Tuesday, December 11, 2018

The Lost Airman

Cover image for The lost airman : a true story of escape from Nazi-occupied France

The Lost Airman -
True Story of Escape from Nazi-occupied France

Authors - Seth Meyerowitz with Peter Stevens

     
      Another story revealed from "The Greatest Generation"!  "This is a never-before-told true story of endurance, perseverance and escape during World War II."  This gem will be a great addition to share with young generations to get a real feel of American and British airmen who were shot down and were helped to escape by the French Resistance.  
         
    New Years Eve 1943- After the pre-mission briefing and breakfast Arthur Meyerowitz, flight engineer was doing his preflight inspection on the B-24 Liberator known as Harmful Lil Armful to make sure it was fit to fly.  Arthur found concerning damage on engine number three, but reporting the warning to the pilot that "the ship was unfit to fly" was completely dismissed to his dismay.  It was to be "Just a Milk Run" as the pilot called this quick mission before the New Year's Eve parties that evening.

     Unfortunately it would be six long months before Arthur's family and girlfriend would hear from him that he was indeed alive and finally in American military protection.  The amazing account that Arthur Meyerowitz's grandson Seth along with Peter Stevens have compiled will keep you riveted to this suspenseful story.  

     I listened to this amazing tale by digital download in RBDigital.  But I also checked out the book from Campbell County Public Library.  The book has a center section of photos that were a great help in visualizing the time period.
 940.54 MEYEROWITZ 2016 

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Educated


                  Educated: A Memoir
                                                               Author- Tara Westover
                                                               Narrator- Julia Whelan

    The title and book cover art caught my eye as a new purchase for the library.  I personally have some strong opinions on education, so it peaked my interest as to where this book would go on the subject.  Sometimes I purposely avoid reading the summary and reviews on a book that intrigues me. I want to approach it without the bias of another person.  As I dove into this story, I didn’t analyze the writer or the writer’s motivations. I just hungrily took in the story as I was mowing lawns. It kept my mind busy from the mundane work and sparked contemplative thoughts of my own experiences.  As I progressed through the story that spanned over many years I began to appreciate the author’s writing ability and mull over the obstacles that she had come up against. Every time I thought the story was about to wind down another “big event” would enter the story.  I have been mulling this story over in my mind for nearly a month now. Not really sure how I wanted to present it. The word, fantastical came to mind. Both in amazingly wonderful ways but also in cruel, mind-boggling ways. I’ll be chewing on this for a while as I work through some of the emotions this real, true to life, not fiction story has stirred within me.  
    The library has this book in regular print, large print, Audio CD and digital download both e-book and e-audio.  So, whatever your preferred method of reading is, we have you covered.

Educated : a memoir    Call number      270.092 WESTOVER 2018

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

I Really Didn't Think This Through- Tales From My So-Called Adult Life



35180961


Author - Beth Evans
Read By- Lauren Fortgang

Listening to this Graphic Novel as an Audio Book was interesting but I feel I missed out on not seeing the illustrations by the author as the book progressed 
The book begins with a somewhat whiney millennial who is not happy when she is expected to 'Adult' by killing her own centipede.  Thankfully the writer gets real in the next section.  Many teen/ young adults will completely identify with the author and I find many things that would be helpful for parents also.  The author struggled with OCD, anxiety, and self-harm.  Topics that are sometimes hard to broach when people are struggling.  It is not a long book,  your return will be more than what you will invest in this.  Check it out!

Saturday, June 30, 2018

10 THINGS A HUSBAND NEEDS FROM HIS WIFE- Everyday Ways to Show Him Love



Image result for 10 things a husband needs from his wife 
10  THINGS A HUSBAND NEEDS FROM HIS WIFE
          Everyday Ways to Show Him Love

Author - Erin Smalley
Read By-Ann M. Richardson

I think I was feeling like I needed to work on being a better wife when I saw this title on the “NEW Audiobook shelf”.  I listened to it in little bits to and from work.  Helping me get into a positive frame of mind before arriving home.  Sometimes I felt it was a southern woman telling me what I should do.  I didn’t like that part but other times I learned valuable tips that really could help a relationship.   So if you are in the market for a little relationship improvement this may fit the bill.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

CAROLINE - Little House, Revisited

Front Cover


Author- Sarah Miller
Performed by- Elizabeth Marvel

This title caught my eye since I love all things Laura Ingalls Wilder!  Of course, I had read the original Little House book set as a child and then to my children.  I grew up on the prairie in Western South Dakota just a few miles from where my Great-grandmother Elizabeth Ingalls Staked a Homesteading Claim at the age of 17.  Naturally, I was intrigued by the different view of Laura’s mother Caroline in this story.  I knew the basic story already but I was drawn into Caroline’s world.  What a different perspective than what Laura had written from.  It was so enjoyable to listen to this book.  Elizabeth Marvel does an excellent job with changing her voice for the different characters and her singing does not hurt your ears!  It was easy to feel like you were riding in the covered wagon along with the Ingalls’ family or helping fight a prairie fire to save their home and family with only burlap sacks and a wash tub of water.  I really enjoyed this book!  I was disappointed with the end of the book though.  The author had drawn me into the story’s detailed progression and then just wrapped it all up in such an abrupt manner.  It was like hitting the bottom of a French fry container with no warning and no extra fry that had escaped.  But alas, maybe I just wanted the book to keep going.  So, check it out and enjoy!  Let me know what you think of it.  




Thursday, March 8, 2018

CAPITAL GAINES Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff


Cover image for Capital Gaines [sound recording (CD book)] : smart things I learned doing stupid stuff
Written By – Chip Gaines
Performed  By – Chip & Joanna Gaines,
     Melinda Paul, Rachel Agee & Gabe Wicks

Chip and Joanna Gaines have become common household names, for those who have cable or satellite and love home remodel reality shows.  I have been out of the loop on this and have only seen tabloid headlines about this couple.  I would not have chosen to listen to this book on my own but it was recommended by one of my Campbell County Public Library co-workers.  I really enjoyed this selection.  It was easy to listen to, easy to pick up where I left off on my commute to and from work, and it had information that I found useful so it was a winner all the way around.  Chip came across as genuinely ‘real’.  Letting us get a glimpse of his less than perfect decisions and how they helped form him into a better business man, husband, and father.  Definitely check this out for an encouraging listen.


Wednesday, February 28, 2018

George Washington's Secret Six- The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution



George Washington's Secret Six audiobook cover art

Written By-  Brian Kilmeade & Don Yaeger
Narrated By- Brian Kilmeade

Well, February has now come and nearly gone.  I decided not to do lace and hearts for this month's selection.  Instead, I began thinking about President's Day and found this book about our first President.  I really enjoyed this story about espionage that helped our new country escape the strong arm of the British crown.  I was drawn into the story that referred to Revolutionary War history that I was familiar with and filled in the gaps with little-known facts of the Secret Six.  I really liked a quote from the book's Epilogue.  An observation of a British Major George Beckwith:"Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us!"  I encourage you to try this book out.  We have this book in audio CD and digital download for your listening pleasure and of course in regular book form also.



Monday, January 22, 2018

Simply Clean

Simply Clean
Author - Becky Rapinchuk
Narrator - Madeleine Maby
    

Starting out the New Year with a how-to book on cleaning our home seemed mildly appropriate after the craziness of the holidays.  The author claims to be house cleaning challenged but she comes across super enthused about getting her cleaning done each day, week, month…  Though I don’t think her “method” is quite original, having read books from Fly Lady, Chaos to Clean and several others that use a daily, weekly, monthly, etc. cleaning schedule.  She has an upbeat and energetic view on keeping your house clean.  Don’t confuse this with how to clear clutter from your home.  She does not go into great detail like other authors have done in how to clear your clutter, just that you need to do it.  So, fair warning if you are needing more guidance on the clutter front.  Sometimes the audio was stilted because she was reading a check list, which is not exactly great literature.  The great part is that you do not have to create your own lists by just listening to the book.  She has lovely PDF forms that can be downloaded and printed from the last CD for a quick start in your cleaning adventure.  Here is a link to our library holding.

Friday, January 19, 2018

Hello 2018!


Well, hello there!  
First, I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Aurora, I work in the Circulation and Children’s Department of the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette, WY.  I plan to post new articles each month featuring audio books from our library collection.  It will stretch across our library from children’s, junior’s, YA, and adult selections.  It will even go outside our doors to the “cloud”, where we will talk about downloadable e-audiobooks from Overdrive, Cloud Library and RBdigital that we have subscriptions to.   We will look at fiction and non-fiction books including biographies, new acquisitions and classic favorites. Feel free to make respectful comments and submit requests for future selections.