M. K. Merritt
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Greenlights
- By: Matthew McConaughey
- Narrated by: Matthew McConaughey
- Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 181,381
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 160,165
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Story5 out of 5 stars 159,141
I’ve been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me. Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Love this!
- By Nancy on 10-21-20
- Greenlights
- By: Matthew McConaughey
- Narrated by: Matthew McConaughey
Greenlights…Unconventional Wisdom and Storytelling at its Best!
Reviewed: 01-10-25
4.5/5 ⭐️
(I rounded up where Audible/Amazon can’t get with the program.)
I started this book via Kindle but switched to audio because hearing Matthew McConaughey tell his own story is just so much better than reading the story.
I’ll start this review by addressing some of the negativity surrounding this book. It seems as if many reviewers were expecting a book that delves into his movies or self-help book. My answer to that would be to read the synopsis. Some reviewers state is he is self-serving and so is his book. McConaughey has never claimed that this is self-help book and, where self-serving is concerned, it’s his memoir and it’s written to share what he’s learned and picked up from
this crazy life. He does this masterfully and listening to this is like having a conversation with a friend. I’m not really sure how that qualifies as self-serving. When debating whether or not to read/listen to this book, please keep in mind that most reviewers have attacked McConaughey as a person in the reviews and that’s not what a book review is for.
The prescriptions and bumper stickers McConaughey shares from thirty-five years of his journals are great, albeit sometimes unconventional, words to live by. His whole idea of “greenlights” is honestly a great way to approach life: “We catch more greenlights by simply identifying where the red lights are in our life, and then change course to hit fewer of them.” McConaughey posits that the yellow and red lights eventually turn green, and it’s all in how we view and handle those events.
This is such a great memoir, but I suggest listening to the audiobook for the full McConaughey experience.
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Witch Kisses Under the Mistletoe
- A Cauldron Sisters Short Story
- By: Rose Betancourt
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall2.5 out of 5 stars 3
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Performance1 out of 5 stars 2
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Story3 out of 5 stars 2
Stormy Summers gets a surprise visit during the holiday season. This stranger delivers unexpected magical news.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Cute Story, Terrible Narration
- By M. K. Merritt on 12-27-23
- Witch Kisses Under the Mistletoe
- A Cauldron Sisters Short Story
- By: Rose Betancourt
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
Cute Story, Terrible Narration
Reviewed: 12-27-23
What seems to be a very cute story is overshadowed by terrible, virtual voice narration. It’s too mechanized with false inflection. It’s painful to listen to. Don’t waste your time!
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Bullet in the Brain
- By: Tobias Wolff
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 282
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 254
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 252
Anders is an angry, cynical man. A book critic known for his scathing reviews, he finds any excuse to dismiss, belittle, or insult. This afternoon is no more agitating than the next. Angers finds himself in a long line at the bank, waiting to reach a teller. Even after two men - wearing masks and carrying guns - take control of the building, Anders is unfazed. It's this behavior that lands him with a pistol against his stomach and a man screamingin his face. And when the bank robber, indignant over Anders' behavior, shoots the book critic in the head, his mind floats through the memories of his life, settling on one particular event....
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5 out of 5 stars
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The Perfect Example
- By Sarah on 08-01-17
- Bullet in the Brain
- By: Tobias Wolff
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
Surprising, in a good way.
Reviewed: 12-27-23
This short little read was surprisingly fantastic. I’d read a brief synopsis of the story before starting it, but it still surprised me a bit.
This is a story about the last moments of a rather hum-drum critic who is more than a little stuck on himself. His actions and inability to curb his own tongue get him shot. The author presents what could or should have gone through the critic’s mind while he was dying (other than the bullet), and wraps up by telling us what did go through his mind instead. He gives us the “why” behind it as well. Truly food for thought where those last few seconds of life are concerned. Maybe we won’t think at all of what we think we will!
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Hunters in the Snow
- By: Tobias Wolff
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 114
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 99
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Story4 out of 5 stars 99
Three friends are leaving the suburbs of Spokane on a hunting trip. Kenny is the prankster, harsh and mean. Frank is laid-back and full of idealism. Tub is overweight, sensitive, and the brunt of everyone's jokes. Searching for tracks in the snow, the trio has little luck until they spot a set of deer prints heading into a nearby farm. Kenny, desperate for a token of their difficult journey, insists that they ask the farmer's permission to hunt on his land.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Dark and Wild Ride!
- By M. K. Merritt on 12-27-23
- Hunters in the Snow
- By: Tobias Wolff
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
Dark and Wild Ride!
Reviewed: 12-27-23
This is a very interesting story indeed. It brings new meaning to the word “hunters,” that’s for sure. I feel as if there is a darker purpose with one of the characters…hence my review title and the last 40 seconds of the story.
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The Best Worst Christmas
- An Audible Original Novella
- By: Kate Forster
- Narrated by: Rachael Tidd
- Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,521
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,060
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,051
Lily is back from Australia for the first time in seven years to spend Christmas at her mum’s house in a small, gossipy English village. To her surprise, she returns to find that her mother is dating the man next door, who also happens to be the father of her ex-boyfriend Tom. Tom, who broke Lily’s heart all those years ago. Tom, the real reason Lily fled to the other side of the world and stayed there. Tom, who is also home for Christmas and right there, next door.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Grouchy
- By Cheryl on 12-12-21
- The Best Worst Christmas
- An Audible Original Novella
- By: Kate Forster
- Narrated by: Rachael Tidd
Quirky Characters, Cute Story
Reviewed: 12-26-23
This Audible Original by Kate Forster is truly a gem. The story progresses smoothly and the quirky characters help make this cute little holiday story what it is. It’s a quick listen and the narration is clear.
There has been mention in other reviews of witches and pagan ideas being brought up in the story - I don’t look at this as negative because if you take three seconds to comprehend the characters and their individual stories, then you can easily understand why those things are mentioned. Some people just can’t appreciate differences, I guess.
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