cristalyne

Tragic yet stunningly beautiful

Revisado: 10-22-24

I’m left with the notion that we cannot totally comprehend our past nor our future, but both exist and there is a kind of hope in that despite the climate catastrophe we are marching toward.

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Raw, beautiful, inspiring, and tragic

Revisado: 07-06-24

There is such incredible depth to this story. I listened to it on an all day casual bike ride, and I’m more than half tempted to sign up for a race even though the word race terrifies me. I wish there were more expertly written books by women like this.

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Excellent memoir and narration

Revisado: 05-21-23

I appreciated how cynical the author seemed to be. It made her story feel more genuine and relatable. I also loved the gravelly voice of the narrator.

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5 stars are not enough!

Revisado: 10-21-22

This book gets ALL the stars for both story and narration. I’m halfway through the second book and already dreading the end. I never want to say goodbye to our heroes and I always want to have Theo Solomon whispering in my ears.

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Trump's circus and his monkeys

Revisado: 08-27-20

There were so many moments in this book that made me do a double take at the crazy that is the "Winter White House." Mar-a-Lago serves as both Trump's permanent residence and a private club for the billionaire class and the "remora" that feed off of them. This book is a glimpse into a world most of us will never have access to or can even imagine. The writing is witty and often comical, even if the content is sometimes alarming. One thing is for sure, being president has provided Trump certain financial advantages that presidents before him didn't have, thanks in large part to Mar-a-Lago. Was it legal? Maybe. Sometimes. Probably not.

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One of the best I’ve ever listened to!

Revisado: 04-23-19

I was skeptical about this book (mainstream white author writing about racism, partly from the perspective of a Black nurse), but it ended up being one of the best books I’ve ever listened to! There were a few moments that were over the top trying the explain implicit/passive racism, but sometimes readers need to be hit over the head to get it. The ending was a little too tidy for me, and therefore unrealistic, but excellent job all around, including the narration. I also appreciated the author’s note at the end.

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Important, but has a specific audience.

Revisado: 08-29-18

My initial reaction was that this book was trying to do too much. I was very interested in Anwar al-Awlaki and other victims' stories, but I got lost in the technical details. Later, I realized this book is primarily for journalists, lawyers, and others who are supposed to hold politicians and military personnel accountable, which is why the details are important. It isn't meant to entertain, it is meant to be studied. Still, everyone should at least read Chapter 1 (Obama authorized killing a 16-year-old U.S. citizen in Yemen) and Chapter 35 (family slaughtered by U.S. military; journalist accused of being a terrorist for reporting on it) because, to me, it shows how so called terrorist are made.

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Slavery has no happy endings

Revisado: 06-18-18

An incredible slave narrative and excellent narrator. I can see where some reviewers might have found the plot confusing, but the narration was so strong it didn't matter and I felt like everything became clear by the end. What I struggled with the most was that the two main characters, mother and daughter, didn't have enough wins. I so desperately wanted a happy ending for them, but their lives are tragic and full of violence even after the Civil War ends and they are supposedly free. Be prepared to be anxious and sad the whole way through, but it's totally worth it. I don't recall the last time I was so invested in a cast of characters, both good and bad.

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Unsettling stereotypes, excellent voices

Revisado: 10-28-16

There was a lot of repetition in the beginning that made me almost stop listening, except the narrators were excellent. I also really struggled with the way terrible stereotypes were reinforced. The book played some clever tricks on me though, which I appreciated because it made me consider my own biases.

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