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Roberta W

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Canada’s great Avro Arrow

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-19

I absolutely loved this book. As a Canadian, I had always been mystified by the fact that we had created the renowned Arvo Arrow, but it had been scuttled. I could never understand why. Now, here was the story. I bought and listened to the Audible audiobook as soon as I saw it. I found it to be an entirely engaging listen. This was such an amazing aviation accomplishment! I can’t say I’m totally satisfied in knowing what really transpired, but I do feel that this well researched account told me what was known, and all the various theories. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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Painfully amusing

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 2025-01-19

We hear about how people misuse the 911 emergency number, wasting operator time and delaying life saving assistance to those who need it. Hearing the nature of such calls is like watching a train wreck. It’s hard not to pay attention, and it’s equally hard not to be amused (mostly). I listened because it was free and had a few chuckles. Would have been better without additional commentary by the “host”. Listen at risk of your own annoyance.

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Snuck up on me… and that’s ok.

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-19

I was so intrigued by the storyline, of her amnesia phase, and the Emily Post book, that I overlooked that this was still a cancer story. I lost a sister to cancer many years ago, and find I can’t take cancer stories, so avoid them. Low and behold, it seems time has been healing old wounds, and I was able to just listen to the author’s story, without being traumatized. I actually found it enchanting.

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So different yet so alike

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-17

I was watching a Property Brothers show when I had an ah ha moment, that I couldn’t tell which was which (even though only one was bearded), and regardless had never learned about their individual uniqueness. It felt almost disrespectful to keep watching without learning more! In the process of reading their respective Wikipedia pages that I learned they had written a book, and was pleased to find they narrated it themselves on Audible. It was actually great fun to listen to. I now have great context for how they got to today, and that uniqueness I was seeking. I can’t wait to see more the next time a magic trick is played for a child, because I’ll know who did it. Tip: make sure you don’t miss the last chapter… it sounds like book ends - but there is a bunch of funny stories after that.

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These women enabled space travel

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-14

I neglected to write a review of this book when I read it, but even years later I remember the story quite vividly. These were very smart women, and they pioneered the mathematical calculations that were necessary to space travel, before computers were available to automate the process. The fact that they were black women to boot, makes the story even more compelling. This is an important story that deserves to have a spotlight shone on it.

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Sleuthing a slice of Tour de France

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-14

Many people took up baking during COVID; Ned Boulting turned an obsession with a tiny bit of film from the 1923 Tour de France into a sleuthing adventure. The fact that he was able to figure out the town where the film was taken was amazing, but he went much farther than that. No spoilers, so I’ll stop there. Suffice it to say that if you like a good mystery (especially one where no one dies!), and are a professional cycling fan, this book is for you. Highly recommended.

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Creepy

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-14

This book was both creepy and mesmerizing. The very thought that children could be ‘engineered’ by selecting the supposed brightest sperm donors screams of early eugenics, yet they did it, in North America. But that wasn’t the end of it. The donors were not all as advertised (no spoilers, but this was quite the eye opener). On top of that, the clinic shut down and the records went…. well, that’s not entirely clear. Imagine discovering that you were conceived by artificial insemination, from this clinic, then trying to unravel the threads of your parentage. Plenty of creepiness, but a riveting listen.

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Unique and informative

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-14

I really enjoyed this book… in fact, it was one of my favourite books of the year in 2024. While I am well acquainted with the role of books in both WWI and WWII, I had not come across information on the contribution of librarians and professors to war efforts. It was eye opening and, at times, very intriguing! I liked learning about professors who, on the outside, appeared to be going about their university lives as “usual” but, in reality were involved in research in support of the war effort. Similarly with librarians. Maps were important for planning troop movements and sorties, while travel accounts, memoirs and archives could be scoured for all sorts of facts on people and places. Highly recommended.

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Crocodile rock!

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

Reviewed: 2025-01-13

What a great Audible production! The whole book was written as an account of, and a tribute to, Elton John’s farewell tour. Despite the COVID interruption, the story carried through. By talking about each venue highlighted, and his past experiences performing there, Elton was able to weave the threads of his life story in, giving a lot of context for someone like me, who hasn’t (yet) read his biography. Similarly with the musicians he has worked with and the people he met. An aspect I really liked was the first person accounts from members of his road crew, many of who had been with him for decades.The use of different narrators worked well in this regard. Elton’s big heart came through throughout. A very enjoying listen.

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Too short

Overall
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 2025-01-13

Maybe this was intended to a a children’s book? Regardless, as I just had read South, as well a as other accounts of Shackleton’s epic journey, I thought I may as well read this too. There was a tiny bit of science that was new, but not worth the time to listen to.

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