Tag: audio book

Mornings on Horseback

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McCullough, David. Mornings on Horseback: the Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt. Narrated by Edward Hermann. New York: Simon & Schuster Audio, 2003.

I am really, really glad I chose this as an audio book. I don’t think I would have had the patience for an out and out page turning book. Don’t get me wrong. The writing is amazing. David McCullough can hold your attention like no other. The story in itself is extremely detailed and reads like a pool liner breaking – slow and trickling at first but by the end gushing out of control. It follows the lives of not just Theodore Roosevelt (the man we think of as President) but also the lives of his parents, siblings, and other important figures in his life. Indeed, the building up of Theodore Roosevelt’s childhood with his family is meticulous and yet his adult, political years and presidency are hardly touched upon with the same amount of detail. Those years are mentioned almost as an afterthought in the wrap-up.
What Mornings on Horseback is really good at is describing a culture; what it means to born into privilege. It is also really good at painting the complete picture of the Roosevelt clan from a genealogical perspective. The reader is immersed in the lives of everyone and not just the future president of the United States. From a listener standpoint I enjoyed every word.

Shocking moments: Theodore Roosevelt could be a violent man. According to McCullough Roosevelt once shot and killed a dog running beside his horse. Another shocking moment – learning TR lost his dear mother on Valentine’s Day and later that same day his wife (all of 22 years old) died as well. So sad!

I think the title of this book is misleading. Theodore Roosevelt was born Theodore Roosevelt so he didn’t become his namesake. I think it would have been more appropriate to say “…the unique child who became president.” Yes, Theodore had many nicknames (Teedee as a child) but he didn’t become Theodore Roosevelt.

Book Trivia: Mornings on Horseback won a National Book Award in 1982.

BookLust Twist: From Book Lust in the chapter called “Presidential Biographies” (p 192), and again in “What a (Natural) Disaster (p 242). Note: There are no substantial natural disasters in Mornings on Horseback.

84, Charing Cross Road

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Hanff, Helen. 84, Charing Cross Road. Recorded Books, Inc., 1993. Audio cassette.

My first audio book of the training season! I have to start off with a confession. I didn’t expect 84, Charing Cross Road to be so funny. I don’t know if it’s the actual story or the way the actress reads it. Maybe it was the combination of both. I had some real laugh-out-loud moments.

The year is 1949. Helene Hanff is a Jewish writer who prefers to mail order books from Marks And Company, Booksellers, a small book shop in London, England instead of frequenting a bookstore just blocks away from her one room apartment in New York City. She doesn’t explain how she came to find this particular shop nor what first prompted her to write to them specifically, but what follows is a series of letters written between Ms. Hanff and different employees of the shop, the most notable recipient being Mr. Frank Doel. In her letters Ms. Hanff comes across as a sassy, brash, and sometimes demanding American while Mr. Doel’s British replies are decidedly courteous if not stuffy (otherwise known as prim and proper). Over time Hanff wins Doel over with her sarcastic wit and he “loosens up” little by little. So begins a 20 year love affair between book lovers. Hanff also writes others in the shop as well as their families. She generously sends post-war gifts of food and clothing (items rationed at that time) that win over the entire shop. While the book is short (just 84 pages long or two hours of audio) you are drawn into Hanff’s relationship with the employees of the book shop. You end up hoping she takes that trip across the pond to meet them.

Book Trivia: 84 Charing Cross Road was made into a movie and a play.

Author fact: Helene Hanff died of diabetes when she was 80 years old.

BookLust Twist: From More Book Lust in the chapter called “Journals and Letters: We Are All Voyeurs at Heart” (p 131).

Anne of the Island

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Montgomery, L.M. Anne of the Island.Performed by Barbara Caruso. Maryland: Recorded Books, LLC, 1996.

This was my third audio book. My first fiction in audio form. I have mixed feelings (as I always do) about listening to a book instead of reading it. As far as a walking companion, Anne of the Island wasn’t that bad.

Anne of the Island is the third “Anne Shirley” book by Lucy Maud Montgomery (L.M. for short). The first two books, Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea cover Anne Shirley’s childhood from ages 11-18 but Anne of the Island takes over when Anne leaves Avonlea for Redmond College in Novia Scotia. The title comes from Anne’s distinct connection to Prince Edward Island while away at the landlocked college. This leaving is a pivotal phase of Anne’s life and the title is supposed to reflect that. While at college Anne is making new friends, rediscovering her past (she lost both of her parents and was adopted by Miss Marilla as a baby), and has the unfortunate task of warding off many suitors asking for her hand (she has no less than four marriage proposals during her time at Redmond). It’s these proposals that I found frustrating. Anne is perfect in every way. She is beautiful, smart, funny, popular and oh, so romantic. When several different men propose to her the proposals are not how she pictured them to be. Each proposal is different but Anne considers the moment “ruined.” When her childhood friend, Gilbert Blythe, proposes I wanted to strangle Anne. She’s as innocent as the day is long about her feelings for Gilbert and tosses his proposal aside like a discarded toy. I wanted Gilbert to rebound and marry someone else just to spite Anne! Of course, their love for one another cannot be denied and, in the end, Anne chooses Gilbert.

My favorite characters in Anne of the Island are Phillipa Gordon and Davy Keith. Phillipa is a college classmate and roommate of Anne’s. I consider her the most realistic of all the characters. Davy is especially humorous with all of his questions (all ending in “I wanna know!”).

Book Trivia: Anne Shirley is so popular that there are websites and message boards dedicated to the character. While there are no film or theater adaptations specifically of Anne of the Island, Anne of Green Gables had plenty.

Author fact: Montgomery’s life mirrors Anne’s. Having lost her parents early in life she lived with grandparents and was often lonely.

BookLust Twist: From Book Lust in the chapter called “Three-Hanky Reads” (p 237). The saddest scene in the whole book is when a childhood friend of Anne’s (Ruby Gillis) dies.

May 2011 is…

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THE LIST:

  • To Sir with Love by Edward Ricardo Braithwaite ~ in honor of National Teacher Day (May 3rd)
  • Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann ~ in honor of Brockmann’s birth month
  • A Child’s Life and Other Stories by Phoebe Gloeckner ~ in honor of graphic novel month
  • Antigone the play by Sophocles ~ in honor of May being the best time to visit Greece.
  • Fifth Chinese Daughter by Jade Snow Wong ~ in honor Asian-American Heritage month
  • Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham ~ in honor of Memorial Day
  • Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery ~ in honor of Eeyore’s birth month (I’ll explain that connection within the review). I’m listening to this as a training book.
  • House on the Lagoon by Rosario Ferre ~ in honor of May 5th being Cinco de Mayo
  • City of Light ~ by Lauren Belfer ~ in honor of May being History Month

Lastly, for the Early Review program for LibraryThing – Art and Madness by Anne Roiphe.

I put so many books on my list because a) a few of them are really, really short so I know I can read I can read them in 1-2 days time and b) I don’t have plans to travel anywhere until May 20th so I should have more time to curl up with several good books, and c) AFTER the walk I have ten days of NOTHING to do. I am picturing myself on the back deck, a glass of wine in one hand and a good book in another.

Confession – Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham looked so good I started reading it on April 28th. Sue me.
May is also (finally) the Just ‘Cause walk. I am not confident I did everything to train (but then again, there is only so much walking one can do), and I know I didn’t fund raise as hard as I should/could have. I am $100 off from the amount I raised last year. I am guessing not asking aunts, uncles, cousins, (mother), grandparents….anyone from my mother’s side to donate played a big part. C’est la vie. Or, to quote mom, “whatever.”