Get Most Popular Full Audiobooks in Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

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Title: Just Mercy

Subtitle: A Story of Justice and Redemption

Author: Bryan Stevenson

Narrator: Bryan Stevenson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-21-14

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4853 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice - from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time.

Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didnt commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship - and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.

Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyers coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.

Editorial Reviews:

"Bryan Stevenson is one of my personal heroes, perhaps the most inspiring and influential crusader for justice alive today, and Just Mercy is extraordinary. The stories told within these pages hold the potential to transform what we think we mean when we talk about justice." (Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow)

Critic Reviews:

"Not since Atticus Finch has a fearless and committed lawyer made such a difference in the American South. Though larger than life, Atticus exists only in fiction. Bryan Stevenson, however, is very much alive and doing God's work fighting for the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless, the vulnerable, the outcast, and those with no hope. Just Mercy is his inspiring and powerful story." (John Grisham)

"From the frontlines of social justice comes one of the most urgent voices of our era. Bryan Stevenson is a real-life, modern-day Atticus Finch who, through his work in redeeming innocent people condemned to death, has sought to redeem the country itself. This is a book of great power and courage. It is inspiring and suspenseful - a revelation." (Isabel Wilkerson, author of The Warmth of Other Suns)

Members Reviews:

Made me question justice, peers and myself.

I have a little over an hour commute each way 5 days a week. I've been listening to audio books during my commute just over two years. Its made a big difference in my life. Now I feel guilty on the days I just listen to the radio.

Narrators play an important role.

I was so happy to learn that the author narrated this book. However, hes a little bit flat. The first hour or so of the book was pretty dry and I didnt know if I would even continue listening. Im so glad I did. Its been a long time since a book really made stop and think. I had to keep pausing the audio to take a few minutes to think about things.

When I would share pieces of the book with friends or co-workers and tell them how troubling/alarming I felt certain instances were their responses were pretty similar. They all said something along the lines of there had to be more to it and someone couldnt possibly be sent to death row or prison at those ages/for those crimes. I would nod and say you have to read it.

Around this same time at a work lunch the topic of the death penalty came up.

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Title: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

Subtitle: And Other Lessons from the Crematory

Author: Caitlin Doughty

Narrator: Caitlin Doughty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-19-14

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2584 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Most people want to avoid thinking about death, but Caitlin Doughty - a 20-something with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre - took a job at a crematory, turning morbid curiosity into her lifes work. With an original voice that combines fearless curiosity and mordant wit, Caitlin tells an unusual coming-of-age story full of bizarre encounters, gallows humor, and vivid characters (both living and very dead). Describing how she swept ashes from the machines (and sometimes onto her clothes), and cared for bodies of all shapes and sizes, Caitlin becomes an intrepid explorer in the world of the deceased. Her eye-opening memoir shows how our fear of dying warps our culture and society, and she calls for better ways of dealing with death (and our dead). In the spirit of her popular Web series, "Ask a Mortician", Caitlins engaging narrative style makes this otherwise scary topic both approachable and profound.

Caitlin Doughty, the host and creator of the "Ask a Mortician" Web series and the collective Order of the Good Death, is on a mission to change the way we think about death.

Members Reviews:

Ms. Frizzle Takes the School Bus to a Morgue

Would you listen to Smoke Gets in Your Eyes again? Why?

In the name of all things unholy and weird, yes! I listened to this book at work and found myself snorting with laughter at irreverent and socially unacceptable times. It is wonderfully informative, thought provoking and hilarious.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The dead. Doughty has a distinct and alarming ability to animate the dead in a way that demands that we respect them, but allows us to laugh with them at the absurdities of death and dying.

What does Caitlin Doughty bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Doughty's narration is a bit forced at first, but listening to her settle into the reading is kind of like watching a friend get over stage fright and slowly take command of the audience. As one would expect, Doughty brings a certain honesty to the more personal anecdotes in the book that I may not have appreciated as much without hearing them told by the author. The narrative does take on a slightly detached tone overall, which is what creates the dry humor, but it makes the personal moments of sadness a bit disarming. I'm sure that's the point, but I am glad that I got to hear them from Doughty herself. Her narration takes on a different cadence and a lower decibel when she recounts some episodes from her childhood that caused the images to stick in my memory of this book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I enjoyed looking forward to listening to a chapter or two a day. The pacing is steady and unhurried. The format is such that each chapter can almost stand alone so it does not lend itself to binge listening. This is a story you can enjoy in small chunks.

Really Great to Listen to.

Would you consider the audio edition of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes to be better than the print version?

I've never read the print version, but I really liked this as audio, it reminded me of listening to stories on NPR. I Listened to it everyday on my way to work, or when I was doing random stuff around the house.

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Title: 13 Hours

Subtitle: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi

Author: Annex Security Team, Mitchell Zuckoff

Narrator: Mitchell Zuckoff

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-09-14

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8154 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

The harrowing, true account from the brave men on the ground who fought back during the Battle of Benghazi.

13 Hours presents, for the first time ever, the true account of the events of September 11, 2012, when terrorists attacked the US State Department Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA station called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya. A team of six American security operators fought to repel the attackers and protect the Americans stationed there. Those men went beyond the call of duty, performing extraordinary acts of courage and heroism, to avert tragedy on a much larger scale. This is their personal account, never before told, of what happened during the 13 hours of that now-infamous attack.

13 Hours sets the record straight on what happened during a night that has been shrouded in mystery and controversy. Written by New York Times best-selling author Mitchell Zuckoff, this riveting book takes listeners into the action-packed story of heroes who laid their lives on the line for one another, for their countrymen, and for their country.

13 Hours is a stunning, eye-opening, and intense book - but most importantly, it is the truth. The story of what happened to these men - and what they accomplished - is unforgettable.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Members Reviews:

Well written factual accounting of a horrific day and night

This is it. With this book you can discover what happened to Ambassador Stevens and the other 3 Americans in Benghazi. This is a non-partisan accounting of those horrible events written by some of the key American heroes who were there fighting to protect Americans.

If you are content with the denials by President Obama and Secretary Clinton you probably will not appreciate this book. Conversely, if you just want a book that mercilessly attacks President Obama and Secretary Clinton for even the gum they chew you probably will not appreciate this book. This book gives facts fro the ground

Spellbinding, Inspiring, Humbling

It was mesmerizing from the first chapter. I listened to it straight though; I just could not help myself. And even as I listened I wondered within myself " How does America still produce such men'. I am in awe of each of them and thankful to and for each of them. I do not think anyone can read this story without being flooded with all types of emotions. For those who came home let there be Peace; for those who did not let there be Rest, for those who did nothing to help let there be Shame.

Listened to it THREE TIMES

Any additional comments?

What can I say past the title of this review? I read it, saw the movie and read it TWO MORE TIMES.

A story of heroism

Compelling but not long winded the author did well gathering details and presenting the accounts in real time. The courage bravery and loyalty of our men is evident as is the cowardice of some that hid instead of fighting. The heroes are ex-military so were not bestowed the highest honors while those that did little received them. The real honor is in knowing them through this event.

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Title: Molly's Game

Subtitle: From Hollywoods Elite, to Wall Streets Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker

Author: Molly Bloom

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-24-14

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 472 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Molly Bloom reveals how she built one of the most exclusive, high-stakes underground poker games in the world - an insider's story of excess and danger, glamour and greed.

In the late 2000s, Molly Bloom, a twenty something petite brunette from Loveland Colorado, ran the highest stakes, most exclusive poker game Hollywood had ever seen - she was its mistress, its lion tamer, its agent, and its oxygen. Everyone wanted in, few were invited to play.

Hundreds of millions of dollars were won and lost at her table. Molly's game became the game for those in the know - celebrities, business moguls, and millionaires. Molly staged her games in palatial suites with beautiful views and exquisite amenities. She flew privately, dined at exclusive restaurants, hobnobbed with the heads of Hollywood studios, was courted by handsome leading men, and was privy to the world's most delicious gossip, until it all came crashing down around her.

Molly's Game is a behind the scenes look at Molly's game, the life she created, the life she lost, and what she learned in the process.

Members Reviews:

You were workin' as a waitress in a cocktail bar..

Molly Bloom moved to Los Angeles from Colorado, seeking fame and glory. Working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, she stumbled into a job as personal assistant to an abrasive guy named "Reardon" with nebulous business dealings and connections to all sorts of rich and famous people. This leads to Molly running poker games attended by Hollywood A-listers and billionaires. At first working for tips alone (which could total tens of thousands of dollars a night in games where celebrities are dumping half a million dollars on the table), Molly climbs her way up until she is running the games herself, with an exclusive invitee list in LA and New York. This ultimately proves to be her undoing - when she is merely collecting tips, her job is in a legal gray area, but basically she's safe (she actually retains a lawyer, makes sure to pay taxes on her earnings, and so on). But as she became more ambitious, and greedier, once she's actually organizing the games and collecting a "rake" (the house's share of any money bet), she has become the operator of an illegal gambling enterprise. And that's how the book ends, with Bloom given the full FBI home-invasion treatment and then awaiting trial.

I found this book very interesting as a rags-to-riches-to-convicted-felon story of a former cocktail waitress, but Molly's Game is not really very much about poker. (Molly herself was never really a player, and I think her knowledge of the game never extended beyond what she needed to run it.) Instead, it's really a glimpse at celebrity culture and the world of the 1%-ers at play, and also a story about Molly herself, whom I found to be an interesting and somewhat sympathetic character, yet rather lacking in self-awareness for all that she writes a tell-all about herself.

One of the interesting things about her memoir is that she freely names names - big names.

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Title: If Chins Could Kill

Subtitle: Confessions of a B Movie Actor

Author: Bruce Campbell

Narrator: Bruce Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-17-14

Publisher: Campbell Entertainment, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1454 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Life is full of choices. Right now, yours is whether or not to buy the autobiography of a mid-grade, kind of hammy actor.

Am I supposed to know this guy? you think to yourself.

No, and that's exactly the point.The truth is that though you might not have a clue who I am, there are countless working stiffs like me out there, grinding away every day at the wheel of fortune.

If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor is my first book, and I invite you to ride with me through the choppy waters of blue collar Hollywood.

Okay, so buy the damned book already!

Members Reviews:

One Of The Most Enjoyable Books I Have Ever Heard

Would you listen to If Chins Could Kill again? Why?

Yes

There is a wealth of insider information on how Hollywood works and the inside story on what it takes to be a successful actor.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bruce Campbell, of course.

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

The tender story of how a chin conquered Hollywood and won our hearts

Any additional comments?

This book is funny, informative and sometimes downright dangerous to listen to when driving home from work as you can laugh so hard you might fall out of your seat - thank goodness for seat belts.

I've enjoyed Bruce's work in front of the camera since I first saw him in the Evil Dead series. It wasn't until I listened to this book that I found out that he was an integral part of many other favorite movies and TV shows in a behind the camera capacity.

Thanks to Bruce's dramatic reading and witty prose, this is one of the all time best listens I've ever gotten from audible.com.

I hope audible gets more of Bruce's books in stock soon.

I hope you get as much enjoyment out of this book as I did.

Cheers.

Chin-tacular

I loved this book. Bruce (we're on a first name basis) has a perfect voice for narration. I could (and did) listen to him talk for hours. The book made me realize just how human actors actually are. His stories are funny and his observations of society are hilarious. I enjoyed every minute of this book.

Easily a B+

As a long time fan of Bruce Campbell, it was sort of interesting to hear him talk about things that were far from glamorous when it comes to the life of a "movie star" in the industry. He also gave some fun backstories to a few of those films you know you love if you are even bothering to glance at this title.

The only downside is that this book was written well before "Burn Notice" took off and became a bit of a hit. It would have been fun to hear about some of that part of what has now become perhaps a nudge closer to B+ as far as his acting status is concerned.

If you want something fluffy and full of pretentious nonsense, read the tabloids. If you want a real guy to tell you how it really is, this is a fun read.

Having Bruce read his own book made it that much better.

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Title: With the Old Breed

Subtitle: At Peleliu and Okinawa

Author: E. B. Sledge

Narrator: Marc Vietor, Joe Mazzello, Tom Hanks (introduction)

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-15-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2917 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed. Audible Studios, in partnership with Playtone, the production company co-owned by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and creator of the award-winning HBO series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, as well as the HBO movie Game Change, has created new recordings of these memoirs, narrated by the stars of the miniseries. James Badge Dale (who portrayed Robert Leckie) and Joseph Mazello (who played Eugene Sledge) bring all the passion and emotion of their riveting television performances to these new audio productions.

With the Old Breed is a modern classic of military history AND has been called "one of the most important personal accounts of war that I have ever read," by distinguished historian John Keegan. Author E. B. Sledge served with the First Marine Division during World War II, and his first-hand narrative is unsurpassed in its sincerity. Sledge's experience shows in this fascinating account of two of the most harrowing and pivotal island battles of the Pacific theater.

On Peleliu and Okinawa, the action was extremely fierce. Amidst oppressive heat and over land obliterated by artillery shells, the combat raged ferociously. Casualties were extreme on both sides, and by the time the Americans had broken through at Okinawa, more than 62,000 Japanese soldiers were dead. Against military policy, Sledge scribbled notes and jammed them into his copy of the New Testament. Those notes form the backbone of what Navy Times said "has been called the best World War II memoir of an enlisted man."

BONUS AUDIO: Tom Hanks, one of the executive producers, has written and narrated an original introduction to With the Old Breed where he describes his appreciation for the book's author, the narrators, and the soldiers who had fought in the cauldron of the Pacific Theater during World War II.

For more from Audible and Playtone, click

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Members Reviews:

This is the second audio book of Sledge's work

Narrators matter and it is rare for me to buy an audiobook that I already own, and enjoy just to hear another perspective in the way it is read. But this book lends itself to the two pretty much different voices. Sledge wrote this book about his combat experience in his maturity. I think like many veterans of war, especially ground combat. some distance, in terms of years, often decades, is required to tell the story. But E. B. Sledge lived it and survived it, and not just physically, as a young man.

George Wilson does a terrific job of telling this story as an adult explaining what happened, in the voice of someone who not only survived, but is strong enough to remember and acknowledge the ordinary people who accomplished remarkable things, good, bad, and horrific. The drama comes from the written word, and Sledge does not add many flourishes. The stated facts of what he saw and experienced do not need them.

Marc Vietor reads in the voice of the young man experiencing the fatigue, terror and even humor, of the ground combat soldier in the Pacific of World War II. It is good to remember that Sledge and his fellow marines were very young. In another time they would have been deciding what they would do when they grew up.

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Title: I Am Malala

Subtitle: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

Author: Malala Yousafzai

Narrator: Archie Panjabi

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-08-13

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7016 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Audie Award Finalist, Biography/Memoir, 2014

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

I am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Critic Reviews:

"Narrator Archie Panjabi is an excellent choice to deliver this memoir of the Pakistani girl who stood up to the Taliban. Her voice is youthful, lilting, and buoyant, invoking the key qualities of the now well-known young woman who, at the age of 15, was shot three times in the face by the Taliban because she actively advocated education for girls. Panjabi narrates with vigor; rapid sentences and warm tones evoke Malala's persona. The listener has the feeling of being told this story by Malala herself rather than by an actor, which is the best type of audiobook. Those who want to hear more about Afghanistan, Pakistan's Swat Valley, or the family behind this courageous young person will not be disappointed." (AudioFile)

"Narrator Archie Panjabi is an excellent choice to deliver this memoir.... Panjabi narrates with vigor; rapid sentences and warm tones evoke Malala's persona. The listener has the feeling of being told this story by Malala herself rather than by an actor, which is the best type of audiobook." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

So much more than expected...

Malala opens her heart, family, neighborhood, religion, history and culture to our understanding in her simple, insightful voice. Nurtured as an equal by her educator father she started as a young child to advocate education for street children. As the Taliban invaded her beloved Swat Valley and closed girls schools, she became the face and voice of the girls in open defiance of their rulings. Did you know she has been nominated for the Noble Peace prize? I didn't. I couldn't put this book down and it helped me to understand the Pakistani view of recent historical events such as the war in Afghanistan and the killing of Ben Ladin. After reading I did an internet search and watched videos of her talks and "liked her" on her Facebook page which has pictures of the school, her family and valley. What a wonderful young woman - who made a difference and will continue to do so.

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Title: My Story

Author: Chris Stewart, Elizabeth Smart

Narrator: Elizabeth Smart

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-07-13

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2118 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

For the first time, 10 years after her abduction from her Salt Lake City bedroom, Elizabeth Smart reveals how she survived and the secret to forging a new life in the wake of a brutal crime.

On June 5, 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, the daughter of a close-knit Mormon family, was taken from her home in the middle of the night by religious fanatic Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. She was kept chained, dressed in disguise, repeatedly raped, and told she and her family would be killed if she tried to escape. After her rescue on March 12, 2003, she rejoined her family and worked to pick up the pieces of her life.

Now for the first time, in her memoir, My Story, she tells of the constant fear she endured every hour, her courageous determination to maintain hope, and how she devised a plan to manipulate her captors and convinced them to return to Utah, where she was rescued minutes after arriving. Smart explains how her faith helped her stay sane in the midst of a nightmare and how she found the strength to confront her captors at their trial and see that justice was served.

In the nine years after her rescue, Smart transformed from victim to advocate, traveling the country and working to educate, inspire and foster change. She has created a foundation to help prevent crimes against children and is a frequent public speaker. In 2012, she married Matthew Gilmour, whom she met doing mission work in Paris for her church, in a fairy tale wedding that made the cover of People magazine.

Members Reviews:

a heartbreaker, with a happy ending

A riveting story. So clear, it was like watching a film about what happened.

Uplifting?

Would you listen to My Story again? Why?

Yes, it's so uplifting. Not that what she endured was pleasant, but the way she handled herself and how she ends the book is amazing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elizabeth!!! She is the strongest woman I have ever heard of. Forgiveness and how beautiful and empowering that can be.

What does Elizabeth Smart bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

FAITH

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was very moving, made me laugh AND cry...

Any additional comments?

I recommend it with everything I am.

Well Done! Riveting and Emotional

At first I was very skeptical about Elizabeth Smart reading her own book - something just didn't sit right with me about it given the subject. However I was pleasantly surprised and glad I gave this book a chance.

Ms. Smart has achieved a good balance here with such a personal and honest description of her horrendous ordeal. It was certainly difficult to hear at some points, but was ultimately very satisfying. Her touching description of her reunion with her family, and how she decided not to waste any more of her life obsessing over her captors, was just excellent.

I must also admit I was worried, given Ms. Smart's strong Mormon beliefs, that she may emphasize her religion a bit too much for my taste. As someone much less religious than most, and not exactly a giant fan of the LDS church, I was grateful for the absence of proselytizing and mysticism (one reference to the magical appearance of a mid-night cold cup of water notwithstanding).

Certainly I highly recommend this book!

Absolutely chilling; stops a parent's heart

Smart narrates her account of abduction and rape.

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Title: Stories from Gallipoli

Author: Steve Sailah

Narrator: Steve Sailah

Format: Original Recording

Length: 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-02-13

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Steve Sailah from ABC Radio Affairs interviewed six Australians who took part in a young nation's first major military campaign at Gallipoli in 1915. There original Anzacs have since passed on, but their stories remain fresh - the stories of naive young men eager to defend the Mother Country but who had no concept of the horrors they would encounter and the wretched conditions they would endure.

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Title: A Long Way Gone

Subtitle: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Author: Ishmael Beah

Narrator: Ishmael Beah

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-19-13

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 805 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

This is how wars are fought now by children, hopped up on drugs, and wielding AK-47s. In the more than 50 violent conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But it is rare to find a first-person account from someone who endured this hell and survived. In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now 26 years old, tells a riveting story in his own words: how, at the age of 12, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By 13, hed been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

Members Reviews:

Author's voice

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciated that the account was written and narrated by a boy with first-hand experience. He explains his fear and struggle for survival from his own experiences and you begin to understand, reluctantly, how an innocent child with such a big heart could perform such atrocities. You also learn that these tainted children, at least some of them, have the capacity for rehabilitation and the ability to attain happiness after such horrible experiences full of hatred and violence. His story makes you question humanity, but his survival and recovery will return hope and faith of the good in this world. This book makes you want to become an activist for the plight of these children and their families.

What about Ishmael Beahs performance did you like?

I like that it was his story; it added to the narrative knowing it was his experiences he was telling you about.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It did get under my skin and I had a hard time not thinking about it when I was away.

Fascinating and tragic story

If you could sum up A Long Way Gone in three words, what would they be?

Sad yet hopeful.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that he was able to be rescued from the life of child soldier and go on to present about these issues at the UN.

What does Ishmael Beah bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

It's his memories. One thing is when he signs some of the songs that made him happy as a kid, you can tell they still do.

Loved

This book was amazing. I read a lot and I've never read something like this!! I'm happy I Read It

An Eye-opening Read.

I am very glad to have opened myself up to the harsh reality that others have experienced. My life and the way I see things have truly changed.

Intense, but not intense enough

This is a story of a 12 year old boys life as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. The writing is first person and author narrated, but did not strike me as intensely personal, or brutally honest, or deeply introspective. It effectively tells the story of how a normal kid becomes a killer, and then returns to some level of normalcy. If you are not familiar with the issue of child soldiers, this book is an excellent introduction.

I expect quite a lot from a memoir. In this case I heard the authors intense story, but I also felt the author held back the very worst and the potentially most powerful.