Audiobooks discussion

Mildly freaked out we're at the final thread of year already!

I'm starting with Mrs Tim Of The Regiment, which I find well worth the cost of a credit. Similar in style to Diary of a Provincial Lady series, which I liked a lot.

i'm starting the month with The Project, I also have Rogue tee'd up

I'm heading to Belgium then Estonia this week - so not sure how much listening time I will have

I'm about midway through Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times, and have Lessons in Chemistry up next.

At some point this weekend I really need to review my backlog. I have like 300 books on my currently reading shelf because I haven't reviewed them yet. LOL :S

KTloves2listen wrote: "I finished A Very Scalzi Christmas and gave it 5 stars. I loved this so much! 🥰"

Wish I'd seen this yesterday. It was probably really cheap on the Audible sale ... lol

Still on Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege, 1942–1943 by Antony Beevor (16 h in total, 9 h 30 min are left to listen to). It's chapter 11, and I'm on a general topic of Soviet deserters.

Made it to Belgium - makes for lots of good listening time when I'm running around taking care of stuff before I leave.

I listened to The Project in the last couple of days. Its a YA mystery(ish) with a focus on cults - I liked it, it didn't quite have the AHA of Sadie - but I thought it had a better overall finish than Sadie did

I finished Witchy Whiskers, first in the Nine Lives Mysteries by Danielle Garrett and narrated by Amanda Ronconi. I think this is an extension of another of her series, but I haven't listened to that one. This was okay, but I'm discovering I have an aversion to snide talking cats... especially when everyone can hear it. The cat doesn't limit itself to true statements... unless they would embarrass its witch. And the witch lets herself get dominated by the cat with nary an attempt to adjust its behavior. This was available on Audible Plus and I think I'm very glad I didn't get the boxed set when it was on sale. Others may like this series if they like cat mysteries, but unless the cat lerns some social graces I'm not likely to continue with this series.

Catching up here.

John, please let us know what you think of Mrs. Tim (she's on my wishlist).

Darya, please review the Stalingrad book, although I'm not sure I could stomach it right now. I remember reading The 900 Days: The Siege of Leningrad years ago and still remember it vividly.

Dee, have fun in Belgium and Estonia!

I have been on an ancient Greece and Rome kick lately, and have enjoyed the following:
A War Like No Other: How the Athenians & Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War
Legion versus Phalanx: The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World
Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town

I am also finishing up The Mapmaker's Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon. The description is quite misleading, in my opinion.

The Egg and Other Stories by Andy Weir was a quick and fun sci-fi listen.

I have begun Horse, but am discouraged so far. Perhaps I should have started with something else by Geraldine Brooks.

Been awhile since I’ve posted and I’ve finished a good amount. I put down Spice Road as I just wasn’t in the mood for it and trying to force myself wasn’t helping. I moved on to An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good which was okay. Not sure if I’ll continue or not.

Then I finished up This is How You Lose the Time War. I wasn’t a fan of it unfortunately. After that I listened to the fourth book in the Murderbot series, Exit Strategy, which I adored. I’m really glad I decided to pick this series up.

Also started and finished The Wishing Game. I really loved it a first but it started to lose me toward the end. The romance didn’t feel built up enough for me and some other minor things. Not the favorite I thought it would be still incredibly enjoyable.

I just finished The Christmas Guest and it was a great short listen. It was just what I needed to get into a holiday reading mood. Lastly, I started up The Kingdom of Sweets.

Kim wrote: "Been awhile since I’ve posted and I’ve finished a good amount. I put down Spice Road as I just wasn’t in the mood for it and trying to force myself wasn’t helping. I moved on to [bo..."

I didn't care for Elderly Lady, it seemed all the stories are basically the same. And also couldn't get into This Is How You Lose the Time War.

Robin P wrote: "Kim wrote: "Been awhile since I’ve posted and I’ve finished a good amount. I put down Spice Road as I just wasn’t in the mood for it and trying to force myself wasn’t helping. I mov..."

I was getting that feeling with the first novella. The motive in the second and last story, I believe they were, didn’t make much sense to me. I did like the first and third story’s to some degree.

This is How You Loos the Time War I’m thinking of trying to read at some point. I’m not sure if the audiobook made it worse for me.

Wrapping up my The Da Vinci Code reread on audio this morning, and good gawd the monologuing 😂😂

Finished Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times, and now I'm about 12% into Lessons in Chemistry. The first 5% of this book just about gave me a rage aneurysm, but after that it's been quite enjoyable so far.

Finished Speak of the Devil by, Rose Wilding narrated by, Colleen Prendergast This was one I tried a few months ago and couldn't get into it but thought I would try again and this time it grabbed me. I enjoyed it but there were a lot of characters to keep track of.

Now on to a middle grade one Coyote Queen by, Jessica Vitalis narrated by, Katie Anvil Rich

Read Go Set a Watchman,La Belle Sauvage,Seven Days of Us,Christmas Camp,The Golden Compass

I finished The Engineer, second in the Last Horizon series by Will Wight. This is a sci-fi/fantasy or a story of plasma bolts and wands as the author sometimes says. This was a good second installment and I enjoyed it. I have to admit it is far faster paced than I'm used to and the action and magic go by so quickly it leaves my head spinning. For anyone who loves space battles with magic involving unique and often over the top characters then this is for you.

I finished the Beechwood Haarbor Magic Mysteries Boxed Sets by Danielle Garrett. This is a decent series overall and I always enjoy the narrator, Amanda Ronconi.

I got halfway through The Bone Ships and just wasn't engaged. The narration was good but there were a lot of characters that weren't clearly distinguished. I didn't need a long description of how to use the weapons on the ship. I will be driving a few hours tonight and tomorrow and need something more fun, which will be either System Collapse or Up on the Woof Top.

i just wrapped up Eight Winter Nights - its been a crazy week between Belgium and Estonia - so not a lot of listening - schedule has been packed - but heading home tomorrow and will recommence normal schedule of listening

next up are:
I Can See You and Whalefall

I recently finished listening to a very long family saga – 32 hours - which takes place in India: The Covenant of Water was well narrated by the author, Abraham Verghese. I highly recommend it.

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

I also finished Tom Lake, the newest book by Ann Patchett . The narrator, Meryl Streep, rescued it from being a mildly pleasant family story to enjoyable.

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

We are listening to Stephen King’s Holly in the car while running errands, so it will take weeks and weeks to finish. If you listen, pay close attention to the dates of each event, as they are important and out of order. Fortunately someone warned me. Holly won the recent Goodreads Choice Award for Horror. The horror is somewhat like that of King’s Misery with an added “yuck” factor.

I finished Keystone, first in the Crossbreed series by Dannika Dark. I previously read Seven by dannika Dark and somehow had the same reaction to both books... decent enough story and characters but somehow it's missing whatever it is that makes me want to read the next in the series. Maybe I'll try one more in each series someday, but for now I'm content to move on to something else.

Finished Lessons in Chemistry last night, and started Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston.

I liked the former pretty well, but it did feel quite predictable and contrived, plot-wise, to the point of being a little obvious in how things would play out.

But I did enjoy the writing of it, and the way that the different characters were drawn and their various perspectives, and the ways that they all saw the same facts and interpreted them so very differently.

About halfway through Barracoon - I didn't realize how short it is, but I'm not mad about it. I'm a bit behind for my goal and will probably be reading nothing but short books for the rest of the year.

I started First to Fight: The Polish War 1939 by Roger Moorhouse

I'm listening to The Matzah Ball for a fun "Christmas" read. Though the characters are Jewish, there is a Christmas element to it.
And for suspense, Everyone Here Is Lying. My second book by Lapena & I'm finding it quite a gripping read.

i read The Matzah Ball last year - i thought it was cute - i wish there were more other December holiday romances (kwanzaa etc)

I listened to the version read by Tim Curry and he does an excellent job: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - 5* - My Review

I recently listened to "The deal of a lifetime" by Fredrick Backman and I thought it was a good short story to listen to around Christmas.

The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos by Kelly Irvin ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Barracoon, and now I'm listening to Socialism . . . Seriously: A Brief Guide to Human Liberation. Interesting so far!

I recently finished Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo. It's the type of book you need to be in the mindset of being preached to, which I didn't realize at first. In the end found it okay. Also, start to a series, not sure I really want to continue.

I keep trying to listen to Trees in Paradise: A California History by Jared Farmer. It's so long it's been daunting. I finally got through the introduction and began the first chapter. I'd like to focus on it, but a couple of library audios came in. I may switch back and forth.

OK well I DNF'ed that Socialism book - the author made a ridiculous statement that fails to take into consideration a very well-known fact, and if he got something like that wrong, then I just don't know that I can take anything else they claim seriously.

I then moved on to How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived. I'm about 18% in.

I snagged the audiobook for Senlin Ascends to help me get through it faster. I'm doing my best to ignore the Bay-bel pronunciation (ugh) and otherwise things are moving along nicely.

I've also got the audio for Bookshops & Bonedust in case I don't finish the print copy before it has to go back to the library. Baldree reads nicely.

I finished The Great Disappearance by Dr. David Jeremiah. My small group at church is studying this through January but I couldn't help but finish it now. It feels like a more and more timely topic given world events. I especially appreciate how the author doesn't take a Chicken Little tone or try to claim absolute knowledge as to how things are going or will go... future events cast a shadow twoard the present, but we can't know how long that shadow is.

Finished How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived last night, and moved on to Opening My Eyes Underwater: Essays on Hope, Humanity, and Our Hero Michelle Obama.

Next up is likely The Reckoning: Our Nation's Trauma and Finding a Way to Heal then Riot Baby.

Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros

The Goodreads Choice Awards 2023 is announced. There is a new category - Romanticy. And the winner of that category is Fourth Wing. Supposedly it was super hyped on Tik Tok which is new to me. The number of votes it got was 397K. Almost double the number of votes the winner of the Fiction category - Yellowface.

Romanticy got the most votes of any category and the Romance category placed 3rd in total number of votes.

Well since so many people voted for this book I am curious about it. But I don't generally like romance books. Outlander had to much romance and I never went past the initial book of the series.

What do youse guys think? Should I skip it as to romancy? Has anyone hear read (listened) to it? Thoughts?

I have finished a few since I last posted

The Twelve Days of Murder by, Andreina Cordani narrated by, Ella Lynch I liked this one fans of Agatha Christie will like it.

Speak of the Devil by, Rose Wilding narrated by, Colleen Prendergast-I had a hard time getting into this one the first time I tried but I decided to try again and am so glad I did because the second time I couldn't put it down! Just be prepared to take notes as there are 7 main characters and putting together how they all fit into the story takes a little bit.

Coyote Queen by, Jessica Vitalis narrated by, Katie Anvil Rich This is a wonderful middle grade book highly recommend!

A Lowcountry Christmas by Mary Alice Monroe narrated by the author who isn't bad but this should 100% have a male narrator that would make this one better.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of The Guestby B.A. Paris Narrated by Emily Joyce I enjoyed this one It was a bit different and kind of mixed the domestic thriller with a mystery which BA Paris does so well and this one is no exception. Pub Date 20 Feb 2024

Now re-reading a Christmas favorite The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by, Dave Barry

Bill (Just a) wrote: "Fourth WingRebecca Yarros

The Goodreads Choice Awards 2023 is announced. There is a new category - Romanticy. And the winner of tha..."

Romantasy (or really just romance) isn't my jam either. I can say that among my friends, everyone who has read it has rated it 4 or 5 stars except one person. One of my friends described it as "Dark academia + Dystopian world + Dragons!" and one did mention the romance/sex scenes as being more adult than she thought it would be, but most of them just seemed to say it was fun and exciting.

I think it's so popular right now because of BookTok and Bookstagram hyping it up a lot, but I trust my friends' opinions too (they wouldn't be on my friend list if I didn't!), so I trust that it IS good if they say it is, not just hyped.

Maybe give it a try if you're curious... you can always return Audible books if you don't like them, or get it from the library free. :)

Bill (Just a) wrote: "Fourth WingRebecca Yarros

The Goodreads Choice Awards 2023 is announced. There is a new category - Romanticy. And the winner of tha..."


I read this in print & found it just ok. But I don't think I am the right audience. It has a YA feel, except for some graphic sex, so maybe "New Adult". The main romance I found creepy. They are supposedly enemies and that can be charming, but in this case, to me it smacked of "you know you want me" from the male character. There are a lot of tropes, like a main character who seems ordinary, even disadvantaged, gets chosen and goes through school/training with allies and enemies, surmounts obstacles, then has to basically save their community/nation/world. It ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and the 2nd book is already out. It does have some elements that make it more interesting than just good guys vs. bad guys but those don't show up till pretty late.

Bill (Just a) wrote: "Fourth WingRebecca Yarros

The Goodreads Choice Awards 2023 is announced. There is a new category - Romanticy. And the winner of tha..."

My granddaughter highly recommended the audio which I’m listening to now. At first I thought it was fun, but, at 60%, I’m bored. It’s too long with the same pattern over and over. I’m surprised by the amount of lust in it. Robin’s comments are spot on.

Kathleen wrote: "Bill (Just a) wrote: "Fourth WingRebecca Yarros

The Goodreads Choice Awards 2023 is announced. There is a new category - Romanticy...."

I also got bored in the middle and kind of skimmed. There are some more events right at the end.

On the Way to Us by Carolyn Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐.4 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Bad Neighbors, latest in the Cherringham series by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards and then I read their latest Mydworth mystery, Dead of Night. I enjoyed them both.

For all the Murderbot fans, Apple TV will be producing a series. Alexander Skarsgard will star.

Robin P wrote: "For all the Murderbot fans, Apple TV will be producing a series. Alexander Skarsgard will star."

i saw that - there might have been some squeeing involved

also the author has a new series out that i saw at the library the other day - or maybe it was a rerelease from what i can see on GR - The Cloud Roads

Dee wrote: "Robin P wrote: "For all the Murderbot fans, Apple TV will be producing a series. Alexander Skarsgard will star."

i saw that - there might have been some squeeing involved

also the author has a ne..."

The Cloud Roads has been around for a while. I listened to it some years back but gave up partway through, it just didn't grab me.

I also listened to the Cloud Roads series by Martha Wells and didn't like it. It's interesting how we react to the same author writing in another genre. I have a love/hate relationship with some, like Neil Gaiman, Laurie R. King, Isaac Asimov, Ian Flemming, Steven King, Jasper Fforde, etc.

Jan wrote: "I also listened to the Cloud Roads series by Martha Wells and didn't like it. It's interesting how we react to the same author writing in another genre. I have a love/hate relationship with some, l..."

Yes, I love Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series but haven't liked a couple of her modern books. I love Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger for their humanity but find his mysteries too dark and violent. And some romance writers I enjoy lose me when they move into paranormal. Even John Scalzi, whose books I mostly enjoy, loses me with his more warlike series and Old Man's War, which is a middle-aged man's fantasy of being a great soldier and lover. And me too on Jasper Fforde, where the Thursday Next series was great and everything else I tried was annoying.

I think it got rereleased - it was on the new release shelf at library but totally

Love Jodi Taylor’s St Mary’s and Time Police books but her other ones are ehhh

Dee wrote: "I think it got rereleased - it was on the new release shelf at library but totally

Love Jodi Taylor’s St Mary’s and Time Police books but her other ones are ehhh"

Right, The Nothing Girl was so creepy and depressing, I didn't want any of the followups.

i haven't read The Nothing Girl - but I tried White Silence and nope