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Fireball
- Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
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Fireball
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Publisher's Summary
This fresh look at Hollywood's "Queen of Screwball", Carole Lombard, presents a first-ever examination of the events that led to the shocking flight mishap that took her life on the side of a Nevada mountain in 1942. It also provides a day-by-day account of the struggles of Lombard's husband, Clark Gable, and other family, friends, and fans to cope with the tragedy. In effect, having just completed the first sale of war bonds and stamps in the nation following its entry into World War II, Lombard became the first Hollywood star to sacrifice her life in the war.
The War Department offered Gable a funeral service with full military honors, but he refused it, knowing his wife would not approve of such spectacle. Based on extensive research rather than gossip, this investigation further explores the lives of the 21 others on the plane, including 15 members of the US Army Air Corps, and addresses one of the most enduring mysteries of World War II. On a clear night full of stars, with TWA's most experienced pilot at the controls of a 10-month-old aircraft under the power of two fully functioning engines, why did the flight crash into that Nevada mountainside?
This gripping page-turner presents the story of the people on the plane, the friends and families left behind, and the heroic first responders who struggled up a mountain hoping to perform a miracle rescue. It is a story of accomplishment, bravery, sacrifice, and loss.
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Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- melt72
- 2022-09-26
Informative
This book was very well written, with many storylines surrounding the crash. The information all comes together and makes you feel like you know lots of facts from before, during and after the incident, with a focus on Carole’s life. The focus wasn’t on Clark Gable but you are still able to learn a lot about him and their relationship. An amazing way to listen to the history of the time.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Roberta W
- 2022-09-06
Interweaving stories
This was a really well written book. I liked the way the two stories (Lombard’s life, plane crash) were woven together. Great listen for aviation geeks.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Read
Every detail you'd ever want on that heart breaking accident.
The book well remembers every person on board, not just Lombard's death.
The details aren't for the faint of heart, but if you want to experience what happened on the side of Mt. Potosi that perilous night, Fireball has it.
As well, a tremendously detailed account of what happened to Clark Gable in those tortured days. I believe a part of his soul died along with Carole that day.
Well worth a listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sudi
- 2014-06-18
Carole, Reanimated
If you could sum up Fireball in three words, what would they be?
Researched; Personal; Gripping
What does Tavia Gilbert bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Ms.Gilbert does read with enthusiasm.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I appreciated that Mr. Matzen fleshed out some peripheral players in the lives of Lombard and also Gable.
Any additional comments?
I've always felt I knew Carole; now I feel I know her better.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- D2
- 2018-12-01
Great Story, Terrible Narration
This a fantastic book! I have always wondered about the crash of TWA Flight 3 and this book answers those questions. While the focus is on Carole Lombard the other crash victims are not forgotten. My only complaint is the narration. Oh my. It is read in an over the top, melodramatic manner to the point of being annoying. If the story had not held my interest so deeply I would have returned it because of the narration and bought the hard copy. Overall, well written and a tribute to the lives of those affected by this tragedy.
7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 2021-06-28
Sad, but wonderfully written
I'm a big fan of Carole Lombard and I'd read this in hardcover when it first came out and thought that it was very good. I still think that it's very well written AND now I also feel that the narrator made it even better. She read it with the proper amount and placement of emotion (not overly, but not flat either).
This is not just about Carole Lombard though, it's about her mother and Otto Winkler, and the service men and flight crew all of whom also died in that crash.
It's a great reminder (I think anyway) to lead a good life, love and appreciate your loved ones, have good fun..and don't make important decisions based on emotion...and listen to other people who also have a part in your decision making and understand their feelings.
Highly recommend it!
4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anna Goforth
- 2021-02-10
Narrator over dramatic
Wonderful story that answers multiple questions. But the narration almost kills the book. Her voice is lovely, but tone down the drama, please! I wasn’t impressed by the over the top hysterics. It made listening difficult. Otherwise perfect voice for narration.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- lauren
- 2015-06-08
Haunting
Hard to believe so long has passed and how touching this story. I really would have loved to get to know the"fireball" Carol Lombard. She really packed a lot of living into a short time!
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Iswg
- 2021-02-10
Great book great narration
Very good and interesting; read the book a few years ago and just listened to it; very good!!
2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- CarmenJones
- 2017-03-13
Heartbreaking story with obnoxious narrator
This was probably the most beautifully written tragic story I've ever read. I think it would have fared even better with a better Narrator. Tavia what's her face is no Grace Conlin and her over the top dramatic recitation bordered on obnoxious "oooh no! Dear! sweet! Carole is... G-g-g-ONE!!" (Rolls eyes) the story was tragic enough and did not need Tavia's over the top Mary Pickford style of acting.
Anyway I wish I had read the book on my own because I don't think I will be able to revisit this title. It was just too heartbreaking, those people did not deserve to die in such a tragic way. Oh well I pray they are all at peace.
Off to find something cheery to read to...
2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- M.K. Hobson
- 2021-11-05
Maudlin writing, overly melodramatic narration
Interesting subject matter, but my eyes ache from rolling them so hard (and constantly) during this book. The incessant interpolation of Gable's imagined "thoughts", the ridiculous, over the top flights of hagiography of Lombard, the constant cheeseball narrative diversions (the extended and excruciating side story about the farmboy meeting his flyboy hero being a particularly egregious example of nauseating glurge) were almost unbearable.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hortensia GT
- 2021-11-02
Heartbreaking
This book has reignited my interest in Clark and Carole. It was heartbreaking to read about their love story and how it ended in detail. The book brought them back to life and made them more real than anything else I’ve read about them. It could also be that my interest in them started when I was a young teenager and reading about them back them was different than reading about them now, aged 57. Quite a different perspective. I also liked that the other passengers’ stories were told. All in all it brought the tragic crash to life and my heart ached for all involved.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ginny Chatigny
- 2021-10-29
interesting
enjoyed learning what happened to the king & queen. finding love and losing it.. love
1 person found this helpful