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Title: Raising the Barre

Subtitle: Big Dreams, False Starts, and My Midlife Quest to Dance the Nutcracker

Author: Lauren Kessler

Narrator: Hollis McCarthy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-24-15

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

When Lauren Kessler was 12, her ballet instructor crushed not just her dreams of being a ballerina but also her youthful self-assurance. Now, many decades and three children later, Kessler embarks on a journey to join a professional company to perform in The Nutcracker.

Raising the Barre is more than just one woman's story; it is a story about shaking things up, taking risks, and ignoring good sense and forgetting how old you are and how you're "supposed" to act. It's about testing limits and raising the bar(re) on your own life.

Members Reviews:

very inspirational

It was so inspirational and full of tidbits of ballet history. just a joy to hear.

Great inspiration

I am not a dancer but I relate to the story..."we should play to our weaknesses!"

I love it!!

This is really amazing. I love anything ballet! Its so much fun! I love this book!:)

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Title: The Rants, Raves and Crazy Days of an ER Nurse

Subtitle: Funny, True Life Stories of Medical Humor from the Emergency Room

Author: Dani Jacobs

Narrator: Cody J. Johnson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-16-15

Publisher: Blue Llama Publishing LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Get your scrubs on, and don't forget your stethoscope. Welcome to the ER.

This book is not about life and death struggles. This book is the polar opposite. It is about the absolute, over-the-top insanity that I have witnessed during my time in the ER. This book is the untold, unseen, and unshared rants and raves of an ER nurse who has been slowly driven mad by his patients. I want you, the listener to step into my scrubs, see this bizarre world through my eyes, and understand that once you stop laughing in the ER, it's time to quit.

This book is the stupid stories that I still don't believe. It's the codes gone crazy. It's the "I can't believe you said that." It's a testament to everything an ER nurse puts up with on a day in and day out basis that most people don't know exists. It makes Scrubs, E.R., House, and all the other medical shows look like fairy tales.

As an ER nurse, I want to let the world know that when we pull that curtain and leave the room, we are laughing because let's face it, it's funny. Please don't listen to this book if you think you are going to hear about nursing at its finest. This is not Florence Nightingale's kind of nursing; this is the grit, spit, vomit and s#!t that comes with the job I love and hate so much.

Members Reviews:

interesting, but.....

Not as enchantingring as I thought. stories seemed rushed.. This is a nurse with an attitude.

Funny, funny, and true

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

As a nurse I found the stories and situations both hysterical and true! I laughed a lot which got a lot of stares on a quiet subway train when I was listening.

What did you like best about this story?

It gives an insiders look at what an ER is like and how people really act which is both ridiculous and stunning.

Have you listened to any of Cody J. Johnsons other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first listen to this reader. Did a great job bringing out the humor and emotions or the stories.

Allergic reaction to smarmy

hey, I have a sense of humor, can appreciate sarcasm, and can roll with the punches. I thought I was embarking on pithy tales from the authors workplace-thought I would get a greater appreciation for the work my friends do.

Instead, I found myself banned to the lobby...waiting and waiting to be drawn in;

his words were experienced as kinda shallow and whiney --not unlike the patients he complained about.

I found nothing compelling about these "stories" - in fact, there seemed there were no stories of substance, just a regurgitation of job expectations shared in a way that seemed kinda bitchy.

By the time I got to "mental health, i just had to stop. Throughout the book, the author inserts disclaimers to assure the listener that he really does care & has respect for his patients. However, these declarations just serve as dropcloths for the really undignified prose and cliché he spits out thereafter. He seems more invested in championing his mother's stigmatizing views on "crazy" than to share meaningful stories that illustrate his view. you can tell a great deal about a health care provider by their use of language.

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Title: Dangerous Lessons and Guardian Angels

Subtitle: An Airline Pilot's Story

Author: P. J. Spivack

Narrator: Tom Lennon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-20-15

Publisher: Capt. Paul Jay Spivack

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

This is an action-packed, true adventure book that spans 35 years of airline flying. There are stories about transporting guns to Biafra in order to help the Independent Nigerians, flying cargo up and down the Berlin Air Corridor during the Cold War, as well as missions deep into Russia. Many of the stories in this book will put you on the edge of your seat; for example, when the author is forced to make a death-defying landing of a four-engine jetliner in total fog. During that landing, the runway never seen until the airplane is brought to a complete stop. This exciting book also chronicles treasure diving with frightening visits by man-eating sharks, exploring the anchorages off dreamy Caribbean beaches, and fly-fishing for huge trophy trout high in the Andes of Argentina. These true adventures are told in a series of fascinating short stories. Besides featuring dramatic and sometimes humorous tales of adventure, this information packed book also has a chapter on how to become an airline pilot and land that airline job. Finally, there is an inspirational message to be persistent, focused and never give up, even when faced with overwhelming odds.

Members Reviews:

Not to bad. a little bit long winded.

You should read this book, it's very easy to read. Very informative if you're thinking about becoming an airline pilot. The ups and downs of airplane life are spoken about freely. It will give you all the information you need to make a confident decision.

Interesting

Any additional comments?

I am not a pilot (though a frequent flyer) and don't care for fishing, and that pretty much covers the two things this book is about. Yet I really enjoyed it!

Captain Spivack has a very easy to read style. Just technical enough to actually teach a few things, but light enough so no novice gets confused or lost.

Much is extremely humorous and frankly makes you understand why he is so glad his career ended up as it did.

The narrator did a good job of being Captain Spivack and his not overly serious manner added greatly to the somewhat irreverent text.

You don't need to be a Pilot to Enjoy!

Been a frequent flyer for over 40 years so this memoir about a real pilots experience got my interest enough for me to purchase this.

His career spanned from the early era of sexy/glamorous stewardess just about up until today's no frills merger happy airline industry.

I found the book interesting and well written. If you have any interest in flying at all I recommend this book.

The narrator I also thought did a very good job.

Excellent book - great aviation experiences...

Excellent book - great aviation experiences - a helpful resource for any aspiring Aviator. Thanks

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Title: The Butterfly Mosque

Subtitle: A Young American Woman's Journey to Love and Islam

Author: G. Willow Wilson

Narrator: Catherine Byers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-13-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

The extraordinary story of an all-American girl's conversion to Islam and her ensuing romance with a young Egyptian man, The Butterfly Mosque is a stunning articulation of a Westerner embracing the Muslim world.

When G. Willow Wilson - already an accomplished writer on modern religion and the Middle East at just 27 - leaves her atheist parents in Denver to study at Boston University, she enrolls in an Islamic Studies course that leads to her shocking conversion to Islam and sends her on a fated journey across continents and into an uncertain future.

She settles in Cairo, where she teaches English and submerges herself in a culture based on her adopted religion. And then she meets Omar, a passionate young man with a mild resentment of the Western influences in his homeland. They fall in love, entering into a daring relationship that calls into question the very nature of family, belief, and tradition. Torn between the secular West and Muslim East, Willow records her intensely personal struggle to forge a "third culture" that might accommodate her own values without compromising the friends and family on both sides of the divide.

Members Reviews:

Not a very compelling story

While the premise of the book sounds interesting, it lacks fundamental parts of the story as others have pointed out, it does not explain the author's fascination with Islam. Apart from that, the book is not particularly interesting and deep.

Beautiful story

Really enjoyed Willow's story. I'm also a convert to Islam, so this felt very close to my heart. Her writing is candid, and I thoroughly enjoyed her views on Cairo.

Engaging, Insightful, Suspenseful, Fascinating

Listened twice. Willow Wilson is an amazing, insightful lady. There's family, politics, religion, joy, adventure.

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Title: 3mph: The Adventures of One Woman's Walk Around the World

Author: Polly Letofsky

Narrator: Polly Letofsky

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-28-15

Publisher: My Word Publishing

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Polly Letofsky left her Colorado home and headed west across four continents and over 14,000 miles - by foot - to become the first woman to walk around the world. In a spirit of adventure, along with the goal of raising global awareness for breast cancer, strangers welcomed her into their homes. The world had embraced her. But in the middle of Polly's journey, 9/11 flung us all into a crossroads in world history, and she found herself navigating a vastly changing world.

Members Reviews:

So much fun to listen to while I "walk along"!

If you could sum up 3mph: The Adventures of One Woman's Walk Around the World in three words, what would they be?

Inspiring, adventure, connections

Who was your favorite character and why?

Polly herself! I love the detailed descriptions of the people she met and experiences she had - especially with local foods and customs.

What does Polly Letofsky bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I did read the book and loved it. But hearing Polly tell her story adds so much more color and fun to it. Listening to the book was like hanging out with Polly and listening to her in person.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

It had nothing to do with the shoes.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended!

Wow ...What an amazing woman

Polly is one strong and courageous woman. Her journey was not an easy one but she put one foot in front of the other to accomplish her dream of walking around the world and raising awareness for breast cancer. The book is fantastic and I enjoyed ever minute of it and would highly recommend it to others.

A very human travel memoir

Would you consider the audio edition of 3mph: The Adventures of One Woman's Walk Around the World to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but I thought listening to Polly's story in her own voice (and her takes on the world's accents) enhanced the experience.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I enjoyed getting to know humanity as a central character...not just cultural differences like whether to take off your shoes at the door but the physical and psychological experience of being a woman immersed in and traveling through humanity every day.

Which scene was your favorite?

I listened while getting ready for work, and every day there was a scene that made me laugh out loud or well up with emotion. A favorite scene was the coming home to Colorado. Imagine reaching a hilltop after five years and finally seeing home.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The letter Polly wrote and had translated to her right-hand-man Thai crew support was beautiful and made me think of the many good friends I've relied upon in my own travels and then had to say good bye to.

Any additional comments?

Be prepared to break out your walking shoes after reading this book. You may not make it around the world, but it does inspire you to see the world at a slower pace.

If You Need a Pick-Me-Up,This is the Book For You!

Have you had a hard day? Feeling defeated? Facing a challenge that is dragging you down? Well, plug this book into your ear and feel inspired! I had no idea what I would hear when I began this book, but it exceeded my expectations! I went from laughing to crying, to laughing to crying and back again.

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Title: This Is Not a Love Story

Subtitle: A Memoir

Author: Judy Brown

Narrator: Sarah Rose Humphrey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-28-15

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

A razor-sharp, hilarious, and poignant memoir about growing up in the closed world of the ultraorthodox Jewish community.

The third of six children in a family that harks back to a gloried Hassidic dynasty, Judy Brown grew up with the legacy of centuries of religious teaching and the faith and lore that sustained her people for generations.

But her carefully constructed world begins to crumble when her "crazy" brother, Nachum, returns home after a year in Israel living with relatives. Though supposedly "cured", he is still prone to retreating into his own mind or erupting in wordless rages. The adults' inability to make him better - or even to give his affliction a name - forces Judy to ask larger questions: If God could perform miracles for her sainted ancestors, why can't he cure Nachum? And what of the other stories her family treasured?

Judy starts to negotiate with God, swinging from holy tenets to absurdly hilarious conclusions faster than a Talmudic scholar: She goes on a fast to nab coveted earrings; she fights with her siblings at the dinner table for the ultimate badge of honor ("Who will survive the next Holocaust?"); and she adamantly defends her family's reputation when, scandalously, her parents are accused of having fallen in love - which is absolutely not what pious people do.

For all its brutal honesty about this insular community, This Is Not a Love Story is ultimately a story of a family like so many others, whose fierce love for each other and devotion to their faith pulled them through the darkest time in their lives.

Critic Reviews:

"An instant classic.... With echoes of Scout Finch, the feisty Menuchah guides readers on an unforgettable journey of love, justice and compassion." (Leah Vincent, author of Cut Me Loose: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood)

"I love books about families and this one is so warm and funny that I couldn't put it down.... This Is Not a Love Story actually is one." (Nina Stibbe, author of Man at the Helm and Love, Nina)

"In this thoughtful and engaging memoir, Judy Brown offers a fascinating glimpse into a world, a family, a life.... I was utterly absorbed." (Jennifer Traig, author of Devil in the Details and Well Enough Alone)

Members Reviews:

More than a love story...

This very cleverly written memoir from Judy Brown chronicles growing up with a "crazy brother" Nachum and how hard her mother fought, in the sometimes claustrophobic world of Hassidism, to find help for her son. It may be my age (46), but I empathized with Ms. Brown's mother's point of view more than the sister who narrates, though she was mentally hilarious and seeing through her eyes kept the more difficult times the family went through lighter. The ending stayed with me a long, long time.

Definitely recommend.

Heartwarming

Any additional comments?

This book takes the familiar tale about growing up with an autistic sibling and turns it on its head, since the author is an ultra-Orthodox Jew. Getting a glimpse into Orthodox life is equally as interesting as learning about the author's brother. I'm no sentimentalist, but even I felt good inside when the brother began to respond to therapy.

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Title: Running Like China

Author: Sophie Hardcastle

Narrator: Rebecca Macauley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-16-15

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

From a talented emerging writer comes a brave, honest, unforgettable memoir about mental illness, which breaks the silence and shatters the taboos to give hope to all those struggling to find their way through.

One day Sophie Hardcastle realised the joy shed always known had disappeared. She was constantly tired, with no energy, no motivation and no sense of enjoyment for surfing, friends, conversations, movies, parties, family - for anything. Her hours became empty. And then, the month before she turned 17, that emptiness filled with an intense, unbearable sadness that made her scream and tear at her skin.

Misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue then major depression then temporal lobe epilepsy, she was finally told - three years, two suicide attempts and five hospital admissions later that she had bipolar 1 disorder.

In this honest and beautifully told memoir, Sophie lays bare her story of mental illness - of a teenage girl using drugs, alcohol and sex in an attempt to fix herself; of her familys anguish and her loss of self.

It is a brave and hopeful story of adaptation, of learning to accept and of ultimately realising that no matter how deep you have sunk, the surface is always within reach.

Running Like China shatters the silence and smashes the taboos around mental illness. It is an unforgettable story.

Members Reviews:

Captivating memoir about mental health battles

An enchanting, moving, heartbreaking-yet-inspiring memoir from an incredibly wise and talented young writer. Brave, honest and mature. I was moved to tears more than once, and particularly captivated by the magic of the ocean through Sophie's words. A slight tendency towards over-descriptive writing in some instances was the book's only flaw. Look forward to hearing more from Sophie Hardcastle.

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Title: Bastards

Subtitle: A Memoir

Author: Mary King

Narrator: Christina Delaine

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-22-15

Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Living in Oklahoma with her maternal grandfather, Mary gets a new name and a new life. But she's haunted by the past: by the baby girls she's sure will come looking for her someday, by the mother she left behind, by the father who left her. Mary is a college student when her sisters start to get back in touch. With each subsequent reunion, her family becomes closer to whole again.

Moving, haunting, and at times wickedly funny, Bastards is about finding one's family and oneself.

Critic Reviews:

"Is it OK to repeatedly burst out laughing in the middle of a crowded coffeehouse before explaining to fellow customers, 'It's this hilarious new book about a crazy family that gave away their children the way other families send out Christmas cards'? If not, I apologize for all the interrupted coffee breaks and lift my cup to Mary King and her glorious Bastards, a rib-tickling yet deeply moving debut memoir. Only a writer with King's keen eye, expert storytelling skills, and from-the-heart honesty can turn a childhood this deficient into a book so rich." (Franz Wisner, author of Honeymoon with My Brother)

"With Bastards Mary Anna King has crafted a wise and indispensable meditation on the true nature of family, the dislocations of adoption, and all the vital species of love. She brings light to them all." (Steve Almond, author of Against Football: One Man's Reluctant Manifesto and Bad Poetry)

"An impressive debut.... [Mary Anna King's] prose moves with lyrical wit and cultural texture as she persists with all of her protean self to figure out the nature of family and the deepest human connections amid trauma and confusion." (Peter Balakian, author of Black Dog of Fate)

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: Hysterectomy at 29

Subtitle: How It Changed My Life: A Woman's Perspective

Author: Candy O'Donnell

Narrator: Kat Marlowe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-19-15

Publisher: Candy O'Donnell

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Women, you are not alone!

Decisions, decisions, we are surrounded by them. Life is full of complications, and at times what we are contemplating can be life altering. I changed not only my life, but my entire outlook on family, work, and how I view myself. Somehow I found the strength within to decide what avenue was best for me.

Members Reviews:

A triumph

Like a wise and trusted friend, Ms. O'Donnell bravely shares her very personal story of facing a hysterectomy at such a young age. While I personally have not faced such a harrowing reality (or decision) yet, I am comforted knowing that if the time comes I am not alone, and I will not consider myself "less" of a woman if this is something I must face. This inspiring book also celebrates the power of love and family, as Ms. O'Donnell describes the unrelenting support of her husband and children. A beautiful reminder that love is a blessing for which there could never be a price.

Informative. Must Read!

I want to thank author Candy O'Donnell for being brave to share to the world what she had been through. Iâve known Candy for few years and I would have never guessed what she had been through. Candy not only shares her life altering experiences, she has helped me understand reasons why women have hysterectomy. For women who want to know more about hysterectomy or have been through their own struggles, this book is for you. No one is ever alone. People have similar struggles. But itâs comforting to know that there are people out there that understand. And that was Candyâs goal to write this novella, to help those who needed to know that they are not alone. Thank you Candy for sharing your personal experience!

Brave and Bold

As a woman who experienced a very similar situation (at the age of 26) I was honored to be asked to review this book. The subject matter is extremely personal and I commend the author for delving into such a sensitive topic. Ms. O'Donnell opened up her heart and released her inner thoughts and feelings as she walks the reader through the experience. Hard choices and painful decisions, the reaction of her spouse and family are all part of the story.

The thing that hit me the hardest while reading this book is Ms. O'Donnell's raw honesty. She tells it like it is, and reminds all of us, men and women alike, that a woman is not defined by her ability to carry a child, but rather, by her soul.

What an amazing author !!!

5 stars to Candy O'Donnell.... she truly lets us know that we are truly wonderful creatures .. that with or without this operation it doesnt take away from who we are and who we strive to be.... bravo !!! More women need to read this... the candor / bluntness / truth as well as the loving way Ms. O'Donnell expresses herself.... though ive never gone thru this myself i have known a few that went thru this and could have benefited from these words of courage and wisdom. !!!

Information all women must know!!

Very brave of the author to write about something like this. Although I never experience anything like it It's always good to be knowledgeable about these kind of things that can happen to anyone. I know it will be useful to many women out there. I recommend all women to read it!

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Title: Glass Half Full: Our Australian Adventure (Sarah Jane's Travel Memoir Series Book 1)

Author: Sarah Jane Butfield

Narrator: Sandra Garston

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-11-15

Publisher: Rukia Publishing

Ratings: 1 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Is the glass half-empty or half full? Sometimes life influences our view and alters our perception. In 1997, life changing events almost destroyed me. At my lowest point, and just in time, I met Nigel. He helped me to discover how a positive attitude can change everything.

I decided not to squander any more of my time or energy on undeserving people. This new positive approach helped me to perceive my glass as half-full, with my aim being to achieve a happy and healthy life for my family. Together, we lived life to the fullest.

In 2008, with good times ahead of us, my glass was half-full. As a family, we made the biggest and most difficult decision of our lives; part of our family would immigrate to Australia. We lived the Australian dream, embracing the adventure until adversity came to test us. A sequence of life changing events including a close family bereavement, PTSD following a road rage car accident, and the shock of losing the roots to our Australian adventure as a result of the Brisbane floods tested us on many levels. Glass Half Full follows our journey.

Find out what it takes to survive with the odds stacked against you. Do you fight back, and if so, at what cost physically and emotionally? Could we maintain our positivity and family values against the odds?

Members Reviews:

Australia and Tasmania

Who wouldn't love to live in both or either of these places. Pioneering spirit is what Sarah has. A story of a family who leave England for a better life. At first the life seems perfect, living near town, even with only one car they could make do. Then---Nigel decides to buy land in the wilds and make it suitable to live on. But mother nature has other things in store for them not once but several times. It is amazing what people can withstand and still move forward. Their youngest was on a great adventure. As life gets in the way of happinest this couple keeps picking themselves up and moving forward. A must read for those intending to take up life in Australia or Tasmania.

Try and try again!

I really enjoyed this fascinating story about a family giving it all up to emigrate. The book has its lighter and sadder moments and is a real insight into how things don't always turn out how you would wish! Sarah has been very candid with the family and pet dogs' emotions. The bottom line of this story is a lesson to all of us. No matter how willing you are to succeed, sometimes you just have to admit defeat and get on! A good read!

Intriguing

This is a very interesting book and not because the writing is great. It was interesting to me because I think there are a lot of missing pieces concerning the author's earlier life that might have gone a long way in helping me understand choices made before leaving for and during their time in Australia. And never did I believe the author's insistence that she feels her glass was half full. If anything, I think she was trying to convince herself that it wasn't completely empty.

What seems to be left out is what makes the book fascinating from a psychological perspective.

I am deliberately being mysterious only because I don't want to upset anyone too much.