Carolyn Cessna
- 38
- reviews
- 1
- helpful vote
- 39
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Fall of Giants
- Book One of the Century Trilogy
- By: Ken Follett
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Ken Follett's World Without End was a global phenomenon, a work of grand historical sweep beloved by millions of readers and acclaimed by critics. Fall of Giants is his magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in The Century Trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families - American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh - as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage.
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Loved it and learned alot.
- By Louis on 10-19-10
- Fall of Giants
- Book One of the Century Trilogy
- By: Ken Follett
- Narrated by: John Lee
Superb narration and politically learned.
Reviewed: 02-24-25
What began as an interesting coal mining community story in itself soon became so much more from unsuspecting relationships with aristocrats and politicians through World War I experiences. Battlefield strategies and government overhauls for human rights strengthen each character's purpose while their struggles are many. This is a very good history lesson of all the countries involved.
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The Berlin Zookeeper
- An utterly gripping and heart-breaking World War 2 historical novel
- By: Anna Stuart
- Narrated by: Katy Sobey
- Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Berlin Zoo, 1943: Ten-year-old Adelaide and her newborn sister are orphaned after a devastating night of bombing. Heartbroken and frightened, Adelaide runs to her mother’s closest friend, Katharina Heinroth, and the kind zookeeper takes the two little girls under her protection. As the bombing intensifies, Adelaide tries to shut out the horrors of war by caring for her tiny sister and playing with the adorable baby monkeys. But when Katharina organizes a dangerous operation to enable children and animals to escape the battle-scarred city, something goes wrong.
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The Zoo
- By Linda M. Terry on 09-23-21
- The Berlin Zookeeper
- An utterly gripping and heart-breaking World War 2 historical novel
- By: Anna Stuart
- Narrated by: Katy Sobey
The love of animals
Reviewed: 10-21-24
The narrator was truly exceptional. She drew me into the story immediately. I gained a new perspective as to how people of Berlin were affected by the politics, war and fear of the coming Russians. The setting in the zoo with its beloved animals and keepers is heart warming and breaking when the bombs hit. The intricate weave of identifying the present day vet's real grandmother during that time exposes the trauma of birthing in the bunker and gifting of babies.
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Before We Were Yours
- A Novel
- By: Lisa Wingate
- Narrated by: Emily Rankin, Catherine Taber
- Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge - until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents - but they quickly realize the dark truth.
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I was rivetted, finished in three days.
- By Lin Cloward on 06-26-17
- Before We Were Yours
- A Novel
- By: Lisa Wingate
- Narrated by: Emily Rankin, Catherine Taber
The narration is superb.
Reviewed: 08-31-24
This is a story you can't put down. It stays on your mind all the time. The river life and later the hope of normalcy to return is exciting. The young girl Rill is the family's strength. Her thoughts, wisdom and decisions while confronting dangerous situations to not say anything and avoid escalating trouble is awesome. She sacrifices her own ambitions for the sake of others. I'm so glad that she woke up from the river's dream and accepted the music of another life.
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The Women
- A Novel
- By: Kristin Hannah
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah
- Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
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WOW. Just Wow
- By Joanne DeVuono on 02-08-24
- The Women
- A Novel
- By: Kristin Hannah
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah
Behind the scenes in Vietnam
Reviewed: 06-30-24
For most of the book, I wondered why it wasn't called The Nurses instead of The Women which seemed pale given the honest, reliable closeness of the three girlfriends. Until I came to the emotional end at the memorial wall. The title now means to me "all the women" who served in Vietnam. Combat surgical nursing and expressive compassion to the trauma injured is an incredible gift together. It brings hope to those who receive their medical service. Part Two is to learn about stress disorder, group therapy, awareness of deceit, wrong choices, and friends you can count on in the recovery. More lucky to have are wealthy, helpful parents who at least don't start you on a journey of addictive pills to cope.
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The Book of Lost Friends
- A Novel
- By: Lisa Wingate
- Narrated by: Sophie Amoss, Sullivan Jones, Robin Miles, and others
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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From the best-selling author of Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic historical novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post-Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.
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I want more!!!
- By Mrstlg on 04-11-20
- The Book of Lost Friends
- A Novel
- By: Lisa Wingate
- Narrated by: Sophie Amoss, Sullivan Jones, Robin Miles, Bahni Turpin, Lisa Wingate, Lisa Flanagan, Dominic Hoffman
Deserves ten stars!
Reviewed: 06-04-24
These two stories of determined young women, past and present in alternating chapters, build to a fascinating historical lineage. Hannie is sweet and strong, a friend when you need one. I love the way she thinks. She is honest with herself. The title could be The Blue Beads. Love of family and friends and freedom from slavery join to form a bond hard to describe but thrives in your heart for a grand purpose.
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The Housemaid
- By: Freida McFadden
- Narrated by: Lauryn Allman
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out...and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late. But I reassure myself: The Winchesters don’t know who I really am. They don’t know what I’m capable of....
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One Big Cliche’
- By Karen Brow on 08-03-22
- The Housemaid
- By: Freida McFadden
- Narrated by: Lauryn Allman
Mentally insane
Reviewed: 02-16-24
There was so much meanness dealt to the poor girl who handled it with tolerance and humility. She admitted guilt and being sorry to things not her fault just to keep the job. This story is downright scary and eerie all the way to the end. I breathed a little relief when she found the pepper spray in the bucket.
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The Nine
- The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany
- By: Gwen Strauss
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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The Nine follows the true story of the author’s great aunt Hélène Podliasky, who led a band of nine female resistance fighters as they escaped a German forced labor camp and made a 10-day journey across the front lines of World War II from Germany back to Paris. Drawing on incredible research, this powerful, heart-stopping narrative is a moving tribute to the power of humanity and friendship in the darkest of times.
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Soooo good!
- By anne simpson on 09-28-21
- The Nine
- The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany
- By: Gwen Strauss
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
Effects of the resistance
Reviewed: 01-25-24
This is a dynamic story of saving yourself during the resistance once caught. Each of the nine young women were nicely introduced in separate chapters as the story moved along. Descriptions of their hunger, health, friendship, concentration camp life, and escape route take you to an unfamiliar world of suffering. The psychology afterward is understandable such as not wanting to eat or talk about the experience anymore.
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The Ride of Her Life
- The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America
- By: Elizabeth Letts
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Letts, Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1954, 63-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins embarked on an impossible journey. She had no money and no family, she had just lost her farm, and her doctor had given her only two years to live. But Annie wanted to see the Pacific Ocean before she died. She ignored her doctor’s advice to move into the county charity home. Instead, she bought a cast-off brown gelding named Tarzan, donned men’s dungarees, and headed south in mid-November, hoping to beat the snow.
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Not sure….
- By BeagleMom on 06-14-21
- The Ride of Her Life
- The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America
- By: Elizabeth Letts
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Letts, Tavia Gilbert
She had courage
Reviewed: 11-29-23
I am amazed how friendly people were across the country to accommodate the travelers. And I really adore the bond between horses and dog to communicate especially under stress like crossing bridges. This is as much an animal story as well as a human one.
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The Chronicles of Narnia Complete Audio Collection
- By: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: Kenneth Branagh, Alex Jennings, Michael York, and others
- Length: 33 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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For over 60 years, readers of all ages have been enchanted by the magical realms, the epic battles between good and evil, and the unforgettable creatures of Narnia. This box set includes all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia - The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.
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Comes without book subdivisions - chapter key below
- By Daniel on 01-07-20
A wonderful series
Reviewed: 10-01-23
I am 76 years old and thought it was about time that I should get to know the works of C.S. Lewis starting with The Chronicles of Narnia. There were so many stories other than the Wardrobe one! My favorite might be The Horse and His Boy. All the narrators are superb, they really bring the characters and events to life! The parallels of the lion to God and Jesus, including the stable door with everyone going to the left or right, and the lion freely giving up his life and forgiving the donkey, are heart warming.
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A Dog Called Hope
- A Wounded Warrior and the Service Dog Who Saved Him
- By: Jason Morgan, Damien Lewis
- Narrated by: John Moraitis
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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A decade ago Special Forces warrior Jason Morgan parachuted into the Central American jungle on an anti-narcotics raid. He'd served with the famous Night Stalkers on countless such missions. This one turned out very different. Months later he regained consciousness in a US military hospital, with no memory of how he'd gotten there. The first words he heard were from his surgeon, telling him he would never walk again. The determined soldier responded, "Sir, yes, I will."
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A BEST Book ever!
- By Honeysuckle Queen on 01-25-18
- A Dog Called Hope
- A Wounded Warrior and the Service Dog Who Saved Him
- By: Jason Morgan, Damien Lewis
- Narrated by: John Moraitis
Great dog training
Reviewed: 06-22-23
Thank you to Jim who puppy trained the dog. I am glad that he and Jason got to meet. I really felt the emotional handover. The achievements of a dog's training abilities and devotion to owner for commitment to service are amazing.
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