Audiobooks discussion

As the new month begins, I'm juggling two audiobooks ...



Clarissa's England, a tour of that country by the co-star of the Two Fat Ladies cooking series. She's a bit of a name dropper, but her life's been what it's been. There's some of that coughing, swallowing etc. that gets complained of, but she knows where the inflection goes.

Fire Knife Dancing, second in a murder mystery series set in American Samoa, read by Phil Gigante. I liked the first one, so used part of my recent $10 credit on it.

This past weekend, I tried to give City of Veils a chance, but even Kate Reading couldn't stop me realizing that I just didn't want to go on.

I have started listening to Cutting for Stone .
Two hours in and I really like it.
One of the other groups I am in is having a challenge for Oct - reading a book based in an exotic location. This one has taken me from India to Africa so far, so it fits the bill :)
I have to admit I'm enjoying all the medical jargon too.

I am listening to Sailing Alone around the World, which is a bit different from my normal type of book. So far I am liking it.

Patricia, I listened to Cutting for Stone earlier this year, and it is easily one of my two favorite books I've listened to all year. Enjoy!

i'm finishing up The Ocean at the End of the Lane, after that is Ice Princess I think

I'm listening to Mythology by Edith Hamilton and whereas I wish it would go deeper sometimes, (the Ancient Greeks had a giant flood myth -- can we at least talk about its similarity to the Christian myth?) I'm finding it entertaining and a perfect book to drive by.

I'm listening to The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and have mixed feelings about it. The narrator, Jonathan Davis, is wonderful, but hardly appropriate for a West Indian black guy. There's a female narrator for parts of the book who's much more appropriate - Staci Snell.

In between I'm listening to A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present, which is quite good. My interest was sparked by the fact that Mitch Daniels, the governor of Indiana, wanted to ban it from Indiana schools. Since I grew up in Indiana I decided I had to read it. I must say that I totally drank the Koolaid served in my US History classes as a kid and young adult. I'm amazed that all the things I'm upset about in this country these days have been there all along. Sigh.

Just done listening to The Orphan Master's son by Adam Johnson. Most amazing story I have experienced in a long time. Although it is about North Korea it is strangely captivating(!) and perfect for a long commute.

I'm enjoying Steelheart, but I'm getting terribly eager for the Dust audiobook, which was just released today.

Also looking forward to more of the Frontiers Saga. The first two books can geekily be described as being similar to star trek.

I'm about half way through Speaks the Nightbird and really enjoying it. It's a total of 30 hours long and I'm groaning because it will be a while before I find out how it all turns out. I want to know now! That's the problem with audiobooks... it's harder to indulge my "sneek-a-peek" habit.

Glad to hear it, Torben. I just bought The Orphan Master's Son in the last Audible sale, so I am excited to listen.

I'm looking forward to it as well Kristie...maybe i'll go with that one next...ugh, too many audiobooks and not enough time - I can't believe i'm actually saying that I miss my long commute because of the time I got to listen (went from 2+ hours each day to like 45 minutes)

Tinkers I started this yesterday and have found myself wandering while I'm listening. Not the greatest thing to be doing while I drive either. I thought I might have to break out and read the book. May do both. Meanwhile my audible credit of the month (only my 2nd month with audible so no $10.00 credit for me yet)is Moonrise so I may try to start that at the gym when I walk.

I finished The Sun Also Rises and think this is Hemingway's very best. I loved it.
My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now I have moved on to Give Me Tomorrow: The Korean War's Greatest Untold Story. I have yet to find a good book of fiction set in the Koreas.

I am now on the last of the Sevenwaters books this is the only one that isn't a re-read,I will be sad when I am done with this series I have very much enjoyed re-visiting the Sevenwaters clan!

Flame of Sevenwaters by, Juliet Marillier narrated by, Rosalyn Landor

Just finished Cocaine Blues. I liked it, and if it were available from my library system I would continue with the series. But I tend not to purchase books that are so short unless they're on a big sale (which is how I got this one). So I have the next one on my wish list and will watch for an opportunity to get it inexpensively.

Next up: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Not my usual fare, but since I've heard so much about it, and I got it from the library, I'll give it a go.

Kristie wrote: "Just finished Cocaine Blues. I liked it, and if it were available from my library system I would continue with the series. But I tend not to purchase books that are so short unless they're on a big..."

I know what you mean about short books, but Phryne is such fun I got several of them with credits. She's just got so much moxie and is unashamedly sexual. She cracks me up.

Susan wrote: "Tinkers I started this yesterday and have found myself wandering while I'm listening. Not the greatest thing to be doing while I drive either. I thought I might have to break out and read the boo..."

So, Tinkers is not so good as an audio? Is it the audio that is wrecking it, or the book itself, or that you are listening to it and cannot concentrate?

Kristie wrote: "Just finished Cocaine Blues. I liked it, and if it were available from my library system I would continue with the series. But I tend not to purchase books that are so short unless they're on a big..."

If you buy the Kindle book of Murder on the Ballarat Train for $2.99, you can buy the audiobook for another $2.99; total cost, $5.98. Quite a few of the Phryne books are Whispersync'd; Death at Victoria Dock is $4.99 for the Kindle, $3.49 for the audio.

Chrissie:

I'm not sure yet, I was only about an hour in. It's a lot of going back and forth from present time to past and it took me a little to figure out who was talking. I think I'll do better if I re-read what I've heard and go from there.

Susan wrote: "Chrissie:

I'm not sure yet, I was only about an hour in. It's a lot of going back and forth from present time to past and it took me a little to figure out who was talking. I think I'll do bette..."

Why do authors today love going back and forth in time? I am not sure this book will be for me. Thanks for explaining.

I think it takes a very strong author to pull off switching pov's in different time periods

I'm listening to both Blessing in Disguise and The Dead Girls' Dance

Bobby wrote: "I'm listening to Mythology by Edith Hamilton and whereas I wish it would go deeper sometimes, (the Ancient Greeks had a giant flood myth -- can we at least talk about its similarity to the Christia..."

I went on a mythology bender when I was in high school and loved Hamilton. It never occurred to me to listen to it! I'm inspired again. Thank you!

Dee wrote: "I think it takes a very strong author to pull off switching pov's in different time periods"

I agree. Is it that authors are trying to attract a wider group of readers - both those who prefer historical and those preferring contemporary times? WHY is it so popular nowadays? Most readers will prefer one or the other better, rarely both time periods! to capture the genuine feeling of both is extremely difficult. Colum McCann can pull it off! But I am a fan for McCann!

Chrissie wrote: "Dee wrote: "I think it takes a very strong author to pull off switching pov's in different time periods"

I agree. Is it that authors are trying to attract a wider group of readers - both those who..."

It's a talent for sure. I've read books that had me spouting, "I prefer a more linear style". And other times I've recognized that switching the POV created tension, and that without that technique, the story would have been flat. Two great examples that I've read recently that chilled me to the bone were The Handmaid's Tale and Dark Places.

Kristie wrote: "Just finished Cocaine Blues. I liked it, and if it were available from my library system I would continue with the series. But I tend not to purchase books that are so short unless they're on a big..."

Apparently I must live in a cave, because I never knew that the author of this book lived in Minnesota before her hiking adventure. MN media is all about covering the "MN connection" with anything, so I don't know how I missed this. So far I'm liking it more than I expected, and not because she bawled her eyes out while driving across the part of the state I grew up in. :)

Chrissie wrote: "Dee wrote: "I think it takes a very strong author to pull off switching pov's in different time periods"

I agree. Is it that authors are trying to attract a wider group of readers - both those who..."

I just got done readnig an ARC of an author I really enjoy, who writes historical fiction, and her new one does a switching between WW2 and present times to tell the story - and I think she managed to capture it really well...even small things like, the two fonts for the time periods were different - so visually it felt not the same

Dee wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Dee wrote: "I think it takes a very strong author to pull off switching pov's in different time periods"

I agree. Is it that authors are trying to attract a wider group of readers..."

It is great when they do it well, but I still don't see the reason for the current popularity. particularly hard in audiobooks!

Listening to Steelheart. Love it! Is there anything Brandon Sanderson has written that I don't like? I think not!

Lori wrote: "Listening to Steelheart. Love it! Is there anything Brandon Sanderson has written that I don't like? I think not!"

Me too, it's so good. I didn't initially care for the narrator, but he has definitely grown on me.

OH my, who can convince me to stick with Cutting for Stone?
I really want to like it & it has great reviews, but I'm 25% through and there are just too many needless, unnecessary, rambling, meandering words (that was intentional BTW).
The author can't seem to keep on track, he starts a story and then wanders off on a tangent and randomly muses about testicles for the next 20 minutes.
The birth of those babies took longer in audiobook format than some actual births that I've attended and it was also covered in such second by second, minute, descriptive detail... that I contemplated removing my own uterus to relieve the boredom.

Help! Please give me a reason to keep listening (tell me the story starts to move along and the "stream of consciousness" writing style stops)...or this could be the very first audiobook I don't finish.

Patricia wrote: "OH my, who can convince me to stick with Cutting for Stone?
I really want to like it & it has great reviews, but I'm 25% through and there are just too many needless, unnecessary, rambling, meander..."

I can see what you mean, and I too normally have a low tolerance for rambling. (Ian McEwan's Atonement stopped me in my tracks in the first chapter.) However, I will say that I adored this book. For me it was poignant, funny, and beautiful. But I would be the last person to tell you that you should stick with a book you don't enjoy.

Do you have the option to listen at a faster playback speed?

Kristie wrote: "For me it was poignant, funny, and beautiful ..."
Thanks Kristie, I think it could be too - if he stuck to the main story. For me it's all the sidetracking that is throwing me off...a woman is half dead in childbirth and suddenly there's a long description about a type of curry and the man who went to buy it @@

I want to like it and I don't want to be a quitter but I started skipping forward by 10 seconds, then 1 minute and now I'm doing 10 minutes at a time yet I don't seem to be missing any of the story, I skip 10 minutes and the passage about pee-ing in the morning still isn't over!
Is it like this all the way through or does he start to stick to the main story more?

Those early scenes do go into pretty elaborate detail, but I think you'll find it moving faster with fewer tangents eventually...the book does get the twins into adulthood. :) Again, I'd say do what you need to do though. I've definitely hated books others love.

I am enjoying Moonrise the author does a character by chapter, so each new chapter I get to hear a different "voice" and I'm loving the story so far.

Just finished Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. I was a little lukewarm about this book, just curious what all the fuss was about, but I really enjoyed it. Maybe the Minnesota connection helped a bit.

Now on to Angelmaker. I chose this book because of the reviews, and because I am the daughter of a watchmaker. (The plot centers on a watchmaker.)

Been listening to The Uncoupling and was enjoying it. And then it got to a particular point in the relationship of the main couple and I was so disgusting with one of their behavior that I...well, I petulantly decided not to keep going.

Has that happened to any of you recently, or am I the only pleasure-read DNF'r out here?

Xe wrote: "Been listening to The Uncoupling and was enjoying it. And then it got to a particular point in the relationship of the main couple and I was so disgusting with on..."

Oh lord no. It happens to me sometimes.

I finished the audiobook Give Me Tomorrow: The Korean War's Greatest Untold Story
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Yes, I am very glad I read it. I have read several books about the Vietnam War, but my knowledge of the Korean War was lacking.

I have begun Family Matters and the narration by Martin Jarvis is captivating. I am hoping it will be as good as A Fine Balance. John, I remember you said Jarvis did an excellent job with the narration.

Chrissie wrote: "I finished the audiobook Give Me Tomorrow: The Korean War's Greatest Untold Story
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Yes, I am very glad I read it. I have read several books..."

Yes, indeed, I did enjoy Family Matters; I have not read A Fine Balance.

John wrote: "Yes, indeed, I did enjoy Family Matters; I have not read A Fine Balance. "

John, A Fine Balance is very good. For that one, I listened to a narration by John Lee. Martin Jarvis is exceptionally good. I love the humor.

I spent some time in India as a guest of a similar family, finding the story amazingly true-to-life.

John, that must make it REALLY special for you! I have never been in India, but I still enjoy the book.

i'm listening to The Ice Princess right now - I had previous listened to book 3 in the series and liked the narrator but the same guy is just grating at my ears right now...its weird

Dee wrote: "i'm listening to The Ice Princess right now - I had previous listened to book 3 in the series and liked the narrator but the same guy is just grating at my ears right now...its weird"

That *is* weird. I wonder why that's happening...

Marti wrote: "Dee wrote: "i'm listening to The Ice Princess right now - I had previous listened to book 3 in the series and liked the narrator but the same guy is just grating at my ears right now...its weird"

..."

I don't know. I liked that narrator fine.

Joy wrote: "The version of Frankenstein I had from Overdrive was putting me to sleep. I don't know the narrators. Three were listed and their names promptly left me, but I only heard one voice through chapter ..."

Audible also has a George Guidall version which is good not sure on price though

Patricia wrote: "OH my, who can convince me to stick with Cutting for Stone?
I really want to like it & it has great reviews, but I'm 25% through and there are just too many needless, unnecessary, rambling, meander..."

Oh, I'm relieved to finally find someone else who felt that way. I persevered with it but definitely do NOT count it as an enjoyable read. So, I'm not going to be the one to convince you. ;)

Marti wrote: "Dee wrote: "i'm listening to The Ice Princess right now - I had previous listened to book 3 in the series and liked the narrator but the same guy is just grating at my ears right now...its weird"

..."

I dunno...i think that by book 3, he might have hit his stride and was less out-there for lack of a better word...this one feels like he is over emphasizing stuff - the accents, the female voices etc