Joelyn

The humanity of this story wags its head with a resounding yes!

Reviewed: 03-20-25

If I could give this story 10 stars, I would. The characters, the metaphors, the smells, sounds, tastes and descriptions, brings the reader into modern day India and Afghanistan like no other I’ve read.

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The narration was top rate…James has a true rare dignity of spirit.

Reviewed: 09-04-24

A slave’s story, powerfully related in first person narrative. The philosophical questions of liberty and those of owning another person were well intertwined within the action and sad adventures throughout.

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An intimate story of relationship

Reviewed: 06-15-24

The premise of an illegitimate baby left at the doorstep of the father, and his wife’s refusal to raise it, is understandable… but then you get ti know the family involved..and so the story unfolds Having not read “Brooklyn”, this is still a book that holds its own. The narration was superb. The ending, well, decide for yourself.

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The Inevitable Uncertainties of Life

Reviewed: 03-01-24

This book engrossed me, made me laugh, made me angry while exploring a lot of the psychological, sociological, economic and social media constructs many of us have experienced in the last 30 years. Some of the story hit too close to home - a mental “OMG,” such as when Jack’s elderly father discovered Facebook. And the famous “Marshmallow Test.” Really outstanding writing, although at times, the narrator talked at such a cadence it made my heart rate speed up.

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The All But Forgotten Valiant Female Vietnam Vets

Reviewed: 02-22-24

Combat nurses weren’t holding guns, shooting at the enemy or flying hueys (or maybe they were), but they were “fighting communism” and working under fire in terrible conditions too. Unfortunately they came back to the U.S. in the same shape mentally and physically as their male counterparts. Frankies’s story is a good one and a great reminder that the Vietnam conflict tore up people of all races AND genders.

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A Much Appreciated Covid-19 Story

Reviewed: 02-11-24

Each character and each of their stories and poems were life giving. A reminder of the millions of people…and every life lost to the 2020 Pandemic…were once a part of our “great American melting pot.” Excellent narration and description of the what it might be like to be a New York City resident left behind to cope with the present and their pasts.

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3 people found this helpful

The Inner Lives of a Modern Irish Family

Reviewed: 12-11-23

One of the best fictional stories I’ve listened to all year….until the last two sentences. Dickie, Imelda, Cass and PJ were all very real in their heads and doings. I felt deeply for all of them, their choices and travails. Sometimes I wanted to reach through the story and shout “Wake the F*** up!” But we can’t do that, can we? In real life or in stories.

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50-Years of Assisted Suicide

Reviewed: 11-01-23

The third book of Winslow’s “Cartel Trilogy” was another page turner, and a reminder that a war with as many casualties as our Civil War is still going on. And I am a HUGE Ray Porter fan. Living in San Diego as I do, I’m not visiting Mexico anymore, despite the allure of its beauty and the culture there. Why? Because much of what you hear about in this book (although fictionalized) is close to the truth. It’s dicey to visit. And the summary that Art Keller gives at the end of the book should bring down the house. What is wrong with our own culture that makes Americans such a huge market for opiates? And why has our prison system been filled to the brim with non-violent drug offenders? So many questions to ask…some full of anger and some full of sadness…most go unanswered. A great listen if you can get past the violence.

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Insurance? Fires? Southern California? Winslow’s got you covered.

Reviewed: 10-22-23

I’ve grown to love this writer. And this book is the fourth of his I’ve listened to. I plan to give a couple them as gifts…this one to my 18 year old nephew, who’s just started his first job as a fireman in a small Midwestern town with dreams of fighting fires in CA. The chapter on fire school was excellent. And the book itself reminds me why — despite the fires and cost of living — I still live in SC. Loved the hard-headed, hard-working, uncompromising Jack too. Great book.

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A scary ride through a dark tunnel of mirrors…and teeth.

Reviewed: 09-16-23

Stephen King has long been a favorite author of mine. I have ripped through the majority of his novels and anthologies…most, like “The Outsiders,” more than once. The characters are believable, some likable, some not ( I am a Holly Gibney fan, so glad she shows up to help here), and the monster strange and vicious. A great horror story.

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