Audiobooks discussion

My how time flies... it's October already!

I finished Accidental Queen, first in the Midlife Fairy Tales series by Kristen Painter. This isn't her best first book in a series. It took too long to set up the premise, nothing much happened, and what did happen was totally predictable. I might read a second one, but it's not a sure thing.

I’m working on finishing up Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland - i have about 3hrs left

Also Taste: My Life through Food - i have about 90min left

Then back to Project Hail Mary which got neglected because the other 2 were library holds that became available

Dee wrote: "I’m working on finishing up Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland - i have about 3hrs left

Also Taste: My Life through Food - i have ab..."

Oh, I really enjoyed Project Hail Mary! I suppose we could say you had an embarrassment of riches with your library books on top of PHM. Hope you're able to get to it soon. :)

Jeanie wrote: Oh, I really enjoyed Project Hail Mary! I suppose we could say you had an embarrassment of riches with your library books on top of PHM. Hope you're able to get to it soon. :)

I’m sneaking in bits of PHM - I can’t listen at work because ppl are always coming by do my listening is typically only during my commute - which can be anywhere from 40min to 80 depending on DC traffic - I’m about 3hrs in on it (view spoiler)[he’s seen the alien spaceship (hide spoiler)]

I'm listening to The Bell by Iris Murdoch. I am always amazed at her ability to draw a whole group of characters, not just one or two! You get multiple in-depth character portrayals.

Night Train to Memphis by Elizabeth Peters

Chrissie wrote: "I'm listening to The Bell by Iris Murdoch. I am always amazed at her ability to draw a whole group of characters, not just one or two! You get multiple in-depth character..."
Each year, I select an author and read 5 books from their back catalogue. This year, I have been reading Iris Murdoch's books. Sounds like I will need to move The Bell up to the top of my list.

This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, so I thought I'd give it a try. It is well-written, but I don't feel like I have the background to fully appreciate it:
The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen - 3* - My review
It is set in New York in the 1960s. Satire is not my favorite type of storytelling.

The audio is nicely narrated by: Joshua Cohen, David Duchovny, & Ethan Herschenfeld

Ordinary Grace William Kent Krueger

My UU Book Club read was "Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger. My wife refers to it as "Nancy Grace" by Freddie Krueger which I think would have been more interesting. It is a murder mystery with religious shading. Unfortunately I had to interrupt a longer read also with religious shading and this book suffers by comparison. The notion of Grace and unique human worthiness is front and center for what is supposed to be a mystery book. It examines multiple strange deaths during a boys coming of age. At the end some of the murders are dismissed as just happenstance and a real murder culprit experiences what is also referred to as the awful grace of god. The author said "Awful Grace" was the first working title. Seemed to me that would have been more descriptive. 2 stars.

East of Eden John Steinbeck

Now I am back to finish the multi generational "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck (well narrated by Richard Poe). As a retelling of Cain and Abel this is also a novel with religious shading but here the religion is in the back ground. This is a book about human nature. I know - it isn't really fair to compare another book to Steinbeck but what can I do? I am well on my way to finishing. I am impressed. I will be following up with the James Dean movie based on the novel as well as the mini series.

Bill (Just a) wrote: "Ordinary Grace William Kent Krueger

My UU Book Club read was "Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger. My wife refers to it as "Na..."

I remember my first introduction to East of Eden as the James Dean movie. Then I watched the miniseries when it came on TV. I felt a little embarrassed to know that there was so much more to the story than the film had portrayed... how could it have been otherwise given the length of the book? I decided I liked both versions a lot. Still, I've never been tempted to read the actual book.

I loved Ordinary Grace and didn't like East of Eden and they are a bit related. Krueger seems to have a bedrock feeling that, although people can do bad things, most people are inherently decent. East of Eden seems the opposite, people are mostly selfish and often cruel. That makes sense since it refers to the story of Cain and Abel, which is all about jealousy and hatred. I found the evil woman in East of Eden totally unbelievable. Maybe all this means that I have had an easy life, because I have such a positive view of human nature.

I had to set What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix aside when I got distracted a few weeks back, but now I've gotten ahold of the audio and I'm ready to wrap things up! Not sure I like the choice of Alex Williams reading for Heathcliff, but Becca Hirani for Cathy is excellent.

Ashley Marie wrote: "I had to set What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix aside when I got distracted a few weeks back, but now I've gotten ahold of the audio and I'm ready to wrap things up! ..."

Talk about a dark view of human nature! (as I was in my last comment) Wuthering Heights is one of the few classics I dislike. Although I can see it would lend itself to audio with all the drama.

The Bell by Iris Murdoch is very good. Don't miss it. It is both thought provoking and funny.

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

Since this morning I have been reading Cat and Mouse by Günter Grass. It follows The Tin Drum, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so of course I had to pick up the next in the series.

Robin P wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "I had to set What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix aside when I got distracted a few weeks back, but now I've gotten ahold of the audio and I'm read..."

I'm enjoying this retelling for the most part; I like the changes Suri made, and her writing is incredibly atmospheric, as Emily Bronte's was. I wasn't a huge fan of the original novel, I thought the angst was overpowering.

Joy D wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I'm listening to The Bell by Iris Murdoch. I am always amazed at her ability to draw a whole group of characters, not just one or two! You get multiple i..."

When I find an author I really like, I cannot stop reading them until I have read all I can get! I haven't liked all of Murdoch's books, but many of them. This is one not to be missed.

Starting the month off with The Midnight Children By, Dan Gemeinhart narrated by, Andre Santana The author is the keynote speaker at a conference I am attending this week and I also loved his book The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

The Bell sounds like something I would enjoy. But I don't think the audiobook is available in the US. Anyone have luck finding it?

Chrissie wrote: "When I find an author I really like, I cannot stop reading them until I have read all I can get! I haven't liked all of Murdoch's books, but many of them. This is one not to be missed...."
Me too!

I knocked out two more Witches of Keating hollow books by Deanna Chase: Courage of the Witch and Love of the Witch. These are pure PNR soap opera and mostly easy listens. I'm discovering that I need a break between books... or that the next one, Power of the Witch, has a complication I've seen before and don't at all like--the psycho "girlfriend" who has invented the relationship out of whole cloth and is now manipulating everyone to keep the two MCs apart. I need a break before trying to finish this one.

I just finished which was interesting fiction about three generations of Japanese/Japanese American. At a time it was rather difficult to listen and some of the short stories were a bit boring. And I thought I wonder if non-Japanese can understand why the characters are responding/behaving that way etc..

I'm reading and so far it's interesting!

Kaoru wrote: "I just finished which was interesting fiction about three generations of Japanese/Japanese American. At a time it was rather difficult to listen and some of the shor..."

I LOVED Last Night at the Telegraph Club on audiobook!

Finished Book Lovers by Emily Henry which was a nice take on romantic fiction. It focused quite a bit on the relationship between two sisters. There were a few detailed love scenes that I frankly could have done without. It was competently narrated by Julia Whelan.

I'm now listening to The Religious Body by Catherine Aird. A classic mystery narrated by Robin Bailey.

The Double by Fyodor Dostoevsky - 4* - My Review

Published in 1846, this slim novel examines duality, identity, and mental health. It packs a lot of content into less than 200 pages. It will appeal to those looking for something a bit off the beaten path.

The audio book is nicely narrated by Nick Sullivan. (Note: I think there are multiple versions of the audio with different readers, but this is a good one.)

I am about to finish The Americans at D-Day: The American Experience at the Normandy Invasion by John C. McManus. If you want to know the detailed story of the D-Day, told from multiple perspectives, the book will be perfect for you. It's the second book I listened to narrated by Joe Barrett, and I love his slow, low voice.

I don't give that many books five stars, but Cat and Mouse, the second of the Gdansk Trilogy by Günter Grass, I did!

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

I have decided to immediately continue with the last of the Gdansk Trilogy --Günter Grass' Dog Years.

Bill (Just a) wrote: "Ordinary Grace William Kent Krueger

My UU Book Club read was "Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger. My wife refers to it as "Na..."

Thanks for your review of Ordinary Grace, Bill. A book club I’m in keeps wanting to read it, but I’ve resisted- it sounds about like what I thought it would be.

just saw on Twitter, that narrator Dick Hill died yesterday

The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid - 2* - My Review

For me, the whole thing didn’t quite gel. I think the intent is positive – to help us envision a society where we can all get along and call attention to the fact that the entire human race, if traced back far enough, is genetically connected. Unfortunately, I found it too simplistic and not particularly well-developed.

The audio book is read by the author. It was not my favorite – too monotone for me.

Dee wrote: "just saw on Twitter, that narrator Dick Hill died yesterday"

What sad news. My favorite Dick Hil narrations were The Dragonriders of Pern and also the Jack Reacher series. His was an almost stylized form of narration and perhaps not always for everyone, but I certainly appreciated his work. RIP, Mr. Hill.

I finally got back to Half a King by Joe Abercrombie, after having it on pause for about three months. Happily I didn't need to go back very far to remember the story. I enjoyed the story well enough, but not sure I want to continue the trilogy.

Started up Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. I've read several of her books before, but this is my first that has a co-author. It appears the book is a bit of a mystery, also deals with domestic violence in a relationship.

Dee wrote: "just saw on Twitter, that narrator Dick Hill died yesterday"

Also read that Richard Ferrone passed away. Both were narrating titans. Sad news.

This book relates a shameful period in American history when Japanese and Japanese Americans were stripped of their civil rights with a justification of a wartime network of "spies," which did not exist. It also highlights the impressive achievements of 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a racially segregated unit of Japanese Americans.

Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown - 4* - My Review

The audio book is nicely narrated by Louis Ozawa.

I came across a review of Thank You for Listening and I haven't read it yet but for audiobook lovers, it sounds intriguing. Apparently it's a popular book, I requested hold and it'll be 2 to 8 weeks!

"From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan's uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel."

Robin P wrote: "I found the evil woman in East of Eden totally unbelievable. Maybe all this means that I have had an easy life, because I have such a positive view of human nature.

reply | flag
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You have probably met people like that. Good/evil? I don't know. Plenty of people have brains that are broke, and they seem to be without conscience. It may not be that you have an easy life but that people like that have not revealed themselves to you. Sociopaths, psychopaths and narcissist exist in all walks of life without outing themselves.

I knew a CPA where I worked that was like that. We clashed so much they moved me away from him. I helped one girl file an EEOC complaint against him. One evening he was talking to his ex on the phone and while making sure she could hear, he shot both of his little girls in the back of the head. His brain was broken. He was a psychopath but had fooled enough people to achieve a supervisory position and practice public accounting.

Here is hoping they never reveal themselves to you. It isn't pretty.

Vigil Harbor by Julia Glass - 4* - My Review

Dystopian novel set in the near future (2030s) in a small fictional community in Massachusetts. There are nine primary characters, each with a distinctive voice. It is a sprawling epic that paints a portrait of an entire community and their relationships. `It is amazing that the author can write all these characters and their backstories in a way that the reader can easily follow. It can get a bit depressing at times, but in the end, it is a story about the importance of love, understanding, acceptance, and the need to bond together to face the challenges of the future.

The audio book is narrated by a cast – one person for each character. Only one narrator is used in each chapter.

I really enjoyed this book, set in Uganda in 1975 - 1983. The protagonist, Kirabo, is a natural storyteller. She is seeking her mother, whom she has never known. The narrative focuses on the ways in which women adapt and change to overcome obstacles they face from this traditional patriarchal society. This book provides a fabulous description of Ugandan customs, traditions, and rituals. The ending is satisfying and Kirabo finds a way to move forward. This is the first book I have read by Uganda-born author Jennifer Nansuguba Makumbi and I look forward to reading more.

A Girl Is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi - 4* - My Review

The audio book is nicely narrated by Tovah Ott.

I have today completed Dog Years, the third and last book if the The Danzig Trilogy by Günter Grass. Here follow my thoughts:

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

I have just begun the classical autobiography A Son of the Middle Border by Hamlin Garland. This American author is well known for this particular book and his short stories.

I'm half through The Vintage Bookshop of Memories by Elizabeth Holland, a romance with a bit of cozy mystery. I'm thoroughly enjoying the book, though it took time to get used to the male narrator: I initially thought he was an old gentleman, short of breath.

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink - 4* - My Review

Non-fiction about events that occurred at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during and just after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Forty-five people died at Memorial, a much greater number than any of the other affected hospitals. It came to light later that several of these patients may have been euthanized, which is the primary focus of the book. There were many issues that caused this situation, and they are examined in detail. Do not expect an impartial analysis. It is obvious that the author has a strong opinion. It provides a thought-provoking analysis of a complicated series of events.

The audio book is competently narrated in a documentary style by Kirsten Potter.

finally managed to wrap up Project Hail Mary not for lack of trying - but my sister flew in on thursday then we took the train up to NYC...she isn't a listen to audiobooks in car type and i slept on the training...so finally finished up yesterday...i liked the ending - at the same time, i really wished (view spoiler)[he had ended up back on earth and confronting Strat!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished the wonderful The Midnight Children by, Dan Gemeinhart narrated by, André Santana Still need to write my review but this is a wonderful story with great characters, I also got to meet the author last week so that was really fun!

Now starting one of my spooky books for October The Jumbies by, Tracey Baptiste narrated by, Robin Miles

East of Eden John Steinbeck

Finished this book. 5 stars. Watched the James Dean movie version which was good. Looking forward to the mini series from the 80s.

The Law Jim Butcher

This novella is read by Butcher himself. In the prologue he allays our fears and tells us James Marsters will be back on the job. Butcher did a good job though. The question is, will you spend a full audible credit for this short read. Not one of his best stories but good. 3.5 stars. Will he ever finish this series? Dragging it out has me frustrated.

The Sound of Gravel Ruth Wariner

The author reads the book herself. Unlike Butcher, not a good choice for a narrator. I have been spoiled by actors acting the book rather than just reading it.

Another fairly short read that I am 1/3rd through. This one is worth the credit - at least so far. It is a first person story of what it was like to be born a little girl into a Mormon polygamist family. It is heartbreaking. It is astounding what people will believe just based on faith. It is something that has evolved in us - this tendency towards belief. I suppose it was necessary for our tribalism.

This is a beautifully written novel about a Japanese American translator who has just moved from New York to The Hague to work in the international criminal court. The protagonist navigates moral uncertainties involved in her job.This book got me to thinking about the many different types of intimacies and they are almost all covered in this story. It is subtle and quiet, while also raising important questions about the nature of interpersonal and working relationships. I loved everything about this novel. I think I may have found a new favorite author.

Intimacies by Katie Kitamura - 5* - My Review

The audio book is wonderfully narrated by Traci Kato-Kiriyama.

The Jumbies was a good folklore re-telling.

Now starting a new spooky book from a favorite author Ghost 19 by Simone St. James narrated by, Brittany Pressley

i finished The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. it was amazing, I had to read/listen to it because I finished the first book in the series "The Thursday Murder Club" and fell in live with the great seniorish characters that are great friends and sleuths! The narrator was phenomenal!

Kathy wrote: "i finished The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. it was amazing, I had to read/listen to it because I finished the first book in the series "The Thursday Murder Club" and fell in live with the g..."

Based on your enthusiasm, I put the trilogy on my wish list. I assume one should read them in order?

Yes, you should read them in order.

Joy D wrote: "This is a beautifully written novel about a Japanese American translator who has just moved from New York to The Hague to work in the international criminal court. The protagonist navigates moral u..."

Thanks for the suggestion, Joy. Ironically, Amazon has been bombarding me with this title for the last few weeks. I’ll go for the audio book.

I recommend A Son of the Middle Border by Hamlin Garland. It was recommended to me and now I am recommending it to you.

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

I have started a stand-alone by Anthony Trollope--Orley Farm. I was tole it is as good as those books in his Barsetshire series!

I have been catching up on series (and picking books I knew I would like) by listening to Murder in Park Lane, Murder at the Serpentine Bridge, and Crowned and Dangerous. Started King Solomon's Mines, which I got at a sale a long time ago and decided I didn't like the narrator's speaking style (weird intonations and pauses.) Now listening to As Snow Falls mainly because it fits into a challenge from one of my GR groups. These challenges have helped me pick out what to listen to/read from my overflowing TBR. After 10 years with Audible, I now listen to some books on faster speed. But not any of those series I mentioned above, and definitely not the 32 hours of The Ink Black Heart!