Audiobooks discussion

I'm starting the month with a long nonfiction: A History of the Bible: The Story of the World's Most Influential Book, which I'm finding very interesting although I'm not religious; appeals to the history nerd in me I suppose. Ralph Lister does a great job with the narration, although the long passages (especially lists) can be a slog.

how is it May already????
I'm kicking off the month continuing my listen to A Catalogue of Catastrophe

literally woke up this morning and was like no way is it may, what the hell!! starting my month off with Nevernight.

I'm hoping to start A Short History of Russia: How the World's Largest Country Invented Itself, from the Pagans to Putin this evening to participate in the group read.

I'm half way done with Between Two Fires which is a very good horror novel that explores what may have happened if the great war in heaven happened during the plague. Very interesting premise. Very creepy as well.

Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold - 3* - My Review

Entertaining young adult fantasy adventure about Penric, a young man who becomes a host to a group of female demons. He names the group “Desdemona.” We follow his life as he gets used to demons residing within, leading to several humorous scenes. It is obviously the initial set up for a series of adventures to come. This is my first of Bujold’s books. I recommend gaining familiarity with the world Bujold has created. This probably was not the best place to start. The story itself is fine, but I felt like I was missing the context.

The audiobook is nicely narrated by Grover Gardner.

I finished Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4 star. She's got a way of writing that makes you forget that it is fiction! A good "plain" story - not a mystery, not a romance not a thriller. Just interesting characters and a good plot. Little snippets of celebrity stuff mixed in (some real names, some not) - I thought it was pretty good.

Am about half way through Sooley and it is really good. Not a typical Grisham novel at all!

John wrote: "I'm starting the month with a long nonfiction: A History of the Bible: The Story of the World's Most Influential Book, which I'm finding very interesting although I'm not religious;..."

I grew up Catholic and am no longer religious, and this sounds fascinating. Let me know how it turns out, John!

I'm making progress with The Silmarillion and my reread of Foundryside. I doubt I would listen to Foundryside if I hadn't already read it; the magic system is rather complex. I'll probably read a physical copy of the sequels.

I finished The Far Country and found it rather slow compared to other Nevil Shute books. Not a lot really happens and people spend time telling each other things the reader already knew. I was also a bit taken aback by the theme of England being miserable after WWII with shortages and socialism stopping people from succeeding in life. This is contrasted with Australia where working hard could make you rich and the country was open and beautiful. I didn't know that Australia sponsored Europeans to come there after WWII to work for a couple of years in various jobs. They called these people not immigrants or foreigners but "New Australians", which is rather charming. But I find it hard to believe that everyone welcomed them as much as is shown in this book. Also there is zero mention of any indigenous people who were losing their land and culture. Not unusual for the time but noticeable now.

Now starting the latest Jodi Taylor - A Catalogue of Catastrophe. I have lost track of the overall story arc about where Max and her friends are and why but in a way it doesn't really matter, these are always fun.

Robin P wrote: "I finished The Far Country and found it rather slow compared to other Nevil Shute books. Not a lot really happens and people spend time telling each other things the reader already kn..."

Robin, I liked that one a lot, clearly more than you. It is a quiet novel. It was the characters that made the story special for me. Character portrayal is very important for me!

Okay after a brief break I am back to Finding Grace by Janis Thomas narrated by,, Elise Arsenault, Jesse Vilinsky, Suzanne Toren & Stacy Glemboski

I've gotten roped into the Ian Rutledge historical mystery series. Currently on #6, A Fearsome Doubt.

These are rather formulaic. Typically, Rutledge -- a Scotland Yard inspector with PTSD from WWI -- is sent out to a rural town to solve a murder. Someone is falsely accused, the local police are obstructive, and Haimish (the voice in Rutledge's head) makes many sardonic comments. Wash, rinse, repeat. Nonetheless, they do make me want to know what happens next, and want to see how Rutledge's character develops. OTOH, the endings are always open ended and really annoying!

Narrated by Samuel Gillies, who does a great job.

Contrarius wrote: "I've gotten roped into the Ian Rutledge historical mystery series. Currently on #6, A Fearsome Doubt.

These are rather formulaic. Typically, Rutledge -- a Scotland Yard inspector with..."

I enjoyed that series - Hamish is the most unusual sidekick ever.

Starting May with two different books going at the same time, a bit unusual for me with audio.

For non-fiction I'm hoping to finish tomorrow: The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth by Ben Rawlence. Quite an interesting book, but takes some concentration for listening.

Fiction, somewhat easier to listen is Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It's a somewhat long book and I'm about to go on a short road trip where I don't think I'll be able to listen. Maybe will have listen to something else that everyone in the car can enjoy, or at least listen to the entirety.

Robin P wrote: "Now starting the latest Jodi Taylor - A Catalogue of Catastrophe. I have lost track of the overall story arc about where Max and her friends are and why but in a way it doesn't really matter, these are always fun."

i'm listening to this one now...spoiler below for the arc if you want...

(view spoiler)[in the last book, Dr Bairstow was "fired" as the director of St Mary's and replaced by Treadway (time police) - he brought in new security team; Markham left with Hunter and his daughter because he was being hunted; Max is on the run - she and markham got recuirted to be time bounty hunters...Leon is on the run with the teapot kids and Matthew...and they think this is somehow the beginning of the time wars (hide spoiler)]

Dee wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Now starting the latest Jodi Taylor - A Catalogue of Catastrophe. I have lost track of the overall story arc about where Max and her friends are and why but in a way it doesn't real..."

Thanks, it pretty much came back to me as this book does allude to the previous one.

Published in 1987, I finally got around to reading this classic:
Beloved by Toni Morrison - 4* - My Review

The audio book is competently read by the author. She has a rather “breathy” and halting style which will appeal to some readers and probably annoy others. I did not like it at first but got used to it and it did not bother me by the end.

Nancy wrote: "I finished Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4 star. She's got a way of writing that makes you forget that it is fiction! A good "plain" story - not a mystery, not a romance no..."

Sooley was a fantastic read. I loved it. 5 stars.

I always miss the start of the month and have to catch up a few days later! LOL

I finished A Catalogue of Catastrophe this week, too, and I think it had been too long since I read the previous book. I was confused at the beginning, but I caught up. I'm also confused by the timeline (no pun intended) because of Matthew's ages in these books and the Time Police series.

I listened to Simon Winchester read his The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary and was, as usual, fascinated.

I'm now finishing up the thriller The Nowhere Man, the second in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz. It's really over-the-top, of course, but still fun.

I am quite surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. In addition to an entertaining story, albeit dark and disturbing in parts, it is also a clever send-up of the world of book prizes. This is not a book for anyone looking for a likeable protagonist. We spend a lot of time in the head of a narcissist. It is hard to say too much without spoiling. It is well-written, well-crafted, the characters are deeply drawn, and the execution is brilliant!

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne - 5* - My Review

The audio is narrated by a small ensemble, one per primary character, and they do a wonderful job! The readers are Richard E. Grant, Robert Cordery, Nina Sosanya, and Laurence Kennedy.

Starting One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose Narrated by, Andi Arndt , Hillary Huber, Elizabeth Evans, Brittany Pressley & Cassandra Campbell This is a brand new book available through Audible Plus!

Listened to the first two books in the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer. Such fun, narrated by Katherine Kellgren.
The Case of the Missing Marquess
The Case of the Left-Handed Lady

Starting Conclave by Robert Harris

I spent April re-reading various series, but I've spent the last four or five days reading the first three books in the He Who Fights with Monsters series by Shirtaloon... all of which are named with the series title and then a number. Just these three books are an investment of over seventy hours in this series... and well worth it. Additionally, the narration is truly fantastic and brings this series to life in a way that enhances the story and makes me feel others are missing out if they are merely using their eyes.

My current problem is deciding whether or not to continue with the series. The publisher's summary and some reviews make me think maybe not. I loved the world where our main character was and the first three books wrapped up that part of the story sufficiently. While I loved our offbeat Australian MC in an alien world, I'm not as sure that I'll appreciate him in the new setting. I may eventually re-read the first three books and then decide whether or not to keep going.

Jan wrote: "Listened to the first two books in the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer. Such fun, narrated by Katherine Kellgren.
The Case of the Missing Marquess
[book:The Case of the Left-..."

I didn't realize Kellgren narrated those, I loved her in the Bloody Jack series, I'll have to check these out!

I believe this was written in the 1970s but not published until 1992. It is a novel about the French Revolution – so we know how it ends and we know it will be full of blood and references to beheadings. Mantel tells the story through character studies of the lives, personalities, and social interactions of three primary drivers of the Revolution: Georges-Jacques Danton, Camille Desmoulins, and Maximilien Robespierre. It is a novel about the abuse of power. The characters are fabulous. I cared so much about one of the characters that I could hardly bear to read what happened to him even though I knew what was coming.

It is long (750 pages) and took me a quite a while to read (this is really the only reason it is not 5 stars - I think some parts could be shortened without losing anything). It is the type of historical novel that I enjoy – heavy on the history.

This book was written well before the Thomas Cromwell Trilogy (Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies, and The Mirror and the Light), but the writing style is similar, so if you like those books, you will probably like this one.

I switched back and forth between a hard copy and audio. The audio is particularly helpful for non-French speakers to hear the proper pronunciations. The reader, Jonathan Keeble, does a brilliant job with the narration, voices, and pacing. It is one of the best audio performances I have heard.

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel - 4.5* - My Review

The Novel of Ferrara by Giorgio Bassani grew on me. By the end I was sure I wanted to give it four stars.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I am listening to South Riding by Winifred Holtby. It s free for Audible-UK-Plus members

I listened to A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Hawks, narrated by himself. As I'm a theatre lover, I enjoyed the backdrop of this book: Henry IV play on Broadway. My review is here

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'll listen to Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time next as Machu Picchu is my bucket list.

I enjoyed One of Us is Dead it's on Audible Plus so you might as well give it a try!

Starting The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan narrated by, Jesse Bernstein wanted to finally read this one before the new series!

Joy D wrote: "I believe this was written in the 1970s but not published until 1992. It is a novel about the French Revolution – so we know how it ends and we know it will be full of blood and references to behea..."

A Place of Greater Safety is the one book by Mantel I really liked. Better than all the rest, in my view.

I missed the beginning of the month recap and probably most of April. Here's the roundup:

The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge, and India's Quest for Independence was an excellent read all around by the author. It was a 4*+. There was a lot of India's history interwoven, but fortunately I have a decent amount of background knowledge of India.

North to Paradise was also a decent listen if illegal migration from Africa to Europe is of interest. It is a poignant memoir to add to the canon of the African diaspora.

The Ardent Swarm is an excellent short allegory of the Arab Spring set in Tunisia. I loved it and I loved the beekeeper and all that I learned about beekeeping. Another 4*+.

Agatha Christie Crime Collection: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side / They Came to Baghdad / The ABC Murders I only listened to They Came to Baghdad and it was classic Christie although dated.

That's my international roundup.

Lastly, An Eye for an Eye is an English police procedural. I'm about halfway finished and not loving the narration or the main character so much. The jury's out. I picked it up during the Audible sale of starting a new series.

Joy D wrote: "I believe this was written in the 1970s but not published until 1992. It is a novel about the French Revolution – so we know how it ends and we know it will be full of blood and references to behea..."

I read this in print and it was challenging to get into but so worth it. The level of detail is incredible, I swear Mantel has a time machine in her garage. I happened to read this right when the Hamilton craze was taking off, and this book is like the Hamilton of the French revolution. The main characters are so young and eager to make a name for themselves - "young, scrappy, and hungry" for fame, women, and sometimes each other!

I was really disappointed with the narration of Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz and had to give it up after about 30 percent. Julian Rhind-Tutt included very awkward pauses and uneven pacing. It's too bad Derek Jacobi couldn't have narrated the second book, too.

Robin P wrote: "I read this in print and it was challenging to get into but so worth it. The level of detail is incredible, I swear Mantel has a time machine in her garage. I happened to read this right when the Hamilton craze was taking off, and this book is like the Hamilton of the French revolution. The main characters are so young and eager to make a name for themselves - "young, scrappy, and hungry" for fame, women, and sometimes each other!"
I had not thought of it that way but I agree!

Chrissie wrote: "A Place of Greater Safety is the one book by Mantel I really liked. Better than all the rest, in my view..."
Glad you enjoyed it too, Chrissie!

Finished this classic:
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison - 4* - My Review

The author does a competent job with reading in her breathy halting style.

Just finished The Girl from the Sea by Shalini Boland. What a incredible twisty ride this was. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐Narration: Narrated by Katie Villa, Ms. Villa does a good job of carrying the story with the characters in English accent and realistic tones.

Set in the early 1900s to 1980s, this is a character-driven novel of a young man who serves the Romanovs set against the backdrop of the Russian revolution:

The House Of Special Purpose by John Boyne - 4* - My Review

Stefan Rudnicki does an excellent job with the audiobook.

May audio Merchants of Truth by Jill Abramson.

Today I finished The Word of Promise Complete Audio Bible NKJV. This is a 98 hour multi-cast production that I began on September 1 and read 15 minutes a day every day... until I got to the New Testament and doubled that. The use of multiple voices really helped with clarity but most of the sound effects and music didn't really enhance understanding. It was odd to have my favorite voice for David Copperfield by Charles Dickens reading the voice of God, but Martin Jarvice did a great job. I really appreciated this version and like the New King James Version, but sometimes I actually missed the thees and thous!

Next I'll do a 15 minute a day read of The NASB 2020 New Testament Audio Bible and then restart the whole Bible with the NIV version read by David Suchet--that should be interesting!

Today I finished Cold Case, a Cherringham Short by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. Another good cozy mystery in this series and another is coming out later this week... hurrah!!

I highly recommend Sooley - it's a sports story on the surface but much more than that. Not at all what I was expecting from Grisham but really enjoyable and a good listen.

I'm on The Four Winds now and really like it so far.

I started Drown by Junot Diaz. I really like his books and this one is trending along the same lines.

I had previously read Acevedo's The Poet X so I decided to try another. I think she is a talented author:

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo - 4* - My Review

The audio book is nicely narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania Luisa Marte, one voice for each main character.

My review of The Secret of Life: Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and the Discovery of DNA's Double Helix by Howard Markel

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Diamond Eye just came in for me at the library - which was perfect timing because I finished up Four Aunties and a Wedding this evening...

i'm also listening to Dead Man's Ransom because I needed a challenge book set during medieval time period and this was available in the audible membership options

thoughts on Four Aunties and a Wedding - I liked the first book (Dial A for Aunties) better than i liked this one - what felt fresh in the first one felt forced here - i found the MC to be rude and obnoxious throughout and the mystery was to me kind of obvious

I finished Amongst Our Weapons, latest in the Rivers of London/Peter grant series by Ben Aaronovitch. I always enjoy these stories and love the narration!

Jeanie wrote: "Today I finished The Word of Promise Complete Audio Bible NKJV. This is a 98 hour multi-cast production that I began on September 1 and read 15 minutes a day every day... until I got to the New Tes..."

That's quite a commitment, Jeanie! Congratulations on finishing and good luck with the new plan. I know what you mean about missing the original KJV; that language is so beautiful.

I am not in line with popular opinion on this one. It is set in the Texas panhandle and later in California in the 1920s-1930s. Basically, it is almost the same plot of The Grapes of Wrath or Whose Names are Unknown:
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - 2* - My Review

I tend not to care much for these types of historical fictions that read like a contemporary person transported back to an earlier era.

The audio book is nicely read by Julia Whelan.

Published in 1992, this one is about the Harlem Renaissance. I think it will appeal more to those who enjoy innovative fiction. It's like a jazz piece in written form:
Jazz by Toni Morrison - 3* - My Review

The audio book is read by the author in her usual breathy, halting style. I do not think this book translates particularly well to audio, but it may just be personal taste. I found it hard to follow the shifting narrators and Morrison does not change her voice to indicate who is speaking.

Joy D wrote: "Published in 1992, this one is about the Harlem Renaissance. I think it will appeal more to those who enjoy innovative fiction. It's like a jazz piece in written form:
Jazz by [autho..."

Recently I attempted to listen to Morrison's [book:Sula|11346] which she narrates. I had to give up because of problems with her voice. Someday I will read it instead.