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Title: Nothing Was the Same

Subtitle: A Memoir

Author: Kay Redfield Jamison

Narrator: Renée Raudman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Perhaps no one but Kay Redfield Jamison---who combines the acute perceptions of a psychologist with writerly elegance and passion---could bring such a delicate touch to the subject of losing a spouse to cancer. In spare and at times strikingly lyrical prose, Jamison looks back at her relationship with her husband, Richard Wyatt, a renowned scientist who battled severe dyslexia to become one of the foremost experts on schizophrenia. And with characteristic honesty, she describes his slow surrender to cancer, her own struggle with overpowering grief, and her efforts to distinguish grief from depression. Jamison also recalls the joy that Richard brought her during the nearly twenty years they had together. Wryly humorous anecdotes mingle with bittersweet memories of a relationship that was passionate and loving---if troubled on occasion by her manic depression---as Jamison reveals the ways in which Richard taught her to live fully through his courage and grace. A penetrating study of grief viewed from deep inside the experience itself, Nothing Was the Same is also a deeply moving memoir by a superb writer.

©2009 Redfield Jamison (P)2009 Tantor

Critic Reviews:

"A soul-baring love letter to the author's loving life partner." (

Kirkus)

Members Reviews:

Liked the story better than the narrator

This is a good little "slice of life" memoir. I read it because it deals with mental illness, as well as physical illness, and the writing did not disappoint. Though I couldn't relate to the level of involvement the main character had with her husband, I still loved the nuanced story of the relationship. And that's really the message here - it's not about someone dying from cancer, it's more about how this couple lived, and connected with each other. I think the book could have easily been twice as long, with more detail from the "I" voice. I know Jamison has written a book "The Unquiet Mind" but IMO it's too short to waste a credit.

This narrator's voice is rather shrill, however, and the reading suffers, especially when she portrays crying. Ugh! I think the really good narrators stay away from trying to portray realistic whimpers and sobs and there is a good reason why.

The poetry of grief

The author' clear-eyed reflections on the differences between grief and depression, spoken from her heart and informed by her personal experience, is both moving and profound.

Wonderful!

this is not only a follow-up to An Unquiet Mind but also but also a love story. As she recounts the fall of to her public disclosure of mental illness and the illness and passing of her beloved husband, Kay Jamison, with eloquence, dignity, and candor, continues to show the complexity and humanity of people with mental illness.

An insight into a personal experience

Would you consider the audio edition of Nothing Was the Same to be better than the print version?

I enjoy listening to books on my iphone more than reading because of the convenience.

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Title: Secret Ceremonies

Subtitle: A Mormon Woman's Intimate Diary of Marriage and Beyond

Author: Deborah Laake

Narrator: Meredith MacRae

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-02-09

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 52 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

From there her life began to disintegrate. Divorced by age 20 from a man she never loved, barred from the Mormon temple and threatened with excommunication, she found her depression deepening. Still trying to live up to the church's expectations, she married again, unaware that the resulting mental illness would propel her into a hospital ward of unabashed psychotics. It was there, among the truly unconventional, that she somehow recognized a modern world beckoning to her from beyond the closed patriarchal society that had always sheltered her yet kept her from true maturity.

Critic Reviews:

"A candid, often startling memoir of the author's life as a Mormon wife....an affectingly personal look into the well-guarded citadel of Mormondom." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

Short and Entertaining

The first part of the book covers the authors life dealing with her Mormon beliefs. That part was interesting and insightful into the Mormon beliefs and religion. As the book continues I realized that the author, although likeable, is really troubled beyond her religion. It was an entertaining listen in a soap opera way, but not the sort of book that I would generally read.

Well-written; not what I expected

The story of the author is interesting. I felt like the title was a bit misleading. There was not as much about the religion as I expected. This was more of a biography. Performance was very good, I just started to lose interest in the story about halfway through.

Nonacceptance of dogma

Beautiful, authentic experience of a woman questioning her circumstances. Inspiration for everyone questioning an authority in their lives.

Blame

I wish the narrator had made an effort to pronounce words correctly. Additionally, it appears the author wishes to blame the LDS Church for her own family disfunction. Seriously a father buying condoms and giving washing instructions? I would guess the church was not the contributing factor to her emotional struggles.

Not what I expected.

this is more a sad life story than the story of the "secret Ceremonies".

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Title: Love Has a Face

Subtitle: Mascara, a Machete, and One Woman's Miraculous Journey with Jesus in Sudan

Author: Michele Perry

Narrator: Rebecca St. James

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-09

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In this compelling audiobook, she recounts unforgettable stories of life in the bush, stories that capture the stark realities of caring for more than one hundred little lives in the middle of a war zone as well as God's transforming love and mercy. Captivatingly honest, Michele takes you through her own life as well. From the slums of India to war-ravaged Africa, you will be swept away by her story of hope and the supernatural power of God in the midst of a broken and hurting world.

Members Reviews:

the best audible book i have listened too.

I was glued to the story, was the best narrated story i have heard through audible. very well written book, felt as if i was drawn into the drama and excitement of what jesus is doing amongst the orphans of southern sudan. such a powerful testimony of God's power and love.

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Title: Ghosts of War

Author: Ryan Smithson

Narrator: Ryan Smithson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-21-09

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was 17. Two years later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer. In this extraordinary and harrowing memoir, readers march along one GI's tour of duty. It will change the way you feel about what it means to be an American.

©2009 Ryan Smithson; (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Members Reviews:

Great book.

I didn't even know there were two sides to this war before I read this book.

A learning experience

This book was given to me during summer and I understand war in a new way

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Title: It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet

Author: James Herriot

Narrator: Christopher Timothy

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-15-09

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

How on earth did James Herriot come to be sitting on a high Yorkshire moor, smelling vaguely of cows? James isn't sure, but he knows that he loves it.

This second hilarious volume of memoirs contains more tales of James' unpredictable boss Siegfried Farnon; his charming student, brother Tristan; animal mayhem galore; and his first encounters with a beautiful girl named Helen.

Members Reviews:

Absolutely great and funny

Loved the book. It was over so fast and left me thirsty for the next one . Really funny and great to listen to. Brilliantly narrated.

Held my interest, well narrated country story

Quiet a good story of country life, brings back memories of bygone days, I look forward to further James Herriot stories to see how things progress.

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Title: Two Wars

Subtitle: One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts: Abroad and Within

Author: Nate Self

Narrator: Nate Self

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-08-08

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

This audio will become a go-to work for understanding the long-term effects of the war on terror. Thousands of families are fighting this battle, and Nate Self opens up his whole life - tragedies, successes, failures, and a struggle with suicidal thoughts - to share the facts and to show how his family and his faith pulled him through.

Members Reviews:

Rangers Lead the Way!

Nate Self gives his inspiring and emotional narrative of how U.S. Army Rangers lead the way in so many aspects - the willingness to take the hardest physical and mental challenges, the depth of love that comes between those who stand together in harm's way, and the commitment to tell the story of those who fall in the service of others.

This is a story for every American who wants to understand leadership and service under extreme conditions.

Great Book!

Great read. Everybody should read this book.

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Title: A Long Stone's Throw

Author: Alphie McCourt

Narrator: Alphie McCourt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-12-08

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Alphie McCourt was born in Limerick, Ireland, where his father's departure left misery behind for the family. His loneliness only grew deeper and wider as each of his older brothers (Frank, Malachy and Michael) left for America so in the year 1959, Alphie followed them.

Alphie's adolescence in New York was marked by aimlessness, and too much drink. Briefly returning to Ireland and studying law, he returned to America only three years later, where this time he settled in California, discovering marijuana and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Returning to his immigrant roots in New York City, Alphie reencounters the beautiful Upper East Side Lynn,and marries her in 1975, in a raucous ceremony attended by both priest and rabbi. Success followed by hardship in business ventures color several of the following years. Then, one night, on Route 80 in New Jersey, drunk, full of despair and driving through the snow, Alphie has an epiphany.

Today Alphie rises in the morning, at time when he used to go to bed. With a New York City dawn still lingering, he monitors the Empire State Building, in all its moods and colors, and knows he has finally landed on firm ground. He is home.

Members Reviews:

Not Like Frankie McCourt

What didnt you like about Alphie McCourts performance?

Alphie did not tell much of a story or reveal much about himself. It is not Frank McCourt, so don't bother with this one.

Nice but ...

This is another story from the youngest McCourt brother, Alphie. It is funny in some places but a bit of a snoozer in other areas. I enjoyed Angela's Ashes and Tis by Frankie, the oldest brother but Teacher man and now this one by Alphie are pretty much repetitious and quite honestly, about much of nothing. Still, you can't help but love that Irish accent! That is probably what held me, more than the story itself, until the end.

Literary Talent Doesn't Always Run in the Family

I suppose becasue they saw thir brother Frank's literary success, Alphie and Malachy McCourt thought they could do as well. The problem is, they don't have his talent! This book is poorly written warmed over Frank McCourt, only with a lot more discussion of the author's genitals. It plods on and on and on. I wanted this man to frow up, immigrate and live a life of obscurity about an hour into the book.

Good book, needs different narrator

Mr. McCourt is a good writer and the story flows well. The author's narration of the book detracts from the book because his voice is slow and monotone with little inflection. Although his accent and singing add to the enjoyment of the book, his overall narration brought down the rating by at least one star. With a professional narrator, the book would have come alive.

It'll put you to sleep

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to get a refund. I thought it would give me different view of the McCourt family but it put me to sleep instead.

The story could have been good if someone else read the story. Alfie ruined it. So dull.

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Title: Fifth Quarter

Subtitle: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter

Author: Jennifer Allen

Narrator: Susie Breck

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-17-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

While the household was buffeted by the coach's tumultuous firings and hirings, which periodically propelled the family to a new city, Jennifer dreamed of being the first female quarterback in the NFL. But as she grew, she yearned mostly to be someone that her father would notice. In a world where only football mattered, what could she strive for, who could she become?

Allen has written a memoir of the father she tried so hard to know, the family life that was wistfully sacrificed to his endless, fanatical pursuit of the Super Bowl. What emerges is a fascinating and singular behind-the-scenes look at professional football and a memorable, bittersweet portrait of a father and his daughter, told by an accomplished and assured writer.

Members Reviews:

A RELATABLE TALE

Ever since I saw her interviewed by the late, great Steve Sabol on an NFL Films homage to her father, late legendary Hall-of-Fame football coach George Allen, I have always been interested in reading a copy of Jennifer Allen's book, Fifth Quarter. When I saw this book available via Kindle, I jumped at the chance.

This book covers the life of Miss Allen's growing up as the youngest child--and only daughter--in a family with three older brothers. The years examined are those of the end of the 1968 season, where her father, Coach Allen, was fired by the then-Los Angeles Rams, only to be re-hired in lieu of a player revolt, to his being named head coach and general manager of the Washington Redskins in 1971, on the heels of Vince Lombardi's death one year prior, all the way to Coach Allen's ill-fated and quite brief return to the Rams in 1978. Through it all, Miss Allen describes her frustrations about wanting and longing to be more a part of the football action to the extent her brothers were throughout their father's coaching career, particularly during the first Rams tenure and the early Redskins years. The book also offers interesting insight to the relationship Jennifer (and the rest of the family) has with her mother, and Coach Allen's widow, Etty.

Overall, I found this to be a rather interesting and compelling read. There are times that the action stalls somewhat in certain areas, but things then always shortly pick up thereafter. There are even portions inside of the book, as described in the NFL Films feature, which are concurred in these pages. Interestingly, Miss Allen, as an author and NFL Network correspondent, and her brothers have each gone on to prolific careers in their respective lives and fields of endeavor.

As the youngest child in a family with more brothers than sisters, I can relate to Miss Allen's story on many levels. Like her, my father, a Baptist church pastor, was also an authority figure in his primary profession as well. My father, like Jennifer's, a controversial, compelling man in his own right, also passed away a few years ago I also related to Jennifer's angst in growing up as well in wishing to find my way and forge my own identity as well.

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Title: Never Give Up

Subtitle: My Stroke, My Recovery, & My Return to the NFL

Author: Tedy Bruschi, Michael Holley

Narrator: Mark Adams

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 07-21-08

Publisher: Gildan Media, LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Tedy awoke with an intense headache and was forced to crawl to the bathroom because his left arm and leg were not working very well. Seven hours later - as he lay on an ER gurney, his vision blurred, his arm and leg useless - he was stunned to learn that he had had a stroke. A few days later, he confessed to his family and his team that he believed his football-playing days were over.

In Never Give Up, Tedy Bruschi tells the powerful and inspiring story of the day when everything he believed about himself and his future was turned upside down, and how its long and grueling aftermath challenged his faith, his marriage, and his career. From the heartbreak of being warned by doctors not to pick up his children to the terrifying prospect of heart surgery, Tedy paints a vivid portrait of the obstacles faced by stroke survivors.

Tedy has a vital message for stroke survivors: You can do it. You can take charge of your recovery, reclaim your life, and achieve the goals you set for yourself before disaster struck. It won't be easy; it will be the hardest thing you've ever done, but you'll have plenty of help. You'll have the expert care of highly trained doctors and therapists, the loving support of family and friends, and the inspiring example of Tedy Bruschi's unforgettable memoir, Never Give Up.

Critic Reviews:

"His story is a compelling and convincing one that will appeal to both football fans and those affected by strokes." (Publishers Weekly)

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

Author: Toby Young

Narrator: Toby Young

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-27-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 25 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

In 1995 high-flying British journalist Toby Young left London for New York to become a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. Other Brits had taken Manhattan - Alistair Cooke then, Anna Wintour now - so why couldn't he?

But things didn't go quite according to plan. Within the space of two years, he was fired from Vanity Fair, banned from the most fashionable bar in the city, and couldn't get a date for love or money. Even the local AA group wanted nothing to do with him.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People is Toby Young's hilarious account of the five years he spent looking for love in all the wrong places and steadily working his way down the New York food chain, from glossy-magazine editor to crash-test dummy for interactive sex toys.

But it's more than "the longest self-deprecating joke since the complete works of Woody Allen" (Sunday Times); it's also a seditious attack on the culture of celebrity from inside the belly of the beast. And there's even a happy ending as Toby Young marries - "for proper non-cynical reasons," as he puts it - the woman of his dreams. "Some people are lucky enough to stumble across the right path straight away; most of us only discover what the right one is by going down the wrong one first."

Critic Reviews:

"[A] hilarious and scathing insider's view of the world in which Young wishes so badly to fit....Young's crisp reading of this memoir is highly entertaining and bitter, yet guileless and funny." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Author really should have had someone else read

Any additional comments?

This is an interesting memoir about a fairly unlikeable guy (as the name suggests). The author seems to see himself fairly clearly, and doesn't shy away from being honest about what a jerk he's been. There are some fun situations here, but nothing that will warm your heart. The problem is that the author is reading it himself. Most of the time it's ok, but anytime he's doing someone else's voice, it's annoying. It almost sounds cartoony. Towards the end, it made it difficult to finish.

How to Be Unfunny and Bore the Hell Out of People

Any additional comments?

I thought I liked this book at first, but then it started to bore me, and then it started to annoy the hell out of me. There's nothing new here, and the attempts at satirical insights become tiresome.