Audiobooks discussion

John, I added this because there was no thread for July!

Wow, it's nice to start a new month with a five-star book! I highly recommend The Vicar of Bullhampton by Anthony Trollope.

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

Thank you, Specs, for telling me of this book. It was in a recent Audible.uk sale.

I am following one favorite author by another. I have begun and am enjoying Most Secret by Nevil Shute. How have I missed this one until now?! It's set in Brittany, a place I know well and love.

Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin - 4* - My Review

Non-fiction about building the atomic bomb, and the espionage activities associated with it. It is told in chronological order, and covers the development of uranium, plutonium, and (later) hydrogen bombs. The author does a nice job of weaving together the events of history to show how they all fit together. The narrative explains the reasons behind the Cold War. It flows well and entertains as it educates. It is touted as a book for children or young adults, but unless you are an expert in WWII history, I daresay anyone can learn something.

The audio book is nicely narrated by Roy Samuelson.

I am starting the month with The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey narrated by the cast of The Office.

No problem, Chrissie

I'm kind of at a loss right now in terms of reading. For a couple of challenges I started Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy, which isn't proving as interesting as I'd hoped, but I'll finish it, just not soon.

Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered
by Melissa Gilbert
Introduction by Tim Busfield

The audio performance by Melissa Gilbert adds to this book. No surprise, she has narrated several. The introduction by her husband Tim Busfield was a pleasant surprise.

I usually prefer listening to memoirs and autobiographies read by the authors but if they don't do well I bail very quickly. In this case I listened almost straight through. I made myself pause for sleep.

I'm still listening A Gentleman in Moscow, it's a long book! Many people love this book and while some parts are enjoyable, I often dose off while listening too. But I'm 70% done so I'll finish it!

I finished A Thousand Li: The Third Kingdom, seventh in the A Thousand Li series by Tao Wong. I very much enjoy this series and appreciate how the author keeps moving the main character through his journey without turning him into someone we can't recognize, merely a stronger and more mature version of himself. Travis Baldree does a great job with this. And he'll narrate the next book in the Cradle series which comes out this Tuesday! This is shaping up to be a great month!

how is it july already??

i'm working on The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music -i was never a huge nirvana fan but there is just something relatable and enjoyable about his writing

also listening to The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream and Angels of the Pacific: A Novel of World War II (about the nurses on bataan during WW2 - the pacific theatre has always been more fascinating for me and i had that so much time is spent in europe and not the pacific when it comes to books, education etc)

I'm listening to two family stories which take place four centuries apart, and enjoying both of them.

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard is a modern day US story. It is women's fiction which I often dislike. I do like the author's narration.

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory takes place in England in 1648. Gregory knows how make her fictional story feel real. I love the time and place, but it is more of a romance than I like.

I have not hit the middle of either, so I might change my opinion when I reach the ends.

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason - 3* - My Review

Protagonist Martha suffers from a (deliberately unnamed) mental illness. I have mixed feelings about this book. It is compelling in that I ignored other books to focus on this one. But I would not recommend it to anyone who prefers a likeable main character. I think the reader needs to be in a good place mentally before embarking on this one (e.g., not suffering from depression). I am uncomfortable with the way mental health and mental health professionals are portrayed. The author admits that she is unfamiliar with this field, and it shows.

The audio book is nicely narrated by Hannah Monson.

Kaoru wrote: "I'm still listening A Gentleman in Moscow, it's a long book! Many people love this book and while some parts are enjoyable, I often dose off while listening too. But I'm 70% done so..."

That's on my TBL list. But so is "The Lincoln Highway". Both are by Towles. I read "Rules of Civility" by Towles and liked that. But not sure which one to choose next.

Bill (Just a) wrote: " I read "Rules of Civility" by Towles and liked that. But not sure which one to choose next"

My friend gave me The Lincoln Highway but haven't read it yet. I think Rules of Civility is more close to A Gentleman in Moscow, so I rec to read it first.

Just finished Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, second in the trilogy of YA fantasies. The story is simple and easy to follow, but the romantic angst is starting to grate on my nerves. I hope there's a happy ending coming my way in the third book.

Pamela wrote: Now listening to Half a King by Joe Abercrombie. The first in a series, which hopefully doesn't end on a cliffhanger.

This was a recent listen for me and I really enjoyed it. There's no cliffhanger, but I definitely want to continue this series.

Humorous look at life with a small child:
Things My Son Needs to Know about the World by Fredrik Backman - 3* - My Review

Santino Fontana does a fine job of narrating the audiobook.

Combination memoir and writing guide:
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King - 4* - My Review

Though it is targeted at fiction, King’s advice can be used in any type of writing. One does not need to be a fan of Stephen King’s books to appreciate his insights. It is filled with useful information, some of which I had read elsewhere. It will appeal to anyone interested in becoming a better writer.

It is competently read by the author.

Finally finished A Gentleman in Moscow and it was pretty good towards the end!

Next a very popular book (16 wk wait) became available suddenly so I'm jumping on it The Change. Good storytelling so far.

Started Foxmask, the second book in the Saga of the Light Isles by Juliet Marillier. I read book one in April and liked it quite a bit. Most of what I have read by Juliet Marillier has been to my liking. It is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld.

Most Secret is another one of Nevil Shute's books that I really like.

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

I am listening to The Misanthrope by Molière. Drama on audiobooks isn't so easy for me. Well, it's very short. I thought I would give it a try, but I don't know......

finished up The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music - while i liked Foo Fighters, that genre of music was never my go-to - so i wasn't in the know on a lot of the stuff he wrote about - but since listening i've downloaded several of their albums to my amazon music account to listen and spent entirely too much time watching youtube videos of him rocking it out...lol

I finished The Misanthrope by Molière. I didn't love it but am glad to have read it.

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

Now I have begun Sarum: The Novel of Englandby Edward Rutherfurd and have liked it from the start. I do like long books.

A Third Class Murder: a cozy 1930s mystery set in an English village isn't bad for what it is, decent narration.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot was a charming book. Lenni is a 17 year old terminally ill patient who meets up with 83 year old Margot (thus the 100 years) in the hospital. An intertwined telling of their life story - it is cute, interesting and very well narrated. Yes a bit sad but a solid 4 star read for me.

Next up is The Last Mile

I finished The Change in two days! (15+ hrs book) Yes it was that good. A revenge thriller by three bada$$ women.

My 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Doug wrote: "Started Foxmask, the second book in the Saga of the Light Isles by Juliet Marillier. I read book one in April and liked it quite a bit. Most of what I have read by Juliet Marillier has..."

I have been thinking of doing a re-read of this series!

Doug wrote: "Started Foxmask, the second book in the Saga of the Light Isles by Juliet Marillier. I read book one in April and liked it quite a bit. Most of what I have read by Juliet Marillier has..."

I think Marillier writes beautifully. But I also often think that her books don't have enough plot -- not enough happens. Nonetheless, I've read several books by her and I intend to read more. Haven't tried this series yet, maybe I'll put it on the list!

I finished Dreadgod, eleventh book in the Cradle series by Wil wight and narrated by Travis Baldree. This was another excellent installment in the series and, sadly, is the next to last book of Cradle. Travis Baldree does such an excellent job that I can't imagine enjoying this with any other narrator. The narration is the kind that enhances the story so that anyone reading in print only gets a partial experience. Great story, great narration... great listening experience.

This book is an example of the author being the perfect narrator for his book.

My review of An Immense World by Ed Yong

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

I finished The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey for fans of the office I highly recommend it audio not only because of the narration of Jenna & Angela but all the guest stars who show up!!

Now starting To Keep You Safe by Kate Bradley, narrated by, Lucy Jane Dixon release date June 30th.

Jan wrote: "This was a recent listen for me and I really enjoyed it. There's no cliffhanger, but I definitely want to continue this series

Pamela wrote: Now listening to Half a King by Joe Abercrombie. The first in a series, which hopefully doesn't end on a cliffhanger."

Thanks Jan, that's good to know!

I'm going to have to put the book on pause for a bit, had a popular book come in and they shortened the loan time on it....Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World: Essays by Barry Lopez. Have to say I'm surprised how "popular" this title is right now. Sadly Lopez passed away, so this will be his last. I've only read his works in print before, looking forward to the audio, haven't started just yet.

These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett - 4* - My Review

Collection of twenty-four essays on such diverse topics as Patchett’s three fathers, literature, travel, disease, friendship, art, marriage, death, hobbies, and more. The primary set piece of this collection is the title essay, where she tells of picking up Tom Hanks’s book (the short story collection Uncommon Type), and how that one decision led to a deep friendship with his assistant, Sooki, who ended up staying at her house during the pandemic while she obtained cancer treatments. She wrote these pieces during the pandemic. They are not just random writings. They are connected through themes of life, death, and love. She writes of death without being morbid. Patchett comes across as observant, sincere, and interested in others. Definitely worth reading.

The audio book is nicely narrated by the author. She does a much better job than most authors IMO.

On Desperate Ground: The Marines at The Reservoir, the Korean War's Greatest Battle by Hampton Sides - 4* - My Review

Narrative non-fiction that provides an account of a significant battle of the Korean War that took place at the Chosin Reservoir near the end of 1950. It is an amazing story of courage and ingenuity. Sides provides all the necessary background and context, leading up to the climactic set piece. Once the author gets to the Chosin Reservoir, it is a riveting story, focused on the individual soldiers’ experiences. The gruesomeness of war is on full display. As time goes on, we lose more and more of the veterans who fought this war, I want to ensure that I understand what they experienced. This is a well-written and well-researched book describing the beginning of the war, the mistakes that were made, and the reasons it endured for so much longer.

David Pittu does an excellent job of narrating the audio book in a documentary style (which is appropriate for the subject matter).

3 stars to Fever Dream and that's my cue for a Pendergast break, at least on audio. The shift from Scott Brick to Rene Auberjonois probably shouldn't bug me as much as it does, but that coupled with the content of this book (particularly the scene with Hayward and the men in the boats) left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

I'm looking forward to giving the Gideon Crew series a shot once I get through Cold Vengeance, so I'll stick with it for at least another volume, but this one wasn't for me.

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma - 2* - My Review

Story of four brothers living in Nigeria in 1996 to the early 2000s. They fish in a forbidden river, where they meet a man who gives them a grim prophesy. It contains elements of Nigerian folklore. It is a tragedy that contains one brutal episode after the next, which is described in gruesome detail. I found it very creative, but I am not a person that can handle this type of disturbing content, so clearly it is not a book for me. I think it is important to understand world history, but I prefer non-fiction rather than these types of relentlessly bleak narratives.

Chukwudi Wuji does an excellent job with the audio book.

Joy D wrote: "The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma - 2* - My Review

Story of four brothers living in Nigeria in 1996 to the early 2000s. They fish in a forbidden river, where they m..."

I really liked this one, and another of his books, An Orchestra of Minorities, but if you didn't like The Fishermen you might want to skip Orchestra too, it is heavy on tragic events that happen to characters.

Thanks, Doug! I appreciate the warning. I can handle a bit of depressing material as long as there is something to offset it, but in this case, it was too depressing for me. I do appreciate the literary merit, though. I'll skip the one you mentioned.

Finished To Keep You Safe by Kate Bradley, narrated by, Lucy Jane Dixon I am still trying to write my review of this dark and twisty story! It is very British there was one line that just made me laugh because it was so very British,
'I used her jumper like a flannel and washed her face.'
Both jumper and flannel mean something different here in the US!

Starting a middle grade book Thirst by Varsha Bajaj, narrated by, Reena Dutt Pub date July 19th

I ended up doing a relisten of Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse in prep for book 2, Fevered Star. I enjoyed refreshing my memory, and it remains a very good book, though I'm still a bit annoyed by the multiple narrators. Unfortunately my library copy of Fevered Star had been returned by the time I finished Black Sun, so now I'm debating whether to wait throught the holds to get it again or whether to just buy the thing from Audible. We Shall See.

I'm now most of the way through The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler. I've been meaning to try a Wheeler book for awhile. Although this is marketed as YA, it's not offensively so, and it's certainly not YA in the teen-angst form, seeing as how the MC is only 8. Gotta say he seems more mature than 8 much of the time, but he's still an appealing character, and it's an enjoyable and relatively low-stress book. But I don't see how they're really going to resolve much of anything in the time left, so I am resigning myself to a cliff-hanger and/or a blatant lack of intra-book story arc. Depending on how much that annoys me when I get there, I'll probably go ahead with book 2 before too long. Despite the MC being a boy, this is narrated mostly well by Kate Rudd -- but she doesn't really differentiate all the male voices very well, and she doesn't do any accents even when they are clearly called for in the text, so she could be better.

The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations by Toni Morrison - 3* - My Review

Collection of Toni Morrison’s essays and speeches that sheds light on Morrison’s worldviews. For me the most impactful and emotionally evocative pieces are her eulogies and meditations, those written to and about people she desires to honor. This book was much more academic and philosophical than expected. I enjoyed this book, but think her messages come through beautifully, and more powerfully, in her fiction.

The audio book is nicely narrated by Bahni Turpin.

My review of Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn

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

Kaoru wrote: "Bill (Just a) wrote: " I read "Rules of Civility" by Towles and liked that. But not sure which one to choose next"

My friend gave me The Lincoln Highway but haven't read it yet. I think Rules of Civility is more close to A Gentleman in Moscow, so I rec to read it first...."

Thanks for the recommendation. I couldn't choose so now I will get Moscow next.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King - 4* - My Review

I picked up this book to remind myself of it since I enjoyed the film so much and had read the book long ago. There are a few segments that have not aged well, but overall, I very much enjoyed it. It is one of those enduring storylines where a wrong is ultimately righted and it feels very satisfying.

The audio book is nicely narrated by Frank Muller.

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu is an interconnected series of short science fiction stories about a plague that hits humans in the not too distant future. Some of the stories are rather bleak, especially since Covid is still an illness that we are currently dealing with, but I found the entirety to be imaginative and creative, it kept my interest throughout. Each story is read by a different narrator. I ended up giving it 4 stars overall, even if some of the stories were better than others. I had to come up with an average somehow.

Doug wrote: "How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu is an interconnected series of short science fiction stories about a plague that hits humans in the not too distant ..."

I read this in print very recently and was surprised by the book. Enjoyed it overall. Yeah, a few of the chapter/stories were quite bleak. I like how many of the different stories were connected in some ways, characters that we had glimpses of in previous chapters, etc. I'm interested in what Nagamatsu writes next.

Finished this 3rd book in the Lucy Barton series and liked it better than the first two:

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout - 4* - My Review

The audio book is nicely narrated by Kimberly Farr

I started listening to Ruta Sepetys's newest, I Must Betray You, this morning. Edoardo Ballerini's narration is excellent. Debating whether to toss between it and Allison Pataki's The Accidental Empress or just stick with I Must Betray You until it's done; it's only 7hrs vs 18hrs for the Empress.

finished up Angels of the Pacific: A Novel of World War II - i've always found the elemtns of WW2 in the pacific to be more interesting than europe and yet so much focus is on europe - so finding a historical fiction about the nurses who were in the philippines (including Bataan and Corregidor) was great in a sad way - enjoyed the book - and the narration

Finished Thirst by Varsha Bajaj narrated by, Reena Dutt Publishes July 19th 2022. I had no idea about the water insecurities in Mumbai I learned a lot from this middle grade book.

Now starting Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier narrated by, Carla Vega publishes July 19th 2022

Joy D wrote: "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King - 4* -

I picked up this book to remind myself of it since I enjoyed the film so much and had read the book long ago...."

That movie is now rated the top movie of all time. A spot "The Godfather" occupied forever it seemed.

https://www.imdb.com/chart/top/

Finished Smoke and Ashes. This is quite a good police/mystery series set in 1920's India. There is a flawed hero, an interesting sidekick and a lot of background about the political situation in the waning days of Empire. This is the last one on audio, though I see there a couple others published.

Before that I listened to The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, 2nd in a series. I enjoyed the feminist nature of this adventure/fantasy/historical but my favorite part of the previous book, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, was Monty, and he doesn't make much of an appearance here (though when he does it is important.) I also have the 3rd one, which is about Monty's younger brother, so some years later.

MissSusie wrote: "Finished Thirst by Varsha Bajaj narrated by, Reena Dutt Publishes July 19th 2022. I had no idea about the water insecurities in Mumbai I learned a lot from this middle grade book.

..."

ohh that sounds good...i took a women peace and security class for my masters class and they touched on things like food and water insecurity globally and how that affects women - who may have to walk 2-3 hours for water each day. we had a female student from Sierra Leone in the class and she wrote her policy paper on ways to counter that