Audiobooks discussion

Nearly finished with Tinsel: A Search for America's Christmas Present, which I'm sorry will be coming to an end soon. Definitely better in audio than print, as narrator reporter really brings the author's voice to life. Strongly recommended for nonfiction listeners.

I'm halfway through Isaac Assimov's Foundation narrated by Scott Brick. While I'm one of those who sometimes complains about Brick's narration, he seems to suit this material quite well. I'm actually liking the story so far and, other than minor technology quibbles, it is holding up astoundingly well given when it was written.

I'm listening to Dance for the Dead, the second of the Jane Whitefield series by Thomas Perry. I really like his mystery-thrillers, but put off listening to this series. The book descriptions mention an Indian mysticism thing which usually turns me off. He handles it pretty well, though.

I'm almost finished with Red Rising. The narrator, Tim Gerard Reynolds, has done a fantastic job.

Jim wrote: "I'm listening to Dance for the Dead, the second of the Jane Whitefield series by Thomas Perry. I really like his mystery-thrillers, but put off listening to this series..."

IMHO, the Jane Whitefield series is Thomas Perry's best. I never minded the mysticism and seemed to have learned a bit about Native Americans as a result. As I recall it was handled with cultural respect and was more insightful rather than adding an other worldly element to the plot.

I finished Foundation by Isaac Asimov and really enjoyed it... the rest of the Foundation series will go on the Wish List... although it seems to come and go on Audible.

Jeanie wrote: "I finished Foundation by Isaac Asimov and really enjoyed it... the rest of the Foundation series will go on the Wish List... although it seems to come and go on Audible."

I love century spanning sci-fi. I read Foundation and added the remaining books to my to-read list, but it has been a while. A reread of book one will probably be in order if I ever get a chance to go farther with the series.

Finished The Children's Crusade at the end of October (4 stars - a surprise as I didn't think I would like it after listening to the first chapter). Now listening to The Bone Clocks" - first narrator speaks rapidly and with, to my Midwestern ears, heavy British accent. Yesterday I checked out the print version from the library to catch up on what I may have missed. My brain wasn't able to process the fantastical descriptions by listening alone. I like it - just wish the audio experience wasn't so challenging.

I am listening to Molloy while reading the Kindle edition of Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable -- the narrator's Irish accent is wonderful & the audiobook/Kindle book combo is great for Beckett (whom I find difficult to read).

As a spooky Halloween read, I started Librivox's recording of The Monk, which is one of the original Gothic horror novels -- I'm enjoying it a lot even though I didn't finish in time for Halloween.

Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from the perspective of the dog!

Today I started Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld and narrated by alan Cumming--good surprises all around.
This last two months has been an unexpected steampunk streak beginning with Aeronaut's Windlass, then The Greyfriar, and now Leviathan. I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I am and the narration is quite splendid.

I just finished a book I didn't like much, by a narrator I didn't like at all, but which I am obligated to review, sigh. I *so* prefer sharing books I really enjoyed! Ah, well. I shall do my duty :)

In addition to my other reading, I picked up again on reading Monster Hunter Alpha--October seemed a good month to re-start--in small increments at a time. It has become a joke with my nephew and niece to ask about it because I confessed to them that it scares me silly and I really have to screw up my courage to listen to it. They always ask if I've made any progress and for the last many months they laugh at their aunt's failure to find the nerve to press Play. This MHI book is about werewolves... really scary, really violent, really bad werewolves.
The problem is that it is about Earl, and I really like Earl. Sigh. I started this one well over a year ago--maybe even two years ago--but can only listen for five or ten minutes at a time before something happens that makes me press Pause. I'm still not even to the halfway point yet. I think this qualifies me for the most persevering of audiobook readers... or the most stupidly masochistic.

Margo wrote: "Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from the perspective..."

I loved that book, Margo - hope you enjoy it!

Jeanie wrote: "In addition to my other reading, I picked up again on reading Monster Hunter Alpha--October seemed a good month to re-start--in small increments at a time. It has become a joke with my nephew and n..."

Good luck, Jeanie, keep us posted. I find horror novels difficult to read (much scarier to me than murder mysteries) and it amuses my family when I have to psych myself up and then force myself to listen for a short period. I keep persevering too as I don't want to miss out on an entire genre. Someday I hope to graduate to reading one of Stephen King's horror novels!

I've been pretty inspired by your efforts to winnow down your TBR list; now THAT takes courage - I pretty much avoid looking at mine, way too scary :)

I once started Intensity by Dean Koonz and traumatized myself to the point that, between Intensity and a book whose title I can't remember (Masquerade" maybe?) by the author of the Vampire Le Stat books, I can no longer read horror. Pity, because I used to love it, LOL!

Fran wrote: "IMHO, the Jane Whitefield series is Thomas Perry's best. I never minded the mysticism and seemed to have learned a bit about Native Americans as a result. As I recall it was handled with cultural respect and was more insightful rather than adding an other worldly element to the plot."

I'd say that was true of the second one, but not of the first. The end of the first was fairly awful. She fed fairies & turned into Natty Bumpo. Not to my taste. The second one dropped all that & was far better for it.

I listened to 2 other short books today. The first was Holy Cow: A Modern-Day Dairy Tale by David Duchovny. It was a lot of fun, a coming of age story by a feisty heifer, Elsie.

The other was a play, Adam's Rib by Garson Kanin. It was an excellent battle over sexual equality. Perfect for listening to. There were only half a dozen characters, all very distinct.

Donna wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "In addition to my other reading, I picked up again on reading Monster Hunter Alpha--October seemed a good month to re-start--in small increments at a time. It has become a joke with ..."

I made it through five whole minutes today... maybe I'll go for more tomorrow.

And thanks for the congrats on facing my TBR... I've decided to use that as proof of my courage next time my nephew laughs at my inability to make progress with MHI!

My progress to date on the TBR is from a high of 535 earlier this year--yes, I blush to admit it--I have brought it down to 388. I know most other people would say they don't even have that many in their Libraries, but we addicts can't get control of our problem until we face it honestly ;) And, yes, I've already got my 4 books picked out for the Buy 4 Get $10 sale Audible usually has. Oh, who am I kidding... I'll buy way more than 4 books in November.

Jeanie wrote: "... And, yes, I've already got my 4 books picked out for the Buy 4 Get $10 sale Audible usually has. Oh, who am I kidding... I'll buy way more than 4 books in November. ..."

What are you planning to buy?

CatBookMom wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "... And, yes, I've already got my 4 books picked out for the Buy 4 Get $10 sale Audible usually has. Oh, who am I kidding... I'll buy way more than 4 books in November. ..."

What ar..."

My current vow is to read what I buy as I get it so two of these are holdovers from earlier:
Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes
Denise Swanson: Devereau’s Dime Store Mysteries: Dying for a Cupcake (Book 4)
Marissa Meyer: Lunar Chronicles: Winter (Book 5)
Douglas Preston, Lincoln child: Pendergast: Crimson Shore (Book 14)
Jodi Taylor: Chronicles of St Mary’s: Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings (Book 6.5) this is FREE so I don't even count it!

Others will be from series like Vampire Empire (narrated by James Marsters!), Legacy of the Drow, John Ceepak, or Asimov's Foundation series.

In December, when they have 25% off, I plan to get more in the Mythadventures, Chronicles of Amber, Travis McGee, and Inspector Montalbano series... the discount drops them below the cost of a credit.

Margo wrote: "Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from the perspective..."

Make sure you have Kleenex handy!

Shoshana wrote: "I once started Intensity by Dean Koonz and traumatized myself to the point that, between Intensity and a book whose title I can't remember (Masquerade" maybe?) by the author of the Vampire Le Stat ..."

I'm actually happy that I don't like horror books, as it's one of the few genres I can resist adding to my too-long TBR list. I listened to and liked King's 11/22/63 which isn't horror, but the few scenes that were quite creepy and violent convinced me I don't want to read anything that's in his usual style.

Margo wrote: "Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from the perspective..."

I'll agree with Robin. Keep a hanky handy. If you want to listen to something a bit lighter, try the Chet & Bernie mysteries. I think it starts with Dog on It.

Jim wrote: "Margo wrote: "Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from t..."

I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain, but I disliked Dog on It and A Dog's Purpose. Enzo is the best. :)

Jim wrote: "Fran wrote: "IMHO, the Jane Whitefield series is Thomas Perry's best. I never minded the mysticism and seemed to have learned a bit about Native Americans as a result. As I recall it was handled wi..."

Hmmm. I must have selective recall. I just remember really liking Vanishing Act, which I thought was the first one, and have no recollection of fairies. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the Whitefield series wasn't quite so boilerplate as some of Perry's later efforts.

He's a good author, Fran. I think I liked Metzger's Dog the best so far, although the Butcher Boy books were good, too.

Jim wrote: "He's a good author, Fran. I think I liked Metzger's Dog the best so far, although the Butcher Boy books were good, too."

I read Strip last year and it was dull, bland and flavorless. Felt like I was reading a hack writer.

Becky wrote: "Finished The Children's Crusade at the end of October (4 stars - a surprise as I didn't think I would like it after listening to the first chapter). Now listening to The Bone Clocks" - first narrat..."

I found that it helped to slow the speed down a smidge. I generally listen at 1.25x and slowed it down to 1x. I think you can slow it down to .75x if you listen at 1x.

Jeanie wrote: "Donna wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "In addition to my other reading, I picked up again on reading Monster Hunter Alpha--October seemed a good month to re-start--in small increments at a time. It has becom..."

I feel your pain Jeanie. I too suffer from the condition you describe, though my compulsion is less severe. Good work in honing your TBR down :)

Finiahed Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Narrator fit very well for it. I like how you don't know the murderer until the end making it read like a mystery.

Bad Moon Rising final book of the trilogy and I waited until Halloween to read it as it occurs on Halloween. A great finishing book. I like how Mayberry dug aound for alternative folk lore for his werewolves and vampires and ghosts. It brought a new perspective and an unexoectedness to the story.

The Halloween Tree picked up as deal on halloween. It was pretty good. Had Bradbury poeticness to it. In the beginning there was a certain nostalgia which I thought was leading me to a 5 star book. I probably will go 3.5 on it. It's just so weird. It is however a kind of halloween remake of Dickens A Christmas Carol basically. Right down to a Marley knocker on the door.

Current read is Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See. I am greatly enjoying this. All the things this blind man accomplished by never backing down and never quitting. He just tried an experimental procedure and it succeeded to give him sight. Now we are hearing him seeing for the first time since he was 3, and the things that fascinate him really make you realize just how many little things in life oeople with vision take for granted. Patterns in carpet and flooring. Signs over head on the interstate. He is amazed by all these minor details i. Life that no one ever described to him. I know I for one always wonder what it would be like to be blind and then see. Or deaf and then hear. Or the other way around becoming blind or deaf but I don't like to think about the negative much. Just imagine being married for I velieve 12 years and seeing your wife for the first time. Seeing your 2 boys for the girst time. Just everything.

Travis of NNY wrote: "Finiahed Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Narrator fit very well for it. I like how you don't know the murderer until th..."

Travis I agree with your assessment of the halloween tree. Beautifully written. Phrase that sticks in my mind "a perspiation of boys". Not only can you see them, you almost taste the salt!

I'm listening to Why Not Me?. Cute and clever and very light "reading". And given that its only 4 discs, will go fast (almost through the whole first CD thanks to Monday morning wrecks on the commute).

Bought and did a quick listen of Mollly Harper's short story, Fangs for the Memories. Amanda Roncone's narration is fabulous as usual. I only wish this story of the beginnings of the romance between Andrea and Dick Chaney--an improbable yet inevitable couple--could have been longer.

I'm starting on The Name of the Wind. It's almost 28 hours long, so this may take me a while to finish. I can't listen to it at work because I'll miss parts of the story. So my goal is to listen to it in the car and maybe at home when I'm cooking or doing laundry.

I finished My Korean Deli: Risking It All for a Convenience Store & Forgotten Country over the weekend. Both books gave some insights regarding Korean Culture and hard times during Korean War. Solid 3 Stars on both!
I also finished Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption during my commute to work this morning with Wonderful narration of Edward Herrmann. The research of the book and details of WWII, and POW of the Pacific Ocean deserve solid 5 Stars. But the story itself had many unbelievable parts that made me doubt myself and re-listen to those parts more than twice! So, I gave a total of 3 stars mostly for the amount of research and facts that I listened to with this audiobook.

Jim wrote: "I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain, but I disliked Dog on It and A Dog's Purpose. Enzo is the best. :) The Art of Racing in the Rain. "

I am glad you said that. This was the book that turned me on to audiobooks, I have such a vivid love for that reading. At times I wondered if it was the book or the experience. I can barely remember the names of my current read's characters, yet will never forget Enzo.

Margo wrote: "Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from the perspective..."

I remember liking this a lot BUT it's not necessarily a cutesy pooh dog story. I think there were some sort of grim goings on if I recall correctly. Just fair warning.

Margo wrote: "Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from the perspective..."

Loved that book!

Dave wrote: "Margo wrote: "Just going to start The Art of Racing in the Rain. It should a bit different as it's told by a dog. I don't mean that the narrator says "woof woof", the story is from t..."

You're right, definitely not a cutesy dog story, and is tough sledding at times; worth it though - Enzo sticks with you.

I finished I'll Give You the Sun and really loved it; fans of Eleanor and Park should definitely consider this one.

Next was Kitchens of the Great Midwest - I loved the Midwestern oeuvre (life long Midwesterner here!), but in the end, the book didn't really work for me. Too disjointed, too much food porn (YMMV) and I didn't stay engaged in Eva's story. Stradal writes well though, so interested to see what he writes next.

Somewhere along the way, I squeezed in a play and a short story:
August: Osage County: wow, just wow. Bought this on sale for $0.99 ages ago and had no idea what it was about; no interest in seeing the movie now - hard to imagine the script and acting could top this. Makes me want to seek out more LATW performances.

The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog: I'm a big Dave Barry fan and glad Jeanie mentioned this one; I'll probably never like his children's stuff as much as his other writings, but this was very funny (and not as sappy as many Christmas stories).

Donna wrote: "Next was Kitchens of the Great Midwest - I loved the Midwestern oeuvre (life long Midwesterner here!), but in the end, the book didn't really work for me. Too disjointed, too much food porn (YMMV) and I didn't stay engaged in Eva's story. Stradal writes well though, so interested to see what he writes next."

I enjoyed Kitchens of the Great Midwest. I liked looking in on her every 5-10 years and see what she was doing and how she had changed and grown. But I really wish we had seen more of Eva in the last 1/3 of the book rather than focusing on other people she will eventually meet.

Finished The Lake House by, Kate Morton narrated by, Caroline Lee I really enjoyed this one!

Started Last Words by Michael Koryta narrated by, Robert Petkoff ...Petkoff is such a great narrator he has an amazing range of voices.

MissSusie wrote: "Finished The Lake House by, Kate Morton narrated by, Caroline Lee I really enjoyed this one!"

Good to hear MissSusie! I usually enjoy Caroline Lee's narrations.

Donna wrote: "I finished I'll Give You the Sun and really loved it; fans of Eleanor and Park should definitely consider this one.

Next was Kitchens of the Great Midwest - I loved..."

I loved Eleanor & Park and have I'll Give You the Sun on audio to listen to so thanks for the heads up. Now I can't wait to listen to it :)

I finished Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld and narrated brilliantly by Alan Cumming. The afterward by Westerfeld identifies this as steampunk, but elsewhere I noted it was classified as cyberpunk/biopunk and alternate history... whatever. This story follows an alternate history beginning of World War I and only deviates slightly from the real details and adding its own fascinating twists. The whole thing was so well done that I'm glad that whatever sale it was in which I bought Leviathan, I also picked up the rest of the trilogy as well so I can continue soon...

Well - Why Not Me? took less than 2 days. It was light and fun - so I listened while I ate my lunch in addition to my commute (which was longer due to rain and wrecks). Cute - but man does she ever talk fast!

Will start Looking for Me on the way home....

Nancy wrote: "Well - Why Not Me? took less than 2 days. It was light and fun - so I listened while I ate my lunch in addition to my commute (which was longer due to rain and wrecks). Cute - but m..."

Looking for Me is really good ! It grabbed me from the start and you can't go wrong with Jenna Lamia as a narrator! If you haven't read Beth's other book Saving Ceecee Honeycutt I highly recommend it!

MissSusie wrote: "If you haven't read Beth's other book Saving Ceecee Honeycutt I highly recommend it!"

Loved Ceecee - and am excited for this one!

Finished . Great book. I loved Enzo <3