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Audiobooks > Biography & Autobiography >  Political > Blue Skies, No Fences (Abridged): A Memoir of Childhood and Family
Blue Skies, No Fences (Abridged): A Memoir of Childhood and Family Audiobook, by Lynne Cheney Play Audiobook Sample

Blue Skies, No Fences (Abridged): A Memoir of Childhood and Family Audiobook

By: Lynne Cheney
Blue Skies, No Fences (Abridged): A Memoir of Childhood and Family Audiobook, by Lynne Cheney Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Lynne Cheney Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.75 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2007 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780743568869
2.16524590163934 out of 52.16524590163934 out of 52.16524590163934 out of 52.16524590163934 out of 52.16524590163934 out of 5 (2.17) - 61 listener ratings
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Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

5

Longest Chapter Length:

70:35 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

57:41 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

67:40 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

3

Other Audiobooks Written by Lynne Cheney: > View All...

James Madison: A Life Reconsidered Audiobook, by Lynne Cheney
The Virginia Dynasty: Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation Audiobook, by Lynne Cheney

Publisher Description

Revisit a time when Americans felt sure of themselves and the future.

Home to the Wonder Bar, the Rialto Theater, and Lloyd's Confectionary, Casper was like many small towns in the 1940s -- except it sat on mile-high Wyoming prairie stretching on as far as the eye could see. In this place so full of the sense of possibility, Lynne Cheney grew up listening to Queen for a Day on her family's Zenith radio, playing Wonder Woman with her friends, and dreaming at night that she could fly, soaring upward into the endless blue sky.

In this affectionate memoir, she describes a town where little girls wore dresses, but still played rough-and-tumble games and where insightful, caring teachers knew what the children in their classes were capable of and refused to let them fall short. She recalls the resolute women in her family -- in particular, her mother -- who was determined that there would be no limits on her daughter's aspirations. And she recounts her courtship with one of the local daredevils who grew up to be the man she would marry.

Drawing on a wealth of sources, Lynne interweaves in her memoir the stories of westward-moving men and women -- Puritans and Mormons, Germans and Scots Irish -- whose journeys brought her family and the vice president's to the high Wyoming plains. Evocative and enlightening, Blue Skies, No Fences recalls an era of immense appeal and sets it within the sweep of American history, reminding us that our lives are intertwined, not only with those who share our years, but with others who lived before us.

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"What can I say? I am a republican! Dick Cheney spoke at Adam's graduation and mentioned that his wife's ancestors and come across the plains and her grandma had attended Brigham Young Academy, so when I saw this book on the Today show's list of books to read, I thought, "Why not?" "

— Tawni (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “A captivating amalgam of genealogy and gems of 1950s memorabilia that will bring smiles of recognition to readers of her generation…engaging.” 

    — Booklist

  • Cheney's memoir of her childhood in Casper, Wyoming, is a captivating amalgam of genealogy and gems of 1950s memorabilia that will bring smiles of recognition to readers of her generation.

    — Deborah Donovan, Booklist

  • A riveting book.

    — Mike Gallagher, The Mike Gallagher Show

  • A delightful memoir of more innocent days

    — Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review Online

  • Mrs. Cheney says she knows her grandchildren cannot live as she once did, but her touching memoir makes one wish that they and other young Americans might possess what she evokes so well as she tells her own and her family's story: the resiliency to deal with challenges, the determination to do one's best, and an optimism about their future and America's future

    — Myrna Blyth, National Review

  • Lynne Cheney's credentials are, as far as I can tell, unprecedented among vice-presidents' wives: a doctorate in English, author of numerous books, Lockheed Martin Corp. director, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, she is known for her combative conservatism, yet there is almost nothing about partisan politics in this nostalgic memoir. On the other hand, there is a good deal about achievement...In the '50s, girls were not typically encouraged to express aspirations beyond home, hearth, and helpmate. Young Lynne Vincent did. I am intrigued enough to hope for a sequel that reveals more about her blond ambition.

    — Grace Lichtenstein, Washington Post Book World

Blue Skies, No Fences Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.53333333333333 out of 52.53333333333333 out of 52.53333333333333 out of 52.53333333333333 out of 52.53333333333333 out of 5 (2.53)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 3
3 Stars: 4
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 2
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Reading this book reminded me of listening to my mother tell stories of her childhood and teenage years. She grew up during the same post war era. I really enjoyed reading of the rich family history of our former vice president, whom I admire. This book is a treasure. "

    — Jennie, 7/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Filled with geneology, quickly run-through family histories... a bit too much information... the descriptive passages, insights were much better. "

    — Melissa, 6/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " What can I say? I am a republican! Dick Cheney spoke at Adam's graduation and mentioned that his wife's ancestors and come across the plains and her grandma had attended Brigham Young Academy, so when I saw this book on the Today show's list of books to read, I thought, "Why not?" "

    — Tawni, 4/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Reads more like a diary than a memoir. I just didn't find myself caring about her family history and the many, many unnecessary details provided. "

    — Angela, 1/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I'm mentioned in the acknowledgments so I figured I should read this one. Easy read, sweet story, but not the most enthralling auto biography I've read. "

    — Meredith, 12/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I had no idea that the vice presidents wife had a Mormon grandmother. "

    — Andrew, 10/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this book. Lynne Cheney is a great author and I loved hearing about life in another generation in Wyoming. "

    — Dee, 3/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " B O R I N G !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

    — Marilyn, 9/29/2010
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " B O R I N G !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

    — Marilyn, 9/15/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this book. Lynne Cheney is a great author and I loved hearing about life in another generation in Wyoming. "

    — Dee, 11/10/2009
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Reads more like a diary than a memoir. I just didn't find myself caring about her family history and the many, many unnecessary details provided. "

    — Angela, 3/12/2009
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Reading this book reminded me of listening to my mother tell stories of her childhood and teenage years. She grew up during the same post war era. I really enjoyed reading of the rich family history of our former vice president, whom I admire. This book is a treasure. "

    — Jennie, 1/30/2009
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Filled with geneology, quickly run-through family histories... a bit too much information... the descriptive passages, insights were much better. "

    — Melissa, 2/9/2008
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I'm mentioned in the acknowledgments so I figured I should read this one. Easy read, sweet story, but not the most enthralling auto biography I've read. "

    — Meredith, 1/28/2008
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I had no idea that the vice presidents wife had a Mormon grandmother. "

    — Andrew, 1/20/2008

About Lynne Cheney

 Lynne Cheney is author of several New York Times bestsellers, including America: A Patriotic Primer, A Is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women, and Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America. She is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her husband is former Vice President Richard B. Cheney.