The Slaves' War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves [AUDIOBOOK] [CD]

The Slaves' War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] Author: Ward, Andrew Allen, Richard (Narrator) ISBN: 1-4001-0614-1

Category: American history: c 1500 to c 1800

Audio CD Tantor Media

Product Description Groundbreaking, compelling, and poignant, The Slaves' War delivers an unprecedented vision of the nation's bloodiest conflict, as acclaimed historian Andrew Ward gives us the first narrative of the Civil War told from the perspective of those whose destiny it decided.

Rogue [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] [UNABRIDGED]

Rogue [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] [UNABRIDGED] Author: Steel, Danielle Lewis, Brian Keith (Reader) ISBN: 1-4233-2030-1

Category: American Light Romantic Fiction

Audio CD Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged

From Publishers Weekly Romance titan Steel doctors up a familiar formula with fresh results. Having had just about enough of the gadabout ways of dot-com millionaire and perpetual Peter Pan, Blake Williams, Maxine, 42, divorced him five years ago and is raising their three children (ages 13, 12 and six) while running a thriving psychiatric practice specializing in childhood trauma and adolescent suicide. Blake, meanwhile, is continent-hopping among houses in London, Morocco and New York, bedding nubile young things. Maxine and Blake have remained friends, but when a horrific teen suicide case leads Maxine to meet doctor and childless divorcé Charles West, she finally falls for the type of man she thinks she's always wanted: serious, responsible and a bit stuffy. A disaster makes Blake rethink his lifestyle, however, and Maxine suddenly has a choice to make. While Steel never locks in on her characters' emotions, she keeps the pages turning and offers a satisfying twist at book's end that most readers won't see coming. (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Product Description Being married to Blake had been an amazing adventure for Maxine. Brilliant, charismatic, and wholly unpredictable, Blake Williams made millions and grabbed headlines as a dot-com entrepreneur. His only shortcoming was as a husband - first his work, and then his never-ending quest for fun kept him constantly on the move, far away from Maxine and his family. For five years, Blake and Maxine have worked out an odd but amicable divorce, with friendly though infrequent visits, a yacht he lends her every summer, and three children they both adore. Blake enjoys his globe-trotting lifestyle - dating a succession of beautiful, famous, and very young women - while Maxine raises their kids in Manhattan and pursues her passion, working as a psychiatrist, a world-renowned expert on childhood trauma and adolescent suicide. Then everything changes…. For Maxine, it starts when she falls in love with Dr. Charles West, a man who is everything Blake is not - mature, grounded, and present. For Blake, it begins when a devastating earthquake strikes near one of his palatial foreign homes, and he sees hundreds of orphaned children in need of shelter. Now, Blake wants Maxine in his life again - as a partner in a humanitarian project that could change countless lives. For Maxine, the choice is clear. But Blake’s sudden transformation - from carefree playboy to compassionate, responsible grown-up - raises questions she’s never managed to answer…and some she’s afraid to ask. After all, Maxine is on the cusp of a new life, about to marry Charles, and almost certain that Blake Williams, a.k.a. the Rogue, is a man capable of doing anything - except change…. An unforgettable story of two people pursuing happiness from opposite directions, Rogue is a journey of choices and the amazing opportunities that come together - just when life seems to have been successfully rearranged at last.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED]

When You Are Engulfed in Flames [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] Author: Sedaris, David (Reader) ISBN: 1-60024-182-4

Category: Humour collections & anthologies

Audio CD Hachette Audio

From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Sedaris's sparkling essays always shimmer more brightly when read aloud by the author. And his expert timing, mimicry and droll asides are never more polished than during live performances in front of an audience. Happily, four of the 22 pieces are live recordings, and listeners can hear Sedaris's energy increase from the roaring, rolling laughter of the appreciative audience. Sedaris's studio recording of his 10-page Of Mice and Men runs 16 minutes, while the live recording of Town and Country, which runs the same length in print, expands to 22 minutes thanks to an audience that often doesn't let him finish a sentence without making him pause for laughter to subside. The studio recordings usually begin with an acoustic bass and brief sound effect (a buzzing fly, the lighting of a cigarette, the clinking of ice in a drink, etc.). Sedaris's brilliant magnum opus, The Smoking Section (about his successful trip to Tokyo is quit smoking) stretches across the final two CDs. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 28). (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From AudioFile In David Sedaris's excellent latest collection, cringe-worthy moments follow on the heels of laugh-out-loud ones--you may never buy another pair of thrift-store pants, for example, and that's only the beginning. The stories jump back and forth in time and locale--Sedaris is in middle school, in college, in his grown, professional life; now North Carolina, now New York, now Normandy. The constant is Sedaris's narration, and that's why his delivery works so well with his words--every absurdity is made more believable (if not more palatable) thanks to his steady reading. He sounds incredulous and world-weary all at the same time. Death may be a recurring theme in these essays, but listeners will chuckle helplessly all the same. Track listings with titles are helpfully printed on the CDs, so it's easy to go back and find favorites again. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

The Last Lecture CD [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED]

The Last Lecture CD [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] Author: Pausch, Randy Singer, Erik (Reader) Singer, Erik ISBN: 1-4013-9144-3

Category: Self-Help

Audio CD Hyperion Audio

Book Description "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." --Randy Pausch A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living. In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come. Questions for Randy Pausch We were shy about barging in on Randy Pausch's valuable time to ask him a few questions about his expansion of his famous Last Lecture into the book by the same name, but he was gracious enough to take a moment to answer. (See Randy to the right with his kids, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe.) As anyone who has watched the lecture or read the book will understand, the really crucial question is the last one, and we weren't surprised to learn that the "secret" to winning giant stuffed animals on the midway, like most anything else, is sheer persistence. Amazon.com: I apologize for asking a question you must get far more often than you'd like, but how are you feeling? Pausch: The tumors are not yet large enough to affect my health, so all the problems are related to the chemotherapy. I have neuropathy (numbness in fingers and toes), and varying degrees of GI discomfort, mild nausea, and fatigue. Occasionally I have an unusually bad reaction to a chemo infusion (last week, I spiked a 103 fever), but all of this is a small price to pay for walkin' around. Amazon.com: Your lecture at Carnegie Mellon has reached millions of people, but even with the short time you apparently have, you wanted to write a book. What did you want to say in a book that you weren't able to say in the lecture? Pausch: Well, the lecture was written quickly--in under a week. And it was time-limited. I had a great six-hour lecture I could give, but I suspect it would have been less popular at that length ;-). A book allows me to cover many, many more stories from my life and the attendant lessons I hope my kids can take from them. Also, much of my lecture at Carnegie Mellon focused on the professional side of my life--my students, colleagues and career. The book is a far more personal look at my childhood dreams and all the lessons I've learned. Putting words on paper, I've found, was a better way for me to share all the yearnings I have regarding my wife, children and other loved ones. I knew I couldn't have gone into those subjects on stage without getting emotional. Amazon.com: You talk about the importance--and the possibility!--of following your childhood dreams, and of keeping that childlike sense of wonder. But are there things you didn't learn until you were a grownup that helped you do that? Pausch: That's a great question. I think the most important thing I learned as I grew older was that you can't get anywhere without help. That means people have to want to help you, and that begs the question: What kind of person do other people seem to want to help? That strikes me as a pretty good operational answer to the existential question: "What kind of person should you try to be?" Amazon.com: One of the things that struck me most about your talk was how many other people you tal

Made in the U.S.A. [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED]

Made in the U.S.A. [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] Author: Letts, Billie Morris, Cassandra (Reader) ISBN: 1-60024-207-3

Category: Modern fiction

Audio CD Hachette Audio

From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Letts's tale of two children who set out on a voyage to find their father after his hefty ex-girlfriend, the children's guardian, falls dead in a Wal-Mart, is a moving coming-of-age tale. Cassandra Morris is amazingly strong in her delivery, giving a tremendous performance in which her fresh voice is perfectly suited for 15-year old Lutie. Her reading is clear and well paced, and her habit of rushing her words at times serves as an endearing character trait; she can do no wrong here. Her performance is a genuine one that will move audiences with its honesty and passion. A Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 28). (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Product Description Luttie McFee's history has taught her to avoid attachments...to people, to places, and to almost everything. With her mother long dead and her father long gone to find his fortune in Las Vegas, 15-year-old Luttie lives in the god-forsaken town of Yankton, South Dakota with her nine-year-old brother, Fate, and Floy Satterfield, the 300-pound ex-girlfriend of her father. While Lutie shoplifts for kicks, Fate spends most of his time reading, watching weird TV shows and worrying about global warming and the endangerment of pandas. As if their life is not dismal enough, one day, while shopping in their local Wal-Mart, Floy keels over and the two motherless kids are suddenly faced with the choice of becoming wards of the state or hightailing it out of town in Floy's old Pontiac. Choosing the latter, they head off to Las Vegas in search of a father who has no known address, no phone number and, clearly, no interest in the kids he left behind. MADE IN THE USA is the alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming story of two gutsy children who must discover how cruel, unfair and frightening the world is before they come to a place they can finally call home.

Silent Thunder [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] [UNABRIDGED]

Silent Thunder [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] [UNABRIDGED] Author: Johansen, Iris Johansen, Roy Dyck, Jennifer Van (Reader) ISBN: 1-4233-2951-1

Category: American Mystery & Suspense Fiction

Audio CD Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged

From Publishers Weekly Bestseller Johansen (Quicksand) and her Edgar-winning son, Roy (Deadly Visions), collaborate on their first thriller with entertaining results. Hannah Bryson, a top-notch submarine designer, and her brother, Conner, must make sure that a Russian nuclear submarine, the Silent Thunder, recently purchased by the U.S. government for use as a maritime museum, is safe for visitors. Working alone on the sub in a Maine harbor, the two make a strange discovery that's swiftly followed by a deadly attack. Others, both Russian and American, want what the Brysons have uncovered and will stop at nothing to obtain it. One Russian, Nicolas Kirov, has a special interest in the submarine as well as a growing interest in the feisty, beautiful Hannah. The constantly bickering Hannah and Kirov are forced to work together for a common goal as they fight various enemies and, of course, fall in love. The romantic subplot threatens to take over the action, but is thankfully reined in at the exciting finale. 12-city author tour. (July) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. From AudioFile SILENT THUNDER, a decommissioned Russian nuclear submarine, is being prepared for a U.S. maritime museum exhibit by Hannah Bryson and her brother, Connor. What they find leads to a series of murders involving Russians, CIA agents, a deadly bomb expert, and a mysterious figure called Kirov. Naturally, Hannah and Kirov experience "hate at first sight" but must work together to untangle the mystery surrounding the sub. Jennifer Van Dyke's classy performance enhances Iris and Roy Johansen's action-packed adventure. Van Dyke's accents provide international flavor, her pacing heightens the growing suspense, and her sultry tones highlight the sexual tension between Hannah and the evasive Kirov. While the story sometimes stretches credibility, Van Dyke makes the Johansens' cinematic conclusion as thrilling as any James Bond escapade. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

General Lee's Army: From Victory to Collapse

General Lee's Army: From Victory to Collapse Author: Glatthaar, Joseph T. Dean, Robertson (Narrator) Dean, Robertson ISBN: 1-4332-1015-0

Category: Military History - U.S. Civil War

Audio CD Blackstone Audio Inc.

From Publishers Weekly You cannot say that University of North Carolina professor Glatthaar (Partners in Command) did not do his homework in this massive examination of the Civil War–era lives of the men in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Glatthaar spent nearly 20 years examining and ordering primary source material to ferret out why Lee's men fought, how they lived during the war, how they came close to winning, and why they lost. Glatthaar marshals convincing evidence to challenge the often-expressed notion that the war in the South was a rich man's war and a poor man's fight and that support for slavery was concentrated among the Southern upper class. Lee's army included the rich, poor and middle-class, according to the author, who contends that there was broad support for the war in all economic strata of Confederate society. He also challenges the myth that because Union forces outnumbered and materially outmatched the Confederates, the rebel cause was lost, and articulates Lee and his army's acumen and achievements in the face of this overwhelming opposition. This well-written work provides much food for thought for all Civil War buffs. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Product Description This sweeping history of the Civil War and the Confederacy is told through the lens of its most crucial army, the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by Robert E. Lee. General Lee's Army takes readers across the Rebel landscape, from campfires to battlefields to their homes, as it portrays a world of life, death, healing, and hardship. Detailing the feelings and conduct of officers and enlisted men throughout the course of the war, it demonstrates how effectively Lee's men served their country and just how close the South came to winning the great war between the states--and why it ultimately lost. Glatthaar investigates the South's commitment to the war and its gradual erosion, and he analyzes Lee's army in triumph and defeat. Fourteen years in the making, this scholarly tour-de-force upends much of the conventional wisdom about the Civil War.

Why Is God Laughing?: The Path to Joy and Spiritual Optimism [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED]

Why Is God Laughing?: The Path to Joy and Spiritual Optimism [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] Author: Chopra, Deepak (Reader) Chopra, Deepak ISBN: 0-7393-6985-7

Category: Personal Guidance

Audio CD Random House Audio

Review "Why is God laughing? Good question. Deepak takes us halfway to an answer, to a line in the sand. Then, after we've contemplated the parable of Mickey Fellows, we cross that line and arrive at the liberating answer on our own. What is it? I ain't telling. Read the book yourself!" -Dan Aykroyd, actor and comedian "Why Is God Laughing? deserves a standing ovation; I couldn't put it down. Deepak Chopra has written another life-changing book that I will definitely recommend to everyone." -Mike Robles, Emmy Award-winning comedian; creator and executive producer of Que Locos and Loco Comedy Jam "If you're skimming these quotes to see whether you're going to buy this book, don't bother. Just read a bit of chapter five!" -John Cleese, actor and comedian From the Hardcover edition. Product Description In this refreshing new take on spirituality, bestselling author Deepak Chopra uses a fictional tale of a comedian and his unlikely mentor to show us a path back to hope, joy, and even enlightenment-with a lot of laughter along the way. Meet Mickey Fellows. A successful L.A. comedian, he's just a regular guy, with his fair share of fears, egocentricities, and addictions. After his father's death, Mickey meets a mysterious stranger named Francisco, who changes his life forever. The two begin an ongoing discussion about the true nature of being. Reluctantly at first, Mickey accepts the stranger's help and starts to explore his own life in an effort to answer the riddles Francisco poses. Mickey starts to look at those aspects of himself that he has hidden behind a wall of wisecracks all his life. Eventually Mickey realizes that authentic humor opens him up to the power of spirit-allowing him to finally make real connections with people. After taking the reader on a journey with Mickey, Chopra then spells out the lessons that Mickey's story imparts to us: ten reasons to be optimistic, even in our challenging world. Chopra believes that the healthiest response to life is laughter from the heart, and even in the face of global turmoil, we can cultivate an internal sense of optimism. Rich with humor and practical advice, Why Is God Laughing? shows us without a doubt that there is always a reason to be grateful, that every possibility holds the promise of abundance, and that obstacles are simply opportunities in disguise. In the end, we really don't need a reason to be happy. The power of happiness lies within each of us, just waiting to be unleashed. And Mickey Fellows's journey shows us the way. From the Hardcover edition.

At First Sight [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] [UNABRIDGED]

At First Sight [AUDIOBOOK] [CD] [UNABRIDGED] Author: Cannell, Stephen J. Brick, Scott (Reader) Brick, Scott ISBN: 1-4233-6774-X

Category: American Mystery & Suspense Fiction

Audio CD Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged

Product Description Meet Chick Best – a middle-aged, self-absorbed California dot.com millionaire. Other than his house and high-priced foreign cars, Chick’s most expensive possession is his trophy wife, Evelyn. Evelyn is good at spending Chick’s money, money that has pretty much run out. Another problem is his drug-addled sixteen-year-old daughter, Melissa. Though concerned about his family, Chick has resigned himself to a miserable state of acceptance. That is, until he, Evelyn, and Melissa take a Christmas vacation in Maui. With this, Chick’s life changes… Chick experiences unrequited love at first sight when he observes Paige Ellis emerging from the hotel swimming pool. His obsession, exceeded only by his need to possess her, isn’t diminished when he learns that she is happily married. Instead, Chick’s obsession compels him to drive to Paige’s house, where he runs down and kills her husband. Chick’s life begins to spiral homicidally out of control, resulting in the destruction of everything he holds dear. Will Paige learn the truth about Chick before it’s too late? Fast paced, filled with wry humor, murder, lust, and dead-on L.A. characterizations, Cannell has written his most explosive novel yet. About the Author In his thirty-five-year career, Emmy Award-winning writer Stephen J. Cannell has created more than forty TV series. Among his hits are The Rockford Files, Silk Stalkings, The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, Hunter, Renegade, Wiseguy, and The Commish. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and children. Check out his Web site at www.cannell.com.

Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel

Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel Author: Burke, James Lee Patton, Will (Reader) ISBN: 0-7435-7187-8

Category: Fiction

Audio CD Simon & Schuster Audio

From Publishers Weekly Detective Dave Robicheaux is pitted against all types, from an oil tycoon's deformed brother to a sexually indiscreet minister. With these colorful characters running rampant, narrator Will Patton never stumbles in his delivery or interpretations, offering realistic, entertaining characters who are sure to engage listeners right from the start. Patton's voice is perfectly suited for Burke's rough and tumble tale, his gritty Southern dialect sets the tone for this brooding murder mystery. A Simon & Schuster hardcover (Reviews, May 19). (July) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Bookmarks Magazine Although Dave Robicheaux has (temporarily) left his beloved New Orleans, fans will not be disappointed in this fast-moving, taut, and riveting thriller. Critics noted James Lee Burke’s somewhat lighter tone and brighter mood since his last novel, The Tin Roof Blowdown (2006), a furious reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, though the Miami Herald felt that Swan Peak didn’t measure up to the former novel’s ferocity and immediacy. Burke’s lyrical language and eye for detail are well suited to the rugged physical beauty of Montana, and his characters spring to life as he deftly juggles several different plotlines. Despite a glut of violence and some potentially confusing narrative shifts, Robicheaux’s followers are in for a “deeply terrifying ride” (Oregonian). Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.