Welcome to Litsy!

Audio. Pretty powerful. It also included actual speeches by George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as some recordings of air traffic controllers and flight attendants on the planes. I will admit that I did lose interest a bit during some of the political stuff and the air force people tasked with bringing down any possible planes that may be a threat, and this is why I didn‘t rate it higher… but it‘s still likely to make my favourites this year.

This was a hard listen. We know what happened that day, but it was so much more intimate to hear the stories from survivors and the families of those lost. The bravery of the first responders cannot be overstated. Many went in that building with the full understanding they probably won‘t make it out.

I highly recommend the audiobook. It features a full cast representing all the stories being shared. Audio of select phone calls also included.

#currentlyreading Another #becauseoflitsy read. Very thankful Spotify allows free (if limited) access to audiobooks for premium members. I use it when there is a several month wait at the library.

This book is wonderfully done. Many of the stories are hard to hear.

@Chelsea.Poole I can‘t thank you enough for putting this on my #auldlangspine list, I t‘s something I wouldnt‘ve gravitated toward on my own but it was incredibly powerful and I‘m so glad I listened to it! This was a difficult book. I started crying during the intro and basically didn‘t stop for most of the 13 hours of audio, so I had to listen in small doses over several weeks. But I‘m glad this account exists, and I highly recommend it.👇🏼

My favorite read of September was The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 that interwove the stories of several people and events from 9/11 on the same timeline to get a sense of how different events unfolded relative to one another. This was great, especially on audio with actual recordings mixed in with the narration.

I agree with the many who call this a must-read. Such a beautifully crafted history of that horrific day. The part of the book that inspired the title (what was happening on Air Force One) was the least interesting to me, though I still appreciated learning more about that. What affected me most were the memories shared by survivors, loved ones, bystanders in NY/DC area/PA, and everyday Americans (especially the kids!).

I‘m doing my annual re-listen to this book and the beginning always reminds me that people often need to share the story of where they were when 9.11 happened. If you want to share, comment below.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Fascinating history of 9/11 told through dozens of first-person accounts of the day and the aftermath woven together.

Once again, I‘m rendered speechless. Such an important book that I think everyone should read. It‘s even more poignant for me considering Monday is the anniversary (I don‘t actually like using that word for it as it‘s not exactly something to be celebrated, but I digress). All of the stars for this one 💔

I buddy read this with a friend. This is such a powerful and heartbreaking book. It takes the oral history of those directly a part of that fateful day and puts them together in a chronological timeline. Hearing the firsthand accounts of the survivors, of those who lost loved ones, and of those who chose to risk their own lives to save others…I teared up many times while reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#history

Friends, I listen to so many audiobooks, but this may be the best I‘ve ever read. An outstanding work which everyone should read. I‘ve recommended (read: forced) this upon everyone I know. Details from 9/11 which I have never considered, perspectives from so many who were impacted, collected here in their own words. Organized by event (such as North Tower collapse) with multiple sources contributing to each. Complete but not overwhelming.

Harrowing!

1. Fiction very rarely makes me cry -- just a heartless grump I guess -- but accounts of true tragedies sometimes can. The tagged book was so overwhelming I sometimes just had to stop.

2. Speculative fiction, especially on the blurry border between fantasy and sf. I love the ideas.

3. Just one? Perdido Street Station

#Wondrouswednesday
@eggs
Thanks for the tag @TheAromaofBooks !

Tells the story of the day as it was lived in the words of those who lived it. Incredibly powerful. Outstanding audiobook.

#Skyscraper #SavvySettings
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Out of the 66 books I finished this year, 29 were nonfiction. These are the top 10 of those 29.

Special mention to The Library Book, Exercised, The Lost City of Z, and The Debt Trap which were all so close to making the list, and perhaps would have on a different day.
#bestof2021 #bestnonfiction

Listening to now....constant state of goose bumps. 🎧
#bookspinbingo

“We took the time to shake each other‘s hands and wish each other good luck and “Hope I‘ll see you later,” which is especially poignant for me because we all had that acknowledgment that this might be our last day on earth and we went to work anyway.”

Been reading this off and on for ages as it‘s a very heavy book. Very interesting and emotional to hear all the different peoples perspectives on this tragic event and I learned many things that I didn‘t know before.
A definite pick 4⭐️

My Spooky October #bookspinbingo board is complete. Lots of good spooky reads, only 1 DNF. My list included 4 audiobooks, 5 short story collections, and several book challenge books. Looking forward to November!!

There are many thoughts and emotions present throughout the whole book. I've never gained so many equally important perspectives from one story. The tragedy compounded in ways I didn't know before this book. I had to pick up a lighter book several times in between this heavy hearted story but I am beyond grateful to have experienced it. The audio is amazing with a 45 person cast. May we never forget.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was a very emotional read. I listened to the #audiobook for most of this book. I had started #reading it at first. The oral accounts were so powerful I felt as if I were there witnessing for the fist time. #librarybook #September11 #neverforget

#FallTreasures #9/11(20yrsLater)

Books from my #TBR & #read stacks either about 9/11 or where it plays a significant role in the story.

I had been in Hawaii about 5 months on 9/11 & rented the top part of a house. I woke up about 4AM as my neighbor‘s TV was loud. I turned mine on to find the news that the first plane hit the World Trade Center & kept watching as it just kept getting worse. I felt so alone & isolated from everyone that day.💔

I just finished this. Obviously, it's a very hard read, emotionally, but I'm so glad I did. The author did an incredible job organizing these many voices speaking of their experiences that day and after. From the terrible to the beautiful, their words will stick me.

I‘ll just recommend this oral history on this day every year for the rest of my life. You‘ll cry like a baby, but it‘s the most readable, moving, important book in all of the land about September 11, 2001. You should read it or listen to it or just have it on your nightstand. It. Is. Everything. #september11 #neverforget #neverstoplearning

I didn‘t intentionally finish this today, but it was somewhat healing that I did. I never have heard everything from that day laid out step by step like it is in this heartbreaking book.

Two fantastic books I recently read about #9/11 #FallTreasures

Never forget.... tagged one of the toughest books I've ever read.

Given the time of year, and the amount of time that has passed, it‘s only right that I pause to remember. And that I take a moment to revisit this book: the best I‘ve read about the tragedy of 9/11. #NeverForget #20YearsOn #LessonsLearned?

My current read is #Over500Pages and every one of them is worth reading. I tried to read this last year and I just couldn‘t face it. After watching a talk with the author and then seeing a great review from @BarbaraTheBibliophage I decided to try again.

#FallTreasures

If you want to dive into the details of this tragic days, definitely consider this as an audiobook. It is more moving than any other book I‘ve listened to. Ever. The heroism will inspire you. But be prepared for all the feels, though.

Also interesting in light of current events, from Afghanistan to the pandemic. Made me think!

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021 #booked2021 #relatedto911

This is the book you read if you want the details of that awful day from the people who lived through them. It's pretty much focuses on that day, so no deep analysis on the who, how, or why. It's a difficult book to read, but an important one, I think.

I read 15 books in August.
And I got one bingo for #BookSpinBingo. 😁

I think we all know exactly where we were and what we were doing when we learned about the attack of 9/11. I remember being in total shock. But I don‘t think I fully grasped the magnitude of that event until I read (or in this case, listened to) this book. I ugly cried. Many many times. It‘s heartbreaking, inspirational and so humbling. I cannot recommend this enough.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#Booked2021 #Relatedto911

Well, here we go. I'm crawling into bed and starting this book. It seems like this happened forever ago, but at the same time, I can't believe it's been 20 years. It happened on my 22nd birthday and the 1st plane hit while I was walking to my first University class of the day in Minnesota. This is going to be a hard read.

Started the audiobook. Can‘t stop listening. With my heart in my throat. OMFG … I mean I was alive then, and an adult. But this is just gutting me.

#booked2021 #relatedto911

My last book for #Booked2021 summer edition.

This was a sobering and emotional account of the events of 9/11. Using the first hand oral histories and documentation of that day, Graff provides a timeline and overview which puts the then unthinkable unknown and chaos into perspective. The author points out, we are now entering the generation of adults who weren‘t alive in 2001. This book encapsulates the urgency and import of that day in history.

Just finished this puzzle while listening. I am a huge fan of this Ravensburger puzzle because it took me quite a while. I found out this was done by Colin Thompson, an illustrator. Love his style! And this audiobook is amazing.

Seems a bit crass to say I enjoyed this, so I‘ll just say I was riveted.
When the author says every American knows exactly where they where when this happened I think that applies to everyone with access to live television news at the time.
#booked2021 #relatedto911

Got nearly half way before fell asleep last night.
I would love to just carry on reading today but meetings all day and a morning of consumer law training via zoom. Sounds like fun doesn‘t it 😁 (the furthest thing from fun I can think of really).

#weeklyforecast
No idea really 🤷‍♀️ will finish Before he Kills Again today. The new James and Marsons books arrive on my kindle on Thursday and the 9/11 book jumped out at me this morning, Rose Gold has been loitering waiting to be picked! We‘ll see.

The last image I posted is one story that always sticks with me, from all of the things I‘ve watched/read/heard about 9/11. This is another.

Linda Lopez was in the South Tower when the North was hit. She evacuated, taking her shoes off to flee the building. Linda walked home with bleeding feet. To me, this image takes the collective to the individual. A visceral reminder of the human experience of the day.

I‘ve listened to this one in almost one session. I‘ve been to the 9/11 memorial twice, have watched many, many documentaries and read countless books about the day. Hearing the chronology of the day told by the actual voices of firefighters, businesspeople, observers, survivors, politicians and the president is just something else.

Helmet pictured was work by Mickey Kross, firefighter who “tried to climb into it” during the collapse.

I‘ve been having trouble writing reviews lately, so I decided to take a step back and just not post any for a while. But it feels weird not updating what I‘m reading, so here‘s what I‘ve read the past two months. I enjoyed all of them, but the top three were definitely my favorites.

Total: 7
Print: 2
Ebook: 1
Audio: 4
Fiction: 3
Nonfiction: 4

#booked2021: 4
#lmpbc: 1
#friendrecchallenge: 0

#FebruaryWrapUp #MarchWrapUp

🇺🇸Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.🇺🇸

If you‘re still looking for #relatedto911 for #booked2021 this is a good offer today.

All the stars for this audio oral history of 9/11. A full cast gives voices to the the stories of survivors, first responders, those who lost loved ones, and so many others. I cried. A lot. I also celebrated the near misses and was left breathless by the selfless heroism. This was really amazing.
#booked2021 #relatedto911

So very fitting that my last book of the year is also the best of the year. This really deserves all the stars! I think I had tears either in my eyes or falling from my eyes the entire time I listened to this. We all know exactly where we were that day...and how we found out. We all have our stories of that day...

Ya know it was something the way our country came together after this tragedy...and sadly, we are so far from that now.