Audiobooks discussion

OK ... we're off!

I just finished All the Little Live Things, which I dropped an Audible credit on three years ago, after liking it's "prequel" The Spectator Bird. This one was rather grim, so could've stayed there a lot longer I'm afraid.

Here we go... Here's the list of TBR's I want to finish in 2014. These are almost all from Audible within the last 6 months, but there are also some in here I've had for over a year.

I only have 3 hours left in the first one, so I'm counting it. :)

1. The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
2. The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
3. Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina
4. The Far Pavilions, M. M. Kaye
5. Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
6. The Orphan Master's Son, Adam Johnson
7. The Talisman, Stephen King and Peter Straub
8. All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren
9. North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
10. Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin
11. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
12. METAtropolis, misc. authors
13. Theft of Swords, Michael Sullivan
14. Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer
15. Royal Blood, Rhys Bowen
16. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
17. Monster Hunter Vendetta, Larry Correia
18. Touch & Go, Lisa Gardner
19. The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri
20. The Boy in the Suitcase, Lene Kaaberbøl
21. Wool, Hugh Howey
22. Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, Karl Marlantes
23. The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay
24. 1Q84, Haruki Murakami
25. The World According to Garp, John Irving
26. The Big Rock Candy Mountain, Wallace Stegner
27. A Higher Call, Adam Makso
28. Sometimes a Great Notion, Ken Kesey
29. The Winter Sea, Susanna Kearsley
30. Helter Skelter, Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
31. Elmer Gantry, Sinclair Lewis
32. Island in the Sea of Time, S. M. Stirling
33. Old Filth, Jane Gardem
34. A Son of the Circus, John Irving
35. Winds of War, Herman Wouk
36. The Alchemist, Paul Coelho
37. Arrowsmith, Sinclair Lewis
38. Against the Tide of Years, S. M. Stirling
39. Lost at Sea, Jon Ronson
40. The Twelve Clues of Christmas, Rhys Bowen
41. Four Fires, Bryce Courtenay
42. The Financial Lives of Poets, Jess Walter

My aim is to finish 40,000 pages and I don't know how many hours that will be.

Series that I have been gathering the pieces will be on the list.

Starting with

Stuart Palmer
The Penguin Pool Murder
160 pp 3.35 1931
2-Jan *****
Murder on the Blackboard
185 pp 3.62 1932
2-Jan *****
The Puzzle of the Pepper Tree
191 pp 3.6 1933
6-Jan *****

Deanna Raybourn
Silent in the Grave
509 pp 3.93 2007
5-Jan *****
Silent in the Sanctuary
552 pp 4.06 2008
9-Jan *****





1. Unhappy Hooligan
182 pp 3.4 1956
2. Cold Poison
143 pp 4.0 1954
3. Nipped in the Bud
159 pp 4.5 1951
4. The Green Ace
176 pp 3.33 1950
5. Miss Withers Regrets
160 pp 3.4 1947
6. The Puzzle of the Blue Banderilla
188 pp 3.2 1939
7. The Puzzle of the Red Stallion
200 pp 3.56 1936
8. The Puzzle of the Silver Persian
224 pp 3.3 1934
10. Murder on Wheels
307 pp 4.0 1932




Elizabeth Chadwick

1. A Place Beyond Courage
528 pp 4.06 2007
2. The Greatest Knight
562 pp 4.04 2005

Since my primary goal is to complete 35 out of 79 audiobooks purchased before Dec. 31, 2011, I will list only when finished. My secondary goal is to listen to all audiobooks purchased this year. Yes, I'm starting with some short stories to get that immediate feeling of accomplishment!

Audiobooks - Before 2012
01. The Ghost in the Mill - Harriet Beecher Stowe (Short story)
02. Murders In The Rue Morgue - Edgar Allen Poe (short story)
03. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Samuel Taylor Cooleridge (long poem)
04. Summer Knight - Jim Butcher
05. Ghosts of Ragged-Ass Gulch - Bill Pronzini (novella)

Audiobooks - Purchased 2014

01.

Other
1. The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett (bought 2/12)

Joy and I have the same starting goal... I have started The Woman in White, published by Jincin Recordings. I've finished the Hartright section and it's fine, but a part of me wishes I had waited and bought the Audible recording--it's in the BOGO sale but I'm being strong and not getting a second version... yet.

I just started Little Dorrit :)

I have 53 titles I've bought from Audible that I want to listen to and 79 more from OverDrive I've got sitting around on my computer.

Yeah, I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I'm surprised it took me this long to find this group!

I started Grave Mercy in December so I will count it as my first TBR audio read, almost half way as of today. I got a free copy of it from the SYNC summer reading program last year.

Starting Cocaine Bluesby, Kerry Greenwood
Narrated by Stephanie Daniel bought 06-21-13.

Today I finished The Woman in White, the oldest unread book in my Audible Library!
Next on the moldy-oldies list is Tom Jones. This one is divided into 3 volumes and I'm counting each as a book--I need the sense of accomplishment. I don't have to start it until February, according to my stated goals, so I'm deferring its beginning until later.
Until then, I'll choose from the unread books in series I follow and start one either by Christine Feehan or Jeaniene Frost, and then complete the one by Victoria Laurie I started and abandoned for no good reason.
Then I'm going to reward myself by buying the first book in the Hildegarde withers mystery series.
Hey, at least I'm going to read three before granting myself the reward... or at least I'm going to try to hold out that long ;P

Jeanie wrote: "Today I finished The Woman in White, the oldest unread book in my Audible Library!
Next on the moldy-oldies list is Tom Jones. This one is divided into 3 volumes and I'm counting each as a book--I..."

Good for you!

I just finished Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks and immediately started the third book of the trilogy (also in my backlog) instead of Swan Song by Robert McCammon.

I finished Dark Storm by Christine Feehan, which was a backlogged book among series I follow, and remembered why I was avoiding it--scary, and I'm a scaredy-cat.
I continued with Dark Lycan, also a backlog, and am halfway through but am taking a break with a light read that just came out today and I pre-ordered before the challenge.
One more challenge book and I can reward myself... phew, this is harder than I thought... ;)

Finished: Bought 6/21/13
Cocaine Blues(Phryne Fisher, #1) by Kerry Greenwood, narrated by, Stephanie Daniel

The last thing I needed was another series but that is what I got with this book, I really enjoyed the character of Phryne, she’s tough and funny and a sexual being( when you get towards the end you will understand this statement) who was way ahead of her time. This is the best kind of cozy with historical fiction thrown in. This series is set 1920’s and Phryne is bored with being a London socialite and at a party is asked by a gentleman to find out what is going on with his daughter in Australia so off she goes and so begins our adventure into the seedy world of cocaine and murder.

Sometimes a person forgets how long cocaine has been prevalent and how long it has ruined lives, what I found interesting is this wasn’t the downtrodden these were rich people addicted to cocaine and getting it right from their friendly neighborhood pharmacist. Along with this there is a story about abortion too this book and its characters seemed far ahead of their time yet at the same time you could tell the sensibilities were right for the time period.

The mystery was almost secondary to the fun cast of characters, although I did enjoy the mystery; I hope to see more of Dot, Sasha, and Cec & Bert.

I also plan on watching this episode of the TV show soon and see how it compares to the book.

I listened to this on audio narrated by, Stephanie Daniel and was totally swept up in her narration every accent was superb and everyone had their own voice, I am so glad she narrated the rest of this series. Then this morning I heard that Stephanie Daniel passed away last week and was very saddened since I had just discovered her wonderful talent but I will honor her memory by listening to the rest of this series and anything else she has narrated. RIP Miss Daniel thank you for sharing your beautiful voice the world.

If you are a fan of cozies or the 1920’s give this one a try.

4 Stars

MissSusie wrote: "Finished: Bought 6/21/13
Cocaine Blues(Phryne Fisher, #1) by Kerry Greenwood, narrated by, Stephanie Daniel"

I saw this on a Whispersync deal - $2.99 for the kindle+audio - so I thought I'd try it.

A bit of modest bragging (I am truly honored)... Bolinda Audio publisher of Cocaine Blues shared my review on their facebook page and said on twitter "It's a great tribute to Stephanie. The world has lost a truly beautiful person and talented narrator."

Impressive!

MissSusie wrote: "A bit of modest bragging (I am truly honored)... Bolinda Audio publisher of Cocaine Blues shared my review on their facebook page and said on twitter "It's a great tribute to Stephanie. The world h..."

Very cool honor.

Stuart Palmer
The Penguin Pool Murder
160 pp 3.35 1931
2-Jan *****
Murder on the Blackboard
185 pp 3.62 1932
2-Jan *****
The Puzzle of the Pepper Tree
191 pp 3.6 1933
6-Jan *****

Deanna Raybourn
Silent in the Grave
509 pp 3.93 2007
5-Jan *****
Silent in the Sanctuary
552 pp 4.06 2008
9-Jan *****

Shirley wrote: "Stuart Palmer
The Penguin Pool Murder
160 pp 3.35 1931
2-Jan *****
Murder on the Blackboard
185 pp 3.62 1932
2-Jan *****
[book:The Puzzle of the Pepper T..."

congratulations for your accomplishments. I feel like such a slacker!

2nd book of the TBR pile. (Well, almost. I'll be done tomorrow morning.) I'll be back to the TBR pile sometime next week. :)

The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina
The Far Pavilions, M. M. Kaye
Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
The Orphan Master's Son, Adam Johnson
The Talisman, Stephen King and Peter Straub
Solomon’s Song, Bryce Courtenay
All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren
North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
METAtropolis, misc. authors
Theft of Swords, Michael Sullivan
Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer
Royal Blood, Rhys Bowen
Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
Monster Hunter Vendetta, Larry Correia
Touch & Go, Lisa Gardner
The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri
The Boy in the Suitcase, Lene Kaaberbøl
Wool, Hugh Howey
Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, Karl Marlantes
The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay
1Q84, Haruki Murakami
The World According to Garp, John Irving
The Big Rock Candy Mountain, Wallace Stegner
A Higher Call, Adam Makso
Sometimes a Great Notion, Ken Kesey
The Winter Sea, Susanna Kearsley
Helter Skelter, Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
Elmer Gantry, Sinclair Lewis
Island in the Sea of Time, S. M. Stirling
Old Filth, Jane Gardem
A Son of the Circus, John Irving
Winds of War, Herman Wouk
The Alchemist, Paul Coelho
Arrowsmith, Sinclair Lewis
Against the Tide of Years, S. M. Stirling
Lost at Sea, Jon Ronson
The Twelve Clues of Christmas, Rhys Bowen
Four Fires, Bryce Courtenay
The Financial Lives of Poets, Jess Walter

Done with The Providence Rider. A great addition to the series, although the central puzzle was solved quite quickly, as McCammon focused on developing the series arc.

On to NOS4A2.

HBJ

Jeanie wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Stuart Palmer
The Penguin Pool Murder
160 pp 3.35 1931
2-Jan *****
Murder on the Blackboard
185 pp 3.62 1932
2-Jan *****
[book:The Puzzle..."

Don't worry you will read at your pace and catch up if not surpass me.

I finished the new release in a series I follow, Victoria Laurie's Ghost Hunters Mysteries, The Ghoul Next Door. I enjoyed it and liked the more intimate story this time, despite the chills it sometimes gave me.
And this one, along with The Woman in White and Dark Storm, makes 3! Woot, woot! I get my reward! *runs to buy The Penguin Pool Murder*

Jeanie wrote: "I finished the new release in a series I follow, Victoria Laurie's Ghost Hunters Mysteries, The Ghoul Next Door. I enjoyed it and liked the more intimate story this time, despite the chills it som..."

Hope you like it.

Shirley wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "I finished the new release in a series I follow, Victoria Laurie's Ghost Hunters Mysteries, The Ghoul Next Door. I enjoyed it and liked the more intimate story this time, despite th..."

I enjoyed it so much I finished it already! Now I'm working on reading 3 more on my TBR Challenge list so I can get the next one XD
I'm reading Dark Lycan right now.

My 2014 goals are to listen to the audio books that I have not listened to or give them a 2nd chance from a different mindset or mood. I have another goal to listen to a book with a setting in each of the 50 states.

So far this month I have listened to at least one book from Alaska, Florida and New Mexico. Right now I am listening to all of the books I own that are by Steven F. Havill. To date listens are 11 completed.

Vicki wrote: "My 2014 goals are to listen to the audio books that I have not listened to or give them a 2nd chance from a different mindset or mood. I have another goal to listen to a book with a setting in each..."

I have Scavenger and he sounds great.

Karen wrote: "I started Grave Mercy in December so I will count it as my first TBR audio read, almost half way as of today. I got a free copy of it from the SYNC summer reading program last year."
Finished Grave Mercy, very good. Will be going on with this series.

I finished Dark Lycan... way better than Dark Storm. This catches me up on my backlog of this series so now I only have the current one that was released last week left to read which will keep me current in the series. But I'm going to complete another backlog of a different series first... Murder of a Smart Cookie, a middle-of-the-series book of the Scumble River Mysteries that was released after the later books to fill out the series. One other--Murder of a Real Bad Boy--will catch me up before the February release of the latest one.

Hi. New here. Hope it's okay to just jump in.

In January so far I've listened to The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (the Anne Hathaway narrated freebie Audible gave out between Thanksgiving and Christmas), The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye, Nothing O'Clock by Neil Gaiman, Blood Oranges by Kathleen Tierney, War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk (I picked up 'The Winds of War' during the 5 dollar sale Audible held last fall and found myself needing the follow up), The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

I'm currently working my way through Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

You guys are making me feel like a slacker! I am still listening to my library copy of War and Peace and about 30 hours to go until done... Then I will take up this challenge :)

Leslie wrote: "You guys are making me feel like a slacker! I am still listening to my library copy of War and Peace and about 30 hours to go until done... Then I will take up this challenge :)"

You're nothing like a slacker if you're listening to War and Peace.

Valyssia wrote: "Leslie wrote: "You guys are making me feel like a slacker! I am still listening to my library copy of War and Peace and about 30 hours to go until done... Then I will take up this challenge :)"

Y..."

Thanks, it is just seeing all the titles go by while I am still on the same one :P

Leslie wrote: "Valyssia wrote: "Leslie wrote: "You guys are making me feel like a slacker! I am still listening to my library copy of War and Peace and about 30 hours to go until done... Then I will take up this..."

Oh bosh! Three of my seven are popcorn sized bites of fiction. That Neil Gaiman book, while charming, is a novelette, barely over an hour in length. I'm sure there are other examples of that sort of padding if you look. Not that that's a bad thing. It just isn't the same thing.

The stick-to-it-ive-ness required to delve into an epic work is an admirable quality. I'm always impressed where I endeavor so deeply and find myself falling in love with the story. 'The Winds of War' and 'War and Remembrance' are excellent examples of this.

Conversely, I've listened to the entire 'Wheel of Time' series, and while I found the story good on the whole, it was annoying as heck on some levels. In the end, I had to push to finish. I'd invested so much that I just couldn't back out. God bless Brandon Sanderson's dark little heart for finishing the series. The last two books were a walk in the park on a sunny day compared to some of Robert Jordan's narrative meanderings. (Not to speak ill of the dead, or besmirch what really was an interesting epic fantasy undertaking.)

I do hope that your experience is more in line with the former than the latter. I look forward to hearing your impression. I, myself, have considered taking on War and Peace.

Leslie wrote: "Valyssia wrote: "Leslie wrote: "You guys are making me feel like a slacker! I am still listening to my library copy of War and Peace and about 30 hours to go until done... Then I will take up this..."

And it's some of those very long books that have languished at the bottom of my TBR pile until a challenge like this came along to help push people like me to get through them. Coming up this year for me will be The Count of Monte Christo, which I understand is a very good book but also very long. In the mean time I'm glad to have a few shorter works to give me a sense of accomplishment.

That said, I've finished Murder of a Smart Cookie and am nearly done with Murder of a Real Bad Boy... one backlog of a series down, uncountable ones to go.

Trying to do every other book or every third if possible, finished one bookclub book and one new release and am now starting The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by, Dorothy Gilman narrated by, Barbara Rosenblat bought almost exactly one year ago 1/9/13. this will be #2 to put a dent in my 80+ TBL list.

MissSusie wrote: "Trying to do every other book or every third if possible, finished one bookclub book and one new release and am now starting The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by, Dorothy Gilman narrated b..."

I adore Mrs. Pollifax! I haven't listened to it on audiobook but have read (and reread) my paperback copies.

Finished Murder of a Real Bad Boy. Now I'm working on the Sherilyn Kenyon Dark Hunters backlog by listening to The Dream Hunter. After that, I get to choose a reward book!

Jeanie wrote: "Finished Murder of a Real Bad Boy. Now I'm working on the Sherilyn Kenyon Dark Hunters backlog by listening to The Dream Hunter. After that, I get to choose a reward book!"

Define Reward Book. Does that mean if I get to a point in my goal I can buy a new book? I just received a new
Get 3 for 2 from audible. Now what have I done to earn a reward???????

Vicki wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "Finished Murder of a Real Bad Boy. Now I'm working on the Sherilyn Kenyon Dark Hunters backlog by listening to The Dream Hunter. After that, I get to choose a reward book!"

Define..."

It's my own personal reward system. I've created a list of books that aren't likely to go on sale, are part of a series--mostly though not exclusively cozy mysteries--and that I want to read now but with the size of the backlog of books and another personal goal not to let the stack go over a certain number *cough 500 cough* I can't justify buying unless I'm working the goals. So, when I've read a book from each of my three stated goals, I can reward myself. This time its "Feral Sins" from the Phoenix Pack series--not a cozy, a PNR. Believe me, it's keeping me motivated.

I actually started listening to The Battle of Bretton Woods John Maynard Keynes Harry Dexter White and the Making of a New World Order and have some hope that my dread was blown out of proportion. Since there are only 2 books in my back log. I think I just might make it.

Joy wrote: "Finally finished Woman in White. This was on my tbr list since 2010 but was only purchased last month. It kept me going and I gave it 4 stars.

Next up (for Feb) is Idylls of the King which I purc..."

Loved Woman in White. I've had Idylls on my Wish List for about as long as you've had it in your Library. I'll be very interested in your reaction to it. Maybe I'll even make it one of my reward books ;)

I just picked up the Woman in White and The Moonstone, after all the discussion about them here. I'm not sure when I'll get to them though.

Still listening to NOS4A2. It's good, and I like Kate Mulgrew as narrator. But it's been a busy month, so not much listening time.

I don't have any specific goals for January, but I guess I need to get at least 2 or 3 finished each month to make my 2014 goal.

HBJ

OK, so I have a question... I set three goals for my Off the Shelf Challenge and, besides removing the oldest, I was to make up the backlog in series I follow and to keep current on the series as they are released. Well... one of the books I gave myself as a reward for reading three books to meet my goals was part of a series, and so I had to then catch up on the backlog (1 book) and next month the newest one in the series comes out... so can I count those for my Off the Shelf Challenge?

Didn't think so... it was worth asking though ;P

I just finished Crime and Punishment tonight, moving on to a new one that was graciously dropped into my TBR this weekend: Crescendo.

Finished my two for the month...

On Dublin Street narrated by Paula Costello (sp?). Narrator was excellent! Looking forward to more performances. Story was...I want the time I spent listening to it back. Once finished I immediately had to return it because there is no way I would listen to it again. The H was fantastic, by the h...her self possessed martyrdom just makes me see red. Ugh! Hopefully I can find something light and cheery to brighten my attitude up after listening to that...Bleh

Finished Taltos It's the 1st Chronological book in the story line, but not the 1st published. It was a good entry into the series, just too some getting used to all the flashbacks in the storyline.

Narrator was good, not someone I've heard before. Will probably listen to the next in the series, once I've whittled away at my TBR list.

Joy wrote: "Jeanie, I think this challenge is what you want it to be. Count whatever helps you reach your goal."

Joy, how very sweet and thank you. I know I could give myself permission to reward myself more often, but that's sort of how I got a TBR pile threatening to exceed 500 titles. I suspect it will manage to top that milestone despite my best efforts and how many books I read trying to catch up, but this challenge has at least given me the little shove I needed to tackle the older ones so I'm happy for the incentive regardless of how I joke about it.
Thanks again for your support, it's heartwarming.

Two more down on my TBR pile, for a total of 4 so far this month. The Far Pavilions was good but not great in my mind. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School was really interesting, but probably a better read than listen.

I've just started #5 on my TBR list: Middlesex.

The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
The Far Pavilions, M. M. Kaye
Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina
Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
The Orphan Master's Son, Adam Johnson
The Talisman, Stephen King and Peter Straub
Solomon’s Song, Bryce Courtenay
All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren
North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
METAtropolis, misc. authors
Theft of Swords, Michael Sullivan
Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer
Royal Blood, Rhys Bowen
Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
Monster Hunter Vendetta, Larry Correia
Touch & Go, Lisa Gardner
The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri
The Boy in the Suitcase, Lene Kaaberbøl
Wool, Hugh Howey
Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, Karl Marlantes
The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay
1Q84, Haruki Murakami
The World According to Garp, John Irving
The Big Rock Candy Mountain, Wallace Stegner
A Higher Call, Adam Makso
Sometimes a Great Notion, Ken Kesey
The Winter Sea, Susanna Kearsley
Helter Skelter, Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
Elmer Gantry, Sinclair Lewis
Island in the Sea of Time, S. M. Stirling
Old Filth, Jane Gardem
A Son of the Circus, John Irving
Winds of War, Herman Wouk
The Alchemist, Paul Coelho
Arrowsmith, Sinclair Lewis
Against the Tide of Years, S. M. Stirling
Lost at Sea, Jon Ronson
The Twelve Clues of Christmas, Rhys Bowen
Four Fires, Bryce Courtenay
The Financial Lives of Poets, Jess Walter

I have read two books from current series I follow, My Bluegrass Baby and the ninth installment of The Bane Chronicles. I also finished Black Moon, a backlog book from a series I follow. I've already started Hunter's Heart, which will make up the backlog for the Alpha Pack series. I'm also reading my reward book, Dirty Harriet, which is narrated by Karen Cummins who is a regular in this group--it's funny and has a heroine who isn't the traditional cozy female who investigates without skills or weapons... nice change of pace.