by Anura Guruge
on January 6, 2024
I listened to this book earlier this year. It is listed as being just over 25 hours long. But, I listen at 0.95 speed. So, it would have taken me 26 hours to listen to it — IF I didn’t rewind it to relisten to various bits. I reread paragraphs & sentences when I read. I like doing that. I don’t read for speed. I read to savor writing & you can’t do that without rereading (multiple times if necessary). The same is true when I listen — actually more or because I often miss what was said. At most I get 90 minutes of listening a day. So, it took me nearly 3 weeks to listen to this book & I LOVED every minute of it. Couldn’t wait to start listening to it again — each day.
It was my first book by ‘Maggie Shipstead‘. I am in total awe of her. I learnt so much about aviation, history (especially the prohibition), geography & Hollywood from this book. The amount of research she would have had to do & assimilate had to have been Herculean. What talent, what commitment, what skill? Wow.
I don’t have enough good words to say about this book. YOU sure should check it out. You are unlikely to be dissapointed. I definitely plan to listen to another book by her.