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korourke

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A Man of True Honor

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-22-19

Well we all know the legends - he couldn't tell a lie, father of our country, strong and silent, wooden teeth, etc. But this wonderful portrait of this mythical man shows you so much more. He was a figurehead before, with the dower face on the $1 bill but he was once young, and you learn about him as a youth and what shaped him. You see how he had a set of principles that he chose to abide by and he simply would not falter. I think many would be surprised to see how many standards and protocols he set that are still respected and revered today. He actually did put his country above his personal desires and opinions, not just the fake claims of patriotism we hear so often today. The book does touch on his inaction on the issue of freeing his slaves which demonstrates one rather large flaw in his otherwise honorable life. seen in the context of his social times, it is still odd that he didn't free them all, seeing as they were more of a financial burden than expected.

The book is read with great style and phrasing. Scott's voice is perfectly calm and engaging, just like Washington himself. I found it very hard to put down and listened to the whole thing in a few days. Like all of Chernow's books it is meticulously researched and full of accompanying quotes and facts he found after what could only be years of reading and hunting through others' letters. Interestingly, this was written before Hamilton and focused much more on his relationship with Lafayette and his son. The Hamilton bio has Washington as a major figure and relationship of Alexander's life. I wonder if Chernow found more about this friendship during the Hamilton research.

I came away with a much fuller and more complex understanding of Washington and what he did for this country. I wish it were required reading for all Americans. Or at least that we would put a different picture on the $1 bill! He was rather handsome!

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Fun and short- just what I needed!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-22-18

This was two funny, basically short stories, that passed an hour and a half of dreary car driving time perfectly! Originally thought it would be for the kids, since it was rather short. But it was above the head of my 10-year-old and the accents threw off my 13-year-old (both antsy boys) However I loved it! There are only two actors, but they create a number of distinct characters and voices even though all of the characters had a variance of British accents.

The mysteries themselves are fairly simple and not difficult to solve quite a bit sooner than the detective in the story, but it was still fun listening to the banter between the two journalists who solved each mystery.

If you want a couple of short stories to pass some time, nothing too heavy, nothing too serious, nothing too lengthy, this is a perfect fit. And I am sure there are other children who would enjoy it tremendously.

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Fun to read, plenty of laughs

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-26-18

Learned more about my home town from this book than I ever knew - guess I took it for granted. Really enjoyed the stories, the smiles, the wit. Was waiting for the big career breakthrough... it's coming.... :)

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Didn’t want it to end!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-22-18

Yes, in spite of the great length of this book I just didn’t wanted it to end. The abridged edition just could not do it justice. Ron Chernow’s writing is almost as elegant as Alexander Hamilton‘s himself. He weaves together the different pieces of Hamilton‘s life in a way that keeps you completely engaged even during the chapters on what might otherwise be dry administrative and political information. Of course, I’m a huge fan of Hamilton the musical, and this book just gives you an even more in-depth picture of his remarkable life.

It also gives you a less romanticized picture of life and behavior in the revolutionary war era. We tend to idolize the founding fathers and this book gives a much clearer picture of their humanity, their faults, and a period of time in which we were just as fervently and insanely divided as we are today politically.

The narration is excellent. Perfectly paced, and no easy task with the grandiose vocabulary of the author. After listening for a while I often found myself speaking in that flowery way to my family. LOL. it does make you wonder how we went from such beautiful spoken and written language to the sloppy slang (by comparison) we all use today.

Interestingly, as the book progressed I became more and more disillusioned with Thomas Jefferson, who is someone I previously admired. It’s obvious that Chernow has a real affection for Alexander Hamilton and so maybe there was a tiny bit of bias in describing Jefferson. However, this book seems so well and deeply researched I have to respect his comments on Jefferson. This book has made me eager to read a biography on Jefferson and see what others have to say about some of his more egregious hypocrisies.

I look forward to his books on George Washington and Ulysses Grant and wish they used the same narrator.

Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic of Alexander Hamilton or the revolutionary war. In general.

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Common Sense Audiobook By Thomas Paine cover art

Great Primer or Review

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-09-18

As so many, the decades of facts in my brain’s filing cabinet get unwieldy at times. This was a great review of a topic I’ve studied many times before. Succinct yet a great reminder of all that occurred during this important time. I like the narration as well- his gravitas suits the subject very well.

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Confessions of a Transylvanian Audiobook By Kevin Theis, Ron Fox cover art

What a story.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-09-18

Such a funny story, it’s even more amazing that it’s true! With Theis’ descriptions I could visualize the entire adventure, seeing him and his compatriots climbing parking garage walls like Spider-Man. 🤣. Lots of fun to read even if you’re not a Rocky Horror fan because the movie is just the backdrop for a story about friendship and camaraderie at a time in life when we all cherish it most.

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1 person found this helpful

Succinct and informative.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-18-17

A great quick review of WWII, especially for those who want a crash course. Well spoken, easy to follow, definitely recommend. If you have a decent knowledge of history already, it's thin, but a good overview. Enjoyed the narration - well done.

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