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LZSmith

  • 13
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  • 38
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Another Unknown Piece of History

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-26-24

This was a painful yet enlightening lesson on the greatness of enslaved Black Americans and those who fought, sacrificed, and survived the unspeakable.This is a telling story of the evil that men do. There is so much to say about it. I am grateful.

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Painfully Good Read

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-07-24

As much as we have our own narratives about slavery and the cruelty that came with that time, there is no comparison to the reality from those who lived it. "Yellow Wife" gave me more than I expected and it was clear the author did her homework. This is more than a work of fiction from the imagination. The story of Pheby is one of tragedy after tragedy endured by a young woman who had grown up sheltered from the true horrors of slavery. Her sheltered life was due to her white father, the slave owner and her mother, his favored slave. After her mother and father died in and accident and her love had to run, everthing changed. The master's wife, who hated her, had Pheby dragged off to be punished and sold as she attended her mother's funeral. The story rose to a point of my own physical anxiety for Pheby and everyone she loved as she grew up and learned about the power of love and survival.

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No Longer The Spare

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-07-23

This memoire was everything I expected and more. Prince Harry, my Prince Harry (I was born in Luton Bedfordshire, England but raise in the USA) walked with me and talked with me through the audible version of Spare and poured out his soul. Hearing his voice tell his life story and his truths starting from the beginning made me empathize and sympathize with him, giggle and gasp at his imperfections and antics, and pause in reflection and amazement at his accomplishments and actions.

I have 4 siblings, and I'm the second oldest of the 5 of us. I realized as we got older that, while we all grew up in the same environment with the same parents, we all had our own interpretation and feelings about shared situations or events. It's based on who we were in the lineup and how old we were, but also on who we were and are as individuals. We are not clones of each other. No one, no matter who they are, can fathom what life for Prince Harry, the "Spare", has been from the moment he realized his station in this family of age-old historical royalty.

He told his story as it can only be told by him, for him, and in his own words. Harry did not hold back about his mental health, vices, deepest struggles, closest relationships, and he clarified all the half truths, gossip, and lies about him. He breaks down how the Royal ROTA forged this relationship with the UK press, putting the RF in position to sell their souls and loved ones out in exchange for positive press and popularity.

This is a well thought out memoire that makes you want to call him occasionally to check on Harry and the family, just to make sure they're okay. Betrayal of those he was supposed to trust and wanted to trust was the hardest to hear in his own voice. You hear the disbelief, the hurt, the yearning, and the let down. Over and over.

The only love he has ever truly felt was from his mother. She gave him the nourishment his heart hungered for, particularly as a child. He learned the value of devotion, loyalty, intimacy, and cherishing humanity from his mother. You walk with him through the loss of his mother, the processing or not processing it. It seems he will never get over how he lost her. I'm not so sure he should. Not getting over it has fueled his drive to protect his own wife and children.

You journey with Prince Harry as a soldier and through his battle to remain a soldier in spite of the additional damage it lent to his mental health and in dpite of the press disregarding the danger of exposing him. Through his military journey and love of Africa, he found camaraderie, solitude, adventure, peace, and personal freedom.

I remember during the Oprah interview Harry said Meghan saved him. I get it. She rescued him from the gilded cage. Their love story was full of joy, excitement, adventure, and yet, so much pain, frustration, and fear from his beloved family and country. Some of us understand the dynamic of loving our own flesh and blood that also proves to be toxic to our well-being. We yearn for them to be what we need, to love us properly, to have our backs, and to be trustworthy. I get it. At some point, when you tried everything, you have to accept them, and as my mother says, feed them with a long spoon. Meghan gave him the freedom to love, to fall, to fight, to be himself, and she accepted everything that came with loving him unconditionally. In the end, love wins. Harry wins. He is a warrior, a fierce human being with flaws, an enormous heart, and a beautiful soul. Although his own brother tried to convince him he'd be alone, he is not. He is free to fly. Harry is no longer the Spare.

He is Harry the hummingbird.

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Four Times

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-17-22

I love this book. I've read it 4 times. I need to see it made into a movies asap! I even decided to learn how to write a screenplay.

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We Need A TV Series

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-07-22

The narrator changed Devin's name to Devon and at times seemed to confuse the voices of the characters. The only improvement would be to have a man do make voices. Otherwise, did not disappoint! I love Henry Adams!

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Beautifully Read!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-14-21

I loved this book but the what made it even more enjoyable was the incredible narration.

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Loved It!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-17-21

Thank you Emily! You're a vivid storyteller! DOBM can't wait for the sequel! Loved Althea and her sisters!

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The Narration Was...

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-23-20

While I enjoyed the story, there were moments the writing felt green enough to pulled me from the flow of the story. This took place in areas where I struggled to get through the staccato, the one dimensional accents, and the love scenes that sounded too corny. Some corny is expected but this had too many contributions to my frustration. I did enjoy the story and its dimensions. However, I expected a Langley to show and there be a fight for Lucy's affections between him and Alex. I hated to see that storyline end so abruptly. Overall, I enjoyed it.

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So good!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-02-18

Although a bit of a slow start, everything is relevant. The building of characters, scenery, story line. Couldn't stop listening! It builds and you think you know but you don't. Keeps you guessing, thinking. Questioning. About to be a book club fave!

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Enchanting

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-22-18

This was a beautifully written story. I would have liked to see the heroin in less situations where she was injured and more situations winning. Overall, I loved the story.

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