Audiobooks discussion

New month, new thread!

I'm finishing up Rumpole a la Carte, six stories featuring the London barrister. David Case hasn't been a good fit as narrator, but have only found the one audio edition available.

Lol, John, you literally closed the November thread in between when I replied to someone and when I hit "post" so I had to wait for you to post this one :)

Tensy wrote: "Alana wrote: "Just finished listening to Never Let Me Go. Very deep, very disturbing, very good. I'll have to watch the movie and see what I think in comparison. Anyone else read this one? What did..."

I don't know a lot of people that have watched the movie OR read the book. Did you watch it right after reading the book, or had it been awhile? Was it because they changed story elements or because it was poorly filmed?

Finished A Dog Named Christmas by, Greg Kincaid narrated by, Mark Bramhall liked it so much had to download the second book A Christmas Home: A Novel again narrated by the wonderful Mark Bramhall.

Alana -

I'm kind of glad it worked out that way to make a cleaner break, but had you posted first, I would've kept the thread open for a bit for specific responses.

Currently reading Lover Awakened narrated by Jim Frangione. He grows on me, but it takes a while...

I finished Track of the Cat and will start The Halo Effect sometime today.

John wrote: "Alana -

I'm kind of glad it worked out that way to make a cleaner break, but had you posted first, I would've kept the thread open for a bit for specific responses."

I just found it funny, mostly. It wouldn't let me post, but it clearly had given me the box to post in, so I was quite confused for a moment until I realized you must be right in the middle of changing us over.

I just started Librivox The Turn of the Screw. This one's harder to get into than David Copperfield, which I'm also listening to, and between those and The Brothers Karamazov, which is next on the list, I think I'm going to need a good long break from heavy reading for awhile. How on earth did I end up with all three of those back to back?

David Copperfield I found horribly depressing and dreary as his childhood is just awful, but after that the story is terrific!

I'm smack dab in the middle of it and this section is just dragging, but there have just been a couple of events that should make it pick up speed, so hopefully it will get better. I really enjoyed the first 1/3 of it. Dickens created some very ecclectic characters... if only all their names weren't so similar! And so many of them!

I started a re-read of a couple of days ago. It's as good as I remember it being. Sadly, the audiobook version is read by Frederick Davidson, whose voice I just can't stand (very thin and a bit prissy), because I'd love to have this in audiobook.

John wrote: "David Copperfield I found horribly depressing and dreary as his childhood is just awful, but after that the story is terrific!"

David Copperfield is my favorite Dickens. I read somewhere that it was his favorite too and the closest to his own childhood.

ETA: John, I love these new threads each month.

Shell wrote: "Currently reading Lover Awakened narrated by Jim Frangione. He grows on me, but it takes a while..."

I loved his narration of that series! I gave up on the series around book 9. I was only really into the original brothers.

I am in the middle of Henning Mankell's The Shadow Girls. Started off in a refugee camp in Spain, but is now set in Sweden. Turning out to be quite funny inparts, not what I expected.

Currently listening to The Twelve and plan to start Agenda 21 after that.

Just finished up the third book Xenocide and I'm taking a break from the Enderverse with Redshirts I love John Scalzi's humor!

I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also finding it hard to believe in the maturity of the kids, despite their circumstances.

Everyone seems to love this book. I was hoping I would too.

Alana ~ I liked "Never Let Me Go" very much -- both the audio book and the movie.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kimberly wrote: "I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also finding it hard to believe in the maturity of the kids, despite their circumstances.

Everyone s..."

I know exactly how you feel! I listened to Ender's Game and kept spacing out while listening. I appreciate that it was written in the 70's and was likely very ground breaking for it's time but I have read/listened to so many fantastic YA dystopian and sci-fi books over the last few years so it was hard not to compare it and find it lacking to some of them. I am still glad I listened to it but feel like the odd man out because so many people loved it.

Kimberly wrote: "I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also finding it hard to believe in the maturity of the kids, despite their circumstances.

Everyone s..."

"Ender's Game" is in my top 5 books of all time, but that doesn't mean every aspect of the book is perfect. At first I found the parts with Peter and his sister--blocking on the name at the moment--unsatisfying, but their role is quite important, so I came to appreciate it. My biggest problem is the female narrator who reads those parts. She sounds like she could benefit from a good anti-depressant.

As for the maturity of the kids, don't forget they were screened for every aspect of their abilities and potential, not just pure intellect. I think one would find similar levels of maturity in kids at any good military academy--though--responsibility, discipline, high expectations, hard work, and training in leadership will produce such outcomes in almost any closed community. But the kids do find ways to express their inner children with pranks and jokes so I don't see them as unreasonably mature.

I'll be interested to hear your opinion after you've finished--it's the climax that makes this book a stunner, after all.

Kimberly wrote: "I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also finding it hard to believe in the maturity of the kids, despite their circumstances.

Everyone s..."

I have a six year old, and found it hard to swallow six year old Ender, but it helped to think of the story as a parallel universe only loosely similar to our own. I found it to be a pretty good story for the most part, but it has it's rough patches at times especially in the last few chapters.

I also enjoyed the second book, Speaker for the Deadand found that it helps to smooth the transition from the first book and has a much older Ender Wiggins, though this book isn't really about him.

This weekend I finished Every Day by David Levithan. I really liked this book, thought provoking. 4.5 Stars!

The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman. I enjoyed this book about friendship and cookies. 4 Stars!

I am now starting Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Alana wrote: "Lol, John, you literally closed the November thread in between when I replied to someone and when I hit "post" so I had to wait for you to post this one :)

Tensy wrote: "Alana wrote: "Just finishe..."

I listened to the book first and we read it for my book club. The discussion was lively, but not everyone liked the book. I felt the book was lyrical and I really cared about the characters. Although the acting was quite good, I don't think the story lent itself well to a visual medium and the movie had a very somber atmosphere that was quite depressing. Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan, and Andrew Garfield were the leads, but I was not as engaged in the film as I was with the book.

I'm going to watch it, but I have a feeling it will be one I watch while going to bed, because it sounds like it's just not at the same level as the book (but when are they ever?). I'm interested to see Keira Knightly in that role, though. Doesn't seem like her kind of thing.

Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also finding it hard to believe in the maturity of the kids, despite their circumsta..."

I'm listening to the prequel of Ender's Game, Earth Unaware, and then plan to pick up Ender's Game. Scott Card does the same thing in this book with 16 year old (and younger) characters that have talents and responsibilities way beyond their years. As an adult, I find myself incredulous and often get irritated that he has the characters doing things children would never attempt (even in some far off future, unless they have been digitally enhanced!), but these books were written for young adults and my son absolutely loved them! I imagine the reason they are so popular is directly related to the fact that the teenagers are NOT treated as children, but in fact, as adults. Isn't that what we always wanted from the grownups when we were young?

Alana wrote: "I'm going to watch it, but I have a feeling it will be one I watch while going to bed, because it sounds like it's just not at the same level as the book (but when are they ever?). I'm interested t..."

Actually, Carey Mulligan plays the lead, and Keira is her friend.

Ah, ok. So she's the attention-seeker, that makes sense, lol.

I'm listening to Never Seduce a Scot. Lately I've been in the mood for romance in audio and that's what I've been listening (mostly.)

Tensy wrote: "Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also finding it hard to believe in the maturity of the..."

Good points. I think I even wrote in my review that had I read this book when I was in school I would have probably liked it more than I did as a 40 year old!

Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Tensy wrote: "Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also finding it hard to believe in the m..."

In a short story written by OSC we learn about the process of selecting children for the task of defeating the Formics and why they feel it requires children. The story is of an earlier time when Ender's father was tested because of his own genius. BTW, the reason they chose children to train was because they began to lose their edge as military geniuses once they become adults, or so their research had shown.

For me I saw the children as extremely sympathetic characters because they were absolutely robbed of their childhoods in order to save the world, literally. It was a common effect also of children who lived through wars, like WWI and WWII, that they became very serious and mature, coping with things far beyond their years due to circumstances. Some children even participated in the resistance and would probably have looked much like the kids in the battle school if they had been given such training. Ender's Game is also a story based on the concept, "And the children shall lead them..."

As soon as I realized that parents weren't really asked, but forced to give up their children to be molded in to military commanders, I always had it in the back of my mind, what would any of us sacrifice to save the world? I often thought it was too much to ask, then I thought of whether ruining the lives of a few hundred children was justified in order to save the lives of billions and the continued existence of Earth. I never liked the inevitable answer, humans would have to make any sacrifice for the survival of humanity, but we would be a little less human as a result.

This past week I finished "Cold Days", book 14 of the Dresden files. I loved it. Harry is back--both the character and the voice. It wasn't until I heard Marsters familiar rhythms and his voice for Toot-Toot again that I realized just how much I had missed hearing him. The story itself was quintessential Harry Dresden and was filled with nail-biting action and real game-changing plot twists. Please, please don't make me wait another year and a half before the next one!

Also, I finished "Trapped" of the Iron Druid Chronicles. Oberon rules! I liked this one a lot, better than "Hammered" for sure, and loved having Luke Daniels back bringing all the characters to life. I discovered it isn't a good idea to drink anything while listening to this one--or at least stay away from electronics or dry-clean-only fabrics ;P

I finished "Sticks and Skones", the last intermediate book in the Goldie Catering series most recently made available. I liked it for all the usual reasons and wanted to scream at Goldie for all the usual reasons as well.

I read the first two books in the Wedding Cake Mystery series, the third comes out in January. It's a cozy mystery and not exactly the greatest I've ever read, but I enjoyed them for their low stress, good characters, and relatively uncomplicated plots. Not that they are without complications and a cast of suspects, just not excessively so. Another thing I really appreciated was the inclusion of faith as a natural part of many of the characters lives--going to church, thanking God, or expressing faith in God. I was beginning to think new contemporary writers felt it wasn't--or shouldn't be--allowed.

Well folks ... last month, there was a situation whereby Death Of An Obnoxious Tourist was free as a Kindle book (to get folks hooked on the series presumably), which meant that once I "bought" it (for $0.00), the audiobook Whispersync price kicked in - about half the cost of one credit. (It also counted as one of my four eligible promotion spends as well.) I started the story yesterday, and it seems okay, if not great. I noticed the first three books each have a different narrator (usually, a Very Bad Sign); this one is doing a decent job.

Finished Lover Awakened. It was okay, still not crazy about the narrator, but it was decent. Currently listening to The Restorer narrated by Khristine Hvam. Compelling listen, both by the story and the narration. :)

Shell wrote: "Finished Lover Awakened. It was okay, still not crazy about the narrator, but it was decent. Currently listening to The Restorer narrated by Khristine Hvam. Compelling listen, both by the story and..."

She ia a great narrator, I just love this series. It is a bit more Adult in the PNR genre.

Jeanie wrote: "Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Tensy wrote: "Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm listening to Ender's Game.

I want it to be great(!!) but parts of it are lacking...

I'm also findi..."

When children are forced in a military environment that young, it can do very strange things to them intellectually. Look at the child soldiers in places like the Sudan and Rwanda. They clearly have the mind of a soldier, yet some of the emotional processing of a child. Not having read Ender's Game, I assume the books portrays a much more complicated progression to soldier than what happens in real life, but it's still compelling what happens to a young mind. The Hunger Games deals with the same idea, although the children are not specifically trained for fighting.

Jeanie wrote: "This past week I finished "Cold Days", book 14 of the Dresden files. I loved it. Harry is back--both the character and the voice. It wasn't until I heard Marsters familiar rhythms and his voice ..."

I love cozies on audiobook :) I have listened to the first 14 Goldy books on audio (give or take a few I had to read in print). Which one is the wedding cake mystery series??

Jeanie wrote: "My biggest problem is the female narrator who reads those parts. She sounds like she could benefit from a good anti-depressant."

Ha ha ha... This is my biggest problem as well. I am going to ban her from my list of narrators. She expresses every line so breathy and sad and overly-dramatic - even lines which would ordinarily be cheerful. I find myself re-editing in my own voice whenever she's narrating.

P.S. - after searching and searching, I cannot find out who the female narrator is. I am quite serious about wanting to never listen to her again - but I have no idea who she is.

I just started Dracula (the Audible version with a great cast.) I'm enjoying it so far!

Kimberly wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "My biggest problem is the female narrator who reads those parts. She sounds like she could benefit from a good anti-depressant."

Ha ha ha... This is my biggest problem as well. I ..."

Gabrielle De Cuir--sadly, she also provides narration for the Ender's Shadow Saga, which follows Bean's post-war progress.

Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "This past week I finished "Cold Days", book 14 of the Dresden files. I loved it. Harry is back--both the character and the voice. It wasn't until I heard Marsters familiar rhythms..."

Mary Jane Clark writes the Wedding Cake Mystery series--there are only two out so far. The main character is named Piper and she is an actress whose mother has a bakery and who has helped out decorating since she was a child. She ends up agreeing to do a wedding cake herself for a friend who is a famous soap opera actress. Of course, dead bodies start accumulating around the people involved with either the soap opera or the actress, so Piper has to get involved too. The narrator changes from book 1 to 2 but the second one will also narrate the next book coming out in January. I suppose you've already read the Joanne Fluke series with Hannah Swensen?

Speaking of cozies, I pre-ordered the next Needlecraft Mystery, "Then You Dye" which comes out tomorrow.

And, in my ongoing saga to continue my Coffeehouse Mystery series... books 7, 8, and 9 were missing so they added... book 8! Of the two remaining that were missing, Saturday they added--you guessed it--book 9, aaaargh! But I can wait... oh yeah, I have no choice. :(

I'm bouncing between The Hobbit, A Storm of Swords, and 14. I'm at the half way point of each, and not ready for the 2nd half of 14; although it's a good book so far, and worth the credit I spent.

Crossing the Borders of Time: A True Love Story of War, Exile, and Love Reclaimed is till engaging me. There are two primary topics: a Jewish holocaust story and a love relationship. The author narrates the book herself and this is to detriment of the story. Her German is fine, at least to my ears, but the French leaves something to be desired.

I wrapped up This is How You Lose Her this morning. Mixed feelings. The langage (profanity and sexual) is really tough for me to listen to. I know that is the nature of the character - but still very uncomfortable. It is a series of short stories so a little jumpy. And lots of Spanish tossed in - which is confusing. But the 2nd half of the book really was pretty good. And the author did a nice job of narration.

Now am reading The Age of Miracles - another on the Goodreads list of top books for the year (so I was shocked to see it was also available).

I am 2/3rds through "Not My Blood" by Barbara Cleverly. I had greatly enjoyed her first 4 or 5, set in India, then lost interest when the protagonist, Joe Sanderlands, soldier, detective, policeman went to France. The synopsis of this one sounded good and Simon Prebble narrates, so it couldn't be bad. So far it is really intriguing.

Next is "The Game of Kings" on CDs from the library.

Starting Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson by, Lyndsay Faye narrated by, Simon Vance... Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes and Simon Vance how can it go wrong, I am 2 hours in and it feels like part of the Holmes canon!

MissSusie wrote: "Starting Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson by, Lyndsay Faye narrated by, Simon Vance... Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes and Simon Vance how can it go wrong, ..."

I loved that one.

I started the month with "Black Cross" by Greg Iles, which was a book that felt a lot like a roller coaster with an exciting (albeit, short) ride with loads of buildup.

And I've got an hour left with "The Invisible Gorilla" by Christopher Chabris, and Dan Simons which I am finding extremely interesting and thought provoking.

I have about 15 minutes left of Grave Mercy - really liked Erin Moon's narration

next up is The Ruby Ring: A Novel which is a review audiobook

MissSusie wrote: "Starting Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson by, Lyndsay Faye narrated by, Simon Vance... Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes and Simon Vance how can it go wrong, ..."

Oh I loved that one, and I usually cannot listen to crime novels! But this was magnificent. even got the author's other book The Gods of Gotham, just have not had the time to listen to it yet.

Has anyone listened to The Reader? Should I or shouldn't I invest my time?

Chrissie wrote: "MissSusie wrote: "Starting Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson by, Lyndsay Faye narrated by, Simon Vance... Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes and Simon Vance how..."

I am very impressed with this author taking on an iconic character like Sherlock is no easy task and she has done it seamlessly! Really liking this one!