Jacob Tender

A very slow start. For me, it took a couple of attempts to get the audiobook going with any velocity. I’m not very fond of the cadence used by the narrator, but the writing is very good. This is a contemplative book. Told, mostly, through the inner monologue of Leigh, a scientist embroiled in various breakthroughs of discovery and personal conflict of her own.

I was attracted to Wild Dark Shore by its hardback cover, which is stunning drawn in by the dark, mysterious waves depicted therein. Of course, it was the audiobook I ended up with. Narrated by an unbelievably gruff, monotonous man and a woman who carried our main character with a complete range of emotions (and a lovable voice for the youngest child to boot.)

I’m not a big fan of romance. Wild Dark Shore earns it in the end, but for most of its length it gives character background as a justification for a romance the author has already established. When the focus is put on sex and desire when there are more interesting themes at play, it cheapens the plot

This novel reads like it was written with a television series in mind. It’d be a great ITV miniseries.

This is the econd story with a hydrophone I’ve read this year.

A former executive economist is hit by the effects of an unstablized economy and takes up work as a letter carrier for a government agency that’s served as the bedrock of the United States since the days before its inception.

I’ve always carried a profound respect and curiosity for the USPS and this insider account has only deepened it. I loved this memoir of Grant’s year as a mailman and will by buying some physical copies to give as gifts to some folks I think could use a reminder of what being an American is really all about—service.