Parker

Historically Brilliant

Revisado: 11-23-24

Few authors bring biography, especially historic biography, to the table with as much down-home emphasis that brilliantly captures both person and place. This is a phenomenal work by a master writer. Anyone who loves American history, politics, psychology, or just great storytelling, is in for a wonderful treat.

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Phenomenal Single Volume of Lincoln

Revisado: 03-23-24

An excellently crafted examination of the life of Abraham Lincoln, w/ specific focus on the geography, people, political influences, philosophical development, and skills of the man.

This is the best single volume account of Lincoln I’ve ever read, topping even Ronald White’s A. Lincoln.

You will not be disappointed- the hours spent will not have passed in vain.

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Worth your time

Revisado: 11-16-23

An truly enjoyable account of an extraordinary man. A man who believed he could help bridge the America that was and the America it could be, after the Civil War.

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A phenomenal achievement of the moral struggle of Lincoln & America

Revisado: 12-02-22

There is much to say about how wonderfully written this volume is. Anyone who’s read Meacham’s works will know how good he is at telling history through stories; stories of people, their vices and virtues; stories of the loved and the lost; stories of consequentialist moments in the book of the American Experience.

In AND THERE WAS LIGHT, Meacham achieves what writing of good history wants to do - he provided a canvas so relatable, so moving, so detailed, and so thoroughly researched - that one cannot help but be emotionally affected by the book.

Like Joseph Ellis is able to wrought in his work, so too Meacham accomplished an unequivocally important task - portraying and proving that a Lincoln was & id another example of the contradiction of America - moral and wise, but also deeply flawed.

This volume is shorter than many of the author’s other biographies, but the research is dense (hundreds of endnotes:footnotes) and cultivated to tell the story of arguably our greatest President.

I highly recommend reading/listening to this volume; it is a tremendous achievement.

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An Unforgettable Classic

Revisado: 10-28-20

This novel is truly unique and original. It is a wonderful story: written with erudition, humor, terror, and personality.

Michael McDowell weaves characters and place together to create an investing read. Each character is unique and hashed out wonderfully, with personal psychologies and family histories.

And the novel is truly scary. I loved every single page of it (yes I listen and read song to physical books, so shoot me).

Give it a listen!

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A great narrative thriller

Revisado: 10-14-20

I’ve read/listened to many of Peter Straub’s books: Ghost Story (ridiculously good and expertly written), Floating Dragon (waaaay better then some say - but not the audiobook, get a physical copy - II wish audible would put out an unabridged recording, but they have not as of OCT. 2020), Shadowland, Julie, If You Could See Me Now, A Dark Matter, etc.

Lost Boy, Lost Girl is a complex thriller wrapped in a seemingly standard narrative: a writer looking to mend uncultivated familial relationships, a killer on the loose, teenage boys dealing with adolescent maturity, a small town and minor characters you revisit a lot in Straub’s dominion.

This one creeps up it’s hill, taking its time, like Sisyphus, and Straub’s ability to write characters so well makes you care about digging into their minds. You’re learning new things about all of them all the way to the end, and it is an enjoyable ride.

It’s not my favorite of his, but for how much story/character he puts into this smaller novel (for Straub, this book is about 1/3 the length of Koko/The Throat and about half the length of Ghost Story.

I got through it in just a few sittings. You won’t be wrong giving this one a go.

I enjoyed it quite a bit.

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An excellent Novel with beautifully written prose

Revisado: 09-29-20

David Joy’s When These Mountains Burn is an extremely effective work of fiction. You grow to care about the characters, their lives, struggles, mentalities and relationships. Although there is a “main character” the book feels more like a collection of rural Appalachian lives which intersect under circumstances, and the effect people have on each other, some close and some nearly in passing.

This is my first time to read/listen to this author’s novels and I was blown away by the portraits he could weld through beautiful allegory and gritty realism.

This is a wonderful book and you would do well to give it a read/listen. I’ll be looking for Joy’s previous works the next time I’m at my local bookstore.

5 stars

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A Crime Thriller with the Grit of Life

Revisado: 09-17-20

Blacktop Wasteland by SA COSBY was a phenomenal book. Beauregard “Bug” Montage is a conflicted and dense protagonist; he’s vivid and interesting while simultaneously being conflicted and troubled by his past (and present). He loves his family. He’s also an excellent getaway driver with a backlog of crime and violence.

He’s a father and a husband, a criminal and thief.

He’s thousands and thousands of people that nobody ever bothers to writes about.

And that’s why this book is so damn good.

Cosby’s writing is full of gritty allegory, the dialogue is from everyday life (not a bunch of literati platitudes, e.g.).

The novel is believable in part because of the realism and depth Cosby provides to all of the characters.
The book never once feels like it’s being carried to the succeeding act.

This is southern crime noire at its finest and it is the best crime book I’ve read in a very long time.

And that ending... the last fifty pages my hands were nailed to the cover.

The narration provided by ADAM LAZARRE-WHITE is excellent and way above many other audiobook performers I have listened too. He brings a depth and believability to all of the characters, the pages practically project the film in your mind.

(SIDE NOTE: GET THIS MOVIE MADE INSTEAD OF MAKING ANOTHER COMIC BOOK FILM... and, I’m gonna day it... FILM IT IN THE SOUTH AND CAST AND ADAPT THE NOVEL!!)

Ok, back.

I spoiled myself and bought this audiobook along with the hardcover (hey what are audible credits for) and if you loved the book as much as I did, you’ll really love the 10-minute interview with the author after the final page is turned.

5 stars - this one’s going to get a re-read (and listen) very soon.

RPM

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Find the true pride in what you’ve done on this earth

Revisado: 02-22-19

This is a phenomenal story of a phenomenal man. Read or listen - implement and repeat. Amazing. This will be a yearly required reading/listening for the rest of my life.

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One of the most insightful books I’ve ever read

Revisado: 08-10-18

This book is packed with useful information and practical advice for how to improve your sleep: why it is psychologically, emotionally and physically necessary to sleep 7-9 hrs each night; how the brain evolved in conjunction with sleep to improve longevity, comprehension, skills, etc; the epidemic we are suffering as a species by a lack of sleep for our working class, our economies and most importantly - for the overall health and well-being of our children.

Dr. Walker has written an amazing and highly erudite book. I look forward to sharing it with others and look forward to his next contribution in the field.

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