Audiobooks discussion

I'm nearly finished with Incontinent on the Continent: My Mother, Her Walker, and Our Grand Tour of Italy, not a bad story about women of a certain age, and their mothers, though I read it for the travel narrative aspect, which worked for me.

Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them, Frank Langella's memoir of the people he's known has been very good so far (I have a couple of hours left), and I think on his reading it was a good idea, though there have been a couple of TMI patches where I wish I could've skimmed through with a print book instead.

Finishing up Spider Bones - borrowed CD's from library - series is on my 2014 catch-up list

I finished Bellwether on the last day of the month (or perhaps just after) :)

A fun short read. Not much of a plot, but some interesting ideas and a few wry observations about fads and corporate bureaucracy. Some charming characters and a few madcap scenes.

On to The Road, finally, after sidelining it for two books.

HBJ

I just finished Darkness Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane. Narration was by Jonathan Davis. The story is well written and very intense. The narrator does an excellent job. Now I am beginning Dark Invasion, the new Howardn Blum history of a German spy and terror ring in America in 1915.

I just finished Flying Too High, second in the Phryne Fisher series. It was decent, though the series still hasn't grabbed me, and I'm commited to at least the third book which I had picked up some time ago in a sale. A friend who shares my Audible account really likes the series, so I may be getting more anyway.

I just finished listening to The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud, and narrated by Simon Jones. The story is hilarious, and the reading by Jones is absolutely wonderful! Here is my review.

I finished the third Phryne Fisher book, Murder on the Ballarat Train. It was a good story. It may be a little while, but I will be continuing with the series.

I finished The Goldfinch and really liked it, 4 stars from me.

Today I started The Art Forger on a long walk, so I'm about 3 hours in and this story is really drawing me in too.
I'm not artistic myself but both my parents are and I was always taken to art shows and museums growing up (and still go regularly) so I love books with an art theme.
A few of you mentioned reading this recently as well, if you liked this, also try The Painted Girls which I thought was brilliant.

I finished Storm Front and really enjoyed it in spite of the poor production quality.

Next up for me is Reliquary.

I've finished An Officer and a Spy, Sycamore Row and Gideon's War recently. Enjoyed them all.

Started The Longest Ride - trying to get past my sparks is not romance since it was nominated for a romance audie

I finished Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage. Some time back I picked up nearly all the available titles in the series--a site-wide percentage off sale made them cost less than a credit--but am only now getting back to reading them. Sadly, books 6 and 7 aren't available on Audible so I've had to start AG and the Wizard of Evesham without reading the two before it. I plan to read a few more of these and then switch off with other new titles in order to finally make up the backlog. I find a little of Agatha goes a long way so there may be another gap before resuming... we'll see.

Jeanie wrote: "I finished Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage. Some time back I picked up nearly all the available titles in the series--a site-wide percentage off sale made them cost less than a credit--bu..."

I've "paused" Agatha and am using Hamlish Macbeth for my M.C.Beaton fix. I think both series need to be spaced out between readings, or they become quite repetitive. Agatha's personality requires a break between doses; Hamlish's is easier to take.

I have listened to all of the Agatha books except one on audio (my library rocks and got all of them for me through ILL). I love Aggie but normally only listen to 1-2 per year so she doesn't get repetitive.

I'm 1/3 of the way through The Fiery Cross and it is dragging. How can you write hour hours of reading on a "campout convention"?????

Hi All!
I'm new to the group and didn't see a place for introductions so I'll just jump in :)
I am currently listening to On The Lips of Children by Mark Matthews whom I found while looking around some of the posts in this group. I am about 3/4 of the way through and am very much enjoying the story. On the Lips of Children

edit to change link

Welcome, Kim.

In future, please try to add a title link plus a book cover link in posts, as some folks on small devices see only a dark shape. I make this announcement periodically, so it's not directed at you, specifically.

Sandy and Kim, welcome! (I'm assuming the Agatha-Raisin-reading Sandy is new, too.)

I just finished "One Summer: America 1927" written and read by Bill Bryson. I like Bryson's narration - perhaps because I was introduced to his books by his reading at a book fair. I enjoyed the book and gave it four stars.

Finished Horns which I loved and am currently sucked into the world of 11/22/63 the problem is after having a streak of good listens there is a certain amount of pressure now because I don't want to land a dud for that next book. Still have a couple days to ponder that though.

Travis of NNY wrote: "Finished Horns which I loved and am currently sucked into the world of 11/22/63 the problem is after having a streak of good listens there is a certain amount of pre..."

And that happens... not that I'm wishing it on you. The last two audiobooks have had technical issues with sound production. Storm Front had background noises such as swallowing and breaths in through the nose. The one I'm listening to now, Reliquary, had deployed a device that is sure to have me pulling out my hair. They've decided to differentiate a character's thoughts from spoken words, as well as telephone conversations, words over a loud speaker, radio, or PA System by making them sound as if they are echoing around in an empty 5 gallon drum. ARGH!

Sandy wrote: "I just finished "One Summer: America 1927" written and read by Bill Bryson. I like Bryson's narration - perhaps because I was introduced to his books by his reading at a book fair. I enjoyed the bo..."

I'm listening to One Summer too, Sandy. I love his narration but I know that some people don't. Bryson does a great job of finding fascinating details in history. Once or twice in this book, I started to lose interest but he did a quick change and hooked me again.

I gave up halfway through The Orphan Master's Son today. I just couldn't keep going in my current state of mind.

About to start the Library of Congress audio version of the fourth No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency book, the Kalahari Typing School for Men, perhaps followed by A Monster Calls. I need some quick reads after the long slog of the Johnson book.

Well, finished Every Day and...not sure what I think. Some of it was very compelling. The performance was excellent. But I felt there were some misses in there as well (content, not narration). Don't think I'll read either Rhiannon or Six Earlier Days. Now what to listen to...

I finished Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham and have moved on to Code by Kathy Reichs, third in the YA series Virals. I like the narration and the concept of this series--a group of teens accidentally infected with a genetically modified parvo virus that has given them wolfish abilities and turned them into a semi-superhuman, non-shape-shifting wolfpack. All this set against the backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina, and the attempts of a Southern Bell stepmom wannabe to turn the pack's alpha female into a debutante. My only real problem with the series is that it sometimes gets the adrenalin pumping a little too high and I'm no adrenalin junkie. I prefer my stories to be unstressful, so it'll be a question as to whether or not I continue with the series--the 4th book comes out tomorrow.

Dee wrote: "Started The Longest Ride - trying to get past my sparks is not romance since it was nominated for a romance audie"

I am listening to the same book & I love the voice of both narrators.

Janice wrote: "Travis of NNY wrote: "Finished Horns which I loved and am currently sucked into the world of 11/22/63 the problem is after having a streak of good listens there is a..."

Dick Hill right? He has done that in other, but not all the books he does. Only one book have I ever heard it done where it sounded good . Usually super annoying

Yes, Dick Hill. I'm finding it incredibly annoying.

Just heard Agatha Christie's Mystery of the Blue Train with Maurice Denham as Poirot.

Enjoyed it. One of Christie's lesser known (at least to me) stories, it showcased some classic tropes: death on a European train, cursed/stolen jewels and a past crime that haunts the present.

Xe wrote: "Well, finished Every Day and...not sure what I think. Some of it was very compelling. The performance was excellent. But I felt there were some misses in there as well (content, not..."

Xe I felt the same way about Every Day

A new release in the Alpha Pack series came out today and I went ahead and started it. Maybe I'm in the wrong mood, but the approach of this series is beginning to wear thin--too Lifetime channel if you get me--and I am going to have to consider whether or not to bail on the series altogether. Hopefully, the story will improve and my grumpy mood will lift so I end up actually enjoying the story.

Last night, I finished listening to Frank Langella read Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them. Those with a strong interest in stage and screen personalities (with a few agents, writers, and such thrown in for good measure) should love it. I'd say the audio version works better as Langella really took the opportunity to nail inflection to bring alive the descriptions, not just reading the text. Elizabeth Taylor's final days was one of the sadder episodes, as her beauty and fame did nothing to prevent ultimate incredible, painful loneliness; she was so very needy that Frank had to cut her loose as a friend (ok, toyboy substitute) for fear of being consumed.

Sara wrote: "Dee wrote: "Started The Longest Ride - trying to get past my sparks is not romance since it was nominated for a romance audie"

I am listening to the same book & I love the voice o..."

I'm liking the narration so far just got toget past my sparks prejudice ;)

Also listening to Dune - about 1.5 hours in and decidedly underwhelmed

I've been listening to Growing Up Amish: A Memoir. An interesting memoir.

Think I'm about to continue with The Fate of Mercy Alban. Had to set it aside while working on The Vanishing so I didn't confuse myself :)

...and I'm hoping that Gone Girl will FINALLY come in at the library. I know there have been mixed feelings about it here. I found it immediately compelling when I started it in print.

Xe no matter what - Gone Girl is one heck of a ride!

Dee wrote: "Sara wrote: "Dee wrote: "Started The Longest Ride - trying to get past my sparks is not romance since it was nominated for a romance audie"

I am listening to the same book & I lov..."

I listened to Dune some time back and sadly didn't get the thrill its many legions of fans have had. More sadly, I had already picked up Dune Messiah in a long ago sale before reading Dune--I thought I was a big enough sci-fi/fantasy nerd to appreciate the series--and it is now one of the oldest unread books on my TBR pile. Obviously it isn't bad, it just didn't strike that chord with me that would compel me to become a fan.

I finished 1984 to give Simon Prebble a try as narrator. I liked him a lot but the book not so much.

I am listening to The Secret River narrated by Simon Vance. It is a great story so far about the early settlement around Sydney, Australia by prisoners from Great Britton. I have also started listening to The Good Earth narrated by Anthony Heald.

Another interesting essay on "books on tape" (specifically Librivox). I only skimmed it, but it looked interesting:

http://www.themillions.com/2014/03/on...

Kristie, Thanks for the link. nice article.

Heidi *Listen. I'll just keep talking anyway. * wrote: "Xe no matter what - Gone Girl is one heck of a ride!"

SO looking forward to it...but will likely have to wait a bit more.

I'm 3/4 of the way through Burial Rites. Despite the lack of emotional relief I'm riveted by the story and can't wait to hear how it ends. I'm glad to be listening to all the Icelandic names and not reading them. I felt the same way with the Millenium trilogy.

Next up, a classic from my TBR pile that, frankly, I've been dragging my heels to start: North and South. I always feel a bit of dread about starting classics, and I am usually (but not always) wrong to feel that way.

Kristie wrote: "I'm 3/4 of the way through Burial Rites. Despite the lack of emotional relief I'm riveted by the story and can't wait to hear how it ends. I'm glad to be listening to all the Icelan..."
When you finish it watch this: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/special... (click on watch full program) it's the story of the author and how she came to write the book. It does contain a spoiler about the ending, so don't watch it before you finish if you don't want to know.

Patricia wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I'm 3/4 of the way through Burial Rites. Despite the lack of emotional relief I'm riveted by the story and can't wait to hear how it ends. I'm glad to be listening t..."

Oooh...thanks Patricia! I'll definitely watch it after I finish. I'm definitely curious.

I think the author's story is almost as fascinating as the book itself.
Most of the book is based on fact, she says that only when she couldn't establish the facts, then she filled in the gaps with fiction.
Such a hard life for everyone at that time but especially for women.

Did you end up speeding up the narration?

Patricia wrote: "I think the author's story is almost as fascinating as the book itself.
Most of the book is based on fact, she says that only when she couldn't establish the facts, then she filled in the gaps wit..."

Indeed.

Yes, I pretty much always speed up the narration. I didn't go quite as fast as usual, given the names, language, and accent. I think it would have been annoyingly (is that a word?) slow at normal speed, but that's partly because I'm used to the faster playback now.

(I remember listening to To Kill a Mockingbird. It was one of my first times listening at the faster playback speed, and I kept checking to make sure it was speeded up! I can't imagine how slow it would have been at normal speed.)

Kristie wrote: "I'm 3/4 of the way through Burial Rites. Despite the lack of emotional relief I'm riveted by the story and can't wait to hear how it ends. I'm glad to be listening to all the Icelan..."

North and South is next on my Off the Shelf TBR Challenge--I'm skipping over the remainder of Tom Jones for now.

I finished Cole's Redemption, fifth in the Alpha Pack series. It was a little more tolerable than I expected, but still manages to be a Paranormal Romance version of a B movie. Early books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the Phoenix Pack series are much better examples of the genre and this one suffers by comparison.

I gave Gaskell's North and South an hour, but it was completely uncompelling. (Is that a word?) Anyway, I think I just have a low tolerance for the upper crust of old England. As you can guess, I don't watch Dowton Abbey. :-)

I decided to move on to Cannery Row.

Guess I'm moving to Doctor Sleep just on a king thing I guess