Audio Book Review of Two for Texas by James Lee Burke read by Will Patton

Two For Texas by James Lee Burke read by Will Patton

from Goodreads.com

 Out of print since 1991, Two for Texas is a rip-roaring historical novel about the Texas Revolution of 1835. No reader of Burke's bestselling Dave Robicheaux detective novels will want to miss this marvelous work that pre-dates his success.

My Take:  I really wanted to like this book, I really did but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't.  I didn't find any of the characters in the least bit likable and even though I didn't want to I kept comparing this book to Lonesome Dove by Larry MacMurtry which I loved.  
The story is about two escaped convicts that get caught up in the fight with Santa Anna for the freedom on Texas.  The Alamo is mentioned although the two main characters didn't have anything to do with it. 
Son Holland is the main character and seems to have alittle more redeeming character than his fellow escapee Hugh.  He does seem to actually care about people whereas I got the feeling that Hugh sees people as a means to an end.  
These two do have alot of adventures from the escaping prison to living with the Indians to fighting in the Texas Army against the Mexicans.  
The Element that kept me listening to this book was Will Patton as the narrator.  He did an excellent job bringing these characters to life and I enjoyed listening to his various voices for the different characters.  I would definitely listen to another book that is narrated by Will Patton.  
If you like westerns and don't mind the brutality that came often times with that life you may like this book.

I received a review copy of this book from Simon and Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion.

I, Rhoda by Valerie Harper Audio Book Review

I, Rhoda by Valerie Harper

from Good Reads:
 The heartwarming memoir from beloved, award-winning television actress Valerie Harper.Valerie Harper is finally ready to tell her story. In this, her first memoir, the beloved and award-winning television actress reflects on the role that made her famous—Rhoda Morgenstern on the groundbreaking series The Mary Tyler Moore Show and on the spin-off show Rhoda—and the pressures of helming her own sitcom, Valerie. From her childhood in New Jersey and upstate New York to the beginnings of her acting career as a dancer and chorus girl on Broadway—performing alongside stars like Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason—to her recent battle with lung cancer, Valerie shares the story of her life, both the highs and the lows, in this heartwarming memoir, filled with charming anecdotes about Betty, Lucy, and Mary, to name a few.

My Take:  I like to listen to a good memoir every once in a while so when I got the chance to review this audio book by Valerie Harper I jumped at the chance.  I grew up watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda and I enjoyed her show Valerie so I wanted to learn a little bit more about her.  Let me start off by saying that if you are looking for a smear campaign then this is not the book for you.  According to Valerie Harper everyone that she has worked with was wonderful and talented and gorgeous, even the people that she had the problems with when she lost her own show she really didn't say anything bad about.  She read this book also which I think it might have been better if someone else had read it.  There was just something off to me while I was listening to it, maybe I expected to hear Rhoda's New York accent.  I'm not sure but it didn't quite work for me.  
She did lead a very interesting life and got to meet and work with alot of interesting people (which at times it felt like she was name dropping a bit much).  I thought that it was interesting that her mother would move away and leave her to live in New York by herself when she was still quite young. As a mother I am not sure I would have made the same choice but I don't know the entire situation.  I learned that she had gotten her start on Broadway which I was quite impressed with. I was interested in her journey to adopt her daughter.  I would highly recommend this book if you like Valerie Harper and liked the shows that she was in.  

I received a review copy of this audio book from Simon and Schuster in exchange for my honest opinion.