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The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Narrators: Jenna Larnia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer and Cassandra Campbell
Listening Time: 18 hours and 19 minutes

This novel takes place during 1962 in Mississippi. The story is about 3 remarkable women: Skeeter, a young white girl raised by a black maid; Aibileen who is currently raising her 17th white child; and Minnie, who can cook like no other maid in town, yet her comments cause her a lot of grief at times by the things she says to people.

I appreciate how the story shows the love and dedication the maids had for the white children they are raising and taking care of as if they were their own children. I love how the author shows the bond between the children and their maids which was more than they had with their own biological mother at times.  The rampant discrimination resulted in many struggles for the black maids, yet they managed to work through those struggles with pride and dignity. The maids’ lives were very interesting. The author does a great job conveying not only the maids personalities but how they struggled in life with their everyday fears and joys.

I would highly recommend this book. The narrators really enhanced the impact of this story. It is well written and I would read this book again.

One Second After
Author: William R. Forstchen
Narrator: Ray Foushee
Listening Time: 12 hours and 35 minutes

This science fiction novel is about an EMP, short for electromagnetic pulse, and how it can damage technology and electronics as we know it today. The story is about one man’s struggles to keep his family alive after a nuclear bomb is exploded over the United States causing massive devastion.

This book is very interesting and thought provoking. The story shows how one minute people are living life of luxury that we have become accustom to and the next minute our lives are thrust back 200 years.

I found myself having several emotions throughout the book. One part of the book I was very sad for some of the children and their family pets. I may have to find me a Rabbs for moral support.

Even though the story is not true it does make one stop and think about what we would do if this event or other major life altering event happened during our life time. It has helped me to be more appreciative of my family, friends and all the things I do have and to not take them for granted. Who knows what could be taken away from us within a split second.

Ray Foushee is a great narrator and made the book so I did not want to stop listening.