #1 spot, now I think there’s a tie for first place. Ms Santiago is engaging, believable, honest and interesting. She is an excellent storyteller!
I have only one complaint about this book, it ended. I have already downloaded “Almost a Woman” and I’m starting it now!

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3 people found this helpful

Unfortunate Narration

Reviewed: 08-11-19

We pretty much all know the story but not so much the dirty details. The author did a good job bringing it all together and laying it out for us. The victims should be applauded and honored for their bravery and their forthrightness. Thanks to Ms Egan we all now know the story and can say, I too believe you and I too believe that Bill Cosby got what he deserved.
It is unfortunate that Ms Egan choose to narrate her own book, I’m afraid it is surly going to affect reviews. I often look for books narrated by the author because for me it seems to add a depth to the story telling. This time not so much. This book needed a professional narrator to bring it to life instead of it sounding like a recitation. This is such a powerful story but I’m afraid you are going to loose many listeners who are now savvy audible junkies looking for performance as much as content.

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There are people out there waiting for her...

Reviewed: 08-29-17

I'm so surprised that people are being so incredibly hard on this author. She's a non-celebrity, first time author writing a memoir. What did you expect?
In a way I'm relieved that more people do not relate to the story, perhaps there just aren't that many people who have experienced anything remotely close to this, or haven't admitted experiencing it. But why all the nasty comments? Why the name calling? What are you saying? She should have seen it coming? Or... that her parents are successful so she deserved it? I was a middle class girl with 6 siblings who was a nurse in an inner city hospital when I got swept away by a "Marco" and Let me tell you it ain't easy ! I'm over here THIRTY FIVE years later still living with the aftermath.
I appreciate Jen's story and her courage in telling it. It truly helps. And if there is an element of revenge, good for her he deserves it.
There were times when I wanted to scream at her to knock it off and move on but, she is Jen and I am not and we are all wired differently. One thing I know for sure, panic attacks are paralyzing and debilitating and she certainly got that across to the reader.
Yes, she played amateur psychiatrist but don't kid yourself we all do it,and would it have been more credible had she gone to the library and read an actual book as opposed to using the internet? She also backed it up with professional opinion. Many many mental health opinions are formulated from hearsay.
The books I LOVE and give 5 stars to are The Grapes of Wrath and The Century Trilogy. These amateur non-celebrity memoirs are in a class of their own and this one is pretty close to the top. A good story, a real heartbreaking life event that we can ALL learn something from and hopefully pass down to our daughters and sons.
If Jen were standing here in front of me I would say "good job and thank you for your courage and honesty". I would wish her luck and tell her I hope she finds love and I would tell her I hope she does go on to become a licensed therapist because there are hurting people out there waiting for her.

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48 people found this helpful