Roberta Westwood
- 74
- reviews
- 43
- helpful votes
- 77
- ratings
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Love from A to Z
- Written by: S. K. Ali
- Narrated by: S. K. Ali, Priya Ayyar, Tim Chiou
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Zayneb’s teacher won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are. But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry. When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break. Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her. Then her path crosses with Adam’s.
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What a lovely book!
- By Roberta Westwood on 2020-09-22
- Love from A to Z
- Written by: S. K. Ali
- Narrated by: S. K. Ali, Priya Ayyar, Tim Chiou
What a lovely book!
Reviewed: 2020-09-22
I thoroughly enjoyed life through the eyes, hearts and words of these two young people. I learned a whole lot about what it is like to face racism and judgement as a Muslim, especially as a young woman. Along the way, I learned about Muslim courting (to the degree that it almost made sense to me), multiple sclerosis and art. Despite the struggles, this story overflows with optimism. Great narration. Highly recommended.
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Last Days of the Concorde
- The Crash of Flight 4590 and the End of Supersonic Passenger Travel
- Written by: Samme Chittum
- Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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On July 25, 2000, a Concorde, the world's fastest passenger plane, was taking off from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris when it suddenly burst into flames. An airliner capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound, the Concorde had completed 25 years of successful flights, whisking wealthy passengers - from diplomats to rock stars to corporate titans - between continents on brief and glamorous flights. Yet on this fateful day, the chartered Concorde jet, en route to America, crashed and killed all 109 passengers and crew onboard and four people on the ground.
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Terrible narrator
- By Roberta Westwood on 2020-09-20
- Last Days of the Concorde
- The Crash of Flight 4590 and the End of Supersonic Passenger Travel
- Written by: Samme Chittum
- Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt
Terrible narrator
Reviewed: 2020-09-20
I gave up, I could not concentrate on the story, the narration was so poor
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The Bishop's Bedroom
- Written by: Piero Chiara, Jill Foulston
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 3 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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The summer after World War II, two men form an uneasy bond that inevitably leads to a mysterious accident that shatters the tranquility between them.
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Story transports you
- By Roberta Westwood on 2020-09-20
- The Bishop's Bedroom
- Written by: Piero Chiara, Jill Foulston
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
Story transports you
Reviewed: 2020-09-20
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first (a bit heavy on male exploits of the women they laid for my liking), but I am glad I stuck with it. The characters were actually very well developed and the intrigue built as the story went on. Oh, the things that happen that we can't imagine. Lots of surprises and a few deaths. A satisfying listen.
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Lord of the Flies
- Written by: William Golding
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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A plane crashes on a desert island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. As the boys’ delicate sense of order fades, so their childish dreams are transformed into something more primitive and their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance.
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Take a walk on the dark side
- By Roberta Westwood on 2020-05-27
- Lord of the Flies
- Written by: William Golding
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
Take a walk on the dark side
Reviewed: 2020-05-27
I read Lord of the Flies long ago, so I was ready for a new take on the classic. Fortunately, it was long enough ago that I didn't remember the plot details. Oh my, what dark sides we humans have.... and so interesting to see how they come out. Good vs evil. Dark vs light. Excellent narration, which really added to my experience ~ I felt I 'got' the characters.
1 person found this helpful
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I Am Spock
- Written by: Leonard Nimoy
- Narrated by: Leonard Nimoy
- Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins
- Abridged
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Best known to the world as the actor who created the legendary Mr. Spock in the cult television series that launched the Star Trek phenomenon, Leonard Nimoy has written the definitive Star Trek memoir. In this long-awaited autobiography, Nimoy opens up to his fans in ways the Vulcan never could.
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Essential for trek fans
- By Sergeminator on 2020-09-21
- I Am Spock
- Written by: Leonard Nimoy
- Narrated by: Leonard Nimoy
Spock and Nimoy relect
Reviewed: 2020-05-27
What a fabulous little book! My only complaint is that it was too short. Well, actually, it didn't leave me wanting, I just didn't want it to end. Great narration from Nimoy. My favourite parts were the conversations he had with Spock in his head. It really was a partnership. A must listen for all Trekkies. LLAP
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Rooftops of Tehran
- Written by: Mahbod Seraji
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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A 17-year-old boy finds his rooftop the perfect escape for taking in the night sky, smoking cigarettes and catching occasional glimpses of his beautiful neighbor. But when his lofty perch allows him to witness the brutality of the regime under which he lives, everything changes for the boy and those close to him.
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Overall a good read.
- By Wiesia on 2020-02-13
- Rooftops of Tehran
- Written by: Mahbod Seraji
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
Fantastic
Reviewed: 2020-01-26
I loved this book. I chose to read this book in light of recent news and politics, hoping it would give me more insight into Iran and the Iranian people. It did not disappoint. The hopes and dreams of Iran's youth, set against the context of the country's norms and traditions, provided a rich picture. The characters were very real to me. The tiny details of the neighbourhood, the cooling hose in the heat, the imaginings under the stars, took me right there. Richly written. Great narration. 5 stars.
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A Daughter's Deadly Deception
- The Jennifer Pan Story
- Written by: Jeremy Grimaldi
- Narrated by: Joe Hempel
- Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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From the outside looking in, Jennifer Pan seemed like a model daughter living a perfect life. The ideal child, the one her immigrant parents saw, was studying to become a pharmacist at the University of Toronto. But there was a dark, deceptive side to the angelic young woman. In reality, Jennifer spent her days in the arms of her high-school sweetheart, Daniel. In an attempt to lead the life she dreamed of, she would do almost anything. For many years she led this double life. But when her father discovered her web of lies, his ultimatum was severe. And so, too, was her revenge.
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Rambling
- By Roberta Westwood on 2020-01-26
- A Daughter's Deadly Deception
- The Jennifer Pan Story
- Written by: Jeremy Grimaldi
- Narrated by: Joe Hempel
Rambling
Reviewed: 2020-01-26
I'd had enough of this book about half way through, but stuck it out. Not so sure it was worth it. Overall, the book could have been 1/3 shorter and told the same story. The order was odd, the last half was misplaced. It was factual at first, but seemed to fall into conjecture. The last 2 minutes of the Acknowledgements told me why, and I wasn't thrilled to have spent my time on it. I like true crime stories but would not read this author again.
2 people found this helpful
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Bloodstains
- Written by: Jeff Mudgett
- Narrated by: Kim Estes, Tim Ellis, Jeff Mudgett
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Bloodstains is the startling tale of one man’s search for the truth after inheriting the personal diaries belonging to his great-great-grandfather who, he discovers, was America’s first and most notorious serial killer Herman Webster Mudgett. Better known by his alias H.H. Holmes, Mudgett was the mass murderer who struck terror in the nation by being the proprietor of the infamous Murder Castle and stalking the streets of Chicago during the 1893 World’s Fair.
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So Distracting
- By Viper on 2020-02-19
- Bloodstains
- Written by: Jeff Mudgett
- Narrated by: Kim Estes, Tim Ellis, Jeff Mudgett
Very dark but compelling
Reviewed: 2020-01-12
I've had Eric Larson's "The Devil in the White City" sitting unlistened to in my library for sometime, but decided to read it before reading "Bloodstains". I recommend you do the same, as it provided context.
I like memoirs and have read a few by people who have learned about a parent or relative's criminal history ~ drawn by the curiosity of wondering what that must be like ~ so Bloodlines caught my eye.
But this is no run of the mill serial killer (if there is such a thing), this was the first and worst. A truly evil psychopath. And I knew this story would involve unfathomable darkness. The journey Mudgett took to uncover his family history was inseparable from his own mental illness, which reared its head while he was uncovering revelations. It made for a very dark story indeed. But I am glad I read it.
There is an oddity about this book in that it has a music and sound effects in the background throughout most of it, and it was distracting. Like B-grade movie, the amateurish audio effects drew attention to them, instead of enhancing the story.
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The Devil in the White City
- Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
- Written by: Erik Larson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In a thrilling narrative showcasing his gifts as storyteller and researcher, Erik Larson recounts the spellbinding tale of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Also available abridged.
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Well written
- By Joseph Butcher on 2017-10-26
- The Devil in the White City
- Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
- Written by: Erik Larson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
Dark history in the white city
Reviewed: 2020-01-12
After a false start a year ago, when I couldn't get into this book, I picked it up again. I had just come across "Bloodstains" by Jeff Mudgett, the great grandson of the "devil" in this book, and thought I should read this first (I recommend reading them in this order; it gave good context for Mudgett's revelations).
Overall, this was a pretty good book, but tying together two largely unrelated storylines isn't easy to do. While both were joined by the time and place of the Chicago World's Fair, flipping from a mass murderer's arrival in the city to the architects planning the site couldn't help but feel disjointed.
In the end, the stories were joined in the grizzly nightmares and calamities during the fair. It was disturbing to learn that the disappearing women barely registered with authorities and the "devil" carried on under their noses.
It is a dark history, but interesting nonetheless.
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Coffin Road
- Written by: Peter May
- Narrated by: Peter Forbes
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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A man stands bewildered on a deserted beach on the Hebridean Isle of Harris. He cannot remember who he is. The only clue to his identity is a folded map of a path named the Coffin Road. He does not know where this search will take him. A detective from Lewis sits aboard a boat, filled with doubt. DS George Gunn knows that a bludgeoned corpse has been discovered on a remote rock 20 miles offshore. He does not know if he has what it takes to uncover how and why.
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could not put down
- By Robbie Clarke on 2019-09-30
- Coffin Road
- Written by: Peter May
- Narrated by: Peter Forbes
Convoluted
Reviewed: 2019-12-18
Interesting premise, but the storyline was just too convoluted for me. Yes, it worked in terms of making it impossible to guess what might happen next, and who the characters really were. The story and main characters never really grabbed me though. I wasn't left to mull over the lessons or revelations or human relationships afterwards.