Audiobooks discussion

We shall try monthly threads through the end of the year, depending on how it goes, January may see a quarterly one.

I'm plugging along with Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion, not exactly "bonding" with the author himself, but he writes well. Also listening to a book I got to use up credits for a past Audible offer: On the Slow Train Again: Twelve More Great British Railway Journeys. Excellent narration, although the British cultural references sometimes elude me.

I'm listening to Coolidge: An American Enigma. The book, like the man, is interesting but not very exciting.

I'm still listening to Shelby Foote's Tournament and the first volume of his Civil War, but every time I recharge the iPod it seems I lose my place and if I'm in a hurry I just start a new book – which is why I am also now listening to James Marsters read Fool Moon.

I can't figure out if the problem of my completely losing the point I've left off an audiobook is happening more often because the device is getting older or simply because I'm listening to more audiobooks.

Finishing Theroux's Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town. I'm not enjoying the narrator, who reads with a sneer. This make Theroux, who is already snide, almost unbearable.

I finished and highly recommend Rot & Ruin and just started Hammered as well as Murder Gets A Life

Osho - I found that book to be Theroux at his most insufferable.

That accords with my experience, John.

Anyone else get cranky when another person wants to go on his/her daily walk with them? Not sure what that says about my character.

I am guessing loner. lol

Lori wrote: "Anyone else get cranky when another person wants to go on his/her daily walk with them? Not sure what that says about my character."

HaHa I totally get that especially if you have a good audiobook going and don't want someone yapping at you!;)

MissSusie wrote: "Lori wrote: "Anyone else get cranky when another person wants to go on his/her daily walk with them? Not sure what that says about my character."

HaHa I totally get that especially if you have a ..."

Yes I walk with my coworker but love when she is to busy to walk so I can listen to my audiobooks!

I started Boneshaker narrated by Kate Reading and Wil Wheaton. I have read good reviews about Kate Reading but I'm struggling with this narration. She has a rhythmic voice that tends to go up at the end of a sentence. I'm finding it a little distracting.

Plus, the story isn't grabbing me. I'm at the point where I may not finish the book. Has anyone read it and can be a cheerleader for the book?

I finally finished "Down These Strange Streets", an Urban Fantasy anthology edited by George R. R. Martin. Some of the first stories were so unappealing that I only listened to bits at a time over many months, but the second half of this three-part audio were better, imo. There were multiple narrators, all of whom were very good, with Phil Gigante especially entertaining.

I've noticed that over the years my listening habits have changed drastically. I used to listen to only one book at a time and finish it before going on to the next. Now, thanks to many irresistable Audible super sales, I have a huge pile of TBR booksand often can't wait to sample a new one before finishing an older one. I also get more easily bored/frustrated/distracted/etc. and move on to another title that strikes my interest in the moment. As a result, I have a staggering number of books in-process. Should I confess the number? Nah, I'll just pretend to be a more disciplined reader and dribble out the titles as I complete them ;-)
Anyone else out there facing the same dilemma?

Jeanie - when I get to around 7 or 8 "currently reading" books (all formats), I have to give myself a Very Stern Lecture about not starting any more until I've finished some of those!

Ummm I'm at 11 in progress right now I think...

John wrote: "Jeanie - when I get to around 7 or 8 "currently reading" books (all formats), I have to give myself a Very Stern Lecture about not starting any more until I've finished some of those!"

Only seven? Only eleven, Dee? I think I made the right decision not to mention a number ;-) Apparently it is my inner child who can't resist starting that especially interesting title--and then gets distracted by another new title--and we all know how well children listen to stern lectures. And I used to be so disciplined...

I lied - I just counted, its more like 16, but several of them are non-fiction that I only read a chapter or so a night in and one is Les Mis for a group read-along

I have book ADD - I can only concentrate on any given book for about 15 minutes of reading, because I get distracted and have to try something else...which means, when I read for about an hour to an hour and a half each night - I go through a good pile of books

I finished Empires of Sand - an exciting, plot-driven adventure story!
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I will now startRules of Civility.

Well I had to quit The Casual Vacancy for a little while when I realized book club is a week away so I am now listening to Crocodile on the Sandbankby, Elizabeth Peters narrated by, Barbara Rosenblat we decided to read something light and fluffy this month after a couple pretty heavy books! I will go back to Casual Vacancy eventually.

debating between Gone Girl and The Silent Girl - thoughts??

Listening to A Confederacy of Dunces (audible version). The narration is a great way to go with this one.

Dee wrote: "debating between Gone Girl and The Silent Girl - thoughts??"

They both look so good.

I know - that's the problem!!! lol!!

Jeanie wrote: "John wrote: "Jeanie - when I get to around 7 or 8 "currently reading" books (all formats), I have to give myself a Very Stern Lecture about not starting any more until I've finished some of those!"..."

I gave up counting mine. I'm somewhere near 16, but only a couple are audio. I have the one for the car, the one for doing housework, the one for at work (which usually requires me paying less attention to follow the story), the paper version of whatever my book club is reading, a First Read, something I read chapter by chapter with my husband, something for self improvement, something for when I'm trying to go to sleep...... need I go on?

Dee wrote: "I know - that's the problem!!! lol!!"

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...

if you are leaning toward gerritsen

I know there was something about The Silent Girl

thanks! I have this series on my completion list for the year - I have Silent Girl and her newest one to finish it up, but gone girl also sounds good...

I did also just finish listening to a mystery - so i'm wondering if I need to do something totally different and go romance or something like that

How much resemblance is there between the Rizzoli & Isles book series and the tv series? I have a love-hate relationship with the show.

Well, maybe like-hate...

Tracey wrote: "How much resemblance is there between the Rizzoli & Isles book series and the tv series? I have a love-hate relationship with the show.

Well, maybe like-hate..."

The Q & A covered so much about both the books and the tv series.

I think the books are sooo much better! mostly because Angie Harmon is sooo not Rizzoli in my mind - she is support to be this short, Irish dynamo, not this tall put-together woman...Angie reminds me much more how I visualize Maura - who has the nickname, queen of the dead for a reason...

Thanks, Dee and Shirley! I'll check out the Q&A - and I'm glad to hear the books are better. I'll definitely give them a shot.

Dee wrote: "debating between Gone Girl and The Silent Girl - thoughts??"

Oh dear, trying to decide betweeen #9 in a series and a stand alone novel? hmmm ... what's wrong with the series that you aren't crazed to get to the next book?? Ok, so maybe you aren't following the series, then I can just say I've only read Gone Girl and I really enjoyed it.
Hope you get to read both!!

I like the series but trying savor it and not so much a fan as this installments narrator as other installments

LemonLinda wrote: "Listening to A Confederacy of Dunces (audible version). The narration is a great way to go with this one."

I really enjoyed that one in audio. It's surprising how well the humor stands up even though it was written decades ago.

I finished "Shelter", first book in the Mickey Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. It's a YA novel extension of the Myron Bolitar series. I really enjoyed the story, although the climax was a little muddled, and the narration was very good. I plan to get the second book, which came out just a few weeks ago. I haven't actually read any of the Myron Bolitar series, but I will probably go back and get those. See, this is how I get such a backlog of books and keep adding to my in-process pile!

To top it off, I already picked up two books in the Schok-tober sale on Audible, and will probably get several more. Fortunately, I was able to use my $10 bonus for the sale books, so they only cost me $3.90 for the two books--I just love sales!

And, as if that weren't enough, I just bought "The Mark of Athena" of the Rick Riordan Heroes of Olympus series. I plan to begin this one right now.

I'm listening - like some aspects but not sure I like the heroine. So far she seems like a cross between Mercy Thompson and Charley Davidson.

So far my favorite character is the side kick, who's a linebacker type 73-old cab driver.

So similar issues with this heroine compared with her other boook you dnfed?

Lori wrote: "Anyone else get cranky when another person wants to go on his/her daily walk with them? Not sure what that says about my character."

For me it's not my daily walk, but my daily chores. They not only interrupt my auto-chores mindset, but they interrupt my listening. I'm so bad, I give them an annoyed face and click my earbud remote off to show that they're bothering me. The worst part is that it's rarely anything I need to know at that time and they always do it again. :(

I don't know if this is the place to ask, but what do you think about listening to abridged books? It's usually totally against my purist attitudes, but I home school and we read lots of books and, quite frankly, a lot of the classics are really dull and take ages for us to finish (and some we don't). So I've been thinking about interspersing a few abridged books into the curriculum to get them finished.

I am not going to delete your comment as off-topic, Denise, but would rather ask that you start a new thread specifically regarding abridged classics for students. As a moderator, I feel a lengthy discussion on that here would derail this thread, intended to discuss what we are currently listening to.
Thanks in advance for everyones' understanding!

Denise wrote: "I don't know if this is the place to ask, but what do you think about listening to abridged books? It's usually totally against my purist attitudes, but I home school and we read lots of books and,..."

So what are you currently listening to as part of your curriculum? And, just out of curiosity, what ages are your kids, if that's not a problem?

Just finished The Scent of Rain and Lightning. It was ok - nothing good, nothing bad.

Listening to I've Got Your Number. I don't usually do chick lit but was looking for something for a change of pace and this one was on the shelf at the library.

my main issue with The scent of rain and lightening was the final reveal...I think the two chapters - the reveal and the discover, should have been switched...it was too in your face how it ended up (if that makes sense)

that does make sense, Dee. I hadn't thought about it like that, but you are right!

other than that I really liked the book - it just kind of ruined the mystery for me how it was done because I wasn't kept guessing - I was told before any of the characters discovered what happened

MissSusie wrote: "Lori wrote: "Anyone else get cranky when another person wants to go on his/her daily walk with them? Not sure what that says about my character."

HaHa I totally get that especially if you have a ..."

I know exactly what you mean! I'm the same way about traveling and not being able to listen while I'm in the car with other people.

Denise wrote: "I don't know if this is the place to ask, but what do you think about listening to abridged books? It's usually totally against my purist attitudes, but I home school and we read lots of books and,..."

There is also a thread that we had here in August that may be appropriate. Check it out HERE

Jeanie wrote: " I already picked up two books in the Schok-tober sale on Audible, and will probably get several more. Fortunately, I was able to use my $10 bonus for the sale books, so they only cost me $3.90 for the two books--I just love sales!"

I have not gotten any mail about the Schok-tober sale. Do you have a link? Neither do I see it as a banner on Audible. Strange! I do ,not want to miss it! Thank you.

http://www.audible.com/mt/Shocktober

Thank you, Shirley. How come this doesn't appear as a banner and how come not everyone got a message?!