Terry

Mr. Zupan is a MASTER storyteller!

Reviewed: 09-26-18

I grew up in Montana (11 years in Missoula and 11 years in Great Falls) and Mr. Zupan nails the mystery of living out there in the high plains. There is magic, a strangeness, an otherness to growing up in and around the northern plains. The High Line towns with their constant winds and brooding sense of all-alone-ness do something to you and your sense of un-relatedness to others. Mr. Zupan wonderfully lays out a stark and heartbreaking tale of broken folks who fit well into my memories of many of my old friends and associates. His vivid descriptions of farming in the area around Great Falls, the sound of the tractors, (correct by brand and size) and purpose of the accessories all ring totally true. His description of search and rescue-especially the finding of the bodies-not the successful searches with happy endings-but the body recoveries-were exactly precisely heartbreakingly correct. Wilderness as my old Scoutmaster used to say: “Is a place, where if you screw up or do something stupid-you end up dead."
I knew a bunch folks from Great Falls Central High School-played football against them & wrestled against them back in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Bill Higgins, Mike Whalen, and I think Mr. Zupan might have been one of those guys-if so I am so happy to see him write such a great story!
Anyone who wishes to consume a slice of the mystery of the life on the high plains-please buy & read this book! The Audible version is absolutely EXCELLENT. Jim Meskimen's narration is genius!
I hope Mr. Zupan will share many more stories with us in the coming years!

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Relived my summers at Camp Napi in Montana!

Reviewed: 08-01-18

I am an Eagle Scout (for the past 5 decades). This story broke my heart. I cried-I laughed-I thought of old friends-some alive-some long dead. But mainly I thought of those glorious summer weeks spent on St. Mary's Lake in NW Montana at CAMP NAPI as a young Boy Scout. Much of what the author expresses is darker than I recall it. But there is the heart of the truth in every bit of this story. I was especially touched by the description of the funeral scenes. I cannot tell you how many times I have stood at the coffins of the great men who were my Scout Leaders and wept for their passing. They were a truly rare breed and their kind will not pass this way again! I will listen to this story every summer for the rest of my life! If you were a Scout and spent time at a BSA summer Camp-I encourage you to listen to this story!

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Listen to ALL of these stories

Reviewed: 03-18-13

Where does Mexican Hat rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5%!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mexican Hat?

GREAT TREATMENT OF THE MODERN REALITY OF THE AMERICAN WEST!

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

GEORGE IS THE BEST! I LOVE HIS VOICE, CADENCE & DELIVERY!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

YES-more than one! McGaarity really nails the heart of the west, today!

Any additional comments?

LISTEN TO ALL THESE STORIES-YOU WON'T REGRET IT! GREAT TALES OF THE MODERN WEST FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LAWMAN!

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4 people found this helpful

U.S. F.S. Learned NOTHING from The Mann Gulch Fire

Reviewed: 12-05-12

Where does Fire on the Mountain rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

TOP 5%!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fire on the Mountain?

This is the heartbreaking TRUE story of how the USFS will not/cannot learn from past mistakes it has already made and seemingly is committed to amking AGAIN & AGAIN! After all it is only the Smoke Jumpers and the HOT SHOTS who die! If you read Norman MacLeans'd :Young Men and Fire: and John MacLean's "Fire on the Mountain" I don't know how you could ever allow your children/friends/self to work a wild-land fire for the Federal Government. The TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM of the Federal Agencies involved have BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS and seem indifferent to fixing ANY or even ONE of their many failures of BOTH LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT. It would be Catch 22 funny, if not for all the DEAD BODIES!!!!

Which character – as performed by John N. MacLean – was your favorite?

Mr. MacLeans's clinical and dispassionate reading of his own tight, clean prose gives a tragic and lyrical sense of the CLASSICS to this story-rasing the deaths opf these wonderful young people to level of a GREEK TRADEGY. His voice gives you a deep sense of the futility of attempting to change these failed federal agencies and their even worse policies.

If you could give Fire on the Mountain a new subtitle, what would it be?

Federal Fire Policy Failures from Mann Gulch to Storm King.

Any additional comments?

This is a MUST READ for NOT just every family member of the SMOKE JUMPERS and HOT SHOTS->but for all citizens of the true AMERICAN WEST who are constantly tortured by their distant and dereanged federal government-which neither understands nor care about the folks who populate "fly-over" country. These two EPIC FAILS speak to federal government that id both unwilling and incapable of changing to PROTECT the citizens of the remaining American West. Every current citizen of Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Alaska could read this book and say: "I know of 20 other massive mistakes the feds made as reagrds this or that policy....

This book is just one more proff that the DEPT of AGRICULTURE and the DEPT of Interior should be abolished!

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1 person found this helpful

Burke at his BEST, AGAIN!

Reviewed: 09-05-12

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to EVERYBODY! James Lee Burke writes with a depth and a level of insight that is so rare and such a joy to read! Will Patton, (a truly under-appreciated actor and an EXCELLENT ORAL interpreter) brings not only the troubled Dave R. to life (investing him with a dignity and a level of suffering that is not just poignant, but outright cathartic) he also populates the story with an abundance of rich characters JUST BY VIRTUE OF HIS VOICE & PRESENCE! OUTSTANDING WORK! The Cajun/Creole/Louisiana dialects used in the Burke novels are difficult to master and a joy to hear. Patton is the perfect talent to breathe life into the rich and layered characters that only Burke could imagine and create! I love the way that Burke brings these folks to life on the page and the way Will Patton makes them burst to life over my ear buds!I love to listen to my Audible books while I work-out and the daily hour on the treadmill is always a JOY when I have Will Patton doing a James lee Burke story! GENTLEMAN THANK YOU BOTH FOR ENRICHING MY DAYS!Do yourself a favor and listen to CREOLE BELLE! BTW->I have enjoyed EVERYONE of the Burke books-but this is clearly one of the BEST!

What other book might you compare Creole Belle to and why?

Since CREOLE BELLE is part of the Dave R. series and since you have a cast of characters that you come to love->I would recommend ALL of the DAVE R. books->but I also love the Texas Sheriff and the Texas lawyer that Burke created. This story is similar to and I enjoyed it almost as much as BITTEROOT...which not only NAILS modern Missoula, MT->but also tells a story of corruption & intrigue! You cannot go wrong with Will Patton bringing JAMES LEES BURKE to life on your IPOD!

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Patton is so talented that he layers the novel with emotion and empathy and anger all in the proper amounts. He truly is EXCELLENT!

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

YES. But It was instead enjoyed over a two day period!

Any additional comments?

I love what Audible provides for me via the work of authors like Burke and great actors like Patton->THANK YOU ALL for an absolutely EXCELLENT entertainment experience!
On a purely personal note-I am living with Cancer and as john Denver used to say: "Some days are diamonds and some days are stones!" But everyday with these great stories makes the workout and the recovery from the big "C" easier and HAPPIER! I really want to thank you ALL for helping me to recover from and live with Cancer. Like my old Methodist Minsiter used to say: "You are doing the Lord's work!" THANKS SO MUCH!

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1 person found this helpful

Cody Hoyt is GREAT!

Reviewed: 08-09-12

Where does Back of Beyond rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 10%!

Who was your favorite character and why?

It might just be because I grew up in Montana, spent many summers in Yellowstone National Park and am a recovering drunk (23 years sober), but I loved the Hoyt character. Every part of his struggle rang true to me. I grew up with so many guys like him and I still know a bunch of families where it is not uncommon to have Cops & Criminals in the same clan. The references to sending guys to Deer Lodge (where the MT State Prison used to be) really hits home. I worked a couple of summers on a small ranch that bordered the Deer Lodge Prison ranch and spent many an hour riding those fences that separated the free from the chained. Hoyt's attempts to "DO RIGHT BY HIS BOY" really touches a nerve-many of my old pals used to joke that a strong marriage was the one that survived till the ten year high school reunion. Hoyt's demons are real to me and resonate with the struggles of many I know. I cannot read any Montana story of a lost soul, like Hoyt, struggling to find himself-without thinking of "A River Runs Through It" and Mr. Box is very close to the mastery of that gut-busting & heart-rending tale. Even his description of Townsend and Canyon Ferry (where my dad & little Sister share a cabin) struck true!
Mr. Box has obviously actually traversed much the Big Sky Country and has captured, with his keen ear, a good portion of the unique and quirky dialogue of the native locals!
I was especially impressed with the reverent treatment of the AA Sponsor's relationship to the newly sober->Mr. Box had that (to my mind & experience) EXACTLY RIGHT and since that is the fulcrum that catapults the plot forward, (Hoyt could not go off on this quest without the wrong done to his sponsor) and lends the entire tale a sense of both believability and justice!

My only regret was that I wasn't listening to this story as I drove from Missoula to the Three Forks and the Gateway...

What about Holter Graham’s performance did you like?

The oral interpretation of the suffering and the struggles of Hoyt life and action was very moving and the tone, pacing and gruffness of the character really shone though!

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

YES...one of the great things about driving across Montana is that it is at least 10 hours North to South and at least 14 hours East to West (obeying the posted limits). so the ideal way to hear this book would be to start at Logan Pass on the Going to the Sun Highway (in Glacier) and drive down to Yellowstone! Which I intend to do with my wife when we retire!

Any additional comments?

The plot in the story is great! It is a mystery within a mystery and has a both a great hook and a great twist! But again I think the Hoyt character makes this story & I hope Mr. Box brings him back again & again!

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61 people found this helpful

Another HOME RUN for Ted Bell!

Reviewed: 04-23-12

What made the experience of listening to Warlord the most enjoyable?

Warlord could easily be ripped from the headlines-but the insights and understandings shared by Bell give meaning and depth to the geopolitical miishmash of the news. This is a not just a great read-it is a worthwhile read. BTW Alex Hawke is not a James Bond guy-he is much deeper and much more complex and in many ways represents the tough choices facing the real modern man! GET IT AND ENJOY IT!

What other book might you compare Warlord to and why?

IT STANDS ALONE IN THIS AREA!

Which scene was your favorite?

Hawke is always battling not just evil on his own and the opposing side-he is battling the grinding societal effort to crush every individual and create sameness. Over and over again in this story and in the otther Hawke novels-Alex must save not the world and the girl-but do it in a way that saves who is and whishes to become!

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

I love Bell's books and they always make me both laugh and cry.

Any additional comments?

I WOULD URGE EVERYONE TO CONSUME ALL OF BELL'S BOOK-ASAP!

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HUNTER DOES IT AGAIN!

Reviewed: 12-11-11

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES! Everyone should listen (or read if you have to) to every single Hunter book! He is the best of his genre! Do yourself a favor and get this BOOK! NOW!
I have to drive 5 hours each Monday to get my Cancer treatment and this story just lifts your spirit and makes you feel and think that our country will prevail against those who have come to kill us! I love Mr. Hunter's many books and SOFT TARGET is another great one! If you have any 55-65 year old white males on your Christmas list-you shopping is now DONE!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

YES! This is a great take on terrorism and every American should listen and reflect on this subject and how it affects us all!

Which scene was your favorite?

The moment that Cruz realizes HOW he is gonna take out the bad guys!

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

Terrorism meets it match! CRUZ on attack!

Any additional comments?

I urge everybody to get this book and enjoy it!

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6 people found this helpful