Audiobooks discussion

New month, so here goes ...

I've stated Coming Clean: A Memoir, read by the author. At first I was bothered by her somewhat "little girl" voice, but as it's the story of her very dysfunctional childhood, that made sense as I've gotten further into the story. Her dad's hoarding caused a slew of trouble right there, though he's rather unbalanced generally; now, about halfway through, her mother has serious physical health issues. Keeps me listening to find out how she escapes from the situation.

After last month reading of Speaks the Nightbird. The Queen of Bedlam and Mister Slaughter December begins with the finale The Providence Rider such an excellent series

Re: Kristie's response..." Janice wrote: "I finished The Round House and quite enjoyed it. I can't decide if Gary Farmer's narration was brilliant or horrendous. Either way, it was quite fitting."

"I completely agree about the narration of The Round House. I believe it was probably pretty authentic, as I think he is American Indian. I was only perturbed by some mispronunciations, particularly of cities in the upper Midwest, but not everyone would notice it if you're not from the upper Midwest like I am. (The city of Pierre, South Dakota is pronounced PEER, not pee-AIR. Anyone living in North Dakota would know that.)"

Gary Farmer was born in Ontario, Canada and is Native Indian. He is a character actor, so his rendition may have been orchestrated. But then again, maybe narrating audiobooks is not a strength. I was ready to give up on the book within the first 15 minutes, but after I listened to the reviews where people recommended to continue in spite of the seemingly bad narration, I perservered. I'm really glad I did.

I think we've had that conversation about Pierre (PEER) before. LOL!

Janice wrote: "Re: Kristie's response..." Janice wrote: "I finished The Round House and quite enjoyed it. I can't decide if Gary Farmer's narration was brilliant or horrendous. Either way, it was quite fitting."
..."

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have raised the Pierre thing again, but it really annoyed me! I guess if he grew up in Ontario he can be forgiven. :)

Kristie wrote: "Yeah, I probably shouldn't have raised the Pierre thing again, but it really annoyed me! I guess if he grew up in Ontario he can be forgiven. :)"

LOL! Funny. Thanks for the chuckle. :)

listening to Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid - narrated by simon vance

Hey, Phryne Fisher fans: Does it matter much whether you listen to this series in order? I have listened to Cocaine Blues, first in the series, and now I see Audible just added Murder on the Ballarat Train, 3rd in the series, to their $4.95 sale. Will I miss much without listening to the series in order? Thanks!

Kristie wrote: "Hey, Phryne Fisher fans: Does it matter much whether you listen to this series in order? I have listened to Cocaine Blues, first in the series, and now I see Audible just added [book:M..."

Not with the mysteries, but you miss a lot with the secondary characters and they are quirky and funny. However it's not crucial to the stories themselves.

Tonight I finished Dashiell Hammett's The Thin Man that I got in the $4.99 sale on Audible. Through the first two-thirds I was thinking it was a three star listen, but it finished higher. The narrator initially felt wrong--can't put my finger on what it was--but his male character voices eventually became interesting enough to make it feel right.
The book definitely reflects its time period which is early 1930's and can be both interesting and aggravating as a result. I'm not one of those who gets offended when a woman acts the role of damsel in distress in books of the early 1900's because women weren't brought up to believe they were supposed to be kick-ass heroines and so often relied on men to "take care of them". But one of the females in this story was so weak and wishy-washy that I was less bothered when her mother beat or slapped her than I should have been. And the mother... what a rotten character! But I could at least appreciate the mother as one who used what brains she had and what gifts she had as a female to try to get her way--hated her, but at least she was interesting.
The character of Nora Charles was okay, but I thought the movie version made her a little more involved in the detection and a stronger character overall. She is generally a good sport throughout the story and clever enough, but not a full partner in the sleuthing--although I may be misremembering the movie and only thought she was more involved in that one.

I finished Burial Rites. It was just ok. Didn't love it ... didn't hate it...

Am kicking myself because I grabbed an audiobook at the library over the weekend (am waiting for an interlibrary loan to come in) and it is the 13th in a series that I haven't read. GAH. I hate it when I don't "research" the books to get.

I picked up Alas, Babylon on a Daily Deal because it's narrated by Will Patton. Am about 30% finished and am surprised by how dated it is. I'm sure it was more thrilling at the time it was written. Thankfully the only nukes we have to worry about any more are the ones stored so carelessly around the world and the country. And, of course, those nut cases in the Middle East who like to bristle and threaten. No insult to the Middle East intended other than to their nut cases. I don't like US nut cases, either.

Kristie wrote: "Hey, Phryne Fisher fans: Does it matter much whether you listen to this series in order? I have listened to Cocaine Blues, first in the series, and now I see Audible just added Murder on the Ballarat Train ."

You're just skipping one book, and Ballarat Train brings in some important characters - get it!

You might also want to try the first of Greenwood's other series *Earthly Delights , also added to this sale. The narrator isn't as good as Stephanie Daniel (does the Phryne series), but she's OK. The story is set in present-day Melbourne, and it's a good one.

CatBookMom wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Hey, Phryne Fisher fans: Does it matter much whether you listen to this series in order? I have listened to Cocaine Blues, first in the series, and now I see Audible ju..."

I'm still pondering it, if for no other reason because I'm pretty sure I've been to (or at least through) Ballarat. :)

Just finished listening to A House in the Sky - amazing story and read by the author. She is an amazing woman.

Last month listened to Speaking from Among the Bones and The Education of Little Tree. For December have started The Raven Boys.

@ Sandra I read Alas Babylon as a teen and I have loved apocalypse stories ever since. I re read it recently and you are right, it is dated. I would add improbable but there is just something about it.

Michelle wrote: "Last month listened to Speaking from Among the Bones and The Education of Little Tree. For December have started The Raven Boys.

@ Sandra I read Alas..."

Yeah, I'm enjoying it in spite of its dated feel and the ignorance re fallout and radiation... among other things.

I've just finished listening to Doctor Sleep, and squeezed in The Custom of the Army last night.

Travis of NNY wrote: "After last month reading of Speaks the Nightbird. The Queen of Bedlam and Mister Slaughter December begins with the finale ...

Love that series. I've listened to the first three, and I just started The Providence Rider today. Great writing, and as long as Edoardo Ballerini continues to narrate them, I'll continue to buy them.

The fifth, The River of Souls, is due out next year.

HBJ

Today I read the free-from-Audible short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber, read by Ben Stiller. It's an iconic story and worth reading any time, and Ben Stiller does a good job of bringing it to life. I enjoyed Stiller's short commentary at the end--he admits to being an audiobook listener too--and the amusing linkage between Walter Mitty's secret inner life and the secret inner life we audiobook listeners fall into while we listen. Really enjoyed this fifteen minute break.

November got away from me in a hurry. I knocked out:

The Survivors
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption <-Amazing book!
Of Thee I Zing: America's Cultural Decline from Muffin Tops to Body Shots
Freedom's Dawn
Parasite <-boooooooo!
& Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

J. wrote: "November got away from me in a hurry. I knocked out:

The Survivors
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption <-Amazing book!
[book:Of Thee I Zing:..."

Boo? What a succinct and elegant review. It leaves no doubts as to the impression the book made on you... unless it was a story about ghosts? ;P

I noticed the ChoiceAwards were announced today. I hadn't read most of them and could only whole-heartedly second "Cold Days" by Jim Butcher--even though the latest Iron Druid was also a sentimental favorite and I'm sure came in a close second. :)

But there wasn't an audiobook category :( I say next year we lobby for the category. Or this group can hold its own AudioChoiceAwards. This year I would nominate... so many good books, how can I choose? Oh well, so much for our own Choice award ;P

I agree it would be nice to have Audible choice awards on Goodreads

I'm listening to Night Magic. This appears to be the only book Renee Maxwell narrated which I don't understand because she's doing a really good job so far. There was even an article about this narrator coming out of left field (she has a history in voiceover and theater degree) comparing her to someone with no experience at all. Unless she gets really bad toward the end, I don't understand the dig.

It really would be great to have an Audiobook Category next year. Is there somewhere we can make that suggestion to Goodreads?

I just started listening to The Cellist of Sarajevo. I'm not sure yet what I think of the narrator but the story is fascinating and the addition of the cello music between the sections adds a bit of atmosphere to it.

I finished listening to The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains last night. Narrated by Gene Engene. It was wonderful!

Just finished The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden narrated by, Jenna Lamia & January LaVoy fabulous book fabulous narration. I am a huge fan of Jenna already but this was the first one by January LaVoy and I will be looking for more of her narrations she was very good too!

This was a great story. If you enjoyed The Kitchen House I think you will enjoy this one! Set in the time of slavery the story is told by slave Sarah and slave owner Theodora.

Currently listening to {i]Outlander[/i] by Diana Gabaldon. It's one of my favorite books and it's a pleasure to listen to Davina Porter bring it to life. Unfortunately, my brand new MP3 player won't hold a charge and I had to return it to Amazon. Hope I can get a new one soon so I can go back to listening. Only another eight hours to go.

Margaret wrote: "Currently listening to {i]Outlander[/i] by Diana Gabaldon. It's one of my favorite books and it's a pleasure to listen to Davina Porter bring it to life. Unfortunately, my brand new MP3 player won..."

I plan on doing a re-read closer to the show and a re-read of at least the last one if not the entire series before the next book comes out. Love Davina!

I only have a few minutes left of The Goldfinch, which has more than lived up to all the hype for me. The story is riveting, and the writing is beautiful. Narration by David Pittu is great. One of my favorite books of 2013. If you don't like painstaking descriptions, this might not be the book for you. (Normally I don't, but the writing and story won me over.) Also, if you gravitate toward books with "likable" characters, this might not work for you either, but the characters are rich and multi-dimensional. (I myself like a well-told story, and I don't have to like the characters for that to happen.)

Next for me... I finally got back The Ocean at the End of the Lane from the library again. I had waited for several months for my turn to check it out, only to discover it was badly scratched, so I returned it and had to wait for it to get buffed. After the hefty Goldfinch I'm looking forward to the quick listen.

Jeanie wrote: "Boo? What a succinct and elegant review...."

It was really all I could type without getting ugly. They peddled it as an action story and it turned out to be a really, really slow & lame romance. And I was a little to blame, the audiobook was released after the book so I let my anticipation grow to over-hype. So...boooo! ;)

MissSusie wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Currently listening to {i]Outlander[/i] by Diana Gabaldon. It's one of my favorite books and it's a pleasure to listen to Davina Porter bring it to life. Unfortunately, my brand n..."

I don't have cable so my daughter better record it for me. I started reading the series when it first came out in 1991 and have been waiting all this time for the movie. Great casting so far.

My recent books I have attempted to somehow connect to the current month or what I'm doing at the moment. I chose to read/listen to 11/22/63 last month, in November. This month, I work for a party casino company that provides gambling tables for events [with party chips, not real money.] This is their busiest time of the year for holiday parties and I will be dealing Blackjack at 4 events in Dec. So to keep in the mood I am currently reading/listening to audio book Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions which is the book that got made into the movie 21

I'm almost done that book, which I plan to follow up with NOS4A2. I started to listen to that one a couple of months ago and decided to delay it until December, to keep with the Christmas theme!

I finished one of the books I got in the recent $4.95 sale at Audible. It was Moon Dance, first in the Vampire for Hire series by J. R. Rain. This was well-read and ended well, but I have to admit I had to keep forcing myself to go on. The reader did a very good job with the character voices but her tone was justthis side of depressed, which matched the main character's mood most of the time. The story itself seemed both too slow and too fast. Sometimes the main character got into a pensive mood about the meaning of her life--as a vampire--and then some action would happen out of the blue and then another scene where she was pensive. Probably my biggest problem was that the concept was that she had been attacked and transformed into a vampire six years ago, but this was the first she seemed to be taking stock of her vampirism. And then there was her husband who had been supportive and then over the six years became repulsed and decided she was too dangerous to be around their children. Really? After six months, maybe, but six years?
Well, maybe now that the story is past that part the rest of the series might be worthwhile. Maybe if the second book is offered in a sale...

I finished Snow White Must Die. I think the author was trying too hard and ended up putting so many twists and turns into the story that it became convoluted. Having said that, I did enjoy it but would have enjoyed it more if she had reined in the desire to crank out a complicated plot.

I will start Hood today.

I am about to finish Dark Witch today, I think I am going to do The Secret Life of Walter Mitty next since it was a freebie.

I am listening to Comfort and Joy by, India Knight narrated by, Anne Flosnik...This is not your usual sweet & sappy Christmas story it is bawdy and fun and is making me giggle, but if you are looking for a heartwarming Christmas story this ain't it!

My next read is going to be a freebie, too. If you follow Molly Harper's funny paranormal ramoance series, "I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas" is free on Audible. It's read by Amanda Roncone and I've never had a bad experience with the Harper/Roncone team.

Susan wrote: "I think I am going to do The Secret Life of Walter Mitty next since it was a freebie."
I'm a bit confused if I have a different version showing up as free...the Walter Mitty version that shows up for me, is only 15 mins long.
Is that the same one you all have? There seems to be a bit of excitement over this being free, which doesn't quite make sense for a 15 min book.

MissSusie wrote: "I am listening to Comfort and Joy by, India Knight narrated by, Anne Flosnik...This is not your usual sweet & sappy Christmas story it is bawdy and fun and is making me giggle, bu..."

I liked that one a lot.

BBC Radio Drama so far this month: Secret of Annexe 3 and Five Red Herrings. Enjoyed Secret better than Herrings, the latter being mostly dull interchange among police and Wimsey. Hadn't read or seen Annexe 3 before, which surprised me. Enjoyed it! Next up: Lord of the Flies.

Although I'm a Dorothy Sayers fan I also thought Five Red Herrings was a total bore.

I finished The Man Who Went Up in Smoke. It was a quick mystery and the prologue billed it as being the only European mystery to win the Edgar Allan Poe Award. The narration was fine, but the names were a bit tough to follow. The narrator also pronounced quay (kee) as kay. That was enough to make me lose track for a bit. Then I started and quickly stopped Elmer Gantry. It started off fine, narration was fine, a 15 hour satire on evangelism was not going to be fine. Gantry is the first book I've asked Audible to return and they graciously refunded my money. So I cued up The Spectator Bird and all is well with the world.

Fran wrote: "I finished The Man Who Went Up in Smoke. It was a quick mystery and the prologue billed it as being the only European mystery to win the Edgar Allan Poe Award. The narration was fin..."

Aw man, I bought Elmer Gantry, too. :( Oh well. At least there is a refund option, should I decide I can't take it, either.

I do want to see how you like The Spectator Bird...I loved Angle of Repose and recently bought Big Rock Candy Mountain.

Angle of Repose is one of my all time favorite books and I really enjoyed Big Rock Candy Mountain. I may try Elmer Gantry in print. I listened for about 1 1/2 hours and really enjoyed the beginning. It's so rare for me to abandon a book; Baptist bible-thumping evangelism was getting too thick. Lord, I just wasn't feelin it! Hallelujah! Amen! ;-)

I liked Spectator Bird, but hadn't realized it was actually a sequel to All the Little, Live Things (which I haven't read yet).

The Ocean at the End of the Lane was a nice story, but it didn't move me too much. I do like Neil Gaiman's narration.

I've decided not to take on any very long or very challenging audiobooks through the end of the year. I can start thinking again in 2014. Stormy Weather ought to fit the bill.

I picked up the Walter Mitty audio and was also surprised that it was only 15 minutes. That seems short even for a short story. Amazon estimates the book as 23 pages long.

Oh well, it was free and I can listen while I make a rubber band panda charm.

Finished up The Alloy of Law started Something Wicked This Way Comes which as an audio I am actually enjoying Tue narration for once. My past experience with Bradbury's books has been poor narrators who have ruined the books. So far while perhaps not an award worthy performance its very enjoyable

I enjoyed Molly Harper's I'm dreaming of an Undead Christmas. It won't be for anyone who hasn't read her other Nice Girls/Halfmoon Hollows books, and this one apparently sets up her next release, whenever that may be. Still, it had every primary character from all her other books in this setting and was a hoot.

I finished up Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid - but didn't enjoy it as much as his previous ones - the humor seemed more forced

Now listening to The Heroine's Bookshelf: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder and since I'll finish it over the weekend (it's only 4hrs long), then going for Deadlock