Samyann's Blog, page 45

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The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis – Audiobook Review

The full title is actually The Dog Who Could Fly: The Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew At His Side. The book is a chronology of events based on a rough manuscript created by a WWII veteran Czech airman Robert Bozdech. Damien Lewis obtained the manuscript from Bozdech’s family and this book is the results.

The story will be enjoyed by any dog lover. Tense at times, the story pulls at the heart describing the adventures of a dog and his master, the inexplicable devotion of human beings and animals.

Story … A bomber gunner, crashes his plane into the midst of a battle between the Germans and the French in 1939. The flyer, Robert Bozdech, finds and rescues a new-born German Shepherd puppy. The dog becomes a mascot in the RAF, a WWII hero, wounded in action more than once. But, he’s a dog. He also chases rabbits and sheep. Antis, the dog, is a bit of a bone-head when it comes to staying put sometimes. In some instances, the dog’s ability to mind as a wee puppy (stay and be quiet) saves his life. As an adult dog, behavior is more along the lines of  ’I’m-going-to-be-at-my-master’s-side-no-matter-what.’ Ergo, gets himself and his owner into dangerous and sometimes, humorous, situations. But, loyalty … both that of the dog, and that of the man, makes this story an emotional and endearing read.

Narration … Read nicely by Derek Perkins and about ten hours of listening. Pacing and tempo is good. You’ll enjoy.

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Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones by Linda Lee King – eBook Review

At just under three hundred pages, Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones is the baring of a soul. Linda Lee King tells stories of her life in a manner that unveils truisms that many people will relate to completely. Snippets of her life are described in details that evoke emotion and empathy. Prose is, on occasion, poetic, and always heartfelt.

Creating this work was very painful for the author at times, I would think … but, also cathartic. Poignant, sad, extraordinarily revealing, there are segments difficult to read. Biographical in structure, this story is particularly enthralling if you were raised in the 50s-60s and went to a Catholic school, memories abound. Educational. Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones will be comforting to many readers who have been through similar circumstances.

Enjoyed.

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Calculated in Death – by J.D.Robb (Nora Roberts) – Audiobook Review

About thirteen hours, read by Susan Erikson, Calculated in Death is book 36 in the In Death series. If you’re a fan of the series, you will be comfortable and feel as if you’ve slipped on some warm slippers. Eve Dallas is her usual snarky-smart self, Roarke the brainy-blue-eyed lover, Peapody, McNabb, etc.,  all the characters are represented. One thing I found interesting in this particular episode is the extraordinary cooperation on the part of all the potential suspects, everybody is as helpful as can be. Ergo, the reader will enjoy, more than usual, identifying the bad guy.

Erikson does a wonderful job with all the voices. She’s had several years to perfect the unique voice of each character, excellent reading as usual.

Nora Roberts has a winning formula with the In Death series, in story, characters, and narration. Calculated in Death does not disappoint. Not earth-shattering literature, but it is not intended to be … the formula is in tact. Enjoy!

Snowbound by Blake Crouch – Audiobook Review

Snowbound is read by Jeffrey Kafer and just over seven hours of listening. A little short for my taste, but action packed. The story lifts off in the last two thirds of prose.

Rachael Innis is kidnapped and assumed murdered. There is a rush to judgement regarding Will Innis, her husband, and Will gathers up their eleven-year-old daughter, Devlin, and hides under the radar. Fast-forward fives years and the two are found by a former FBI agent who has lost her job because of an obsession regarding locating her missing sister, also kidnapped. In pursuit of the missing women, the three journey through the northwest mountainous terrain of Alaska, snowstorms, wild wolves, etc., to a ranch hidden in the woods.. Thus is the crux of Snowbound.

Reading by Jeffrey Kafer is problematic, voice of female vs male characters indiscernible, and a bit monotone. The story has some improbable moments. You’ll find yourself wondering. “Why don’t you….or…Why didn’t they…or…What happened to….” will be your mantra. Basically, a bit more work could have been done in editing and polishing. Very listenable and could easily have been longer.

 

Beneath the Dark Ice by Greig Beck – Audiobook Review

Read by Sean Mangan, Beneath the Dark Ice is just under ten hours of listening. Reading was paced well, female vs male voices okay, no problem discerning who-says-what-to-who.

A corporate jet crashes through the ice of Antarctica, rescue workers immediately respond and disappear. Mystery lifts off immediately!

Formulaic in character construct as the story moves forward, however. We have a beautiful yet vulnerable, smart, female scientist lead, a type A macho hero with extraordinary strength, a weaselly milk-toast, a few ‘red-shirts’ that get eaten alive, some a bit gratuitously, in my opinion. Then there are the requisite hard boiled officers, the bad-guy Russians. Throw it all into a pot with nasty shrimp-like/lizardly/slimy creature and wormy things that have lived underground on humanoids and each other for millennia and voila … Beneath the Dark Ice!

Made for TV stuff that will likely never get made for TV?  I didn’t have any trouble finishing the story.

The Escape by David Baldacci – Audiobook Review

Approximately fifteen hours of listening, read by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy, The Escape is book number three in the John Puller – Victoria Knox thrillers. As in the other books, McLarty and Cassidy do a great job, smooth transitions. Production is very typical of Baldacci, lots of attention to music and special sound effects. There are three male Pullers in this story. John, the main character, Robert, his older brother, who’s escape from prison is the subject matter, and John, Sr., daddy in a retirement facility. Words for the listener that took me some time to figure out: When the author simply says ‘Puller’, think John, Jr., the main character, and you’ll usually be right.

The story surrounds The Escape of Robert Puller from prison and John Puller’s pursuit of his brother’s freedom and justice for the evil doers. Not giving any secrets away here, because you can easily guess Robert has been framed. He’s a Puller, they’re always good-guys. Not quite up to Baldacci standards, in my opinion. There are many characters to keep mental track of, some who’s omission wouldn’t have done the story any harm. If you’re a fan of the Puller-Knox thrillers, it’s gonna be your kinda book. Some interesting twists, enjoy!

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Three Things I Did When My Father Died by Alex McKechnie – eBook Review

Three Things I Did When My Father Died is a coming of age tale, in a way. You’ll journey with Daniel 1 through Daniel 5, and other characters will travel through the pages with you, with numerics a creative tool for the reader to grasp a timeline of development, in both physical and in emotional maturity. Very inventive thinking on the part of Alex McKechnie. The story begins with the death of Daniel’s father, the funeral, and within a chapter you will find yourself engrossed in McKenchnie’s style, as he throws a few writing conventions ‘out-the-window’, which makes the read fun and intriguing. Daniel struggles with his relationships not only with his father, but his mother, grandmother (who is wonderful, by the way), others, and you will pull for his ultimate understanding. Turn of phrase and a true understanding of the human condition, reactions, all are terrific … the author has a beautiful ability to put his thoughts to words. Nicely done. This story can easily be read in one sitting; it’s less than 170 pages long … but, not easily read once. Enjoyed.

What was the US Population in 1776?

Nobody knows.

But, the first census was done in 1790. The population of the U.S. was found to be 3,929,214 people. In 1776, at the time of the Declaration of Independence, historians estimate the population to have been about 2.5 million people. That is less than the population of San Diego County today.

The 1790 census included approximately 700,000 slaves.

norberthaupt.com

Torture Report – Opinion

Take or leave this opinion. I don’t care what you think. It’s my blog. My second Samyism addresses the current fervor regarding the release of CIA torture documentation.  

As I see it, there are two sides to this issue, and as can be expected, they are divided politically.

Democrats released these papers simply because they could. Because they think it is the right thing to do. Screw the fallout, the Republicans are the bad guys in this issue, so who cares? Lets not forget that they have the power to do so now that they will not have in a few months. So be it. Democracy at work.

Republicans have a visceral fear of repercussions, which I suppose will happen. So be it. However, I think they fail to realize that our enemies will only use this as a reason to continue terrorism; it will be their excuse to carry on, as if they need one. These allegations were made public several years ago with the debate surrounding the close of Guantanamo … old news, in my opinion. I saw pictures of prisoners in diapers seven years ago, so I’m unimpressed with this ‘breaking news’ story.

And, Obama has not closed Guantanamo, as he promised. Probably for reasons he didn’t know when he made the promise. So, I don’t condemn him for keeping the prison open.

But, there is a point being missed, I think. And, it makes me very proud to be an American, because I don’t think there are very many places on this globe where this type of event can happen.

Say ANYTHING in America. The government may or may not agree, but they will not send you to prison because of what you say, nor shoot you, nor threaten you or your family.  You will not be arrested or ‘loose face’. You will not bring shame upon yourself or anyone else. A woman in your family will not be gang raped because of your opinion. Nobody will cut off any of your appendages, not even your nose.

It is the right of all Americans to show the rest of the world our warts and all, air our dirty laundry. Burn our flag. Burn your flag. We can and do tell the world ‘we were wrong’ and let the chips fall.

Can the citizens of all countries do this? Do all countries allow this type of freedom? Of course not.

So, yes. I am a proud American.

Oh, and give us a jingle the next time you have an earthquake. We’ll be right there.