Audiobooks In General Archives - Page 14 of 18

Moraltiy or Survival?….”All the Light We Cannot See”, by Anthony Doerr

Author, Anthony Doerr, wrote a novel about World War II that proved to be very beautiful and very inventive. There have been so many books written about WW II, but this author chooses to base his novel more on the inside lives of the two main characters, and use the war as a backdrop for their story. This book is not read for plot or characters, even though both are beautifully executed. This novel is most appreciated because of the beauty with which Doerr writes.

The two characters who are followed throughout the book are Marie – Louise, a blind girl who resides in France, and a German, Werner, whose skills lead him to be a participant in the most brutal Hitler’s Youth. Their paths cross when they each end up in the coastal city of Saint-Malo. But, they are there for totally opposite reasons. Doerr writes with such an unusual understanding of “the magical obsessions of childhood”.

Werner and Marie – Louise are never considered quaint or sweet, but instead, are powerful examples of average people who are surviving in trying times. “They must decide daily between morality and survival.”

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Who Is She??? Who Is She Not???….”The Girl on the Train”, by Paula Hawkins

New author, Paula Hawkins, has transitioned from her beginnings as a journalist to her debut novel, The Girl on the Train. She has written an intense psychological thriller that follows the engrossing tale of strangers crossing paths with others and the eventual intimate betrayals. It has been likened to Alfred Hitchcock’s, Rear Window, as being that story for a new generation. Another fictional story, Gone Girl, has also been used as a comparison.

The actual girl on the train is Rachel, who commutes from her home to London and back every day. From her window, she has taken interest in a couple along the way in their backyard. She has made up names for the couple, calling them Jess and Jason. One day she sees Jess kissing another man. The next day, Jess is missing. Rachel is so obsessed with what she thought to be the idyllic life of these two people, that it lures her into an investigation of Jess’s disappearance. During the investigation, Rachel comes closer to a better understanding of herself…….who she really is, and is not.

Paula Hawkins debut novel has all the elements of a perfect psychological thriller: lives that are not what they seem, jealousy, betrayal, wounded hearts, obsession, and a haunting unease.

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Redemption and Healing Through the Power of Love…”Ruby”, by Cynthia Bond

Cynthia Bond is a new American writer among current fiction novelists. She has spent fifteen years teaching at-risk and homeless youth the art of writing in the Los Angeles area. She has studied at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, as well as the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.

“Full of life, exquisitely written, and suffused with the pastoral beauty of the rural South, Ruby is a translucent novel of passion and courage.” Ephram Jennings has never forgotten Ruby Bell, the beautiful, young girl from Liberty, Texas. He once described her as “the kind of pretty it hurts to look at”. Ruby is an epic story of a young man trying to protect the woman he has loved forever. He will find himself having to make difficult choices to have a chance at a life with Ruby.

There are unforgettable characters, exciting suspense, and written in exquisite prose. Ruby represents the dark side of human nature with the promise of redemption and healing through the power of love. Ruby is the newest of Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selections.

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“Fifty Shades of Grey”…by E.L. James

British author, E. L. James, published a highly controversial novel about erotic romance. Fifty Shades of Grey is the first in the Fifty Shades trilogy, published in 2011, with the second and third volumes, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, published in 2012. The trilogy follows a maturing relationship between characters, Anastasia Steele, a college graduate, and Christian Grey, a young, billionaire businessman. The novel is noted for it’s explicit mental visual of sexual practices involving “bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM)”.

The series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. It set a record in James’s own country, the United Kingdom, as the fastest selling paperback of all time. Critics have given mixed reviews of the novel with the sexual content and less than perfect prose. However, the film adaptation is due out on Valentine’s Day 2015.

Fifty Shades of Grey, the movie, is directed by Sam-Taylor Johnson. The novel, which became a global phenomenon, .stars Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey, and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele. The other two novels in the trilogy have been confirmed to be upcoming sequels to the current movie. The rumor is that Dorman and Johnson (daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, and in her first major role) did not get along very well, so there is a question of whether they will star in the sequels.

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Will She…”Crash & Burn”, by Lisa Gardner

Author, Lisa Gardner, has published another in the series of masterful mysteries. She not only has been a force in the genre, she owns it. Her previous novels in the series include: The Next Accident, The Survivors Club, The Killing Hour, Touch and Go, and Live to Tell. In the same vein, Crash and Burn is based on real life procedure which gives a stronger, authentic edge to the story, which tends to be otherwise complicated. One of her fan – favorite characters, Boston Detective D.D. Warren makes a cameo appearance in this new novel.

“Nicole Frank shouldn’t have been able to survive the car accident, much less crawl up the steep ravine. Not with her injuries. But one thought allowed her to defy the odds and flag down help: Vero.” The possibility is that there is no missing child. Some claim that Nicky has a brain injury, but she most likely does not.

The novel follows Sergeant Wyatt Foster as he tries to work through the frustrating psychological maze that is Nicky Foster’s case. As he digs deeper and deeper into the mystery, he discovers that Nicky has been involved in several “accidents”. The question becomes………..Is someone trying to kill Nicky Frank? With all the unanswered questions for which Sgt. Foster must find answers, and Nicky’s frustration, she wonders if, and when, she will crash and burn.

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Thinking Big, Giving Big….”Living Big”, by Pam Grout

Do you ever say to yourself, “Is this all there is?” Most of us ask ourselves the question, then just go back to the program we are watching on television. Author, Pam Grout has written a helpful book to give advice on how to get the most out of your life if you seriously want more.

Some of the subject titles are: “Thinking Big, Giving Big, Blessing Big, Imagining Big…….” The list is quite lengthy. She gives examples of many different people who have accomplished their goals. There are ordinary people, extraordinary people, people with money, people without, and people who have fallen on hard times. Some people overcame huge obstacles just to be able to help others.

One key to “Living Big” is to get over your suspicion of others when thinking, “wonder what they want from me”. We must remind ourselves that what we give is what matters, not what we may receive in return. We were always taught……it is better to give than to receive.

The object of the book is to teach how to shift attitudes, how to make the most out of your day, and become the person that we wish we could be. By “Living Big” in all facets of your life, each of us has the ability to make a difference on our own lives, and in the world!

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The Legend….”American Sniper”, by Chris Kyle and Scott McEwen

“American Sniper” by authors Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice, and Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, is an account of SEAL Kyle’s career from 1999 to 2009 as having the most career sniper kills in U. S. military history. The insurgents in Iraq feared him more than anyone, and called him al-Shaitan (the devil). He had a $20,000 bounty placed on his head by the insurgents.

Through four combat deployments, Kyle fought alongside fellow SEALS, Marines, and Army soldiers earning legendary respect from all. He protected them from rooftops and from positions that were totally undetected. He earned seven medals for bravery with the inclusion of two Silver Stars. He was also awarded the Grateful Nation Award from the Jewish Institute for National Security. After his deployments were completed, he became a chief instructor for the training of Naval Special Warfare Sniper and Counter Sniper teams.

Chris Kyle’s account of his extraordinary battle experiences will rank as one of the greatest war memoirs of all time. Clint Eastwood has directed a by the book interpretation of “American Sniper”. The movie has been Academy Award nominated for best movie, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress. The end of this remarkable life will bring even the most jaded of readers to tears.

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Under the Radar….”The Chase”, by Janet Evanovich

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg continue their very popular series, beginning with the bestseller, The Heist, in their second novel, The Chase. The two main characters of Nicholas Fox, thief and general con artist, and Kate O’Hare, FBI Special Agent, return for this adventure.

The theft of a priceless Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian is the object of The Chase. Fox and O’Hare must try to solve the case under the radar, because public knowledge of the theft would destroy U.S. and China relations. The thieves are experienced professionals who work under the guise of a security firm. Fox and O’Hare must rely only on their band of inexperienced, irresponsible, and elderly (at least to be doing this kind of job) crew, which includes Kate’s Dad.

The plan to reclaim the stolen property leads Fox and O’Hare from Washington, DC to Shanghai, and from Scotland to Montreal. The pair will need to swap a forged national treasure within the Smithsonian, for the real deal which was stolen by the deadly serious professionals. They face death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, but it will take much more than that to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

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Two Families that Were Never Meant to Stay Apart, “Pegasus”, by Danielle Steel

The very popular author, Danielle Steel has delivered another very strong novel that is in keeping with her many other works. She is known for weaving some of her own family history into the subjects of her novels. One critic said, “never has the male been wealthier or more handsome, and the female has impeccable breeding with exquisite hair”. Her millions of readers have come to expect a certain theme, and she once again gives them what they expect.

As the novel begins, World War II is ramping up. It follows an aristocratic German family who is seeking refuge in America for themselves and their beautiful Lipizzaner horses. The horses become their ticket to a new life in America with a promised job with Ringling Brothers Circus. The story follows another family trying to survive in war torn Europe, while the previous family struggles to adjust to circus life.
The story spans several generations and countries; “giving a rich, involved tale of transformation, perseverance, fate, love, and loss, tied together by two families who were never meant to stay apart”. Ironically, it is a beautiful stallion that links them together forever.

Danielle Steel is one of the most popular authors of all time, with over 600 million copies of her novels in print. She has included some very personal subjects such as, His Bright Light, a story about her son’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, about her work with the homeless; and Pure Joy, about the dogs her family has loved.

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Good and Evil, Complete With Sorcerers and Black Magic…”Blood Magick”, by Nora Roberts

Author Nora Roberts has introduced her third novel in the Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy, Blood Magick. The main character Branna O’Dwyer, who works as proprietor of The Dark Witch Shop in County Mayo, creates her special soaps, lotions, and candles for tourists. She is a tower of strength, but is missing one element in her busy life, and that is love. She had it once upon a time, but with Finbar Burke, who was forbidden to her, both through history and blood. But, as in many of those situations, Branna and Fin could not resist being together. It is an age-old battle that ensues between the good that holds them together, and the evil that has plagued their families forever.

The novel joins the epic battle of good and evil, complete with sorcerers and black magic, and the completely opposite story of a Romeo and Juliet type of romance. Branna and Fin fight many battles to try to finally be able to be together……legally…..in the eyes of their friends and family. From Blood Magick comes an end to the trilogy about a land that draws the reader in, the family they learn to admire, and the two people who just desire to share their love.

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