Audible Book Review: Break Shot: My First 21 Years, An Audio Memoir, by James Taylor

I was surprised by this history of James Taylor's early years.
Break Shot: My First 21 Years
An Audio Memoir
By: James Taylor
Narrated by: James Taylor

Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Release date: 01-31-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Memoir, Music
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

About This Audible Original
"I’m James Taylor and I’m a professional autobiographer," says the celebrated folk singer at the start of this tender audio memoir. Through decades of music by one of the best-selling musicians of all time, who created classics like "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina in My Mind," James Taylor has doled out his history in the poetry of his work. Taylor says his early life is, "the source of many of my songs," and Break Shot is a tour of his first 21 years in rich, new detail. Praised by Forbes magazine as going "beyond the spoken word," Break Shot combines storytelling, music and performance to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Longtime fans will savor a crop of musical gems, including an unreleased recording of the beloved hymn "Jerusalem," selections from his newest release American Standard, as well as new original scoring by Taylor specially recorded for Break Shot and more from the Grammy Award-winning artist.
Recorded in his home studio, TheBarn in western Massachusetts, Taylor tells the deeply personal story of his youth, which is entwined with the story of his family. What started as an idyllic tight unit soon became a family sent to different emotional corners—like a break shot in the game of pool, he says, when you slam the cue ball into the fifteen other balls and they all go flying off. By the time Taylor released his breakout second album in 1970, Sweet Baby James, he had seen the disintegration of his parents’ marriage and his family crumble in the aftermath. He had committed himself twice to a psychiatric hospital, battled depression, a heroin addiction, suffered a relapse, and traveled far away from the wood smoke and moonshine of the North Carolina landscapes in which he came of age. Despite it all, he was also on the cusp of superstardom and on his way to bringing light and joy to millions. He was 21.
Journey with James Taylor to a time before he became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts—and a beloved voice to millions.
© 2019 James Taylor (P) 2020 AO Media LLC

Review:
James Taylor, born in 1948, is a renowned musician/songwriter who is only a few years older than me. I enjoy many of his songs when I was young, and still do today. I was totally surprised that this prolific songwriter suffered mental illness during his teen years. I enjoyed that he shared his family struggles openly and frankly. He acknowledged that he got involved with drugs early on and had to seek help more than once… all before the age of 21. Taylor thanked several friends and musicians who helped him begin his career, including a visit with the Beetles. He also explained how personal events and relationships contributed to the songs he was writing. It was interesting that Taylor reveals the humanity and fragility that provided inspiration for his music.

I agree that Fire and Rain is a ‘classic’ and I was pleased when the song was shared at the end of the book. This is a quick listen, narrated by the author which provided more authenticity. I did enjoy what was shared but I would have liked more lyrics in the piece. There were several sections of music without lyrics which were nice but not as meaningful for me. I recommend this to those of the era and to those who enjoy learning about the background of an American songwriter.

Source: 2/10/2020 Extra Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Salvage Crew by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

This went to an unusual, interesting conclusion.

The Salvage Crew
by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Narrated by Nathan Fillion

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Humorous Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Award-winning actor Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie) brings to life a snarky artificial intelligence you won't soon forget. Don't miss his hilarious performance in a story perfectly crafted for sci-fi fans of The Martian, Red Dwarf, and We Are Legion (We Are Bob).
They thought this was just another salvage job. They thought wrong.
An AI overseer and a human crew arrive on a distant planet to salvage an ancient UN starship. The overseer is unhappy. The crew, well, they're certainly no A-team. Not even a C-team on the best of days. And worse? Urmahon Beta, the planet, is at the ass-end of nowhere. Everybody expects this to be a long, ugly, and thankless job.
Then it all goes disastrously wrong. What they thought was an uninhabited backwater turns out to be anything but empty. Megafauna roam the land, a rival crew with some terrifyingly high-powered gear haunts the dig site, and a secret that will change humanity forever is waiting in the darkness. Stuck on this unmapped, hostile planet, lacking resources, and with tech built by the cheapest bidder, the salvage crew must engineer their way to payday...and beat Urmahon Beta before it kills them all.
©2020 Yudhanjaya Wijeratne (P)2020 Podium Audio

Review:
The AI Overseer began work with PCS, Planetary Crusade Services, as a human, becoming a super-soldier and then ultimately agreeing to become a ‘digitized’ human… or an AI. Now “OC” (as dubbed by the crew), has been promoted as an AI Overseer who is to lead a mission to salvage an ancient UN starship on a distant planet. The AI was promised an “A” team crew but ended up with three humans who seem to be barely capable.

Simon, the geologist, turns out to be good with weapons, although a bit gun happy. Anna is apparently Fake Anna and maybe an Army doctor. Milo is the inventor who is supposed to be able to shoot - but it turns out - not so much.

The shuttle from the ship misses the landing pad and ends up 50 miles away from the first salvage site. The crew begins to set up their base, but the work is soon interrupted by the discovery of a Megabeast who feeds on multilegged ‘dogs’. These creatures are only part of the problem the crew has to face as they are soon confronted by a crazy, dark, decaying metal humanoid.

The salvage assignment stretches out as the crew runs into one problem after another and even the ship has gone missing. Soon it is just a struggle for survival.

The story is told primarily by the snarky AI, a technique which I enjoy, especially with this fun character. There is plenty of action and, surprisingly, a bit of poetry as AI tends to make up verse and occasionally quote classics such as “Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death, Rode the six hundred”. The ending takes an unexpected twist which changes the nature of the story … but that can be fun in the ironic nature of sci fi. There is a good mix of suspense and humor which makes this an engaging story. I recommend this to sci fi fans who enjoy humor and an unexpected ending.

Audio Notes: I admit that I snagged this because of the narrator, Nathan Fillion, (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie). I think he captured the snarky character of the AI and delivered the other characters well too. I did have a few short times when the voice was almost too soft and I had to go back to relisten. Other than that, I totally enjoyed the audio experience and feel it enhanced the story for me.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Sunday Post January 17, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 18, 2021

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)

What Are You Reading?, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Things are still tense in my beloved country.  The censorship of conservative accounts and conservative platforms (Parler plus more) and calls to silence opposing voices is appalling and alarming to me as a lawyer, former journalist student and citizen.

Heather was back in office but our newest employee was out three days. We keep plugging away, but now we have another holiday this week.

I almost forgot to mention that Hubby and I got our first vaccinations on Wednesday. Our little community did a great job funneling multiple lines of cars through a large parking lot to six inoculation stations. Everyone remained in a field parking lot for at least 15 minutes afterwards for monitoring. Hubby had to stay 30 minutes because he is on blood thinners. People started lining up at 5:30 for the opening at 9am. I went over at 1pm and it took just an hour. Hubby went at 1:30 and his line was even faster. At 2pm they put out an open call for additional people not over 65 as they still had vaccines left. Hubby had a sore arm the next day but I had no reaction at all.

My Christmas cacti are a couple weeks behind. The big pot apparently has two different plants - one with white blooms and the other with pink. The little pot has pink buds.

We continue to have cold days and rainy ones several times a week. Looks like we get some warm up this week - 33 to 68. 

I enjoyed the four books I finished last week: two audios, one print and one child ebook. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 18 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Just Reading Jess. Jess is an engineer by day and, (like me), "always reading in my free time."

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post January 10, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 11, 2021.

• ATBR- Audible Review First Book 2021: The Harbinger II, The Return by Jonathan Cahn; Genre: Christian Prophesy, Inspirational; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

• Print- Book Review: Coming Home for Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne; Genre: Christmas, Romance, Small Town My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 15, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/21/2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: World Made By Hand, Book 1, by James Howard Kunstler; Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 17, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (NG2020)

The Salvage Crew
by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Narrated by Nathan Fillion
Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
This went to an unusual conclusion - interesting.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Break Shot: My First 21 Years
An Audio Memoir
By: James Taylor
Narrated by: James Taylor
Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Release date: 01-31-20
I was surprised by this history of James Taylor's early years.
Source: 2/10/2020 Extra Free Audible Original.
About This Audible Original
"I’m James Taylor and I’m a professional autobiographer," says the celebrated folk singer at the start of this tender audio memoir. Through decades of music by one of the best-selling musicians of all time, who created classics like "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina in My Mind," James Taylor has doled out his history in the poetry of his work. Taylor says his early life is, "the source of many of my songs," and Break Shot is a tour of his first 21 years in rich, new detail. Praised by Forbes magazine as going "beyond the spoken word," Break Shot combines storytelling, music and performance to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Longtime fans will savor a crop of musical gems, including an unreleased recording of the beloved hymn "Jerusalem," selections from his newest release American Standard, as well as new original scoring by Taylor specially recorded for Break Shot and more from the Grammy Award-winning artist.
Recorded in his home studio, TheBarn in western Massachusetts, Taylor tells the deeply personal story of his youth, which is entwined with the story of his family. What started as an idyllic tight unit soon became a family sent to different emotional corners—like a break shot in the game of pool, he says, when you slam the cue ball into the fifteen other balls and they all go flying off. By the time Taylor released his breakout second album in 1970, Sweet Baby James, he had seen the disintegration of his parents’ marriage and his family crumble in the aftermath. He had committed himself twice to a psychiatric hospital, battled depression, a heroin addiction, suffered a relapse, and traveled far away from the wood smoke and moonshine of the North Carolina landscapes in which he came of age. Despite it all, he was also on the cusp of superstardom and on his way to bringing light and joy to millions. He was 21.
Journey with James Taylor to a time before he became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts—and a beloved voice to millions.
© 2019 James Taylor (P) 2020 AO Media LLC

3. eBook/Computer (NG2020)

The Pugly Duckling
by Carla Siravo
This is very cute but has a major flaw.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

4. Paperback/TBR

A Stockingful of Joy
by Mary Jo Putney, Jill Barnett, Justine Dare, Susan King
This reminds me why I like historical romance. I really enjoyed all four stories.
Source: My own print TBR stack and author collected books (Putney and Barnett).
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Galaxy's Edge
By: Jason Anspach, Nick Cole
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 02-20-18
I sometimes wonder why I enjoy sci fi military... but I do. I finished the first story and now on to the second.
Source: 3/8/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible.
Publisher's Summary
Galaxy's Edge contains Legionnaire through to the end of Galactic Outlaws.
On the edge of the galaxy, a diplomatic mission to an alien planet takes a turn when the Legionnaires, an elite special fighting force, find themselves ambushed and stranded behind enemy lines. They struggle to survive under siege, waiting on a rescue that might never come.
In the seedy starport of Ackabar, a young girl searches the crime-ridden gutters to avenge her father's murder; not far away, a double-dealing legionniare-turned-smuggler hunts an epic payday; and somewhere along the outer galaxy, a mysterious bounty hunter lies in wait.
Galaxy's Edge combines sleek starfighters, exotic aliens, loyal bots, blasters, scoundrels, heroes, and powerful enemies in a thrilling adventure that will take you back to that magic place from a long time ago.
©2017 Nick Cole; 2018 Podium Publishing; 2017 Jason Anspach (P)2018 Podium Publishing.

2. eBook/Computer (NG2020)

Came A Horseman, A Hard Ride In A Fierce World
by Paul McHugh
The protagonist in this Dystopian is combative and that got the story off a little rough for me. I'm interested to see where it goes.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Ten years after Earth's electronics were fried by an immense solar flare, most human technology has turned useless and civilization has begun to fail. But one thriving pocket is a valley on California's coast, where farmers in a religious cult dwell. A tribe of local hunters protect them. But this arrangement gets upended when a young refugee, Kyle Skander, wrecks his kayak there as he seeks to paddle north to Arcata. Kyle finds himself accused of murdering a young woman from the commune. To win freedom, he must find the real killer. His combative personality and a background in logic and philosophy helps Kyle make headway at this task. His investigation begins to uncover the valley's deepest secrets. Then, buried rivalries erupt into a battle that alters forever this enclave's fate.
"Came A Horseman" re-imagines the Western as a post-apocalyptic adventure, with a murder mystery at the heart of its plot.

3. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Death at the Gazebo
Mirror Pond Cozy Mysteries, Book 1
By: Minnie Crockwell
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
Length: 5 hrs
Release date: 12-22-20
This looks like a fun listen.
Source: 1/8/2020 Author Audible Code
Publisher's Summary
First in a new cozy mystery series from Minnie Crockwell.
Settling into her new condominium on Mirror Pond, novelist Sallie Chilcoat feels lost in Ashburn, Virginia, after moving to the state for love of a man. But with the end of that relationship, she finds herself at loose ends. She stares out the window at the pond and contemplates learning to kayak...or taking up painting...or climbing Mount Everest.
Movement in the overwater gazebo catches her eye, and she grabs up her people-watching binoculars to see a man sitting inside the gazebo playing an accordion. Curious about the musician who plays such a rare instrument, Sallie trots down to the pier to investigate.
The term “investigate” takes on a whole new meaning when Sallie reaches the gazebo to discover not a happy musician, but a dead body and a missing accordion. Forget Mount Everest! Sallie finds herself immersed in the mystery of the death at the gazebo.
©2019 Minnie Crockwell (P)2020 Minnie Crockwell

January 17, 2021 - I have been enjoying reading/listening to the Bible passages every morning.   I am reading/listening the NLT Tyndale version of the Bible on You Version App so Hubby and I are reading the same passages each day.
I enjoyed my first 2021 study: New Year: Living With Purpose.

I completed four books and posted three reviews. I'm up to date with four reviews to post this week.
NetGalley shelf is: 14.  (I peeked today and was so tempted but resisting for now.)
Three author titles in queue as I accepted a new graphic title and am listening to the author audio.
(Plus a few that I received from newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I received one new graphic novel for review.
I picked up five free plus catalog Audible titles.
No free Kindle titles this week.
(Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

1/11/2020 Received from Turner Publishing Marketing:

200
by Jennifer Brody, Jules Rivera (Illustrator)
A graphic Sci Fi to be released 2/16/21.

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

I added five new Plus Catalog Audibles to my library:

Crisis Shot: The Line of Duty, Book 1
By: Janice Cantore
Narrated by: Alice Anne English
Series: The Line of Duty, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Q&A
By: Ben H. Winters
Narrated by: John Zdrojeski, Robert Creighton, Jay Snyder, Nicole Lewis, Kathryn Kates, Michael Braun, Elizabeth Evans, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Justis Bolding
Length: 2hrs and 8 mins

Home Shopped Holiday
By: John Burd, Kelly Goodner, Thommy Hutson
Narrated by: Ron Butler, LJ Ganser, Brina Palencia, Chris Kipiniak, Mia Jenness, Ann Osmond, Therese Plummer, Lauren Fortgang, Brittany Pressley, Suzanne Toren, Allison Hiroto, Ali Ahn
Length: 1 hr and 51 mins

Mountain Man
By: Keith C. Blackmore
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: Mountain Man, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Safari
Mountain Man, Book 2
By: Keith C. Blackmore
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: Mountain Man, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins


No free Kindle title this week. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement January 17, 2021

Pastor shared another sermon in the series “Battle On” – Continue to live for Jesus. When we accept Jesus, it is a beginning of a battle, not the end.

Live is full of assessments. We want a doctor to assess our problems and advise treatment. We look at our budget to assess our finances. Students get school report cards that assess their progress. When we get an assessment we sometimes struggle with the report. We have a choice: we can complain about the test and results or we can learn from what has been revealed and focus on how to improve.

The New Living Translation may help give understanding to Paul’s tone in Romans 7: 7-25. Paul notes for all of us ‘It is my sinful nature that I struggle with’. “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?”

This is where some people get “the devil made me do it” excuse. Paul wants to please God but still has trouble doing right. He doesn’t try to excuse himself or get around it. He is seeking a way to overcome the sinful nature. He realizes he cannot do it on his own. It is not a law problem, but a sin problem. Romans 7:13-15.

The law is the spiritual assessment that reveals where we are and where we need to go, to be. Hebrews 4:12-13.

Paul doesn’t seek loopholes. He asks to see more of the law so he can understand how to live correctly for God. The law revels the sin but has no power to conquer or subdue the sin. The sin wears us down. Matthew 11:28-30.

As we Battle On in the fight against sin, it has less to do with us and more to do with our dependence on Jesus. Romans 7:20-21. The answer is Jesus Christ. Romans 7:25 - Romans 8:1. “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Jesus stands between us and the judgment we deserve. He keeps working for us – grace at work.

God is righteous; we are wicked. But we are allowed to go boldly to the throne through the grace of our faith in Jesus. Hebrews 4:14-16. Since we have a high priest, hold on firmly to what we have believed…

The Point: When we submit to the revealing word of God, we will Battle On and win!

The word shows us how much we need the Grace of Jesus. We must Battle On by Grace.

This is the “grace” song I pick for today: By Grace Alone.

Verses for Today: Romans 7:23-25 NLT.
23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Lord – Thank You for grace. Help me to Battle On with Your Holy Spirit to guide me and Your Grace to forgive me.

Audible Book Review: World Made By Hand, Book 1, by James Howard Kunstler

This is the first book in an interesting character driven dystopian series.
World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 08-23-10
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In The Long Emergency, celebrated social commentator James Howard Kunstler explored how the terminal decline of oil production combined with climate change had the potential to put industrial civilization out of business. In World Made by Hand, an astonishing work of speculative fiction, Kunstler brings to life what America might be, a few decades hence, after these catastrophes converge.
The electricity has flickered out. The automobile age is over. In Union Grove, a little town in upstate New York, the future is nothing like people thought it would be. Life is hard and close to the bone. Transportation is slow and dangerous, so food is grown locally at great expense of time and energy, and the outside world is largely unknown. There may be a president, and he may be in Minneapolis now, but people aren’t sure. The townspeople’s challenges play out in a dazzling, fully realized world of abandoned highways and empty houses, horses working the fields and rivers, no longer polluted, and replenished with fish.
This is the story of Robert Earle and his fellow townspeople and what happens to them one summer in a country that has changed profoundly. A powerful tale of love, loss, violence, and desperation, World Made by Hand is also lyrical and tender, a surprising story of a new America struggling to be born - a story more relevant now than ever.
©2008 James Howard Kunstler (P)2010 Blackstone Audiobooks

Review:
Robert Earle is old enough to remember life before technology started to fail and bombs eliminated live as known in the 21st century. Now there is only limited electric power, food is grown locally, transportation is mostly horse and cart or walking, and life is generally hard. Robert lost his wife and daughter to illness in a two year period. Five years later his nineteen-year-old son took off to find out what was left of the world. There are no phones or mail service to stay in touch. It is enough of a struggle to get clean water and barter for supplies without running into violence.

Robert goes on a trade run to the local ‘trading post’ (think a dump taken over by a gang). He ran into a young man, Sean, who is there with his dog. Since the guard won’t allow Sean in with the dog, Robert agrees to pick up Sean’s list. But before the transactions are complete, gun shots are heard and Robert returns to the entrance to find Sean and his dog shot to death. Although the guard claims self-defense, clearly there is a problem with the trading gang but there is no one in town to investigate, arrest or pursue the murder. There is a Chief of Police/Sheriff but he said he “wouldn’t serve if elected” and has continued to drink and live up to that promise.

A new religious group, consisting of 70 or so members led by Brother Jobe, has arrived in town. Brother Jobe is prepared to push for more control in the community. Soon, at a duly called town meeting, the existing, do-nothing mayor is fired, and Robert is elected as the new mayor. Robert’s friend, Loren, the existing Pastor, is elected to replace the Chief of Police. Robert and Loren are at least willing to take their positions seriously but before they take up their tasks, Robert is asked to join a rescue team to travel down the river to find a boat of local men who took trade goods to another city. They do manage to find the men but retrieving them ends in violence.

When the team returns with the men, there is a celebration. While most of the community attends the festival, the trader gang members travel through town apparently looting and intimidating people who remained in their homes. One of those intimidated is Sean’s widow who has moved in as Robert’s housekeeper after her house burned down.

Robert and Loren have a jailed prepared. They arrest Brother Jobe for shaving people without consent. Then they attempt to arrest the trading gang leader which ends in a violent confrontation. The town situation is changing and Robert, Loren, Brother Job and the others have to juggle to find their way in this strange new life.

This dystopian story focuses on personal and relational issues as the survivors struggle to continue life and find an acceptable level of community. I wasn’t thrilled by the female characters who are given lesser roles bordering on sex objects. The descriptions are lyrical at times and I liked the title phrase. I found the overall story interesting if not totally compelling. I do have the next three books and plan to continue to listen over the next few months.

Audio Notes: Jim Meskimen is a new-to-me narrator and I think he does a good job. His voice seems to fit Robert and he gives appropriate accent and energy to the characters. The audio enhanced my engagement in the story.

Source: Audible Plus Catalog December 2020. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.