Audiobooks discussion

I'm finishing up My American Revolution, a nonfiction book that I feel isn't a great fit for audio format.
Also, I've got a couple of hours left of a murder mystery Blood on the Bones, a mid-series book that's okay, but doesn't leave me wanting more from D. I. Rafferty.

listening to The Hobbit that was just released - totally loving the narration - I feel like i'm seeing the Golem from the LoTR movies when I hear his parts

Listening to The Wee Free Men from Terry Pratchett. Absolutely charming. Just the right sort of fun, clever audiobook for when a person's not feeling well.

I did finish my second in the Vish Puri detective series and really enjoyed it. I've already bought "The case of the Deadly Butter Chicken" and can hardly wait to get to it.

But I'm currently two thirds through the second Monster Hunter International book, "Monster Hunter Vendetta" and about halfway through a newer series, the Father Christmas Mysteries, "Twelve Drummers Drumming". The MHI book is hard core but often funny as all get out so I keep listening even when I'd rather go hide under the covers. The Father Christmas series is good, a Vickor named Thomas Christmas who lives in an idyllic English village and has to solve a murder. It's a little like the Max Tudor series except it's a little more hard core as well. It actually feels like an odd mix between Max Tudor and The Casual Vacancy. But after these, I can hardly wait to see what a deadly butter chicken is.

I am just past the half way point inWinter of the World. I am enjoying it as much as Fall of Giants

I just started The Diviners by Libba Bray - I'm curious to see how it goes listening to a spooky story as opposed to reading it on the page. So far I've just been challenged to figure out what a Ouija board is spelling out - surprisingly hard on audio, while also safely driving a car!

I wasn't all that thrilled by Father Christmas, but am willing to try the second one that was just released.

Just finished Hard Magic( Book1) Larry Correia . Wonderful and spectacular narrator .

About to start Book 2(Spellbound) after I have listened to Lady Be Good by Susan ELizabeth Phillips with Anna Fields (heaven)

I'm 1/3 of the way through Cloud Atlas, and I started The Sign of Four today (it was one of the freebies with the Kindle/Audible "we now sync" giveaways last month).

And of course my nephew and I listen to a couple books each night as he's going to sleep. Tonight it was Marley: Strike Three, Marley! and Nate The Great.

comfort -- please be sure to link the title also, if you're going to show a book cover. Thanks!

I've started listening to Sam Dastor reading A Passage to India after loving his version of Kim. However, Dastor's female voices are not very good, particularly his voice for Adela Quested. It doesn't annoy me enough to give up on it, but I'm a bit disappointed. On the other hand, he's a whizz at Indian voices, so all is not lost.

I'm wrapping up The Whole Truth by David Baldacci. It took me a while (like 1/3 of the CDs) to get into it - but now it is fast paced and fascinating. A good listen - for sure. I've enjoyed a suspense/mystery book as a change of pace, which is what I was looking for.

Next on my list is Hexed

The White Woman on the Green Bicycle.

Osho, ahh you are listening to it. How is the narration? I read it. I keep wondering if you are enjoying it.

well as the October link is locked I'll sneakingly add my last books here,
Note to self , remember to add books as you finish them !!!!!

Breaking Silence still liking this series, 4 stars.

Promise Me...the reviews on this one wheren't always favarable , but I still thought it was a typical Harlan Coben Mystery - good stuff !! 4 stars

Micro this was fished for Michael Crichton after his death, I didn't feel it quite was the normal standard of MC, but I still really enjoyed it , would make a great film !! 4 stars

Riders After having listened to (and enjoyed) Jump! last year, I finally got around to listening to the first in this series. Although I'm not at all "horsey" I thoroughly enjoyed this. So many great characters. Really good value for money too- its over 30 hours long,for one credit. Brilliantly read by Gerri Halligan .Very adictable . would have liked to have given it 4½ stars !!
Note to Audible , can we have the rest of the series PLEASE .

I finished The Name of the Wind yesterday. While I enjoyed the book, I didn't enjoy it enough to want to listen to the 42 hour sequel (or read the 1000 page print version).

My next audiobook read will be Amber House.

Jeanie wrote: "I did finish my second in the Vish Puri detective series and really enjoyed it. I've already bought "The case of the Deadly Butter Chicken" and can hardly wait to get to it.

But I'm currently two..."

Who is the author of the Father Christmas mysteries? I found one, but it's a Christian author and I didn't think that's what you were talking about.

The first Father Christmas mystery being discussed is Twelve Drummers Drumming, and it's hardly a "Christian" mystery as Tom was raised by his aunt and her same-sex partner.

John wrote: "The first Father Christmas mystery being discussed is Twelve Drummers Drumming, and it's hardly a "Christian" mystery as Tom was raised by his aunt and her same-sex partner."

Yeah, what John said. The author is C. C. Benison. Still, while it wouldn't meet the criteria for Christian literature, it does respect the faiths of the various characters in the book without seeming to sneer at it.

In the last week, I've listened to the first 4 audiobooks in the Kate Daniels series. I NEVER read/listen to books back to back but I couldn't stop myself with this series!!

John wrote: "The first Father Christmas mystery being discussed is Twelve Drummers Drumming, and it's hardly a "Christian" mystery as Tom was raised by his aunt and her same-sex partner."

I figured I had the wrong one, that's why I was wondering. That series looks pretty interesting, I'll have to check it out.

I'm in the middle of Dark and Stormy Knights , I like the mix of stories and narrators. The only problem I have is that I have to stop and write a review and the next book in the series as I go (that's how I rate anthologies). So if I'm not anywhere with internet access, I screwed. I want the media plan with my phone company just so I can look up books I have on Goodreads (I've listed all my books) and to do quick reviews, etc. I have no idea why my husband thinks this is a waste of money. :)

The best books for audio are ones where the slang, accent, or other linguistic oddities just doesn't come through the written word aloneBroken Harbor The Education of Little Tree. Or an autobiography read by the author John Lithgow.Drama: An Actor's Education Bossypants.

Alana wrote: "John wrote: "The first Father Christmas mystery being discussed is Twelve Drummers Drumming, and it's hardly a "Christian" mystery as Tom was raised by his aunt and her same-sex partner."

I figure..."

I finished "Twelve Drummers Drumming" and agree with John that it isn't overly impressive as a work. The writer draws out the narrative to an excruciating degree and uses--overuses--a storytelling device of jumping beyond a story point and going back to tell it as a past event. This merely adds confusion and began to irritate me after the tenth time it was done. The narration was OK, but could have picked up the pace a little given the author's stretching out of the tale.
I investigated a little in order to discover if my surmise was correct--that a couple who appears in this book are part of another series the author has written. I was right, they are from Benison's Her Majesty Investigates series, which is not available on Audible.
I think I'll wait a while before trying "Eleven Pipers Pipeing", maybe if it ever goes on sale.... It certainly won't be one of my Buy 4 Get $10 purchases in the Audible promotion that began today.

Twelve Drummers Drumming is available via Overdrive, and I suspect the next one will be as well (if it isn't already).

comfort wrote: "Just finished Hard Magic( Book1) Larry Correia. Wonderful and spectacular narrator .

About to start Book 2(Spellbound) after I have listened to Lady Be Good by Susan ..."

Narrator of Hard Magic is Bronson Pinchot?

D.G. ~Shameless Hussy~ wrote: "In the last week, I've listened to the first 4 audiobooks in the Kate Daniels series. I NEVER read/listen to books back to back but I couldn't stop myself with this series!!"

Love, love, love the Kate Daniels series. I think the narrator is a good fit, though I wish Curran's voice was more masculine. That's my only complaint.

Moderator Request

If you are mentioning a book for the first time in a thread (as in "I'm reading ..."), I'd like to make it standard practice to put the title as a formal link (cover art as well is optional), so that folks who are interested can investigate the book further directly. I don't feel that's as necessary with later references in the same thread.

Thanks!

Shell wrote: "comfort wrote: "Just finished Hard Magic( Book1) Larry Correia. Wonderful and spectacular narrator .

About to start Book 2(Spellbound) after I have listened to Lady B..."

Yes that is right. He is a whole cast of characters in one. Male/female/foreign language/kids. Best narrator I have heard when it comes to range of voices.

True Grit is tons of fun!!!!

This past week I finished Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks. I enjoyed this book. I found this book interesting. I gave this book 4 stars.

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom. I loved this book. 5 stars.

Started Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir

You should check out Christopher Farnsworth's series The President's Vampire, narrated by Bronson Pinchot. He was wonderful!

Shell: authors can be linked just as titles are

John wrote: "Shell: authors can be linked just as titles are"

I knew that, just unable to discover how to do that using GR's mobile app. Had to use web based for this...more difficult on my phone :(

Christopher Farnsworth

Okay - thanks for the followup!

Catherine wrote: "I am just past the half way point inWinter of the World. I am enjoying it as much as Fall of Giants"

Catherine, we're at almost the exact same spot in this audiobook! What I hate about this is that being halfway through means I'm half done, and the next books is two or so years out. Grr! :)

Jenni wrote: "Catherine wrote: "I am just past the half way point inWinter of the World. I am enjoying it as much as Fall of Giants"

Catherine, we're at almost the exact same spot in this audiobook! What I hat..."

So true! But then again I have a reading schedule of books I want to get to in order to be ready for a re-read of the The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King and The Hobbit the first of the year. It seems that every book I want to read lately is between 700-1300 pages. LOL! So while it sounds like I am reading books with a To-Do list mentality (I am in a way) I am thoroughly enjoying them too. I have plenty to fill the time in other words. :-)

I'm new here (my first post!) and I'm listening to two books right now, Year of Wonders and Packing for Mars . I like both narrators, though I'm listening to Packing for Mars at 1.25 normal speed.

Dee wrote: "listening to The Hobbit that was just released - totally loving the narration - I feel like i'm seeing the Golem from the LoTR movies when I hear his parts"

This would be an excellent book to listen to. I read it so many years ago that I don't really even remember a lot of the details.

Welcome, Mara! Great that you followed the convention of giving the title as well as a cover pic, but it's easier to read if you do that as a link and a title both. A general statement, not you personally.

John wrote: "Welcome, Mara! Great that you followed the convention of giving the title as well as a cover pic, but it's easier to read if you do that as a link and a title both. A general statement, not you per..."

Ok! Thanks for the advice.

As for Roach, I listened to Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, and it was interesting, but didn't leave me wanting to read anything else of hers.

I am loving "A Girl Named Zippy" read by the author.

A Girl Named Zippy by

John wrote: "Great that you followed the convention of giving the title as well as a cover pic, but it's easier to read if you do that as a link and a title both. A general statement, not you personally."

Giving the title link the cover pic helps greatly when reading the posts on my android app because, at least for me, the covers show up as only a small, blue square...so if the title isn't mentioned, I have no idea what book is being discussed. And having the title linked lets me go to the book's goodreads page and check it out (even on my phone) instead of having to search for it. But I do like having the covers because I can see them on my computer, and they add more personality to the post.

Susanne wrote: "John wrote: "Great that you followed the convention of giving the title as well as a cover pic, but it's easier to read if you do that as a link and a title both. A general statement, not you perso..."

Thanks. I'll add.

Mara wrote: "I'm new here (my first post!) and I'm listening to two books right now, Year of Wonders and Packing for Mars."

Welcome Mara! I didn't listen to it, but I did read Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. I liked it, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was more about how astronauts prepare for missions and living in space. I felt all this was good information and a necessary foundation for what I was actually looking for (based on the title) -- how we we actually get to and live on Mars (technology, food, etc) which was only minimally included. Once I reset my expectations, I enjoyed it more.

Shell wrote: "I [was] just unable to discover how to do that using GR's mobile app. Had to use web based for this...more difficult on my phone :("

I agree. That's one upgrade the Goodreads app deserves -- being able to link the books/authors in a post. (I'm just glad they finally decided to make one for the Android. Seems like the iPhone gets all the app love.)

**sorry for the non-book tangent**

Joanne wrote: "I am loving "A Girl Named Zippy" read by the author.

A Girl Named Zippy by "

I loved that audiobook, Joanne. She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana follows that family story and is almost as good.

Currently listening to The Absent One Fasandræberne by Jussi Adler-Olsen. (Swedish) Sorry, there seems to be no English title in the GR database. Is this something I should notify the librarians about?

This is a followup to , the first in the Department Q series. I love listening to police procedures located in another country. It is a challege, however, keeping up with the unfamiliar proper names and location names. Often I get the book from the library as well so I can follow along, but forgot to do it here,

John wrote: "As for Roach, I listened to Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, and it was interesting, but didn't leave me wanting to read anything else of hers."

Yeah, I'm not liking this book as much as some of her other works, such as Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. But the subject of "Bonk" was definitely more "exciting", I guess ;).