Audiobooks discussion

Been binge-listening the Decluttering series by Simon Brett: starting the month with third of four Waste of a Life. Very mixed feelings about these stories, but they fill time well.

I started Small Things Like These yesterday and finished it this morning. This was #41 on the NYTimes list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. It's very short at 2 1/2 hours and wonderful. 5*

If any of my fellow readers/listeners are interested in the 100 best list and don't get the NYTimes, then here's the link and have fun - it's interactive. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...

Next up is The Forgotten by Faye Kellerman. I haven't read or listened to one of her books in a loooong time.

After a bunch of books in series I already knew, I am starting West With Giraffes. I have heard good things about it.

I'm listening to Listen for the Lie. Enjoying it. Especially the narrators.

Robin P wrote: "After a bunch of books in series I already knew, I am starting West With Giraffes. I have heard good things about it."

I gave it to my mom as a gift, she seemed to like it.

Finished The Fine Art of Uncanny Prediction yesterday. Recommended as a sequel to The Fine Art of Invisible Detection, though the first one more suspenseful, second one does not stand on its own without the other first.

We’ve almost finished listening Modern History (The American Civil War) while running errands. It’s one of the Great Courses. We haven’t been out much as it’s taken almost six weeks for a 24 hour audio. The spouse asked me to pick up something on the Civil War a few years ago and then didn’t want to listen to it. I think I finally guilted him about wasting “my precious” credit.

But, we’re both definitely enjoying it. We did not realize how little we remembered from long ago history classes. It has enough information on the military action to please him, and enough politics to please me.

The audio reminds me so much of the excellent buddy listen I had a few years ago, with another member of this group, on Grant by Ron Chernow. That was a surprisingly good book on the war, and on the man.

OK, so am I a dinosaur and the only one depending on an email notification for when people comment on this group? It appears GR no longer sends notifications via email... or am I misunderstanding what it says on the page when I checked my settings? I'll check back tomorrow to see if anyone has an answer... I'm really going to miss those notifications!

Jeanie wrote: "OK, so am I a dinosaur and the only one depending on an email notification for when people comment on this group? It appears GR no longer sends notifications via email... or am I misunderstanding w..."

Other people are complaining about this too. I never use them because I would get too many. As a retiree, I am generally on here multiple times a day to check threads. But I know many people depend on them. You can try contacting GR help, but it's rare to get a useful answer from them.

Robin P wrote: "After a bunch of books in series I already knew, I am starting West With Giraffes. I have heard good things about it."

I thought this book was a real treasure, and so did my book club ladies. I hope you enjoy it, Robin.

I finished The Things We Make: The Unknown History of Invention from Cathedrals to Soda Cans by Bill Hammack and it was a four-star listen for me.

Meanwhile, I am in the middle of a historical detective story, The Gentle Axe by R.N. Morris. The setting in 19th-century Russia is fascinating. It's the first of a series "featuring Porfiry Petrovich, the detective from Dostoevsky's masterpiece Crime and Punishment."

Jan Mc wrote: "Robin P wrote: "After a bunch of books in series I already knew, I am starting West With Giraffes. I have heard good things about it."

I thought this book was a real treasure, and ..."

It is reminding me of Water for Elephants with a bit of The Lincoln Highway.

Fran wrote: "I started Small Things Like These yesterday and finished it this morning. This was #41 on the NYTimes list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. It's very short at 2 1/2 hours ..."

That 100 Best Books list sounds interesting, but I couldn't figure out how to view it without subscribing to the newspaper!

Donna - I had the same problem, but I found that GR made a list.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Robin P wrote: "Jeanie wrote: "OK, so am I a dinosaur and the only one depending on an email notification for when people comment on this group? It appears GR no longer sends notifications via email... or am I mis..."

You are not alone. I am finding it impossible to keep up with any groups/forums here without daily digests in my email and notifications of new posts there. It is a shame. I'd contact Goodreads and complain about the loss of the feature that I relied on but I don't know who to write to, the email address or whatever...

I'm reading a Star Wars novel by Adam Christopher, Shadow of the Sith that I am finding entertaining and a lighter read from some of the heavier stuff I had been reading. I read The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma and while it was very good, it was a very serious and hard read.

There is a GR Help page
https://www.help.goodreads.com/
and there is an entry about Notifications Settings. (I've linked it below). It says they're not sending email notifications for certain things, but new posts isn't one they say they are ending. On the Help page, you could submit a request, but they aren't always helpful in responding.

https://www.help.goodreads.com/s/anno...

Robin P wrote: "There is a GR Help page
https://www.help.goodreads.com/
and there is an entry about Notifications Settings. (I've linked it below). It says they're not sending email notifications for certain thing..."
Thank you Robin, I made my voice heard. As a group member I feel dissed by the changes made by Goodreads and can't continually log in all day long looking for new posts in different groups that I belong to, the changes are non user friendly to a lot of people to say the least. I enjoyed reading all the posts here about different books people are reading, although I am not a frequent poster, I felt like a member of this group. I am now at a disconnect, I'm severely disappointed with Goodreads.

Sorry for going off topic.

I started a re-listen of The Republic of Thieves earlier this week. Then I got distracted by Stuart Blinder's excellent narration of Redwall - 5 stars! I previously read the book over a decade ago and listening was just as enjoyable. I'm looking forward to continuing the series!

I enjoyed the book, "Part of Your World" by Abby Jimenez

Sorta gave up on Bless Me, Ultima by by Rudolfo Anaya, there was repetitiveness that wasn't working for me, maybe too YA. Might switch to my eBook, or just DNF.

Listened to Hum by Helen Phillips, went fairly quickly. Not sure I liked the ending. Although the book is set in the future felt like it could be now. It's family oriented about a mom trying to be the best mom, but struggling, and phones/screens taking so much attention and too much advertisement, which can be turned off if you pay more.

Now I'm listening to Forty Years a Forester by Elers Koch. This autobiography is about the early days of the US Forest Service as it began around when the author joined the service.

To stay up to date on my groups new posts without the use of email notifications, I use the Discussion Page which shows all new posts in your groups. You can reach it two ways on the website. It don't use the app:

Click on the chat box icon (with a text box bubble) up in the right hand corner. It's next to your message icon.

Or click on your profile drop down and click on Discussions.

I find it very helpful and actually prefer it over notifications.

Jan wrote: "To stay up to date on my groups new posts without the use of email notifications, I use the Discussion Page which shows all new posts in your groups. You can reach it two ways on the website. It do..."

Yes, that's what I always use. Any new posts show up as New (although only a certain number fit, so you might still want to click on each group to see the new posts highlighted.

Donna wrote: "Fran wrote: "I started Small Things Like These yesterday and finished it this morning. This was #41 on the NYTimes list of The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. It's very short at..."

I was afraid that would happen. Historically, nonsubscribers could access three NYTimes articles a month. I can bare my soul and shamefully admit to having only read 23 and placed 25 on a wishlist. There are quite a few that I certainly wasn't interested in reading. Jan was great - she found the list on Goodreads.

A heartwarming and entertaining story set at Christmas Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin narrated by Harrie Dobby ⭐⭐⭐⭐.1 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Robin P wrote: "There is a GR Help page
https://www.help.goodreads.com/
and there is an entry about Notifications Settings. (I've linked it below). It says they're not sending email notifications for certain thing..."

Thanks for the link. Not thatGR cares, but a blind person using a screen reader has trouble scrolling through all the information on a page and the ones listing all my groups and the discussions are particularly cluttered. I can go to this group's home page and search for the topics I most frequently read--Current Reads, US Daily Deal, Audible Offers--but there is just too much to scroll through to discover all the new threads. The email notifications made it easy for me to follow, but I'm sadly sure this new way of doing things will exclude me from much of what this group has to offer and I will eventually just give up. After more than a decade in this group that feels like a huge loss.

Jan wrote: "Donna - I had the same problem, but I found that GR made a list.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2..."

Thanks for posting this! I have read 9 of the books, and some of the others I have on my TBR mountain. Most of them I had never heard of.

I did write to GR about the loss of the email notifications for groups and they replied:
"Thanks for contacting us about the removal of the notifications.

I’m sorry to hear you’re dissatisfied with it. Our team appreciates you sharing this feedback with us."
Not very encouraging, since they've had bugs with the notification bell at the top of the screen frequently in the past, but I will try to follow the other suggestions posted by Jan. Thanks for the help.

Jeanie wrote: "Robin P wrote: "There is a GR Help page
https://www.help.goodreads.com/
and there is an entry about Notifications Settings. (I've linked it below). It says they're not sending email notifications f..."

Excellent point! I'm sorry to say I never thought of the accessibility issue (and neither did GR).

Recently listened to Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell. Until now Eleanor & Park was my favorite book by Rowell but I think it has now been replaced. Such a sweet story.

Michelle wrote: "Recently listened to Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell. Until now Eleanor & Park was my favorite book by Rowell but I think it has now been replaced. Su..."

Oh, thanks. I LOVED Eleanor & Park!

Kathleen wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Recently listened to Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell. Until now Eleanor & Park was my favorite book by Rowell but I think it has now ..."

I think you would like this one then Kathleen. Just as romantic but written for grown ups.

A light and entertaining cosy-murder mystery - Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander ⭐⭐⭐.8 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man was entertaining, though lightweight. The narrator does a great job with a NYC accent, although we learn she is actually from elsewhere so in reality, she probably wouldn't have that accent.

Finished up autobiography Forty Years a Forester by Elers Koch. It was a well written account of the early years of the U.S. Forestry Service, as Elers Koch joined just as the organization was formed by Gifford Pinchot.

Started next, keeping in the forest theme, Defending Giants: The Redwood Wars and the Transformation of American Environmental Politics by Darren Speece. This one is more academic in tone.

With both books, I have access to another copy (one print, other eBook) that allows me to view photos or maps that are included with the book. Sometimes the audiobook includes these supplemental materials, but too often it doesn't.

In the last two days I've finished up Princeps' Fury - this entry was definately a bit darker than the previous books but still very action driven; as well as The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal - this is set in the same world as St Mary's/Time Police - and covers many of the events that occur in both

now I'm listening to A Single Thread and The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean

I gave five stars to Henry Knox's Noble Train: The Story of a Boston Bookseller's Heroic Expedition That Saved the American Revolution by William Hazelgrove. Excellent non-fiction.

On the other hand, I started to listen to Death in the Bush: An Amateur Sleuth Historical Mystery by Wendy M. Wilson and was very disappointed. The original series, set in 19th-century New Zealand, included likeable characters to whom I became attached. In this new follow-on series, I disliked the lead characters and gave up early.

I just finished The Day of the Storm, by Rosamunde Pilcher. It almost lived up to my hopes for another great R.P. book like The Shell Seekers, but I still gave it 4⭐s! Check out my review if you want to know more: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also just finished Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. I actually read Belong to Me the 2nd book in this series several years ago, not realizing that it was part of a series. So it was a little like revisiting old friends to read this one. It was a very interesting story line & the author's way of telling the story from 2 POVs was great. My only negative comment about the audiobook was the narrators. While they both did a great job, I really felt like the their voices fit the opposite character than they were reading for. The narrator for Cornelia sounded young and spunky and should have been Claire's 11 year old voice. The narrator for Claire sounded sophisticated and mature and would have fit better for Cornelia. Aside from that, I really liked the story a lot! I gave it 4⭐s. Looking forward to the next book in the series, I'll Be Your Blue Sky.

Dee wrote: "In the last two days I've finished up Princeps' Fury - this entry was definately a bit darker than the previous books but still very action driven; as well as [book:The Ballad of Sma..."

A Single Thread is on my TBR list! I'll be very interested in what you think of it. Please let us know your thoughts when you finish. 😃

I finished listening to In a Quiet Town and thought it was just ok. It was a mystery/thriller that missed the mark. I'm not sure what else the author has written, but this felt like a freshman effort. Also, of the three narrators, the mother had a constant angst in her narration which was annoying.

Now I'm about 3 hrs. into the 48 hrs. of Harlot's Ghost by Norman Mailer and narrated by Stephan Rudnicki. The writing is brilliant and the narration is superb. Reviews say the book could use some editing, but I'm going to hang in there. Having read and loved both The Naked and the Dead and The Executioner's Song I don't think I'll be disappointed. Plus, I won't have to worry about what to listen to next for quite awhile. :-)

The Marlow Murder Club is currently free for Audible members and the narration was excellent. The story is a bit farfetched but the characters are delightful, quite a bit like The Thursday Murder Club. In this case, 3 women of different ages turn out to have the skills needed to solve a mystery that has baffled the police.

I enjoyed the newest installment in the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor, Not Till We Are Lost, which is an Audible Original. I'm looking forward to the next book whenever it comes out.

Now I am reading Gallant by Victoria Schwab and it is really good too. It won the Goodreads award for best YA Fantasy and Science Fiction in 2022.

Finished Brat Farrar yesterday, author does a great job of "Will he get away with it?" angle. Could've gotten a library copy with another narrator, but Carole Boyd's reading was worth an Audible credit.

Santa's Little Yelpers, I am really enjoying this audio!

The whole Andy Carpenter series is very entertaining, but I really enjoyed Santa's Little Yelpers the past couple of days while driving.

Recap of the month, because there's been a bunch so far:

Lone Women - 4 stars. More LaValle please!

House of Hunger - 3 stars. Good idea, not great execution.

Smoke Signal - 5 stars. Fun little short story!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - DNF

Paladin's Strength - 5 stars!

The Only Good Indians - 5 stars!

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci was a book I could not put down. My first Baldacci, I award 5 magnificent stars. Best book I have read this year.

I finished up The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean this morning - I'm sure most of us remember the titan sub implosion from a couple years ago - it made me really curious about people who want to explore the ocean (rich, scientists etc) - this book did a real good job - I actually found some of the stats (like the fact that 80% of the ocean is still not mapped) to be amazing, as well as the disparity between how much money goes to space exploration vs. ocean exploration

I just finished The Singing Stones by Phyllis A. Whitney. This is the second book I have read by this author with an almost identical storyline, and the same narrator. A therapist who is hurting & dealing with her own issues gets "roped in" to help with a child in need who has parents that either can't or won't get involved. Both books also had a similar ending, which I won't divulge so as not to spoil it for anyone reading the book. This one, however, was not as good as the other which I gave 4Stars in my review. So if this type of story line interests you I recommend Flaming Tree by Phyllis A. Whitney. That being said, this book was not bad. I enjoyed it, just not as much as the previous one.

And 5 stars to The Last Final Girl - what a delightful romp of a horror novel!

I stay away from horror in books and film, so this time of year isn't my favorite in that respect. The huge market in horror movies, especially, boggles my mind. However, I am catching up on my historical mysteries and a few non-fictions, like The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger.

I'm listening to Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean. I'm somewhat over half-way through and trying to hurry and finish before it leaves Audible Plus availability on October 28. I found the book at my local public library, but an abridged version and this one in the plus catalog is not.

I have not had a lot of luck with my choice of books and listens the last few months ... UNTIL I started this. I'm reading it for my book club and Simon Prebble does a great job with the narration. I highly recommend it. I don't want it to end.

To the Hilt by Dick Francis